*Ankara/Damascus, July 2025* – A fiery political storm has erupted after Turkey's pro-Kurdish DEM Party condemned attacks on Syria's Druze community while facing counter-accusations of promoting Israeli interests, exposing deep regional fault lines.
Core Developments
DEM Party Statement (July 16, 2025)
Condemned HTS-led "Temporary Damascus Administration" for operations targeting Druze in Sweida
Warned of "massacre risks" against religious minorities, comparing actions to ISIS
Called for international intervention against "monopolistic regime-building"
Backlash from Pro-Syrian Factions
Accused DEM of using Druze plight to mask alleged Israeli alignment
Cited Druze leaders' reaffirmed loyalty to Damascus: "Our existence is a curse upon Israel"
Viral social media posts claim DEM members previously waved Israeli flags
International Reactions
1. Al Jazeera Analysis
"The DEM Party's statement reflects Turkey's complex Syria policy—balancing Kurdish interests with anti-HTS rhetoric. However, Damascus and its allies view this as Ankara exploiting sectarian tensions to undermine Assad."
2. The Guardian Diplomatic Desk
"Statements invoking Mossad jargon fuel conspiracy theories. With Druze communities historically divided between Syria, Israel, and Lebanon, this incident risks exacerbating regional proxy wars."
3. Carnegie Middle East Center
"The DEM Party walks a tightrope. While advocating for minority rights aligns with its platform, accusations of Israeli ties could alienate its Arab nationalist base."
4. Reuters Regional Security Sources
"Sweida remains a tinderbox. Druze militias have clashed with both HTS and Syrian Army units. Any external interference—real or perceived—could trigger wider conflict."
Geopolitical Undercurrents
A. The Druze Dilemma
In Syria: 700,000 Druze face pressure from HTS extremism and state conscription
In Israel: 150,000 Druze serve in IDF while Golan communities reject Israeli citizenship
B. Proxy War Dynamics
| Actor | Stance |
|---|---|
| Damascus | Labels DEM as "Turkish-Israeli collaborators" |
| Ankara | Silent on DEM statement; focuses on HTS as terrorist group |
| Tel Aviv | No comment, but historically views Druze as buffer against Hezbollah |
C. Social Media Warfare
Trending hashtags: #DEMisMossad (pro-Assad) vs #SaveSyrianDruze (DEM allies)
Viral video: Alleged DEM member shouting "I’ll eat your Mossad jargon!" at rally
Analysis: What’s Really at Play?
1. DEM’s Calculated Risk
Goal: Position itself as defender of all Middle Eastern minorities (Kurds, Druze, Alawites)
Danger: Alienates Arab allies who see this as Kurdish expansionism masked as human rights advocacy
2. Assad’s Counter-Narrative
Weaponizes accusations of Israeli ties to discredit all opposition
Druze loyalty pledges help Damascus frame itself as pluralism’s last defender
3. Israel’s Silent Stake
Golan Druze neutrality is strategic asset; chaos in Sweida could spill over
"This isn’t about Druze welfare—it’s a battle over who ‘owns’ anti-extremism rhetoric in Syria. DEM seeks to delegitimize HTS as the new ISIS, while Damascus paints DEM as Mossad’s Trojan horse."
— Dr. Lina Khatib, Chatham House Middle East Program
What Next?
Escalation Risk: HTS may intensify Sweida operations to prove DEM’s warnings valid
Turkish Response: Will Erdogan tolerate DEM’s independent Syria diplomacy?
Druze Reaction: Unified condemnation or fractured loyalties?
◼️ Key Context
HTS (Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham): 30,000-strong Salafist group controlling Idlib
DEM Party: Successor to HDP, holds 62 seats in Turkish parliament
Sweida: Last majority-Druze Syrian province, avoided major war until 2023
Sources: Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, MEMRI, Turkish and Israeli intelligence briefings.
