‘Rape and Slaughter Must End’: Rubio Demands Halt to Druze Attacks

Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a powerful rebuke on Saturday to the Syrian regime for failing to protect the country’s Druze minority, calling the ongoing violence “horrifying” and demanding that the “rape and slaughter of innocent people” end immediately.

The violence in southern Syria has escalated in recent weeks as government forces aligned with Bedouin tribes clashed with Druze militias led by prominent Druze leader Hikmat al-Hijri. The clashes sparked Israeli airstrikes targeting Syrian forces, which were reportedly attacking Druze civilians.

“The U.S. has remained heavily involved over the last three days with Israel, Jordan, and authorities in Damascus on the horrifying and dangerous developments in southern Syria,” Rubio wrote in a post on X. “The rape and slaughter of innocent people which has and is still occurring must end.”

Key updates on the crisis:

• A U.S.-brokered ceasefire was reportedly reached on Sunday morning, according to special envoy Tom Barrack, who said it was holding while negotiations for hostage exchanges continue.

• The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed it launched strikes on Syrian positions near Damascus, pledging to protect Druze civilians from further atrocities.

• The violence is concentrated in Syria’s Sweida province, where the Druze population has faced both government attacks and retaliatory strikes by Bedouin tribes.

Rubio warned that Syria’s new government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, must act to prevent further bloodshed if it hopes to achieve a unified and peaceful nation. “If authorities in Damascus want to preserve any chance of achieving a unified, inclusive and peaceful Syria free of ISIS and Iranian control, they must help end this calamity,” Rubio stated. He called for security forces to stop jihadists and rogue factions from entering the region and to prosecute anyone responsible for atrocities even within their own ranks.

Israel, which has a significant Druze population in its northern region, has made clear it will not stand by while Druze civilians are targeted. “The IDF continues to monitor developments and the regime’s actions against Druze civilians in southern Syria,” Israeli military officials said. “In accordance with directives from the political echelon, the IDF is conducting strikes in the area and remains prepared for various scenarios.”

The situation underscores the fragile state of Syria as it grapples with ongoing tribal warfare, jihadist threats, and foreign influence. For Rubio, the path forward requires immediate humanitarian intervention and accountability for those committing atrocities against innocent civilians.

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