Israel Bombs Damascus Military HQ – Syria Conflict
Syria‘s Druze Caught in Crossfire as Israel Escalates Strikes in Sweida
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DAMASCUS, Syria – Syria’s Druze community finds itself increasingly caught in the escalating conflict between Syrian government forces and Israel, especially in the southern sweida province. As sectarian violence intensifies, Israel has launched a significant wave of airstrikes, targeting Syrian military positions and vowing further action until government forces withdraw from areas where Druze civilians have been affected.
Israel Intensifies Military Operations in Sweida
Following alleged massacres of Alawites in March, for which the Syrian government has yet to release a report on accountability, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Sharaa issued a strong statement on Wednesday. He vowed that government forces would face legal consequences, declaring, “We will never allow this to happen without punishment.”
In response, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on X that the israeli military “will continue to operate forcefully” in Sweida against government forces ”until their complete withdrawal.” He further threatened a series of “painful blows,” a promise quickly followed by live broadcasts showing smoke plumes rising from the military headquarters’ compound in Damascus.
The Israeli military has bolstered its presence along the border with Syria and within the Israeli-occupied Syrian buffer zone. A statement from the military indicated that over 160 targets in Syria, primarily in the Sweida area, have been struck since Monday.
Druze Civilians Displaced amidst Violence
The escalating conflict has had a direct impact on the Druze community, many of whom have been displaced by the violence. On Wednesday, over 1,000 Israeli Druze gathered near the Israeli-Syrian border to protest the violence against their co-religionists. According to the Israeli military, these protesters breached the border and entered Syria, though they were subsequently returned to Israeli territory. The military also reported preventing Syrians from entering Israel.
The situation highlights the precarious position of the Druze minority, who inhabit a region that has become a flashpoint in the broader Syrian conflict. Their hopes of crossing the barbed-wire fence dividing Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to escape violence were met with tear gas released by Israeli forces on Wednesday, as documented by AFP photographer Stilling Maey.
International Concern Grows Over Sectarian Fighting
The escalating violence has drawn international attention and concern.U.S. secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, expressed Washington’s “very concerned” stance regarding the sectarian fighting in Syria.
“We want the fighting to stop,” Rubio stated, adding that the United States is actively coordinating with relevant parties to bring an end to the conflict. “Hopefully we’ll have some updates later today.” The international community is watching closely, hoping for a de-escalation and a resolution that protects civilian populations caught in the crossfire.