With continued uncertainty over Druze city of Suwayda, Israel discusses security agreement with Syria

With the situation in the Druze-majority city of Suwayda in southern Syria still unclear, reports on Tuesday said that Israel has been paying salaries to around 3,000 Druze militia fighters. 

The story, which was reported by Reuters, cited two senior Druze figures with confirmation by a “Western intelligence source,” who said that Israel’s involvement helped to unify splintered Druze factions to confront sectarian violence. The Druze officials also said that Israel had helped provide rifles, ammunition, and salaries to the Druze fighters. 

The move comes as Druze leaders have demanded greater autonomy in Syria, while also requesting a humanitarian corridor to northern Israel, which contains a large Israeli Druze population. 

In August, the Druze announced the creation of the “National Guard,” an umbrella group endorsed by Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri to help defend the Druze communities. The Druze had also requested assistance from the Kurdish militias in north-eastern Syria during the deadly clashes which erupted over the summer between the Druze and various factions in Syria, including Bedouin groups. 

At the time of those clashes, Israel and the new government led by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, were secretly discussing a security agreement meant to minimize friction in the areas south of Damascus. Those talks faltered after the clashes in Suwayda led to Israeli striking several Syrian military targets in defense of the Druze community. 

However, under pressure from the United States, Syria has resumed discussions with Israel, which is calling for a demilitarized zone south of Damascus. 

On Tuesday, the Syrian government said it was working with the United States on “resolving the crisis in Suwayda and stabilizing Southern Syria.” 

Reuters reported that U.S. President Donald Trump is hoping to have enough progress in the talks to be able to announce an agreement during the UN General Assembly at the end of September. 

While Syria is said to be seeking a return to the demilitarized buffer zone agreed to during the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement, Israel is reportedly not willing to give up the outpost on Mount Hermon which it seized in December 2024. 

Now, according to a report in Axios, the Israeli government has presented a proposal for a security agreement to the Syrian government. 

That proposal includes a map of the territory from Damascus until the Israeli border, showing the Israeli proposal for the agreement. The area would reportedly be divided into three different zones, with the entire area being a no-fly zone for Syrian aircraft. That area would also be a demilitarized zone.  Meanwhile, Israel would extend the buffer zone inside Syria for two kilometers (about 1.2 miles). 

The agreement would see Israel gradually withdraw from all territory in Syria except for Mount Hermon, provided Syrian forces maintain all aspects of the agreement. 

The Syrians are said to be requesting a return to the 1974 demilitarized buffer zone and a halt to all Israeli airstrikes in Syria. A Syrian source told Reuters that discussions over the Golan Heights would be left “for the future.” 

However, considering Trump’s recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights in his first term, it is highly unlikely that Israel has any intention of returning the territory to the negotiating table. 

Israel and Syria have technically been at war since Israel’s War for Independence in 1948. The agreement signed in 1974 was limited and did not involve any official recognition of Israel.