Israeli military bombings of the city's capital intensify significantly
In a surprising turn of events, Israel carried out an airstrike on the Syrian capital Damascus on Thursday, targeting military installations near the presidential palace and the Syrian military headquarters. This action was reportedly in response to an Iranian drone launch from Syria and aimed at protecting the Druze religious minority in Syria, particularly in the Druze-majority city of Sweida.
According to multiple reports from July 2021, the Israeli airstrikes hit key military installations, including the Defense Ministry and the Syrian army’s general staff building near Ummayad Square. The bombing caused casualties and structural damage in Damascus, with Syrian health officials reporting deaths and injuries.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly stated that the strikes were intended to safeguard the Druze community and prevent further Syrian government advances into Druze areas near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights border. Israel also sought to maintain a demilitarized buffer zone in southwestern Syria and warned against the re-establishment of hostile forces there, emphasizing its obligation to protect the Druze population.
Following the airstrikes and clashes, a ceasefire agreement was reportedly reached between Druze groups and the Syrian government to disarm and integrate Druze militias into state forces, aiming to stabilize the region.
It's worth noting that this assessment is based on multiple credible reports referencing coordinated Israeli airstrikes designed specifically to protect the Druze minority during escalating violence in southern Syria in 2021. The Israeli military claimed responsibility for the bombing on Thursday, stating that it was also aimed at preventing an imminent Iranian attack on Israel.
The Syrian government has condemned the Israeli bombing on Thursday, with its air defenses responding to the attack. This incident marks another escalation in the ongoing tension between Israel and Syria, particularly in relation to Iran's presence and activities in Syria.
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- The Israeli airstrikes on the Syrian capital Damascus in July 2021 were not only in response to an Iranian drone launch, but also aimed to protect the Druze religious minority and maintain a demilitarized buffer zone in southwestern Syria, as asserted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz.
- The bombing caused by the Israeli airstrikes on military installations in Damascus, such as the Defense Ministry and the Syrian army’s general staff building, also labeled as 'general-news' and 'war-and-conflicts', did not only result in casualties and structural damage, but also triggered a ceasefire agreement between Druze groups and the Syrian government.
