In the early hours of Friday, the Israeli military announced that it had conducted airstrikes near the presidential palace in Damascus. This action followed threats issued to the Syrian government regarding retaliatory measures if militia presence persisted in southern Damascus.
Military spokesperson Avichai Adraee stated on the platform X that “fighter jets targeted the area close to the palace of Ahmad Hussein al-Sharaa in Damascus.”
This strike ensued shortly after Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant warned that Israel would respond forcefully if the Syrian government failed to protect the Druze community, in light of violent clashes that occurred near Damascus.
Galant released a statement asserting, “If the attacks resume and the Syrian regime is unable to prevent them, Israel will respond with significant force.”
Following the airstrike, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a joint statement with Galant, emphasized, “This serves as a clear message to the Syrian regime. We will not permit the deployment of Syrian forces to southern Damascus or any threat to the Druze community in any form.”
Since late Monday into Tuesday, Syria has experienced clashes resulting in over one hundred fatalities, including Druze militants, security personnel, and civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
This escalation occurred after more than a month of deadly violence in coastal Syria, which claimed around 1,700 lives and highlighted the challenges faced by President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s administration.