Lebanese, Israeli Forces Use Tear Gas to Block Druze Crossing Into Syria’s Golan Heights Supporting Syrian Druze

Lebanese and Israeli security forces are actively preventing Druze individuals from crossing their respective borders into Syria amid escalating violence in southern Syria. The Lebanese Army has been blocking Lebanese Druze from advancing toward the Syrian border to show solidarity with Syrian Druze in Suwayda and to prevent their involvement in the conflict. Similarly, Israeli troops have used tear gas to disperse Druze crowds attempting to cross the main border gate with Syria in the Golan Heights. The Druze community, a small minority with close ties across Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, is seeking to support their Syrian counterparts as the Syrian government has deployed forces to the south following deadly violence.