According to its own statements, Israel attacked the Syrian army headquarters in Damascus. According to the Israeli government, the air strike was in response to violence against the Druze minority in the city of Sweida in southern Syria. Israel had previously called on Damascus to withdraw from the region.

The background to this is ongoing heavy fighting between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes, in which, according to observers, 250 people have already been killed, more than 100 of them in the last few days alone. On Tuesday, the Syrian government sent units to Sweida to monitor a ceasefire allegedly agreed with local Druze leaders. However, eyewitnesses report that Syrian troops, together with Bedouin fighters, took action against Druze units and civilians – with devastating consequences.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned in an official statement: “Israel will not abandon the Druze in Syria and will enforce the demilitarization policy we have decided on.” Katz demanded the immediate withdrawal of Syrian forces from Sweida and announced that Israel would intensify its military response if Damascus did not respond.

Shortly afterwards, the Israeli army confirmed the attack on the Syrian military headquarters in Damascus: “The Israeli army recently struck the entrance to the Syrian regime headquarters in the Damascus area,” according to Gulf News.

Syrian state television reported that two people had been injured in downtown Damascus. No more precise location was given.

The Druze are a religious minority with their own identity and are considered loyal to their respective countries of residence – they live in Syria, Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan. In Syria, they had largely stayed out of the civil war until now. However, the latest escalation in Sweida is considered one of the most serious outbreaks of violence in years.