Syria after Assad: Why Israel's vow to 'protect' the Druze is hollow

Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, Syria is now at a critical juncture, striving for national stability and reconstruction under President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Sectarian tensions have recently resurfaced, particularly between Druze communities and Bedouin tribes, highlighting the deep scars left by years of civil war. Israel's intervention, framed as protecting the Druze, involves air strikes and veiled threats, further destabilizing the region. Some Israeli commentators have even suggested dividing Syria to create a Druze autonomous region, reflecting a broader strategy of fragmenting the Middle East along ethnic and religious lines.