The IDF carried out a strike on Syrian terrorists who were planning to attack a Druze community in in the town of As-Suwayda in the Damascus area, a joint statement from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said on Wednesday. According to the statement, the IDF strike was a warning operation and intended to convey a message to Syria’s leaders to protect the Druze population. “Israel will not allow the Druze sector in Syria to be harmed out of a deep sense of responsibility to our Druze brethren in Israel who are connected to their Druze brothers in Syria through familial and historical ties,” the statement said. Druze residents in Syria came under attack on Tuesday, reportedly due to the publication of a recording of a Druze man insulting the Prophet Mohammad. Sunni Syrians attacked Druze Syrians, leading to clashes that left 14 people dead. Druze sheikhs condemned the recording and the Syrian Interior Ministry announced that an investigation has been opened to uncover the person behind the publication. A local source told Ynet on Tuesday that “the atmosphere is tense.” The Syrian Interior Ministry published a statement: “We affirm our commitment to bring those involved to justice. Investigations are continuing to reveal the identity of the person behind the recording. We will not be lenient with those who contributed to incitement and chaos.” The Druze population in Israel held protests on Wednesday morning, demanding that the IDF and the government protect the Druze in Syria. Protesters blocked roads and burned tires, creating huge traffic jams that blocked passage to the military cemeteries in the area, where Israelis had gathered for Yom HaZikaron ceremonies. Ynet reported that police in the district were instructed to leave the cemeteries and kevarim of their fallen friends and acquaintances, and deploy to the junctions to prevent road closures and allow passage for bereaved families and visitors who were driving to cemeteries in the area. “Israel Police will allow freedom of expression and protest within the limits of the law, but as in any protest, it will not allow events that involve harming public safety or that may lead to a breach of public order,” the police said. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)