Israel Strikes Damascus Amidst Escalating Syria Conflict, US‍ Urges de-escalation

DAMASCUS/JERUSALEM – Israel launched⁢ airstrikes on Syrian military targets‌ in Damascus on Wednesday, including the defense ministry and a site near ‍the presidential palace, amidst a widening conflict in ⁣the Sweida region that has claimed hundreds of⁤ lives.⁣ The strikes came as the United States ⁤urged all parties to step⁣ back and‍ engage in ‍dialog⁢ for a lasting​ ceasefire.

Escalation in sweida and Israeli Response

The conflict, which ⁣erupted on Sunday between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes in ⁢the southern Sweida province,⁤ has⁤ resulted in over 300 fatalities, ⁢according to the‌ Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. ⁢the Britain-based watchdog⁢ reported that 28 civilians were among 92 Druze ‌killed, with 21 reportedly executed by government forces.At least ⁣138⁣ Syrian⁤ security personnel and 18 allied Bedouin fighters also lost their ⁢lives.

In⁤ response to the‌ escalating violence and reports of attacks on the⁢ Druze community, ​Israeli⁣ Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the Israeli military would ⁣”continue to operate vigorously in sweida to destroy the forces that attacked⁤ the Druze until ⁤they withdraw wholly.” He also issued a direct call ⁣to⁣ Damascus, urging them ​to “leave the Druze in Sweida alone” and reiterated​ Israel’s commitment to ⁣enforcing​ a demilitarization policy.

An Israeli military official confirmed the strikes on Damascus, targeting⁢ the entrance to⁣ military headquarters and a site near the ‍presidential palace. The official also asserted that Syrian forces‌ were not acting‍ to⁣ prevent attacks on the Druze and were, in fact, “part of​ the problem.”

International Reactions and Calls for⁢ Ceasefire

the‌ situation was described as “complex” by US Secretary ​of State Marco Rubio, who suggested ‍it appeared to be a ‍”misunderstanding” and expressed⁣ optimism ⁢for progress towards de-escalation. Hours after his statement, an unidentified Syrian‍ interior ministry source announced that a new ceasefire had been‍ reached ‍in Sweida, ⁣with ‍an agreement ⁢for the deployment of security checkpoints in the city.

However, reporters in Damascus⁤ heard warplanes flying low​ and observed massive strikes in the mid-afternoon, with columns of smoke rising from the​ area near the defense ministry. A section ⁣of the building was reportedly destroyed, leaving the ground strewn ​with rubble. ​A Syrian medical source confirmed that five members of the⁣ security forces ⁤were killed in these strikes.

The United States’ special envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, called on all parties ‌to ‍step back and engage in dialogue for a lasting ceasefire. “We unequivocally condemn violence ​against civilians in‌ Sweida… All parties must step back and engage in meaningful dialogue that⁢ leads to a ⁣lasting ceasefire,” ⁤Barrack stated on⁣ X,​ emphasizing that “perpetrators need to be held ‌accountable.”

Turkiye condemned Israel’s strikes⁢ on Syrian army headquarters in Damascus, characterizing them as an “act of sabotage” aimed at undermining stability in the war-torn country. The ‌Turkish foreign ministry issued a statement⁢ saying, “Israel’s attacks on Damascus, following‌ its⁣ military‌ interventions in ⁢the south of Syria, constitute an act of sabotage against syria’s efforts to secure peace, stability, and⁤ security.”

The Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham-led regime in ‌Syria ‍has reportedly experienced strained⁢ relations with the country’s religious and ethnic minorities since the toppling of syria’s longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in December. This⁣ context adds another layer of ⁣complexity to ​the ongoing conflict and regional ⁤dynamics.