Druze community of Majdal Shams mourns Sgt. Maher Khatar, who defied cultural norms to serve in IDF
The Druze town of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights of northern Israel is mourning the death of Sgt. First Class Maher Khatar, who was killed overnight on Sunday at a post in southern Lebanon alongside Staff Sgt. Or Demry.
Yasmina Khatar, Maher’s widow, told Ynet News about his decision to enlist, his deployment into Lebanon, and the challenge of moving forward after his death with their two daughters.
She said the couple had spoken at length about his decision to join the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the dangers it carried.
“I knew it could one day end with a knock on the door…It was not the first time he went in there. We took everything into account. We understood what could happen. He simply went in and fought.”
Khatar, a 38-year-old heavy engineering equipment operator in the Combat Engineering Corps’ 91st Division, was killed alongside Demry at the Magen Tzivoni outpost near Margaliot on the Ramim Ridge, which runs along the Israel-Lebanon border. The post is one of several new positions the IDF established following its latest ground operation in Lebanon, according to Ynet News.
A combat engineering unit that included two D9 bulldozers had been dispatched to recover a tank from the 601st Battalion that had become immobilized. During the operation, one of the 91st Division’s D9 bulldozers was struck, killing the two soldiers.
Forces then requested air support to provide cover as the two wounded men were evacuated.
WATCH: Khatar lifts the spirits of his fellow soldiers in a video captured before he fell in battle
Khatar’s decision to enlist carried particular weight in Majdal Shams, where military service in the IDF has historically been rare.
Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed the territory. Many Druze residents continued to identify as Syrian and chose not to take Israeli citizenship. Because they are not subject to Israel’s compulsory military draft – which applies to Druze citizens elsewhere in the country – enlistment from Majdal Shams remained uncommon for many years.
For Khatar, the decision to enlist was not easy. He faced significant opposition within his community.
“There was absolute resistance here to anything related to enlistment. It was not accepted and not customary,” Yasmina said.
“But Maher firmly decided to follow that path. That was truly what he wanted. He did it with courage and from the heart. He wanted to defend the state and be part of it. He always told me, ‘This is a mission. To be part of the state as an Israeli citizen.’ Despite all the dangers, he said, ‘I want this and I will do it.’”
Recent violence has also shaped attitudes in the village.
On July 27, 2024, dozens of children and teenagers were playing soccer in Majdal Shams when a Hezbollah rocket struck the field, killing 12 young people and shattering the community.
In recent years, these reminders of tragedy have contributed to a shift among younger residents, with roughly 150 people from the village choosing to volunteer for military service.
Last year, Syrian troops loyal to President Ahmad al-Sharaa carried out a massacre in the Druze-majority province of Sweida, an event that also led to a small but noticeable increase in enlistment among Druze youth in the Golan.
Yasmina Khatar said her husband had decided to serve in the Israeli military long before that event.
“The massacre in Sweida raised awareness among many people. Many young people took the initiative and decided to enlist. It was a breakthrough moment for them to understand that if we do not stand here in our country, it would be a mistake not to be part of the defense and protection of the state,” she explained.
Khatar leaves behind two daughters as well. “At first, they tried to suppress what happened. They did not want to believe it,” Yasmina said. “Then yesterday evening it finally sank in. They understood that their father had been killed and would not return.”
She said coping with the loss will remain difficult for them all.
“I have an amazing family that supports me, my parents, his parents, all of us united,” she said. “I am a strong person, even if sometimes I break down, cry and carry the pain in my heart. This is a very hard loss, but I must be strong. I have two daughters that I must raise and take care of.”
Yasmina also recalled her final conversation with her husband during a video call on Saturday. “He saw us and we spoke,” she said. “I asked him how he was feeling, what he was eating and drinking. The girls also asked him questions. He told me, ‘Take care of the girls.’ That was our last conversation. On Sunday, the terrible news arrived.”
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
You might also like to read this:
