US EditionIsraeli military, pledging to defend Druze minorities, says it attacked Syrian military headquarters in Damascus
SWEIDA AND DAMASCUS, SYRIA, JUL 16 – Israel conducted 160 airstrikes targeting Syrian regime forces to protect the Druze minority amid sectarian clashes that have killed nearly 250 people, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
- On Wednesday, the Israeli military launched rare airstrikes in the heart of Damascus, striking the Syrian Defense Ministry headquarters as clashes in Sweida continued to flare.
- On Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz called on Syria’s military to withdraw from As-Suwayda province, warning the IDF would keep striking regime forces to protect local Druze.
- Israeli forces struck Syrian army positions in As-Suwayda Tuesday and Wednesday, bombing tanks, rocket launchers, and troop deployments; hundreds of Syrians, nearly half Druze, have died since fighting began on Sunday.
- A ceasefire came into effect, prompting regime withdrawal as a result of the strikes and Syrian forces retreating back to Damascus.
- The newly brokered ceasefire paves the way for Sweida’s full integration into the government, requiring regime forces to withdraw and transferring security responsibilities to local Druze fighters.
477 Articles
477 Articles
Israel’s attack on Syria: Protecting the Druze minority or a regional power play?
A new round of violence recently erupted in southern Syria, where clashes between local Druze militias and Sunni fighters have left hundreds dead. In response, Israel launched airstrikes in and around the province of Sweida on July 15, saying it was acting to protect the Druze minority and to deter attacks by Syrian government forces. The strikes mark Israel’s most serious escalation in Syria since December 2024, and they underline a growing tre…
Israel Attacked Damascus; Hitting Syria’s Defense Ministry
Israel’s military attacked Damascus, Syria, twice on Wednesday, striking the Defense Ministry. Clashes between the Syrian army and Druze fighters in southern Syria in the country’s deadliest violence in months. On Wednesday, the Syrian government and one of the three spiritual leaders of the Syrian Druze community announced a ceasefire. It was unclear if the truce would hold, however, as another spiritual leader, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, vowed to…
Syria Announces Ceasefire After Sectarian Clashes
By Ghaith Alsayed and Abby Sewell, July 16, 2025.Syria ‘s defense minister announced a ceasefire shortly after government forces entered a key city in southern Sweida province on Tuesday, a day after sectarian clashes killed dozens there. Neighboring Israel again launched strikes on Syrian military forces, saying it was protecting the Druze minority.The latest escalation under Syria’s new leaders began with tit-for-tat kidnappings and attacks be…
“Humiliation and Helplessness”: Sectarian Violence Continues Unabated in Syria as Israel Strikes Damascus
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