After Trump first shook hands with Sharaa in May, Israel in August halted the flow of weapons to the Druze, Israeli and Druze officials say. Internally, Israeli officials have shelved discussions to turn the Syrian Druze into an Israeli armed proxy militia amid concerns about infighting among Syrian Druze leaders and the risk of Israel becoming entangled in Syria, according to Israeli officials and government advisers. Israeli military and intelligence operations in 2024 had weakened key allies of Assad, Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, increasing his isolation. Israeli officials supported arming the Druze based on two considerations, an Israeli official said. Today, Israeli officials and others briefed on their thinking say the situation in Syria — and Israel’s policy toward the Druze — remain fluid.

Source: Washington Post December 24, 2025 03:47 UTC