CAIRO – 16 July 2025: The Israeli army confirmed strikes on the Syrian General Staff complex and near the presidential palace on Wednesday shortly after Israeli attacks that targeted the Syrian armed forces in the southern city of Sweida near the border with Israel.
The attacks come after recent fighting between elements of the Druze, a religious group with around one million adherents who primarily inhabit Syria, Lebanon and Israel, and Bedouin tribes this week.
The Syrian armed forces were dispatched to quell the fight, triggering warnings by Israel of further strikes until they withdraw from the area.
A Druze spiritual leader accused the government forces of attacking them on Tuesday, Reuters reported. However, the Syrian government blames outlawed gangs for the violence.
In a tweet coinciding with today’s attacks on the Syrian capital, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that “painful blows will come.”
“The warnings in Damascus have ended,” he said. “The IDF will continue to operate forcefully in Sweida to destroy the forces that attacked the Druze until their complete withdrawal.”
Syria’s official news agency SANA reported the death of one person and the injury of 18 more in the Israeli strikes on Damascus.
The Israeli army justified its attack on the General Staff compound, stating that it is where commanders manage the fighting and dispatch government forces to Sweida.
Israeli reports indicate that the army is considering more strikes on high-level facilities in the Syrian capital.
The Israeli government claims that this week’s strikes aimed at defending the Druze. Meanwhile, Druze leader Yusuf Jarbou’ on Tuesday expressed rejection of Israeli intervention, stressing support to the Syrian state.
“Israel is committed to preventing harm to the Druze in Syria due to the deep brotherly alliance with our Druze citizens in Israel, and their familial and historical ties to the Druze in Syria,” said a joint statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz.
They added that the attacks also aim to ensure the demilitarization of the area adjacent to the Syrian-Israeli border.
The internal unrest between the Druze and the Bedouin tribes was reportedly ignited by a series of tit-for-tat kidnappings.
Syrian authorities reported the death of more than 30 people and the injury of nearly 100 others. Meanwhile, war-monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported at least 203 fatalities, including 92 Druze members, 93 security personnel and 18 Bedouins.
On Tuesday, Syria’s Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra announced a ceasefire agreement with Sweida notables, stating that the forces will “only respond only to the sources of fire and deal with any targeting by outlaw groups.”
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