Scofield Biblical Institute and Theological Seminary

SEPTEMBER 18, 2025 19:43

Updated: SEPTEMBER 18, 2025 22:30

The IDF struck at least six Hezbollah weapons storage facilities belonging to its Radwan Force in southern Lebanon on Thursday, it said.

The Radwan Force planned and advanced the “Conquer the Galilee” plan for years, the IDF said. Commanders of the unit were killed last September in Beirut during Operation Northern Arrows.

The Radwan Force has been operating ever since to reestablish its capabilities. The IDF has been operating for the past two years to prevent the terror group from doing so.

An evacuation order was issued for three areas in southern Lebanon ahead of the strikes, Mays al-Jabal, ️Kafr Tebnit, and Dibbine, said the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson, Lt.-Col. Avichay Adraee.

“You are located in buildings used by the terrorist organization Hezbollah,” the evacuation order said. “For your safety, you are required to evacuate those buildings and the adjacent buildings immediately and stay away from them for a distance of at least 500 meters.”

Hezbollah targets located within Lebanese villages

Several videos that were shared online showed how the buildings were not properly marked for military use, with many resembling civilian buildings. Secondary explosions after the attacks confirmed the presence of weapons inside the compounds.

The IDF also issued another series of evacuation orders for the Tair Zebna and Borj Qalaouiye areas of Lebanon, and airstrikes in those towns were expected.

BySETH J. FRANTZMAN

SEPTEMBER 17, 2025 10:18

Updated: SEPTEMBER 18, 2025 10:13

Syria has sought to push forward a roadmap for resolving what it calls the “Crisis in Sweida and Stabilizing Southern Syria.”

The deal follows months of clashes between the Druze minority in Syria and other groups, primarily Bedouin tribesmen. This boiled over in July, and the government was accused of not doing enough to defend the Druze.

Israel has vowed to defend the Druze in Suweida in southern Syria, even bombing Damascus as a warning to deter attacks on the group, and US members of Congress and others have also expressed concern.

The full text includes many sections. It says, among other things, that “Syria’s stability, security, and prosperity are a cornerstone of regional stability. The Syrian Arab Republic, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and the United States of America affirm their commitment to work together in genuine partnership to help Syria build a future of peace and stability for all its people.”

People stand next to a destroyed tank turret, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouin tribes, and government forces, in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria July 25, 2025. (credit: Khalil Ashawi/Reuters) — People stand next to a destroyed tank turret, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouin tribes, and government forces, in Syria’s predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria July 25, 2025. (credit: Khalil Ashawi/Reuters)

Suweida is in southern Syria near the Jordanian border.

Although Israel backs the Druze, the area is not actually next to the Golan. Instead, a mostly Sunni Arab area called Dara’a is near the Golan. As such, it is logistically hard for Israel to back the Druze except with air power.

The new plan says that Jordan, the US, and Syria “will support efforts to rebuild Syria on foundations that preserve its security, stability, unity, and sovereignty, and that meet the aspirations of all Syrians and protect their rights.”

Furthermore, “Jordan and the United States will support the Syrian government in overcoming the challenges that hinder this process, including in the fields of reconstruction, institution-building, combating terrorism and extremism, ending societal disputes, and achieving national reconciliation.”

Roadmap calls for withdrawing civilian fighters

The new roadmap also says that “the Syrian government calls on the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic to conduct an investigation into the regrettable occurrences Sweida governorate has witnessed recently, and the Syrian government is committed to holding all perpetrators of violations accountable, according to the Syrian law.”

Israel is likely not included because Israel and Syria do not have normalized ties.

“Jordan, in coordination with the Syrian Arab Republic, will invite a delegation representing the local communities in Sweida (Druze, Christians, and Sunnis), and another delegation of representatives of the Bedouin tribes in Sweida governorate to meetings to help achieve reconciliation,” the plan says.

The above paragraph appears to be the one mention of the Druze by name in the document.

A local police force from all the communities will be formed, the document says. “In coordination with the local community in Sweida, a provincial council representing all components of the local community in Sweida will be formed.”

“The council will be tasked with interacting with the Syrian government and leading efforts to achieve national reconciliation,” the plan adds.

US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack praised Syria for its work on the plan. “The building blocks of trust, of confidence, of understanding, they take inches, centimeters, and decades to build, and can be lost in an instant,” Barrack said.

“What we are seeing today is an architecture, a roadmap, a GPS to build that highway for generations.” The US is dedicated to helping Syria rebuild, he noted.

IDF strikes at least six Hezbollah weapon depots in southern Lebanon

Hezbollah targets located within Lebanese villages

Syria, US, Jordan back pact to stabilize Sweida, launching transitional phase

Roadmap calls for withdrawing civilian fighters

Over 1,000 housing units approved in Judea and Samaria

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