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Israel strikes Syrian military headquarters in Damascus
Syria’s defence ministry accused Sweida militias of breaking Tuesday’s ceasefire, prompting the army to resume operations in the Druze-majority region.
The Israeli military on Wednesday said it struck the entrance of the Syrian army’s headquarters in Damascus, citing the Assad regime’s actions against Druze civilians in southern Syria.
In a post on X, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said, “The IDF struck the entrance of the Syrian regime's military headquarters in the area of Damascus in Syria.”
The military added that it was monitoring the situation closely. “The IDF continues to monitor developments and the regime's actions against Druze civilians in southern Syria,” it said.
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The strike, the IDF said, was carried out in line with instructions from Israel’s political leadership. “In accordance with directives from the political echelon, the IDF is striking in the area and remains prepared for various scenarios,” it added.
The Druze are a religious community that emerged in the 10th century as an offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam. Of the estimated 1 million Druze globally, over half reside in Syria.
The rest are mainly concentrated in Lebanon and Israel, including the Golan Heights, a region Israel captured from Syria during the 1967 Middle East War and annexed in 1981.
Clashes intensify in Syria’s Sweida after ceasefire with Druze fighters collapses
Clashes intensified in the southern Syrian city of Sweida on Wednesday after a ceasefire between government forces and Druze armed groups broke down, amid growing signs that Israel may increase its involvement in support of the Druze minority.
Syria’s defence ministry accused local militias in Sweida of violating the ceasefire, which had been reached on Tuesday, prompting the Syrian army to resume operations in the Druze-majority region.
“Military forces continue to respond to the source of fire inside the city of Sweida, while adhering to rules of engagement to protect residents, prevent harm, and ensure the safe return of those who left the city back to their homes,” the ministry said in a statement.
The renewed violence comes months after a rebel offensive, led by Islamist insurgent groups, ousted President Bashar Assad in December, ending nearly 14 years of civil war.
The new leadership, largely composed of Sunni Muslim factions, has since faced challenges in asserting control across the country.
Minority communities, including the Druze, have voiced concerns over the direction of the new government. Tensions rose further in March when clashes between pro-Assad and government-aligned armed groups escalated into sectarian violence, leaving hundreds dead.
With agencies inputs
