Syrian Defense Ministry Headquarters Attacked in Airstrike by Israel in Damascus, Comprehensive Overview Provided
In the southern Syrian city of Sweida, intense clashes have been taking place for days between government forces and Druze armed groups, following attacks on local Druze populations by Sunni Bedouins. The violence, which began on July 13, 2025, has resulted in a death toll nearing 99 people and nearly five days of heavy fighting.
The Druze community is divided, with some factions cooperating with government forces and others resisting. Tensions have risen due to allegations that government forces have violated ceasefire agreements by shelling the city.
In a bid to protect the Druze population, Israel has conducted a series of airstrikes targeting Syrian regime military vehicles and convoys in Sweida province. The Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, stated that these strikes aimed to prevent harm to the Druze and maintain the demilitarization of southern Syria adjacent to Israel's border, citing strong ties with the Druze community.
Despite a tentative ceasefire, Israeli military actions have continued, with reports of ongoing strikes targeting military equipment and convoys of Syrian armed forces in the area. The situation remains volatile, with humanitarian concerns about the safety of civilians and significant displacement, as well as damage to crucial infrastructure such as water and telecommunications.
The UN has called for de-escalation, expressing concern about the severe impact of the conflict on civilians. Meanwhile, the Syrian military is adhering to rules of engagement to protect residents, prevent harm, and ensure the safe return of those who left the city back to their homes.
The civil war in Syria, which lasted nearly 14 years, ended with the ousting of President Bashar Assad by a rebel offensive in December. Since then, Syria's new rulers have struggled to consolidate control. Fears among minorities have increased, particularly among religious and ethnic minorities, due to the new leaders being primarily Sunni Muslim.
Amidst the ongoing conflicts, reports of attacks on civilians continue to surface. Druze with family members in the conflict zone are searching desperately for information about their fate amid communication blackouts. The Israeli military launched an airstrike on the Syrian Defense Ministry headquarters in Damascus on Wednesday, with no specific number of casualties reported by Syrian state media.
Sectarian revenge attacks have resulted in the killing of hundreds of civilians from the Alawite religious minority, to which Assad belongs. The Israeli military's actions in Syria, while targeting government troops and convoys, claim to be supporting the Druze religious minority group. However, the situation remains complex and volatile, with broader regional dynamics at play.
- The intense war-and-conflicts in Sweida, Syria, involving government forces and Druze armed groups, have raised questions in the realm of politics, as both local factions and international players such as Israel intervene, citing their respective interests.
- As regional tensions escalate due to war-and-conflicts in Syria, amid reports of attacks on civilians and various ethnic minorities, general news outlets are closely monitoring the situation, focusing on the humanitarian crisis and the complex political dynamics at play.
