The Times of Israel, July 17, 2025
The unprecedented Israeli Air Force strikes against Syrian regime forces attempting to massacre the Druze minority in Sweida were not merely military operations – they sent a powerful moral message. With significant regional power comes moral responsibility – not merely to project strength, but to defend allies facing existential threats. By targeting strategic sites in Damascus – the Syrian Ministry of Defense and the presidential palace – Israel underscored its unbreakable commitment: protecting minority allies is non-negotiable when their survival is at stake. For decades, Israeli Druze have served loyally in the Israeli military, fighting shoulder to shoulder with Jewish soldiers – a profound bond tested and proven in blood. Israel’s decision marks a historic moment: never before has a regional power intervened so explicitly to protect minority rights within another state’s borders.
The Druze, numbering about one million, have historically been targeted by radical Islamist groups and unstable regimes, most recently by forces loyal to President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose connections to extremist factions and inability or unwillingness to curb violence are well-documented. In recent days, nearly one thousand Druze have fled into Israeli territory, fearing for their lives despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations. Such incidents starkly illustrate the fragility of temporary ceasefires and international promises. Reports from Sweida indicated systematic acts of violence, including targeted killings, torture, and burning of civilian properties. Such brutality triggered an urgent Israeli military response – not merely symbolic, but calculated to decisively halt the regime’s advances. Israel’s intervention thus represents more than strategic necessity; it is deeply anchored in historic bonds and profound moral obligation.
Therefore, any future agreement between Israel and Syria must explicitly guarantee an internationally recognized special autonomous status for the Druze Mountain region, backed by enforceable security guarantees similar to arrangements successfully implemented elsewhere. Such status should ensure free passage for humanitarian, medical, commercial, and familial needs. This special status should explicitly prohibit Syrian military and hostile militia presence without clear consent, enforcing a de facto demilitarized zone that Israel will actively monitor. The agreement must clearly stipulate that any Israeli military response to violations of Druze autonomy would not constitute interference in Syria’s internal affairs or a breach of the agreement. Such enforcement reflects Israel’s moral commitment, ensuring the agreement’s credibility beyond mere diplomacy. This must be a clear and non-negotiable red line within any future Israeli-Syrian agreement. Ignoring these guarantees would directly threaten regional stability and undermine the survival of the Damascus regime itself.
Indeed, Israel’s proven willingness to enforce these protections militarily is crucial not only to minority survival but also to the regime’s own longevity.
International precedents, while imperfect, show the viability of such autonomous arrangements. The Kurdish Autonomous Region in northern Iraq successfully provides relative security, self-governance, and independent defense capabilities. Similarly, Kosovo operated under international protection from 1999 to 2008, before declaring independence. However, the primary lesson from these cases is clear: international assurances without concrete enforcement mechanisms and credible military guarantees mean nothing when tested by violence and instability. History has repeatedly demonstrated that reliable security depends not on diplomatic promises alone, but on real power and the willingness to deploy it when necessary. Unlike distant international forces, Israel has repeatedly demonstrated both proximity and resolve to enforce protections militarily and swiftly.
Drawing lessons from these precedents, Israel must also extend its commitment explicitly to the Kurdish minority in the region. Israel, having maintained historical and covert ties with Kurdish groups since the 1960s, must openly advocate for an independent Kurdish state as both a strategic interest and moral imperative, even if it requires significant territorial adjustments. Without a clear, permanent solution – self-determination and sovereign statehood – they will remain vulnerable to manipulation, persecution, and violence. An independent Kurdistan aligns with Israel’s moral values and offers a strategic buffer against Iranian expansionism and extremist threats.
As with the Druze, abandoning Kurdish aspirations would severely undermine Israel’s credibility and regional stability. Recent actions prove Israel’s resolve: it will not hesitate to use military force firmly to defend its allies when diplomacy fails. Israel will not allow the Druze and Kurdish people to be sacrificed for false promises of stability or diplomatic convenience.
President Trump’s eagerness for quick diplomatic victories, ignoring Erdogan’s neo-Ottoman ambitions and al-Sharaa’s extremist ties, fundamentally misreads Middle Eastern realities. By persistently viewing Turkey and Syria as potential anchors of regional stability, despite overwhelming evidence of their leaders’ extremist agendas and close affiliations with jihadist factions, Western policymakers dangerously compromise their own strategic interests. Equipping Ankara and accommodating Damascus without stringent safeguards is more than naive – it’s a direct threat to international security.
Hurried peace agreements that deliberately ignore Erdogan’s aggressive neo-Ottoman vision and al-Sharaa’s dangerous alliances with radical Islamist groups are doomed from inception – these flawed diplomatic shortcuts inevitably transform temporary illusions of peace into prolonged regional turmoil. Policymakers would benefit from recalling history’s harsh lessons, particularly from Chamberlain’s ill-fated Munich Agreement, demonstrating that peace built on illusions inevitably leads to war. Real peace is never achieved through shortcuts or symbolic ceremonies; it demands courageous decisions, principled leadership, and an unwavering commitment to protecting the vulnerable.
Currently, Israel stands virtually alone in recognizing and countering the strategic peril posed by Erdogan’s Turkey and al-Sharaa’s Syria. Its consistent willingness to confront such threats head-on distinguishes it starkly from Western allies, underscoring Israel’s unique moral clarity and strategic foresight.
Israel’s true strength lies not merely in military might, but in its courage to defend those who depend on it – embodying strategic wisdom and moral responsibility.
An earlier Hebrew version of this article was originally published in Maariv. The present version has been expanded and revised by the author.
About the Author
Shay Gal is a senior strategic advisor and analyst specializing in international security, defense policy, geopolitical crisis management, and strategic communications. He served as Vice President of External Relations at Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and previously held senior advisory roles for Israeli government ministers, focusing on crisis management, policy formulation, and strategic influence. Shay consults governments, senior military leaders, and global institutions on navigating complex geopolitical landscapes, shaping effective defense strategies, and fostering international strategic cooperation. His writing and analysis address international power dynamics, security challenges, economics, and leadership, offering practical insights and solutions to today’s global issues.