In a significant escalation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced via a post on X (formerly Twitter) that it had targeted the entrance of the Syrian regime’s military headquarters located in Damascus. The strike was carried out in response to ongoing tensions and was conducted under the directive of Israel’s political leadership.
The IDF emphasized that it is closely monitoring developments on the ground, particularly the Syrian regime’s actions against Druze civilians in southern Syria. “The IDF continues to monitor developments and the regime’s actions against Druze civilians in southern Syria,” the military stated, adding that it remains prepared for various scenarios.
The Druze, a religious minority that originated in the 10th century as an offshoot of Ismaili Shiite Islam, have a global population of around one million, with more than half residing in Syria. Other significant Druze communities are found in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, a territory captured by Israel from Syria in 1967 and annexed in 1981.
Tensions in the Druze-majority southern Syrian city of Sweida have surged following the collapse of a ceasefire between Syrian government forces and local Druze armed factions. The truce, brokered just a day earlier, broke down on Wednesday, leading to renewed clashes in the region. Syria’s defence ministry accused the local militias of violating the ceasefire and confirmed that military operations had resumed in Sweida.
“Military forces continue to respond to the source of fire inside the city of Sweida, while 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 ministry stated.
This outbreak of violence follows the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad in December by a coalition of Islamist rebel groups, ending nearly 14 years of civil war. The newly established leadership, dominated by Sunni Muslim factions, has struggled to establish nationwide control. Minority groups, particularly the Druze, have expressed deep concern about the direction of the new government. These tensions were further inflamed in March, when clashes between pro-Assad elements and government-aligned forces devolved into deadly sectarian violence, resulting in hundreds of casualties.
