In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, Israel has carried out direct airstrikes on key Syrian government facilities in Damascus, including the military headquarters, the Defense Ministry, and a target near the Presidential Palace. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the attacks were in response to the Syrian regime’s violent actions against Druze civilians in southern Syria’s Sweida province.
According to the IDF, the operations were aimed at military infrastructure and regime convoys that posed a threat to Israel’s northern border. A spokesperson for the Israeli military stated that the strikes were conducted “in accordance with directives from the political leadership” and that forces remained on high alert.
Witnesses in Damascus reported explosions and rising smoke near the high-security Presidential Palace, where Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa resides. One local resident said they were watching the aftermath of the initial strike near the army headquarters when a second explosion occurred close to the palace. Syria’s Health Ministry confirmed one death and 18 injuries from the strikes.
Among the buildings hit was a state television complex in central Damascus. A live broadcast was abruptly cut short when explosions rocked the structure, prompting the anchor to flee the screen. The footage has since gone viral, drawing attention to the intensity of the Israeli strikes.
The IDF stated that the strikes were intended to “protect the Druze population” following the resurgence of fighting in Sweida. Over the past week, deadly clashes have erupted between Druze fighters and Bedouin militias aligned with the Islamist-led government, after a ceasefire collapsed. The violence has since spiraled into open street battles and heavy shelling.
In a televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Druze civilians not to cross the border into Syria, warning of a “very serious” security situation. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz further threatened harsher military responses, saying, “The signals to Damascus are over—now come the painful blows.”
The United States, meanwhile, voiced concern over the Israeli airstrikes. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Washington was in talks with both Israel and Syria in hopes of de-escalating the conflict. “We’re very concerned and are speaking to all relevant sides to bring this to a conclusion,” Rubio said.
The renewed fighting follows months of growing unrest in Syria after the surprise ouster of President Bashar al-Assad last December. The new Sunni-majority government has struggled to gain full control, especially in minority-dominated areas like Sweida. The Druze, a small religious community with historic roots in the region, has become increasingly caught in the crossfire.
Reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights indicate over 250 deaths since the breakdown of the ceasefire, including at least 21 field executions. Human rights groups have accused both regime troops and local militias of abuses, including extrajudicial killings and retaliatory arson attacks on homes.
Israel has vowed to continue its operations in Syria until all hostile regime forces are withdrawn from the border areas. Tel Aviv has also reiterated its commitment to maintaining a buffer zone and preventing Islamist militants from gaining a foothold near Israeli territory.
As the situation in southern Syria deteriorates, the fate of the Druze community hangs in the balance. With divisions emerging between those who support integration into the new regime and others pushing for regional autonomy, the crisis threatens to further destabilize an already volatile region.
