Israel announced it has targeted and bombed a Syrian army headquarters in Damascus, issuing a stern warning to the Syrian government to cease its aggression toward the Druze minority in Sweida province.
The airstrike followed days of deadly sectarian clashes in the Druze-majority region, with monitoring groups reporting nearly 250 fatalities. Syrian government forces entered the city of Sweida on Tuesday, claiming their objective was to enforce a ceasefire reached with Druze leaders after violent confrontations with local Bedouin tribes had already killed over 100 people.
However, eyewitnesses reported on Wednesday that government troops appeared to side with Bedouin fighters, launching coordinated attacks on Druze militias and civilians in what witnesses described as a brutal onslaught.
This flare-up represents the most intense wave of violence in Syria since similar clashes erupted between government forces and Druze fighters in Sweida and near Damascus earlier this year.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (or Israel Katz, depending on which is accurate) issued a clear warning to the Assad regime, demanding it halt its operations against the Druze population in Sweida.
