Syrian government rejects Netanyahu's claims on Druze protection, accuses Israel of harming As-Suwayda

An official Syrian government source responded to Prime Minister Netanyahu's remarks about stopping the Syrian army from harming Druze in southern Syria. The source stated: "The Druze community in As-Suwayda was and will remain an inseparable part of the Syrian national fabric. We categorically reject all attempts to make political use of the Druze community or to involve it in election propaganda and campaigns in Israel." The statement accused Israel of having "a central and premeditated role in actions intended to harm internal peace in the As-Suwayda Governorate in July of last year."