Alawites Beg Israel To Intervene In Syria

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The leaders of the Alawite community in Syria sent an urgent letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials, including the Foreign Minister, requesting protection from the country’s new regime. The letter, published by i24NEWS, was delivered through local contacts and mediators between the Syrian population and Israel.

The urgent appeal from the Alawite leaders comes after a series of massacres carried out by the new Syrian president, Ahmad al-Sharaa (al-Jolani), against the local Alawite population over the past weekend. Their request for protection follows Israel’s declaration that it will not allow the new Syrian regime to harm the country’s Druze population.

Defense Minister Israel Katz slammed Syria’s Islamist rulers in the wake of the massacres, but has stopped short of offering assistance to the Alawite community, who were once aligned with the pro-Iranian Assad regime.

“[Abu Mohammed] al-Julani switched his robe for a suit and presented a moderate face,” Katz says in a statement, using the nom de guerre of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. “Now he’s taken off the mask and exposed his true face: A jihadist terrorist of the al-Qaeda school who is committing horrifying acts against a civilian population.”

In their letter, the Alawite leaders expressed their fears following the fall of the Assad regime, to which they had previously been loyal. They described the massacres in Alawite areas and demanded Israeli protection, assistance, and support, emphasizing that the world remains silent about what is happening in Syria and that only Israel’s voice is heard. The leaders added, “We extend our hands to you and will be your best and most loyal friends.”

As part of their appeal, the Alawite leaders outlined several concrete requests, including a call for the Israeli military, including the Air Force, to intervene and protect them. They also urged Israel to unite against “the Islamist tide led by Turkey” and requested help in separating themselves from “this extremist state.” Additionally, they emphasized their shared status as minorities in the Middle East and promised a warm welcome for Israelis if they arrive on Syria’s predominantly Alawite coast, stating: “If you come to the Syrian coast, which is mostly Alawite, you will be greeted with songs and flowers.”