In his speech, Sharaa accused Israel of trying to drag the country into chaos after it launched airstrikes in Syria, which officials said are meant to defend the Druze minority group. In turn, Israel accused the government of directing fighting against the Druze, a community the Jewish state has pledged to protect.

Israel also said it was carrying out many more attacks in Sweida city, hitting Syrian soldiers and military buildings there.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the situation as "complicated" but said it looked like a "misunderstanding".