War Hezbollah and Israel

[EasterIssland]

News seem to indicate a war between Israel and Hezbollah seems imminent , hopefully they’re wrong

Biden has said they’ll support Israel and several ships are on their way to support Israel

from what I’ve read , hezbollah has got more and stronger weapons than Hamas in Gaza

I can only think about how many innocent civilians are going to die because incompetent politicians and many times men.

What? You have no idea. It’s a lively town that supports the ski resort in season… you literally have no idea…

Can you explain what you mean? It is occupied Syrian land, it is a predominantly Druze town, most are Syrian. I don't understand how from her post you gather that she has no idea when what she said is true? Is it because she said village rather than town?

Absolutely cool heads need to prevail. When it comes to conflict, especially in this part of the world, there seems to be a distinct absence of cool heads. Which is why it has now reached the inevitable result of other countries becoming increasingly drawn into all out war. An all out war with Hezbollah will be a disaster. As PPs have said, they are better equipped, better organised and will be better strategists. They’ve not defeated Hamas, the loss of life and impact on civilians will be even more catastrophic (if that’s possible ). It’s too awful to contemplate.

…because it is a town that is very integrated into Israel. As I said, it is a lovely place with a good quality of life that acts as a support for the nearby ski resort. Most Druze in Israel are very integrated into the country with many many serving in the IDF. This is not an ‘occupation’ in the sense of the occupation of East Jerusalem or the West Bank and to call it such is really misunderstanding the Golan heights…

Also, they’re not Syrian. They’re Israeli…

@Sundaymorningatwork2 as you say it's not the same sort of occupation as the west bank for example but the sky news article I have read this morning have included a brief history of the Golan heights and does describe it as occupied territory
And aren't the men from the druze community required to join the IDF?

Sadly the death toll has now risen to 12, there are many others still in hospital in serious conditions

I had a reply typed out but do you what when someone is calling recognised occupied territories a 'misunderstanding' it's not worth it, unless you are Trump or Israel or have some kind of agenda it's clear that there is no 'misunderstanding'.

And aren't the men from the druze community required to join the IDF?

They aren't. Possibly because the vast of majority of Golan Druze although entitled to Israeli citizenship haven't taken them up on the offer because they are Syrian citizens(though Israel and seemingly that poster too doesn't recognise their Syrian citizenship) living in occupied territory.

Ah ok, I thought conscription was compulsory for Druze men but perhaps I misunderstood.

You’ve not misunderstood- It’s compulsory conscription for male Druze Israeli citizens, but as about 80% of the Druze in the villages in the Golan are Israeli residents, not citizens, they are not conscripted.

@EllaDisenchanted thanks for the explanation Ella, that makes more sense now.

Such terrible news, all children.

Ah OK, I stand corrected. So the 'many, many serving with the IDF' that that poster spoke of are the minority that are Israeli citizens that are conscripted.

Of the Druze in Israeli, according to the IDF website on the disbanding of the Druze unit in 2015 (nothing more recent that I saw) around 80% of Druze draft. There were about 145,000 Druze in Israel in 2020, according to Israel Bureau of Statistics (found on wikipedia, sorry). The 4 Druze villages in the Golan have population around 23,000, of whom approx 20% have taken Israeli citizenship, and the trend to take citizenship is apparently increasing yearly. The poster was talking about "Most Druze in Israel ... with many many serving in the IDF" So as most Druze (87% ish) in Israel are Israeli, and most of these draft, as the poster was talking about Druze in Israel generally, this would be true. In those particular 4 villages, however, you'd be right, a minority would be conscripted.

The funerals for 11 of the children were held today 💔Multiple children remain in intensive care, and 1 child is missing. Reports are also saying that 4 (possibly 5) children were members of the same family.

Thanks for the clarification Ella, so most of the Druze that live in that area, are residents of Israel rather than citizens, which means they aren’t mandated to serve in the IDF.

It’s one tragedy after another, with each new tragedy making things worse. Stop killing children please!

Absolutely. Let’s be clear. There was no war in the North - Hizbollah have dragged their people into a conflict and killed 12 children/teenagers in this one strike.

I am reluctant to say this but bear with.

Why would hezbollah target Syrian Druze.

Geographically, politically, strategically, it makes no sense.

And why would they deny it. Like what would be the point of it, just to deny it.

They haven't shied away from admitting in the past.

None of it makes any sense.

Hezbollah themselves claimed responsibility for this attack, as well as 4 other attacks, before reports of the strike's impact emerged.

Honestly @SpicyKitty I'm not interested in what the White House has to say. They are a million miles away from being an impartial observer.

No offence but they are bought and paid for.

www.aipacpac.org/home

@Bunnyasmyname can you share a link? I haven't seen anything. I'm not in TikTok but any of the other socials will do.

Correct, during the 2006 Israel vs Lebanon war a Hezbollah rocket accidentally hit an Arab location killing 2 civilians, Hezbollah immediately acknowledged the mistake and apologised:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2006/8/20/timeline-lebanon-conflict

This village/Town is highly Pro Palestinian/ Pro Assad and anti occupation. There was a slight increase in taking Israeli citizenship during the time that it was speculated that Assad would fall, but they've mostly remained loyal to Syria and Lebanon.
Some locals have just kicked out Likud members who attempted to attend the children's funerals:

“You murderer, get out of here!” Syrian Druze residents of the town of Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights expel Israeli Finance Minister and other members of the Likud (Netanyahu’s party) from the funeral of the 12 youths who were killed after a missile fell on a soccer field. The Israeli media and army have described the victims as Israeli civilians, but the residents of Majdal Shams are Syrian Druze living under occupation since the Israeli army occupied the Golan Heights in 1967. Residents of the town have refused Israeli citizenship and continue to view themselves as Syrians."
https://x.com/TheCradleMedia/status/1817528485667074227

Many if not most of the younger generation took up Israeli citizenship. Older generations tended not to in case Syria got control again and there were reprisals for anyone who took up Israeli citizenship.

Precisely.
Druzim are generally very pro-Israeli and have no issues with Jews at all.
It is common to see the Israeli/Druze flag combined in settlements.
I have always found them lovely. Welcoming and warm.

In the Golan area, the lack of Israeli support has more to do with the proximity to Syria and fear than anything else.

Because they realised after how much they messed up.

Israelis and the Druze have a lot of mutual love for one another. Blood donations have already been organised for the injured.
Israel is in mourning for these children and will naturally retaliate.
As I'm sure will the Lebanese Druzim.

I am concerned what Hezbollah will do to prevent a civil war is Lebanon as they know they wouldn't win.

It’d not be the first time that USA “confirms” unverified propaganda. Biden not long time ago was talking about the beheaded babies from 7-10. So I agree with you. I’ll take what White House says with a pinch of salt

An all out war would be devestating for both sides and I pray and hope it doesn't come to that. Enought blood has already been shed. I read a snippet from bbc interviewing members of the druze community in the Golan heights and despite their immense grief they don't want a retaliation that would escalate the already volatile situation

“I don’t think the government needs to respond,” Nassar says. “They need to end the war, so no-one dies on either side.”
The mood up here, away from the occasional angry outbursts down at the football pitch, is extremely subdued.
But this is a part of the world where hospitality runs deep.
A group of young men call us over, offering water thimbles of strong coffee.
They’re determined to stay put, despite the danger.
“We Druze don’t leave our homes,” one tells me, echoing a quiet defiance we encounter elsewhere.
When it comes to what happens next, they’re unanimous: they don’t want a wider war.
“The children here, the children in Lebanon, the children in Gaza. They don’t need more war,” another says.