Netanyahu reveals direct call with Syrian President Sharaa, claims he stopped Druze massacres

"It was a very short, very sharp conversation, and the massacre was stopped," Netanyahu said. He added: "There is still work to be done; I cannot reveal everything."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed on Thursday that he spoke with the Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and claimed that he stopped last year's massacres of Druze in Syria.

"It was a very short, very sharp conversation, and the massacre was stopped," Netanyahu said at a conference with representatives of the Druze community. He added: "There is still work to be done; I cannot reveal everything."

Netanyahu also emphasized his commitment to protecting the Druze community. "We took down the Defense Ministry in Damascus - just like that, gone - we took down a target inside the Palace compound, and I called Sharaa. It was a very short and sharp conversation, and the massacre stopped. I will do whatever it takes to protect our brothers, your brothers, and our brothers; we will not allow a massacre to be committed, and they must also be returned to their homes. This commitment comes from the depths of my soul," he said.

Defense Minister Katz says Syria preparing to resume massacres of Druze

Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed at the conference that Sharaa will resume attacks on the Druze in Syria if Netanyahu is not re-elected.

"The president of Syria has already prepared the Arab tribes, he has prepared the internal security forces, he has prepared the Syrian army for one thing. He is waiting to see what happens in the elections, and he prays that Netanyahu will not be elected - at that exact moment, he will continue trying to do what he did."

The statements come against the backdrop of the turmoil Syria has been experiencing in recent years, particularly since the rise of Sharaa's administration. In July 2025, clashes escalated in the Druze city of Sweida in southern Syria, during which reports and distressing footage of massacres, violence, and humiliation against members of the Druze community were circulated.

In one video distributed on social media, armed men were seen abusing Druze religious leaders and forcibly shaving their mustaches. One clip showed 80-year-old Mirhaj Shaheen in his home in Sweida, as gunmen affiliated with Sharaa's forces shaved his mustache against his will while he pleaded with them to refrain. Members of the Druze community in Israel claimed that Shaheen was subsequently murdered.

Following the escalation and the horrific footage, the IDF reinforced its forces along the border with Syria out of concern for an uprising among young members of the Israeli Druze community. Hundreds of community members gathered near the border fence at the time, attempting to cross into Syrian territory to assist their brethren. This occurred after dozens of Israeli Druze had already crossed the border, leading the IDF to prepare for further attempts.

Israeli intervention in Syria creates backlash

Concurrently, disagreements emerged among the Druze in Syria regarding relations with the new regime and Israeli intervention.

A senior figure in a Druze militia aligned with the Syrian regime expressed opposition to a military solution and external intervention in the region. "What is the purpose of this intervention? We do not need anyone to protect us, and this has been our stance since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution," he said.

Against the backdrop of these events, the IDF struck the General Staff headquarters of the Syrian regime in Damascus in July 2025, from which - according to the IDF - operations were managed, and forces were dispatched to Sweida. Additionally, a military target in the vicinity of the Presidential Palace in the capital was targeted.

Following the IDF strike, Sharaa accused Israel of attempting to destabilize Syria. "The Israeli entity, which has accustomed us since the fall of the previous regime to undermining our stability and sowing division among us, is now striving once again to turn our land into an arena of endless anarchy," he stated. According to him, "Israel seeks to dismantle the unity of the Syrian people and weaken our capabilities to progress along the path of reconstruction."

Sharaa discusses communication with Israel, future of territories

Subsequently, during his address at the UN General Assembly in September 2025, Sharaa declared that "the Golan will remain Syrian territory," alleging that Israel had carried out approximately 500 airstrikes in Syria. He further clarified that his country remains committed to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and rejects what he termed "Israeli aggression."

In a panel hosted by the Atlantic Council in New York, he also addressed direct communications between the two countries, the future of the Golan Heights, and the impact of the October 7 attack on Israeli policy toward Syria.