Israel reportedly began airdropping weapons to Syrian Druze fighters just days after the ouster of Syria's Iran-backed president Bashar al-Assad last December, according to a Washington Post investigation. The supply of arms peaked in late April but tapered off in August, as infighting among Druze militias grew and Israel reconsidered its strategy. Israel has provided defensive equipment and monthly salaries to thousands of Druze fighters, aiming to bolster them as a counterweight to the new Syrian regime led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose opposition to Iran has prompted cautious engagement from both Israel and the United States.

The effort included discreet airdrops of rifles, ammunition, and body armor, with support funneled through local militias such as the Military Council and, later, the National Guard, as leadership disputes intensified. Israeli officials have expressed concern over the instability and sectarian violence in southern Syria, and have continued to supply humanitarian aid and military support to the Druze community. Despite hopes to establish a reliable proxy force, ongoing power struggles and shifting allegiances have complicated Israel's involvement, leaving officials uncertain about long-term cooperation.