Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa strongly condemned Israel in a speech, accusing it of deliberately “creating discord within Syria” and escalating violence in Sweida Province. His remarks came amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes and deadly clashes between Druze fighters and Syrian forces, as reported by the President's Media Office on July 17.

The Syrian president's speech comes after days of clashes between Druze fighters in the south and airstrikes by Israel, which are backing the minority group against the Turkish-backed Sunni-led regime in Damascus, which was directly targeted by Israeli airstrikes on July 17. 

In a strongly worded speech, President al-Sharaa praised the resilience of the Syrian people and framed the current crisis as part of a broader campaign to protect the unity and sovereignty of Syria. “Our people sacrificed dearly so Syria would remain free and proud,” he said. “They remain ready to fight for their dignity in the face of any threat.”

The new president pointed directly to Israeli involvement, accusing the state of trying to turn Syria into an arena for endless conflict. “The Israeli entity, which has always targeted our stability and sown discord since the fall of the former regime, now seeks once again to transform our sacred land into a theatre of chaos,” Al-Sharaa said.

“This entity relentlessly uses every method to sow disputes and conflicts,” he continued, “forgetting that Syrians, in their long history, have rejected all separation and division.”

Al-Sharaa warned against underestimating Syria’s resolve, stating, “Possessing great power does not guarantee victory, and starting a war does not mean one can control its outcomes. We, the sons of this land, are best equipped to withstand Israel’s attempts to divide us, and too resilient to be shaken by manufactured discord.”

Addressing the internal clashes in Suwayda, the president revealed that the government had stepped in to stop escalating violence between local armed groups and to restore law and order. “The Syrian state, with all its institutions and leadership, intervened decisively to halt the internal fighting in Sweida,” he said.

“Instead of aiding efforts to calm the situation, some lawless factions accustomed to chaos and incitement emerged. These same individuals had refused dialogue for months and put their narrow personal interests above the national good.”

Al-Sharaa claimed the government’s efforts had successfully restored calm to the area and driven out these groups, despite continued Israeli efforts to derail stabilisation. “The Israeli entity responded by expanding its strikes on civilian and government infrastructure to undermine these efforts,” he noted.

The president credited international mediation for preventing a wider war: “Were it not for the effective mediation of US, Arab, and Turkey, the region could have faced an unknown fate.”

According to al-Sharaa, Damascus was left with two options: “We stood at a crossroads—either launch an open war with Israel, jeopardising the safety of our Druze community and the country’s stability, or allow Druze elders to return to reason and prioritise national interests over those seeking to tarnish the honourable reputation of the mountain’s people.”

Speaking directly to the Druze community, al-Sharaa said, “I address our Druze brothers, an integral part of our national fabric—Syria will never be a place for division or sectarian strife. Protecting your rights and freedoms is a top priority. We reject any attempt to drag you toward external agendas or sow division within our ranks.”