Dozens of Israeli Druze breached the border fence near Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights on 15 July, and returned hours later after Israel Defense Forces troops escorted them back. The following day the situation escalated sharply, with the IDF estimating that several hundred—and possibly close to 1,000—Druze residents again crossed into Syria while troops and Border Police struggled to regain control of the frontier. Community leaders and Israeli media said many crossers were heading to Syria’s Druze-majority Sweida province, where nearly 100 people have reportedly been killed in days of clashes between local fighters, Bedouin groups and regime forces. Protests also erupted in Druze towns across northern Israel, demanding stronger protection for their relatives across the border. The military called the crossings a serious criminal offense and said units remain deployed to prevent further breaches and to return those who entered Syria. At the same time, soldiers reported blocking an attempted infiltration from the Syrian side near the village of Hader. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorised additional airstrikes against Syrian positions in Sweida this week, saying they were intended to deter attacks on the Druze community.