Who are the Druze? Inside the secretive Middle Eastern community back in the spotlight

Dubai: Israel’s strikes on Damascus and southern Syria this week mark a dramatic escalation in a region already fractured by war and sectarian tension.

Tel Aviv says the attacks aim to protect the Druze minority following deadly clashes in Syria’s Sweida province, but Damascus and many Druze outside Israel accuse it of political opportunism.

According to the Israeli government, the strikes target Syrian military positions near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights in response to recent deployments by Syrian forces.

Here’s a closer look at who are the Druze people:

The Druze, a reclusive and tightly knit religious group, have long maintained a distinct identity across the Middle East. As conflict intensifies in southern Syria, their historical neutrality and unique beliefs are once again drawing attention.

The Druze faith emerged in Egypt in the early 11th century as an offshoot of the Esmaili branch of the Shiite sect.

It gradually evolved into a distinct religion, incorporating elements of Islamic, Gnostic, Greek, and philosophical thought — including teachings attributed to Plato, according to AFP which quoted a Druze religious leader.

The Druze are monotheists who call themselves muwahhidun, or unitarians. Their beliefs include reincarnation and spiritual enlightenment and many religious tenets are kept secret, even from non-initiated Druze. The faith does not accept converts, and interfaith marriage is strongly discouraged.

While some Druze observances align with Islamic holidays, their religious life is distinct and cloaked in secrecy. Men traditionally wear white turbans or caps with black robes; women often wear long black dresses and cover their heads with flowing white veils.

Druze populations are concentrated in:

Syria: Mainly in Sweida and Quneitra provinces, with smaller groups in the Damascus suburbs.

Lebanon: Around 200,000 live in central and southern mountainous regions.

Israel: About 153,000 are citizens, mostly in the north. They are subject to military conscription.

Golan Heights: Over 22,000 Druze live under Israeli occupation but retain Syrian identity.

Jordan: Home to an estimated 15,000–20,000 Druze, primarily from Syria.

Diaspora: Druze also live in North America, Australia, and Europe.

Very. “The Druze don’t really recognise borders,” Makram Rabah, a historian at the American University of Beirut, told AFP. Family ties, religious pilgrimages, and clerical authority help maintain unity across national boundaries. This transnational identity is crucial to the Druze way of life.

Despite their small numbers, the Druze have wielded outsized political influence:

Syria: Sultan Pasha Al Atrash led a major revolt against French colonial rule in the 1920s.

Lebanon: Kamal Jumblatt was a towering political figure until his assassination in 1977; his son Walid remains active in politics.

Israel: Many Druze serve in the army and police. Some reach senior ranks, distinguishing them from other Arab citizens.

The Druze largely stayed neutral during Syria’s civil war, focusing on protecting their homeland in Sweida. Most armed Druze groups have not reconciled with the new Islamist-led government that came to power after the overthrow of Bashar Al Assad in late 2024.

Views are mixed. Some Israeli Druze, like spiritual leader Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, have urged protection for Syria’s Druze. However, prominent Lebanese Druze leaders — including Walid Jumblatt — have warned against Israeli interference. Syrian Druze generally express loyalty to a unified Syria and resist foreign influence.

No. Historian Makram Rabah told AFP that Syria’s Druze do not aspire to statehood. They prefer to remain within their respective nations while preserving communal autonomy and religious identity. However, calls for international protection have grown in light of renewed violence.