In the early hours of Friday, the Israeli air force targeted areas near the presidential palace in Syria, following a warning to Syrian authorities regarding the movement toward Druze minority-populated villages in southern Syria.
This attack follows a series of clashes involving pro-Syrian government forces and Druze minority fighters near Damascus, resulting in numerous casualties.
Reports from Syrian media and eyewitness accounts in Damascus indicate that the airstrikes extended over different regions including Damascus and its suburbs, as well as central and southern Syria, continuing for over an hour past midnight.
The aftermath regarding casualties from the Israeli strikes late on Friday remains uncertain.
Syria’s presidential authority condemned the airstrikes, labeling them as a severe escalation against both governmental institutions and national sovereignty.
The presidency has urged international intervention, asserting that such assaults are aimed at undermining Syrian national security and societal unity.
This marks the second Israeli aerial attack on Syria within the week, and striking close to the presidential palace appears indicative of a significant warning directed at Syria’s administration, which is now largely composed of Islamist factions, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
The Druze spiritual chief, Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri, conveyed strong disapproval of the Syrian government’s recent actions, describing them as an unjust assault against the minority community.
In response, the Druze religious establishment reiterated their dedication to remaining part of Syria while urging government involvement to stabilize Sweida and restore authority over the vital Sweida-Damascus roadway.
In the Damascus suburb of Jaramana, recent hostilities prompted security forces and local Druze militants to take strategic positions, with plans for heavier weaponry to eventually be surrendered to the authorities.
As part of the resolution process, defense ministry troops are scheduled to station around Jaramana without entering.
Israel’s targeted strike near President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s residence in Damascus was confirmed by the Israeli military, although details remain sparse.
Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, stressed that these actions serve as definitive notices to Syrian leadership, affirming Israel’s stance against the threat posed to the Druze community and the unwanted presence of forces south of Damascus.
Pro-Syrian government media reported the strike impacted near the People’s Palace, a key vantage point in Damascus.
Amid these developments, Israel’s military has taken steps to evacuate and provide care for wounded Syrian Druze from the conflict zones.
Simultaneously, the Israeli military disclosed that a soldier was fatally injured, and three others sustained minor injuries, in an accident in the Golan Heights. This incident is currently under investigation.
The violent clashes emerged following the circulation of an audio clip criticizing Prophet Muhammad, attributed erroneously to a Druze cleric, sparking tension among Sunni Muslims.
Official reports by Syria’s Information Ministry cite that 11 security personnel lost their lives in attacks, whereas an independent UK-based observatory, The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, recorded 99 deaths over several days of clashes, noting fatalities among local combatants and government forces.
The Druze community, originating as an Ismaili offshoot in the 10th century, constitutes a significant minority in Syria, primarily residing in Sweida and around Damascus, with additional populations in Lebanon and Israel.