Israeli airstrikes target areas close to the Syrian presidential palace in response to violent clashes threatening the Druze community, amid calls for international intervention.
Israel's Airstrike Near Syrian Presidential Palace Aims to Protect Druze Community
Israel's Airstrike Near Syrian Presidential Palace Aims to Protect Druze Community
Israel strikes near Damascus during escalating violence against Druze minority, says PM Netanyahu.
Israel's air force conducted an airstrike near the presidential palace in Damascus, Syria, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to protecting the Druze minority amid increasing sectarian violence in the region. "This strike serves as a clear message to the Syrian leadership," Netanyahu stated, highlighting Israel's determination to prevent any threats to the Druze population or military deployments near Damascus.
The Syrian government has yet to respond officially to the recent strikes, which were carried out following clashes between Druze militants, the Syrian security forces, and allied Sunni Islamist factions. These confrontations erupted in the wake of incendiary social media posts deemed offensive by portions of the Sunni community, leading to escalated tensions in sections of Damascus and surrounding provinces.
Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, a prominent Druze spiritual leader, condemned the ongoing violence as a "genocidal campaign" and called for international military intervention to restore peace. Other Druze leaders echoed his sentiments, urging for the establishment of state authority in the Suweida province to maintain order along the critical Suweida-Damascus highway.
In a bid to address the unrest, the Syrian government has deployed additional security forces to Druze areas, claiming to combat factions they label as “outlaws.” Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani warned against any calls for outside intervention, emphasizing that such actions would exacerbate matters and increase divisions within the country.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that over 100 individuals have been killed during recent confrontations, including numerous Druze civilians and fighters. Reports indicate that violence intensified after a controversial audio clip attributed to a Druze cleric circulated in the community, causing outrage among Sunni Muslims, despite investigations exonerating the cleric.
The Druze community, which constitutes roughly 3% of Syria's population, has faced increasing insecurity since the onset of the civil war as competing factions vie for control amid a shifting political landscape. Netanyahu's warnings last February about the potential threats to the Druze in southern Syria reflect the ongoing precariousness of minority groups in the region, particularly under the influence of new political actors in the wake of the Assad regime's decline.
Amid growing unrest, the Israeli military continues its strategy of targeted strikes within Syria to neutralize threats, executing hundreds of missions across the country in recent months. With rising tensions and humanitarian crises persisting, the situation in Syria and its implications for regional stability remain a critical concern for Israel and beyond.
