Home News Israel Israel Strikes Syrian Regime Headquarters in Damascus Amid Druze Clashes

Israel Strikes Syrian Regime Headquarters in Damascus Amid Druze Clashes

As sectarian violence intensifies in southern Syria, Israel targets regime positions in Damascus and Sweida, pledging to protect the region's vulnerable Druze population. The IDF confirmed airstrikes on Syrian regime targets in Damascus and Sweida amid ongoing clashes between government forces and Druze fighters, escalating regional tensions

Caskets of Mar Elias Church bombing victims are carried during funerals in Damascus, Syria, on June 24, 2025. (REUTERS/KHALIL ASHAWI)
Caskets of Mar Elias Church bombing victims are carried during funerals in Damascus, Syria, on June 24, 2025. (REUTERS/KHALIL ASHAWI)
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Jerusalem – July 16, 2025 — The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched targeted strikes on Wednesday against Syrian regime positions, including the entrance to the military headquarters complex in Damascus, as part of a broader response to the escalating conflict involving the Druze community in southern Syria.

The military operation, confirmed by the IDF, follows days of intense violence in and around Sweida, a predominantly Druze city in southern Syria. Israeli drones earlier struck regime targets in the area, where Syrian government forces had clashed with local Druze militias and Bedouin tribal fighters.

The Israeli strikes come amid mounting international concern over the Syrian government’s crackdown on Druze communities, who have increasingly resisted regime control in the region. Much of Sweida remains under Druze control, although Christian and Muslim minorities also reside in the city.

Tensions boiled over on Sunday after clashes erupted between local Druze forces and Bedouin tribes, with Syrian regime troops entering the area and engaging both sides. A suicide bombing at Mar Elias Church in Damascus on June 24 further inflamed the situation, leaving multiple victims, whose funerals were held this week.

On Monday, the IDF destroyed several Syrian tanks advancing toward Sweida, after the regime reportedly took over at least one Druze village. Israeli officials have repeatedly warned against Syrian aggression targeting Druze civilians.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Israel Katz issued a stern warning on Wednesday. “We will not allow the terrorist regime of radical Islam in Syria to harm the Druze,” they said in a joint statement. “If the regime harms the Druze, it will be harmed by us.”

Katz also declared that Israel would “escalate its level of attacks on the Syrian regime” if it does not withdraw its forces from Sweida immediately. Both leaders reiterated their commitment to protecting the Druze population, citing their historical ties to the Druze community in Israel.

As a precaution, the IDF has reinforced its troop presence along the Syrian border and continues to monitor developments closely. Officials said the latest strikes are part of ongoing efforts to deter further violence and prevent atrocities against the Druze minority.

The military escalation has already had political repercussions. Netanyahu’s hearing on an unrelated domestic matter was abruptly cut short on Wednesday due to the urgent security situation.

Observers fear that the conflict could spiral further, drawing regional powers into a more direct confrontation over Syria’s fracturing sectarian landscape.

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