On Wednesday, Israel launched targeted airstrikes on the Syrian town of Sahnaya, claiming it had intelligence of extremist cells plotting attacks on local Druze communities. The Israeli military described the operation as a “preventive measure to protect the Druze community,” citing long-standing crossborder familial and cultural ties between Israeli Druze and their counterparts in southern Syria.
The strikes follow sectarian violence that erupted recently Syria’s Rif Dimashq Governorate, centered in the Druze-majority suburbs of Jaramana and Sahnaya near Damascus. The unrest was triggered by a fabricated audio clip attributed to a Druze religious figure, allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad. The fake recording ignited retaliatory violence by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s Sunni military forces against Druze armed groups, resulting in the killing of at least 16 people, including civilians and Syrian security forces.
As clashes escalated, Druze armed factions attacked security checkpoints using RPGs and automatic weapons. The Syrian government has been struggling to impose order amid the chaos.
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The strike provoked immediate condemnation from Ankara. Speaking in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan denounced Israel’s involvement as “a dangerous and unacceptable provocation.” He warned, “Turkey will not stand idly by while foreign powers pour fuel on Syria’s wounds. We will not allow any entity to exploit Syria’s fragmentation—be it through ethnicity, religion, or proxy war.”
Erdoğan reiterated his position in a cabinet meeting. “Israel seeks to dynamite Syria’s revolution and reimpose chaos under the guise of security,” he said. “This will not be tolerated. Our commitment is clear: there will be no other entity in Syria than a united Syrian state.”
He also hinted that further Israeli operations could draw a stronger Turkish response: “If these aggressions continue, let it be known—we will not hesitate to take necessary steps to protect regional balance and our own national security.
The situation underscores the volatile interplay of regional powers in post-Assad Syria. Turkey is backing the al-Sharaa-led transitional authority and remains adamant about preventing Kurdish autonomy near its borders. Meanwhile, Israel’s assertive posture—framed around counterterrorism and minority protection—risks pushing the region closer to direct confrontation.