Lebanese political figure Walid Jumblatt has pledged to visit Syria and warned of Israeli “plots” to destabalise the country, following clashes at a Damascus suburb.
Following an outbreak of violence in the mostly Druze and Christian city of Jaramana, part of the Damascus governorate, Israel issued a stark threat to the new Syrian government saying it was ready to intervene, sparking protests in Syria.
Jumblatt, a prominent Druze leader in Lebanon, said Sunday he would soon visit Syria to speak with its interim leader, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, following a meeting between the two figures in December.
He also warned Syrians against Israeli plans to divide the country.
“The free Syrians must be cautious of the plots of Israel,” Jumblatt said on Sunday.
“In Syria, there is a plot for sabotage. There is a plot for sabotage in the region and for the Arabs’ national security.”
Jumblatt, former leader of the Druze-dominated Progressive Socialist Party, has been a key supporter of the Syrian revolution which toppled Bashar Al-Assad last December. He has some influence among the country’s Druze minority who largely stayed out of Syria’s civil war.
Jaramana, a historically Druze city, has seen heightened tensions in recent days following clashes between local Druze fighters and Syrian security forces, which saw one officer killed and another captured and later released.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Saturday issued a warning to Al-Sharaa’s government about the presence of Syrian troops in the south of the country, using the pretext of “protecting minorities”, and reportedly drew up plans to intervene in Jaramana.
“We will not allow the extreme Islamic regime in Syria to harm the Druze. If the regime harms the Druze, it will be struck by us,” Katz said.
“We are committed to our Druze brothers in Israel to do everything to prevent harm to their Druze brothers in Syria, and we will take all the steps required to maintain their safety.”
The Druze of Syria held protests against Israel after Katz’s comments, while local Druze leaders in Jaramana said they would “withdraw protection from all offenders and outlaws” and hand over to authorities “to face justice” any suspects involved in recent violence.
Syrian forces entered Jaramana on Sunday flying Druze flags to the cheers of locals, which appeared to put an end to tensions in the city.
