Israel delivered weapons, military equipment and humanitarian aid to Druze militias in southern Syria following the removal of former President Bashar al-Assad, according to a report by the Washington Post, citing Israeli, U.S. and regional officials. The assistance came as Israel monitored the rise of Syria’s new leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, whom Israeli officials view as a potential security threat.

The report adds to growing regional scrutiny over Israel’s posture in post-Assad Syria, where shifting power dynamics and concerns over extremist influence have raised fears of renewed instability near Israel’s northern border.

Israeli officials maintain that their support is limited to defensive aid and humanitarian assistance. Medicine and protective equipment deliveries reportedly continued as recently as September 2025.

Why It Matters

The reported arms deliveries underscore Israel’s efforts to shape security conditions in southern Syria during a volatile political transition, while highlighting broader regional anxieties over who controls territory vacated after Assad’s fall.

What Was Delivered

According to the Washington Post, Israel conducted airdrops on Dec. 17, 2024—nine days after Assad was removed from power—supplying the Druze-led Military Council with roughly 500 rifles, along with ammunition, body armor and medical supplies.

The report said Israeli support also included humanitarian aid and monthly payments of between $100 and $200 to approximately 3,000 Druze militiamen. Weapons transfers reportedly peaked in April 2025 amid clashes between Druze fighters and forces aligned with Sharaa, before easing later in the summer.

Israel’s View of Syria’s New Leadership

Israeli officials cited in the report described Sharaa as a security concern due to his past leadership of a group previously linked to al-Qaeda and the continued presence of extremist fighters among his supporters. Israel has said it is acting to prevent hostile forces from consolidating power near its border.

Israeli authorities have publicly maintained that their involvement in southern Syria is limited to defensive and humanitarian assistance. Israeli military operations in the area have previously been described as efforts to limit threats near the frontier, according to prior Reuters reporting.

Reactions and Internal Druze Tensions

Coverage by the Jerusalem Post noted that internal divisions have emerged within Syria’s Druze community, with leadership shifting in August 2025 from the Military Council to a newly formed National Guard aligned with Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri.

The leadership change reportedly led to tensions among militia commanders, even as Israel continued to deliver nonlethal aid such as medical supplies and protective equipment into September.

Broader Context

Before Assad’s removal, Israel was reported to have trained Druze fighters and supported the formation of the Military Council as a hedge against potential regime collapse. Following Assad’s ouster, Israeli forces entered parts of southern Syria and carried out airstrikes against former Syrian military positions, actions Israel has said were aimed at limiting hostile activity.

Neither the Israeli government nor Syria’s new leadership has publicly confirmed the specific weapons transfers detailed in the Washington Post report.