Who are the Middle East’s Druze minority?

Sectarian clashes in Syria place the spotlight on a unique community that has lived in the region for over a thousand years and remains tightly connected despite being scattered across borders

Arabic-speaking ethno-religious minority who primarily live in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and occupied Golan Heights

Practise faith that emerged in 11th century and incorporates elements from Islam and other philosophies

Druze in Syria make up about 3% of total population of 23.6 million

Despite government condemning recent attacks on Druze, its forces have been accused of “summary executions” of Druze people

Since fall of Assad in December, Druze have resisted state attempts to impose authority over them

Israel has justified airstrikes on government forces in Suweida and Damascus by citing need to protect Syrian Druze

Suweida
Golan Heights (Israeli-occupied)
Damascus
Beirut
LEBANON
Druze pop:
~300,000
ISRAEL
152,000*
JORDAN
~20,000
SYRIA
~700,000
Druze flag
Druze communities
WEST BANK
20km
12 miles

*In Israel and Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics
Sources: BBC, Encyclopedia Britannica, Druzestudies.org
Picture: Getty Images
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