IDF on High Alert as Dozens of Druze Crossed the Border Amid Ongoing Clashes in Syrian Sweida

Tensions along the Israeli-Syrian border escalated Saturday night as dozens of young Druze citizens from Israel crossed into Syria in response to escalating sectarian violence in the Syrian city of Sweida. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are bracing for further border breaches overnight amid fears that additional youths may attempt to cross to support the besieged Druze community in Syria.

Demonstrations and gatherings took place throughout Saturday near the border fence, culminating in approximately 100 Druze citizens crossing into Syrian territory. Eyewitnesses reported scuffles between protesters and IDF soldiers, with some participants allegedly resorting to violence.

According to military sources, most of those who crossed into Syria later returned to Israeli territory. Nonetheless, the IDF Northern Command, alongside the Israel Police and Border Guard, has reinforced its presence and is preparing for further disturbances through the night.

Sweida: Violence Despite Ceasefire Calls

The unrest in Israel follows ongoing clashes between Druze and Bedouin militias in Sweida, southern Syria — an area traditionally home to the country’s Druze minority. Despite calls from the United States for an immediate ceasefire, fighting has continued unabated.

Testimonies emerging from the region paint a grim picture. Rima, a 45-year-old Druze resident of Sweida who spoke to the BBC under a pseudonym, described scenes of “barbaric” violence unfolding in what was once considered a quiet town.

“There were bodies everywhere outside our building,” she recounted over the phone. “I never imagined this could happen in our peaceful city.”

Rima, like many others, has barricaded herself inside her home as gunfire and explosions continue outside. She described armed men — including regime forces and foreign fighters — going door to door earlier this week.

“One of the hardest moments in life is sitting and waiting for someone to come into your house and decide whether you deserve to live or die,” she said, her voice shaking.

IDF Monitors Situation Closely

Israeli defense officials say they are monitoring the situation with increasing concern. Though they estimate that most of the Druze who crossed the border returned, the symbolism and emotional pull of the fighting in Sweida has stirred deep responses among the Israeli Druze community.

“Given the scale of the violence reported and the emotional ties to the Druze community in Syria, we expect more attempts to cross the border tonight,” said a senior military official.

The IDF emphasized that any breach of the international border remains illegal and dangerous and that they are coordinating closely with other security agencies to prevent escalation.

Background: Sectarian Clashes in Syria’s South

Sweida, a Druze-majority city in southern Syria, has largely remained insulated from much of the Syrian civil war until recent months. However, renewed tensions between Druze militias and Bedouin groups, allegedly exacerbated by outside interference and economic collapse, have reignited conflict in the area.

Despite international mediation efforts and ceasefire calls, the violence has not abated, and reports of atrocities continue to emerge.

As Syria’s southern region descends further into chaos, the effects are spilling over into Israel. The emotional and familial ties between Israel's Druze population and those in Sweida are fueling grassroots mobilization — and testing the IDF’s ability to maintain control of a volatile border. The next 24 hours may prove decisive as tensions, and the risk of cross-border confrontation, remain high.