By bnm Gulf bureau Violent clashes broke out in Jaramana, a suburb near Damascus, between Syria’s new Turkish-backed administration security forces and local Druze militias on March 2. The Druze in Syria are a small but influential religious minority.

The Israeli army has been ordered to prepare to "defend" a Druze-majority city in southern Syria close to the capital, Damascus, after violence broke out between locals and security services.

Israel’s defense minister says minority Druze in Jaramana a town south of Damascus, were under attack from the new Syrian regime and that he ordered Israeli forces to be poised to help protect them if necessary.

Druze leaders in Jaramana dismiss Israel’s offer of protection, reaffirming their Syrian identity amid increasing tensions with the government and armed factions [Damascus] Jaramana, a town near the Syrian capital of Damascus,

Instruction comes as new Syrian government authorities clash with local Druze gunmen in Jaramana, just outside capital The post Netanyahu and Katz direct IDF to ‘prepare to defend’ Syrian Druze suburb of Damascus appeared first on The Times of Israel.