Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara accused Israel of trying to destabilize Syria and divide its people, saying, “We are strong enough to defeat all Israeli attempts.” In his first public address since recent Israeli strikes, al-Shara said, “Since the fall of the Assad regime, Israel has tried to sow discord and hinder our recovery efforts.”
He declared that Syria “is not a testing ground for foreign conspiracies,” and emphasized unity among all communities, particularly addressing the Druze minority. “We will not allow external forces to tarnish our nation’s diversity,” he said.
Al-Shara also blamed “outlaw groups” in Sweida for fueling unrest, stating they refused dialogue and endangered civilians. He claimed Israel’s attacks on infrastructure have escalated tensions.
Thanking countries including Türkiye for their mediation, al-Shara said Syria chose “prudence over war” to safeguard national unity. He confirmed local and religious leaders will help maintain order in Sweida and pledged justice for crimes against the Druze community.