Druze community in Lebanon stand firm against civil war, reject external protection

At a Druze gathering in Beirut on March 3, community leaders reaffirmed their commitment to rejecting civil war in Syria and emphasized their dedication to integration within society.

“We are dedicated to preserving existential principles and the sect will not abandon them,” asserting that the Druze community would “not be protected by an enemy,” Druze Sheikh Aql in Lebanon, Sami Abou al-Mona, stated, Caliber.Az reports via Arab media.

Prominent Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, speaking at the gathering, warned of looming threats to the Druze creed and Arab heritage. He declared, “Danger is lurking against the essence of our creed and Arab heritage,” highlighting the challenges facing the Druze in Lebanon and beyond.

Jumblatt also criticized Israel’s stance regarding the Druze, saying, “Zionism is using the Druze as soldiers and officers to oppress the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. Today, they want to pounce on Jabal al-Arab,” referring to the predominantly Druze region in southern Syria’s Sweida province.

Jumblatt cautioned, “This phase is far more dangerous than the situation we were in on May 17 and the days of the Israeli occupation of Beirut.” He warned of a "major plot" to drag “the weak willed to a civil war,” stressing the importance of taking the “right stance” during this period.

Tensions between the Druze and Syria’s new leadership have escalated, especially in light of recent clashes. Last week, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported one death and several injuries following a dispute in Jaramana, Damascus, where local gunmen clashed with security forces. Syrian security forces have warned such incidents could harm “Syria’s security, stability, and unity.”

In response, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stern warning, stating, “If the regime harms the Druze, it will suffer the consequences.” He emphasized that Israel's military was prepared to defend Druze communities in the area, signaling Israel’s firm stance on protecting the minority group.

By Vafa Guliyeva