Report: Israel transferring Hamas weapons to Druze militias in Syria

Israel is reportedly financing Druze militias in southern Syria while arming them with weapons taken from Hezbollah and Hamas terrorists.

By World Israel News Staff

Israel has been quietly arming and financing Druze militias in southern Syria as part of a larger bid to contain the new Syrian regime, according to a report published by The Washington Post on Tuesday.

Citing multiple current and former Israeli officials, as well as several Syrian Druze sources, the report said that beginning in December 2024, just days after the collapse of the Assad regime, the Israeli military began covert operations in the as-Suwayda Governorate of Syria to arm Druze militiamen.

The transfers were carried out by helicopter airdrops, with pallets of goods delivered to Druze communities in an area historically known as Jabal al-Druze, an area which briefly enjoyed autonomous rule during the French Mandate.

While the deliveries included large quantities of humanitarian aid for Druze civilians, there was also military equipment, such as rifles, automatic firearms, ammunition, and body armor.

The weapons transfers were made to a nascent group known as the Suwayda Military Council.

Founded immediately following the fall of the Assad regime, the Suwayda Military Council is one of several coalitions formed by Druze militias amid fears the new government and its Bedouin allies could threaten the country’s Druze minority.

In a December 17 airdrop, Israel transferred some 500 rifles to the SMC, with Druze militia officers telling the Post that they later received sniper rifles, heavy machine guns, night vision equipment, and even anti-tank missiles from Israel.

Israeli sources cited in the report said that most of the weapons transferred to the Druze militias were taken from slain Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists during the past two years.

Not only has Israel armed Druze forces, sources say it has also helped to fund Druze paramilitary groups, with monthly payments of between $100 and $200 paid out to some 3,000 militiamen.

The report claimed that Israel has slowed its weapons transfers to the Druze militias, including to the National Guard – a hardline anti-regime alliance of dozens of Druze groups led by Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri – as talks progressed between Jerusalem and Damascus towards a new security deal.

However, Israel still reportedly transfers non-lethal military equipment to the Druze militias, and is continuing to provide monthly payments to 3,000 members of the National Guard.

When asked to comment on the report, an Israeli government official confirmed on condition of anonymity that Israel has worked closely with Syrian Druze forces.

“After October 7, Israel is determined to defend our communities on our borders, including the northern border, and to prevent the entrenchment of terrorists and hostile actions against us, to protect our Druze allies, and to ensure that the State of Israel is safe from ground attack and other attacks from the border areas.”