Axios: US intel shows no involvement of Syrian government in Suwayda hostilities

US intelligence reports indicate that the Syrian government was not involved in any violations committed in the city of Suwayda.

This confirmation comes amid a major escalation of Israeli military actions targeting Syrian government sites in southern Syria and the capital, Damascus, triggered by Israeli accusations of “violations” against Druze groups allegedly linked to Damascus, Caliber.Az writes, citing Axios.

Israeli strikes on Syrian targets — including military facilities near the presidential palace in Damascus — intensified on Tuesday (July 15) and Wednesday (July 16). Israeli authorities claim the strikes are aimed at “protecting the Druze minority” in Syria.

A senior U.S. official told Axios that Israel’s actions are driven by domestic political pressure from Israel’s Druze community, which makes up about 2 per cent of the population, on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Contrary to the Israeli version of events, the senior U.S. official confirmed to Axios that U.S. intelligence has not found any evidence of the Syrian government’s involvement in the violations committed in As-Suwayda.

U.S. officials are concerned that these attacks could destabilize the new Syrian government and “seriously undermine” progress toward a new security agreement between Israel and Syria.

In recent days, there have been clashes between a Druze militia and a Bedouin gang in the city of Suwayda in southern Syria. There has been sporadic violence between members of the two minority groups since dictator Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December and replaced by ex-militant Ahmed al-Sharaa.

When the Syrian government sent in tanks to try to restore order, the Israeli air force attacked those tanks. The U.S. official said Syria had notified Israel in advance about the tanks and said its response was not directed at Israel.

But Israeli officials claim the tanks entered a zone that Israel, which is occupying parts of western Syria, has demanded be demilitarised of heavy weapons.

Over the last 24 hours, clashes continued in Suwayda between the Druze, the Bedouins, militias affiliated with the Syrian government and Syrian security forces. According to the Syrian human rights observatory in London, at least 250 people have been killed.

By Khagan Isayev