In a significant escalation of regional conflict, Israel launched airstrikes in Syria's capital, Damascus, on Wednesday, directly hitting the Syrian Defense Ministry and areas close to the presidential palace. This military action follows Israel's condemnation of Syria's government for its recent operations against the Druse minority in the southern province of Sweida.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized Israel's commitment to safeguarding the Druse population, issuing warnings of heightened military responses should the Syrian military persist in their advance in Sweida. The region has been engulfed in violent clashes for several days, leading to over 200 fatalities and marking this period as one of the most violent in recent times, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Reports from the observatory indicate that the airstrikes have inflicted substantial damage, with at least nine casualties reported by Syria’s health ministry following the strikes. While a cease-fire was announced earlier in Sweida, hostilities quickly resumed as clashes erupted between government forces and Druse fighters.
The escalation signals a turbulent phase in a region already fraught with complex sectarian dynamics and ongoing military operations, highlighting the fragile situation that continues to unravel in Syria.
Euan Ward, a reporter for the Times, contributes to the coverage of Lebanon and Syria, drawing on real-time developments from the field.
