The Israeli Air Force launched airstrikes early Friday near the Syrian presidential palace in Damascus, in what Israeli officials described as a stern warning to Syria’s leadership following days of intense sectarian violence between pro-government militias and fighters from the Druze minority.
The strikes, confirmed by Israel’s military, marked the second attack in Syria this week. They targeted areas adjacent to the residence of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, though specific damage or casualties have not yet been disclosed.
In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that the strike was “a clear message to the Syrian regime.” The Israeli leadership emphasized its commitment to preventing any threat against the Druze community, stating: “We will not allow the deployment of forces south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community.”
The airstrikes come on the heels of violent clashes that erupted Tuesday in the Damascus suburbs of Sahnaya and Jaramana, where 56 people have reportedly died. The conflict was sparked by an audio clip, allegedly from a Druze cleric, containing derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad. Though the authenticity of the clip remains in question, its circulation provoked outrage among Sunni Muslim residents and quickly escalated into armed confrontation.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights attributed the deaths to both local Druze fighters and Syrian security forces. However, Damascus has denied any government involvement in the violence.
In a powerful rebuke, Syria’s top Druze religious figure, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, accused the Syrian regime, now dominated by radical Islamist factions aligned with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, of launching a “genocidal attack” against the Druze minority.
The Druze, an offshoot of Ismaili Shia Islam dating back to the 10th century, number around 1 million globally, with more than half residing in Syria, mainly in the Sweida province and southern Damascus suburbs. Others live in Lebanon, Israel, and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s Alawite-led regime in December created a power vacuum now filled by Islamist coalitions, prompting fresh instability and deepening sectarian divisions. The March massacre of over 1,700 civilians, primarily from Assad’s Alawite community, further heightened tensions across the country.
Israel’s recent military actions appear aimed at both deterring threats to the Druze and undermining Syria’s new rulers. Since Assad’s fall, Israel has ramped up airstrikes on Syrian military assets and re-established a presence in the formerly demilitarized Golan Heights, capturing key strategic ground once controlled by Syrian forces.
At a meeting in Sweida, Druze leaders reaffirmed their loyalty to a unified Syria, rejecting any form of separation or external interference. “We are an inseparable part of the Syrian homeland,” a community spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani urged “national unity” and condemned foreign intervention, warning it would only fuel further division.
Complicating the situation, a missile fired from Yemen, believed to be launched by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, triggered air raid sirens in northern Israel on Friday. Israeli air defense systems successfully intercepted the projectile. The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Israel in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing war in Gaza, now in its 18th month.
Back in Israel, Druze citizens staged protests Thursday night, briefly blocking roads and calling on the government to step up efforts to protect their kin across the border.
Despite tensions, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa recently told a visiting U.S. congressman that Damascus remains open to normalizing relations with Israel, a statement that highlights the complexity of the shifting alliances and rivalries in a region long defined by conflict.
