Who are the trees, and why are Israel bombarding Syria in their behalf?

According to international media reports, the Syrian Army first intervened to stop clashes between Bedouin tribes and wood, but this led to air strikes by Israel, which says it is protecting the woody community. It is reported that in addition to the Sweida attacks, Israel has also attacked the Presidential Palace in Damascus, as well as the Offices of the Ministry of Defence.

International Reaction

The US has called the situation “disturbing” and has reportedly called for Israel to stop the attacks. However, Israel has warned that it will intensify the attacks if the Syrian army does not withdraw from the city.

But who are the tree trees?

The trees are an Arabic sect of about 1 million followers, concentrated in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. They practice a particular Islamic religion that does not permit conversion or mixed marriages. In Syria most of them live in Sweida and near the Golan Heights a strategic area annexed by Israel in 1981. Over 20,000 wood is known to live in Golan, most with Syrian identity.

Why are they crashing with the Syrian army?

After Bashar al-Assad's fall in December 2024, new President Ahmed al-Sahara pledged involvement and protection for minorities. But Islamist forces supporting the government have hit minority communities, including the Alavites and the tree trees. The trees refuse to disarm and integrate into the new army and are dissatisfied with government representation.

Why is Israel interfering?

Israel says it is interfering in fighting to protect wood trees in Syria, due to historic and family ties with about 130,000 wood trees living in Israel and serving in the army. Tel Aviv has declared a demilitarised area in southern Syria, but the Syrian government has rejected it as a violation of its sovereignty.

Can there be an agreement between Israel and the new Syrian government?

Since Assad's fall, Israel has continued attacks in Syria and has received more territory, despite US efforts to bring Syria closer to Abraham's agreements. In May, President Trump met with Syrian President al-Sahara in Riyadh and announced the removal of US sanctions on Syria a step towards normalising international relations.

It is also known that Israel has held direct and indirect talks with the new Syrian government since the collapse of the Assad regime. But Israel's repeated attacks on Syrian territory and the expanded military presence in the country threaten to complicate these ambitions.

In May, al-Sahara stated that indirect talks with Israel were intended to end the attacks. But that didn't happen.

Netanyahu has previously called the new government in Damascus a <x0-Islam regime extremist” and a threat to the state of Israel. Israeli attacks on Syria also make it difficult to try al-Sahara to consolidate authority in the country and present a possible normalisation agreement as a victory for Syria's sovereignty and its people. /Periscopi/