Majdal Shams Faces Uncertainty Following Assad's Fall and Regional Tensions

The Druze-majority town in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights grapples with its identity, security, and geopolitical complexities.

Majdal Shams, home to about 25,000 Druze, is located near the Alpha Line separating Israeli-controlled Golan Heights from Syria.
The fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has prompted celebrations in the town, reflecting its complex ties to Syrian identity and opposition to Assad's regime.
Years of regional conflict have left scars on the town, including a deadly rocket strike in July 2023 that killed 12 children and wounded 20 others.
The Israeli government plans to double the number of settlements in the Golan Heights, a move condemned internationally as illegal under international law.
Residents of Majdal Shams navigate life under Israeli control while maintaining their Syrian Druze identity, with many families split across the Alpha Line.