Israeli strikes on Damascus and escalating sectarian violence in Sweida on Wednesday drew sharp reactions from top Lebanese officials, who voiced strong condemnation and urged de-escalation.
President Joseph Aoun condemned Israel’s strikes as "a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of a sister Arab state" and warned that continued aggression could destabilize the region. He reaffirmed Lebanon’s full solidarity with Syria and called on the international community to uphold international law and sovereignty.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also decried the attacks as a "blatant violation of Syria’s sovereignty," stressing that "the logic of impunity and sending messages through fire is unacceptable." He urged global powers to intervene to halt the strikes.
Former PSP leader Walid Jumblatt, speaking to Syrian TV, warned against the Israeli intervention. He said that "Israel does not protect the Druze in Sweida; it exploits individuals to justify its actions." He linked this to Israeli interference in Lebanon’s civil war. Jumblatt emphasized dialogue with Syrian authorities as essential to restoring calm.
Former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora condemned what he called Israel’s "brutal aggression" and "malicious intentions" to divide Syrians. He urged Syrians to remain vigilant and called for strong Arab and international responses to Israeli actions.
MP Taymour Jumblatt, via X, said Syria must not abandon the ideals of its revolution and called for a political solution that protects Sweida’s people and dignity.
The Progressive Socialist Party affirmed it is conducting high-level efforts to secure a ceasefire in Sweida, stating, "Commitment to a ceasefire represents the only gateway to a just political solution."
MP Pierre Bou Assi of the Strong Republic bloc also warned via X:
"What is happening to the Druze of Syria is extremely dangerous, not because one group’s targeting leads to another's, like Christians, but because of the totalitarian mindset that denies others their beliefs, identity, and culture. The region’s peoples and communities face renewed barbarism. This is deeply dangerous."
Israel bombed the Syrian army headquarters and the Presidential Palace on Wednesday after warning Syria’s government against harming the Druze minority in Sweida. Witnesses, however, reported that Syrian government forces joined Bedouin fighters in attacking Druze civilians, after initially entering the city under the guise of enforcing a ceasefire. Nearly 250 people have died in the worst sectarian fighting in Syria since April.
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