Israel: We are ready to protect the Druze village of Hadr in Syria

The Israeli army has stated that it is prepared to protect a Druze village in Syria that has been retaken by government forces. The Syrian government claims that an attack by the al-Nusra Front resulted in the deaths of nine people in this village. Reuters described the Israeli army's statement, which explicitly mentioned readiness to intervene in the Syrian civil war, as unusual. Syrian state media reported that a suicide bomber, driving a car bomb, killed nine people and injured 23 others at a checkpoint in the Druze village of Hadr, located near the city of Quneitra. Sources from the Syrian army indicated that the suicide attack was carried out by the al-Nusra Front. According to Reuters, the Quneitra province is particularly sensitive for Israel due to its proximity to the Golan Heights. During the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel occupied a significant portion of the Golan Heights. In 1981, Israel annexed the Golan Heights, but this annexation has not been recognized by the United Nations. On Friday, rebels prepared an attack against government positions in Quneitra province to connect two areas still under opposition control. Reuters noted that the suicide attack on Hadr was part of this operation, which the Syrian government attributed to the al-Nusra Front. Syrian state media accuse Israel of supporting the al-Nusra Front in various ways, but Israel has denied these allegations. The Druze minority resides in Syria, Israel, Palestinian territories, and Lebanon. Druze in Israel, some of whom hold high positions in the Israeli army and government, have called for Israeli support for the Druze in Syria. Syrian television has released images showing Druze residents in the Golan Heights under Israeli control trying to reach Hadr to provide assistance. The Israeli army tweeted that Israeli soldiers did not allow Druze residents from the Golan to go to Hadr. In its statement, the Israeli army said, 'The Israeli army is prepared and ready to assist the residents of this village (Hadr) and, out of its commitment to the Druze, prevent harm or domination over Hadr.' Meanwhile, the Israeli Air Force confirmed that it has bombed nearly 100 shipments of 'arms' belonging to the Syrian army and Hezbollah in recent years. The Syrian government reported that on Wednesday night, an Israeli aircraft bombed a factory in the city of Homs, and Syrian air defense fired a surface-to-air missile at this aircraft. While an Israeli army spokesperson declined to comment on this matter, Channel 10 in Israel reported that the aircraft returned safely to Israel.