Israeli Air Strikes on Damascus Hit Syrian Army Headquarters and Near Presidential Palace
DAMASCUS GOVERNORATE, SYRIA, JUL 16 – Israel conducted multiple airstrikes on Syria's Defense Ministry in response to Islamist militia attacks on the Druze minority, with over 240 killed in related southern Syria clashes, rights groups said.
- On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, IDF struck the Syrian Defense Ministry headquarters in Damascus, with IDF saying it targeted the entrance, and the main explosion occurred near Umayyad Square, according to The Media Line correspondent.
- Following militia assaults on Druze settlements, Defense Minister Israel Katz responded to recent attacks, saying he would intensify strikes if Syrian forces did not withdraw from Suwayda, signaling escalation.
- Meanwhile, explosions reported by Syrian News Channel injured two civilians, video footage captured a building being hit, causing panic among Damascus residents.
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the escalation, saying 'we're very concerned' about the violence, highlighting broader regional stability worries.
- Analysts note the operation signals Israel's intent to deter Damascus from deepening ties with Iran, amid heightened regional volatility from the Gaza war and Israel-Lebanon border tensions.
140 Articles
140 Articles
US distances itself from Israeli attacks on Syria
WASHINGTON: The United States has said it did not support recent Israeli strikes on Syria and had made clear its displeasure, while Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa accused Israel of trying to fracture his country and promised to protect its Druze minority. On Wednesday, Israel launched airstrikes in Damascus, while also hitting government forces in the south, demanding they withdraw and saying that Israel aimed to protect Syrian Druze – part of a …
What’s behind deadly clashes in Syria - and why did Israel intervene?
By Mostafa Salem, Mohammed Tawfeeq and Hira Humayun, CNN (CNN) — Hundreds of people have been killed in days of violence in southern Syria which began with clashes between members of the Druze minority group and Bedouin tribes and drew a military intervention from Syria. The Syrian government has declared a ceasefire in the area and sent in troops but has been struggling to restore order. Here’s what to know. Who are the Druze? The Druze are an …
De Telegraaf
Reformatorisch DagbladIsrael and Hamas are negotiating a ceasefire. Meanwhile, the Israeli military has reported new attacks on the Syrian capital, Damascus, and the Syrian army has begun withdrawing from the southern city of Suwayda.
Unfinished business in the Middle East
Probably few if any Middle East analysts had Israeli airstrikes targeting key government installations of the Syrian state on their summer 2025 bingo cards. And yet that is precisely what happened on Wednesday, as Israeli jets hit Syria’s military headquarters and an area near the presidential palace in Damascus.
Stringer Dispatch: Israel strikes near Syria's presidential palace
Israel launched air strikes in Damascus, the capital of Syria, on Wednesday. The strikes hit areas near the defense ministry and presidential palace, resulting in multiple deaths, according to media reports. CGTN Stringer captured footage of the strikes
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