JERUSALEM/DAMASCUS: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, in a joint assertion, stated on Friday that Israel carried out in a single day assaults close to the presidential palace in Syria’s capital, Damascus. The strike adopted the lethal clashes that intensified earlier this week between native Druze fighters and pro-government forces south of Damascus.
“It is a clear message to the Syrian regime,” the Israeli assertion stated. “We won’t permit the transfer of forces south of Damascus and any hazard to the Druze group.” In the meantime, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) stated Israeli airstrikes focused early Friday a website close to the Syrian presidential residence in Damascus, inflicting loud explosions however no quick casualties.
The observatory described the strikes as a “warning message” as they occurred close to some of the fortified and symbolic areas of the Syrian authorities. The Syrian authorities have but to touch upon the Israeli air raids.
Amid the sectarian unrest, two wounded Druze Syrians have been evacuated on Thursday to Ziv Medical Centre in Safed in northern Israel for medical remedy. On the identical day, Katz warned of harsh responses if clashes with the Druze group proceed in Syria.
Earlier than daybreak on Friday, a whole bunch of Israeli Druze protesters demonstrated in entrance of Netanyahu’s non-public residence in Israel’s northern coastal city of Caesarea, demanding that the Israeli military intervene and shield the Druze in Syria, in line with studies by Israeli media retailers.
Earlier on Thursday evening, 1000’s of Druze residents took to the streets in northern Israel, blocking main highways, Xinhua information company reported.
Based on a SOHR replace on Thursday, the demise toll from two days of sectarian clashes close to Damascus has climbed to 101, together with 9 discipline executions.
Druze folks primarily stay in Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, with smaller teams in Jordan. Israel has been working to solidify ties with the Druze group since increasing its territorial management close to the border with Syria and within the Golan Heights following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s authorities in December 2024.