Israel’s Military Campaign in Syria: Current Escalation and International Response

Introduction

Strategic Overview

Israel has launched its most extensive military campaign in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, conducting airstrikes on Damascus and southern Syria while demanding complete demilitarization of the region.

The escalation centers on ongoing sectarian violence in Sweida province between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes, which has resulted in nearly 600 casualties and prompted significant international concern.

The Sweida Crisis: Catalyst for Escalation

Initial Triggers and Violence

The current crisis began on July 11, 2025, when a Druze vegetable merchant was assaulted and robbed by Bedouin gunmen on the Damascus-Sweida highway.

This incident sparked a cycle of retaliatory kidnappings and escalated into armed clashes by July 13, involving Druze militias, Bedouin tribes, and subsequently Syrian government forces.

The violence has been devastating, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reporting 594 fatalities by July 17, including 154 Druze civilians, 79 Druze fighters, 243 Syrian regime fighters, and 18 Bedouin militants.

Among the most disturbing aspects were reports of 83 summary executions, primarily targeting Druze civilians by government forces and their allies.

Syrian Government Intervention

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government deployed military forces to Sweida on July 14 to restore order, marking the first time government troops entered the predominantly Druze region since the December 2024 overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.

However, witnesses reported that government forces joined Bedouin fighters in attacking Druze civilians, leading to widespread looting, home destruction, and documented human rights abuses.

Israel’s Military Response

Escalation Timeline

Israel’s military intervention began on July 15 with targeted strikes on Syrian military convoys heading to Sweida.

The campaign dramatically escalated on July 16 when Israeli forces conducted their most significant attack on Damascus in years, striking:

The Syrian Defense Ministry headquarters in central Damascus

Areas near the presidential palace

The General Staff complex

Military installations across four provinces

Strategic Objectives

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has articulated a dual-track policy for Syria:

Demilitarization

Complete removal of Syrian military forces from the area south of Damascus, extending from the Golan Heights to the Jabal al-Druze region

Druze Protection

Preventing harm to Syria’s Druze minority, citing Israel’s commitment to its own Druze citizens

Netanyahu emphasized that this ceasefire was “achieved through force—not through requests, not through pleas, but through force”.

Military Operations

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have conducted over 160 airstrikes across Syrian territory, targeting government positions, military convoys, and command centers.

The strikes resulted in at least three civilian deaths and 34 injuries in Damascus alone, with additional casualties from operations in southern Syria.

International Response and Diplomatic Efforts

United Nations Condemnation

The UN Security Council convened an emergency session on July 17, with Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari condemning Israel’s actions as violations of Syria’s sovereignty that “undermine efforts to build a new Syria at peace with itself and the region”.

The UN documented severe humanitarian consequences, including:

Nearly 2,000 displaced families

Overwhelmed hospitals

Disrupted supply routes and aid deliveries

Attacks on critical infrastructure

United States Position

The Trump administration has taken a nuanced stance, with officials confirming they do not support Israel’s strikes and have urged de-escalation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the U.S. had “made clear its displeasure” with Israeli actions and was working diplomatically to resolve the crisis.

However, the U.S. helped mediate the ceasefire agreement reached on July 16, with Rubio announcing that parties had “agreed on specific steps” to end the violence.

European Union Response

The EU issued a strong statement calling on Israel to “immediately cease its strikes on Syrian territory” and condemning “any violations of Syria’s independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity”. European Council President António Costa expressed being “very concerned” by the Damascus strikes.

Regional Reactions

Turkey has provided the strongest condemnation, with President Erdogan calling Israel a “lawless, unruly, unprincipled, spoiled, pampered, and greedy terrorist state”.

Erdogan accused Israel of using the Druze as a pretext for territorial expansion and warned that continued aggression threatens regional stability.

Arab States issued a joint statement through 11 foreign ministers, including those from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, UAE, and Egypt, condemning Israeli strikes as “blatant violations of international law” and reaffirming support for Syria’s territorial integrity.

Ceasefire Agreements and Ongoing Tensions

Initial Ceasefire Collapse

A ceasefire announced on July 16 quickly collapsed as prominent Druze leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri rejected the agreement and called for continued resistance.

The agreement had included provisions for Syrian force withdrawal and the establishment of joint investigative committees.

Renewed Violence and Humanitarian Crisis

Despite the ceasefire, clashes resumed on July 17 between Druze and Bedouin fighters, with reports of revenge attacks by Druze militants against Bedouin civilians.

Syrian state media documented massacres in the al-Maqwas neighborhood, leading to mass displacement of Bedouin communities.

Limited Syrian Force Re-entry

By July 18, Israel granted 48-hour permission for limited Syrian security forces to re-enter Sweida to restore order, acknowledging the ongoing instability.

This represents a tactical adjustment in Israel’s demilitarization demands while maintaining overall strategic objectives.

Broader Regional Implications

Impact on Syrian Transition

The crisis has exposed the fragility of Syria’s post-Assad transition, highlighting the interim government’s challenges in consolidating control and protecting minority communities.

The violence has undermined confidence in the new administration’s ability to maintain stability and implement inclusive governance

Israel’s Regional Strategy

Analysts view Israel’s actions as part of a broader strategy to prevent Syrian stabilization under al-Sharaa’s government. The campaign serves multiple objectives:

Maintaining military dominance in the region

Preventing the emergence of a unified Syrian state

Demonstrating Israel’s willingness to intervene militarily

Strengthening domestic political support

Humanitarian Consequences

The conflict has created a significant humanitarian crisis with:

Nearly 600 casualties across all parties

Widespread displacement of both Druze and Bedouin populations

Destruction of civilian infrastructure

Disruption of medical services and aid delivery

Conclusion

Israel’s military campaign in Syria represents a significant escalation in regional tensions, driven by sectarian violence in Sweida province and broader strategic objectives regarding Syrian governance.

While Israel frames its actions as protecting the Druze minority, the international community has largely condemned the strikes as violations of Syrian sovereignty that threaten regional stability.

The crisis has exposed the challenges facing Syria’s transitional government and highlighted the complex sectarian dynamics that continue to threaten the country’s post-conflict recovery.

With ongoing violence despite multiple ceasefire attempts and strong international pressure for de-escalation, the situation remains volatile and could have lasting implications for Middle Eastern stability.

The international response has been largely critical, with the UN, EU, and regional powers calling for immediate cessation of hostilities and respect for Syrian sovereignty.

However, the effectiveness of diplomatic pressure remains uncertain as Israel maintains its strategic objectives and the underlying sectarian tensions in Syria persist.