Druze, Syria and Israel

First Druze crossing in 50 years as Israel courts allies in Syria
It's the first time in five decades that Druze leaders have crossed from Syria into Israeli-controlled territory to visit Druze religious sites and communities here. The buffer zo
Druze clerics cross from Syria to Israel for first time in decades
Druze clerics who crossed from Syria, were welcome by hundreds of members of the Israel Druze community at the Nabi Shuaib shrine compound, in northern Israel.
Druze Religious Elders From Syria Make Historic Visit to Israel
People gather on the day Israeli Druze leader Sheik Mowafaq Tarif and around 100 Syrian Druze religious elders, in the first Druze delegation from Syria just after 1973 war, visit the Nabi Shuayb Shrine, a holy place for the Druze community, in northern Israel March 14, 2025. REUTERS/Ammar Awad
Dozens of Syrian Druze make a rare visit to Israeli-controlled Golan Heights
Over half of the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel and the Golan Heights, a rocky plateau seized from Syria by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. Israel’s 1981 annexation of the area is recognized only by the United States, with the rest of the world considering it occupied Syrian territory.
Israeli Druze prepare for first visit by Syrian Druze in decades
The head of the Druze community in Israel on Thursday hailed plans for the first visit by a Druze religious delegation from Syria in five decades, despite escalating cross-border tensions underscored by an Israeli airstrike on Damascus.
Three buses carrying Druze from Syria cross into Israeli-controlled area of the Golan Heights
The visit comes as Israel says it is supporting the minority in a country now ruled by Islamists. But many Druze have rejected its overtures, and critics accuse Israel of trying to weaken and divide Syria following the overthrow of President Bashar Assad.
After Violence in Syria, Israel Says It Is Prepared to Defend Syria's Druze
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel said on Monday that it was willing to defend Syria's Druze community following days of violence in Syria that a war monitor said led to mass killings of another religious minority. The violence began last week between fighters linked to Syria's new government and forces loyal to ousted president Bashar al-Assad.
Syrian Druse Pilgrims Enter Israel in a Historic Visit
Syrian Druse pilgrims entered Israel from Syria in a rare visit to a shrine, and were welcomed by the local Druse community.
Druze sheikhs arrive in Israel from Syria in historic visit to prophet's shrine
The Druze sheikhs arrived via buses to the border gate, where they were by their Druze brethren living in Israel.
Naharnet on MSN1d
Jumblat warns Druze against being used to 'partition Syria and region'
Lebanon's Druze leader Walid Jumblat on Sunday called on the Druze of Syria to preserve their "Arab identity.""Preserve your stance in the face of the occupation of Arab territory in the Syrian Golan, ...
Druze seek a place in a changing Syria, navigating pressures from the government and Israel
Members of the small religious sect find themselves caught between two forces that many of them distrust: the new, ...
ABC News6d
Syria's Druze seek a place in a changing nation, navigating pressures from the government and Israel
Syria’s Druze minority is trying to navigate a new, uncertain Syria JARAMANA, Syria -- Syria’s Druze minority has a long history of cutting their own path to survive among the country’s ...
The Times of Israel2d
Woman lightly hurt by celebratory gunfire as Syrian Druze visit nearby tomb in Israel
A woman was lightly injured by celebratory gunfire on Friday night as dozens of Syrian Druze clerics visited a revered shrine ...
Factbox-Syria's Sects: Delicate Mix for Its New Islamist Leaders
- The Christians are split into a number of denominations - some of them tiny communities with ancient roots in pre-Islamic ...
Israel faces new Syria challenge as it adjusts to new strategy amid regional power struggle for influence
Israel is rethinking its Syria strategy following the country's Islamist takeover in December, rising attacks on minorities ...
Israeli fighter jets fly low over Syria in 'message' to Sharaa on Druze
Another aim of the air display was to drive interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's forces away from the Druze areas of Syria, ...