Rising Tensions: Israel Strikes Damascus Amidst Civil Clashes in Syria

Israel carried out airstrikes targeting the Syrian Defense Ministry and presidential palace in Damascus, following violence in the southern Sweida region. The U.S. has engaged in diplomatic efforts, declaring a cease-fire, yet Israeli attacks continue amid fears of expanding conflict due to the tensions involving minority groups.

In a marked escalation of military action, Israel conducted airstrikes on Damascus, striking a compound linked to the Syrian Defense Ministry and a site close to the presidential palace, as confirmed by both the Israeli military and Syrian sources. The attacks arose in the wake of intense clashes in the southern region of Sweida, a stronghold of the Druse minority in Syria, community members of which Israel has expressed commitment to safeguard. In a public statement, Israel warned it would intensify operations against Syrian military forces unless they retreated from the Sweida area.

In response to the strikes, Syrian officials indicated that a cease-fire deal had been brokered with local authorities in Sweida. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that his administration was actively working with involved parties to de-escalate the violence that had erupted in the region. Despite these diplomatic overtures, Israeli military actions persisted as night fell, with reports emerging of further strikes on military installations around the Syrian capital.

The Israeli incursions into southern Syria are motivated by two key concerns: the desire to prevent Iranian-backed militias and Islamist factions from establishing a foothold near Israel’s borders and to address the anxieties of Israel's Druse minority, which has distinct ties to the Israeli state. The situation remains fluid as diplomatic and military actions unveil a troubling landscape in the region.