"Syrian authorities denounce latest Israeli assault close to the presidential palace as a provocative intensification"
In a bold move, Israel's air force unleashed a strike close to Syria's presidential palace early Friday, sending a clear message to Syria's new government. This action followed days of intense clashes between pro-government gunmen and members of the Druze minority sect near the capital, Damascus.
The heated skirmishes claimed the lives and injuries of numerous individuals, triggering condemnation from Syria's presidency, which deemed it a "dangerous escalation against state institutions and the sovereignty of the state." Meanwhile, the international community was urged to back Syria, with officials stressing that such attacks "target Syria's national security and the unity of the Syrian people."
Friday's air raid marked Israel's second attack on Syria this week, and the strike's proximity to the presidential palace serves as a strong warning to Syria’s Islamist-led new leadership, mainly Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.
Recent developments reveal that Israel has launched 48 attacks in Syria during 2025, with a primary focus on safeguarding Syria's Druze community from sectarian violence. In a humanitarian gesture, the IDF had airdropped supplies and evacuated 16 wounded Druze to Israel due to the collapse of Syria's healthcare system (only 57% of hospitals functional).
Moreover, Israel has declared southern Syria a no-go area for hostile forces following the overthrow of Assad's regime by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham in December 2024. Syria's interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, faces formidable challenges in consolidating authority amid the ongoing power struggle between the Islamist group, Druze factions, and remnants of Assad's regime.
This conflict underscores the fragmentation of Syrian governance and Israel's readiness to intervene directly across borders to secure minority groups. The situation remains volatile, with the possibility of further escalation looming large.
The strike by Israel's air force near Syria's presidential palace serves as a warning to Syria’s Islamist-led new leadership, particularly Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, regarding human rights and sovereignty issues in Syria, following days of intense clashes in Damascus. The international community has been urged to support Syria, with officials stressing that such attacks target Syria's national security and the unity of the Syrian people. Israel's recent attacks on Syria, including the latest on Friday, are largely added to safeguard Syria's Druze community from sectarian violence. This conflict largely reflects the fragmentation of Syrian governance and Israel's readiness to intervene directly across borders, making the situation volatile with the possibility of further escalation.
