Israel launches airstrike close to Syrian Presidential palace after escalating Druze conflict incidents
Striking Words: Israel Warns Syria over Druze Conflict
Friday saw Israel's air force launch a warning strike near Syria's presidential palace, aiming to halt attacks against the country's Druze minority. This military intervention comes amidst escalating clashes between pro-government forces and Druze fighters near Damascus, resulting in numerous casualties.
The recent bloodshed began when an audio clip criticizing Islam's Prophet Mohammed circulated on social media, allegedly from a Druze cleric. However, the new Syrian government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa – a former al-Qaeda affiliate – has confirmed that the man in question was not involved.
Over the past week, Israel has intervened twice in Syria. The latest strike is seen as a direct message to the Syrian authorities, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz stating, "We will not allow a withdrawal of forces from south of Damascus or any danger to the Druze community."
State-affiliated Syrian media reported that the strike occurred near the People's Palace, overlooking the capital. Earlier this week, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 56 people, including armed fighters and security forces, were killed in the Sahnaya area and in Jaramana, a Druze-populated suburb of Damascus.
The Druze, a religious minority whose faith originated as a branch of Shiite Islam, have significant communities in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, particularly in the Golan Heights. Since ousting Bashar al-Assad's regime in late 2024, al-Sharaa's government has pledged to protect religious minorities. However, this promise has been called into question following the killing of hundreds of al-Assad's Alawite sect members in western Syria in March 2025.
Druze religious leaders in Syria have stressed their community's commitment to a unified Syria, stating, "We confirm our commitment to a country that includes all Syrians, a nation that is free of strife." However, amidst ongoing violence, this commitment remains to be seen.
Related:
- Nine killed in clashes between Druze gunmen and government forces in Syria
- Druze protesters block roads in Galilee over deadly Syria clashes
Find more insight into this issue:
- The Druze and the Syrian Civil War: Historical Context and Current Escalations
- Israel's Role in Protecting the Syrian Druze Community
- The Future of Syria's Minority Groups
- The strike reportedly occurred near the People's Palace in Syria, a location overlooking the capital, after Israeli air force launched a warning strike targeting Syria's presidential palace, intent on halt ing attacks against the Druze minority.
- The Israeli government, through Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, has stated that they will not tolerate any withdrawal of forces from south of Damascus or any danger to the Druze community.
- The Druze community, a religious minority significant in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, has faced an escalation of clashes between pro-government forces and Druze fighters near Damascus, resulting in the death of dozens, as confirmed in a recent report by the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
- Amidst ongoing violence and the increased accessibility of news and general news sources, the global community is closely monitoring the ongoing Druze conflict in Syria, particularly in the context of recent political shifts and the dynamics of war and conflicts in the region.
