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Israel launched powerful airstrikes in Damascus on Wednesday, blowing up part of the defense ministry and hitting near the presidential palace as it vowed to destroy government forces attacking Druze in southern Syria and demanded they withdraw.
The attacks marked a significant Israeli escalation against the administration of President Ahmed al-Sharaa and came despite his warming ties with the US and his administration’s evolving security contacts with Israel.
Israel has said it won’t let Syria’s new rulers move forces into southern Syria and vowed to shield the area’s Druze community from attacks, encouraged by calls from Israel’s own Druze minority.
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The US State Department called on Syria to pull back its troops to allow for de-escalation. Syria called for the United Nations Security Council to “address the consequences of the Israeli aggression,” according to a letter seen by Reuters.
Scores of people have been killed this week in violence in and around the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, pitting fighters from the Druze minority against government security forces and members of Bedouin tribes.
Reuters reporters heard warplanes swoop low over the capital and unleash a series of massive strikes mid-afternoon. Columns of smoke rose from the area near the defense ministry. A section of the building was destroyed, the ground strewn with rubble.
A Syrian medical source said the strikes on the defense ministry killed five members of the security forces.
An Israeli military official said the Israeli military struck the entrance to the military headquarters in Damascus and a military target near the presidential palace.
The Israeli official said Syrian forces were not acting to prevent attacks on Druze and were part of the problem. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli military would “continue to operate vigorously in Sweida to destroy the forces that attacked the Druze until they withdraw completely.”
Syrian government troops were dispatched to the Sweida region on Monday to quell fighting between Druze fighters and Bedouin armed men but ended up clashing with the Druze militias.
New clashes broke out in the city, according to a Reuters witness, after the Syrian interior ministry and a Druze leader, Sheikh Yousef Jarbou, said a ceasefire had been reached. A ceasefire that was announced on Tuesday collapsed.
Sweida residents said they were holed up indoors. “We are surrounded and we hear the fighters screaming ... we’re so scared,” said a resident of Sweida who was reached by phone.
The crack of gunfire interspersed by booms could be heard in the background. “We’re trying to keep the children quiet so that no one can hear us,” the man added, asking not to be identified for fear of reprisals.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights said 169 people had been killed in this week’s violence. Security sources put the toll at 300.
Druze are followers of a religion that is an offshoot of Islam and are spread between Syria, Lebanon and Israel.
Following calls in Israel to help Druze in Syria, scores of Israeli Druze broke through the border fence on Wednesday, linking up with Druze on the Syrian side, a Reuters witness said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli military was working to save the Druze and urged Israeli Druze citizens not to cross the border. The Israeli military said it was working to safely return civilians who had crossed.
A Syrian government statement on Wednesday said those responsible for lawlessness in Sweida would be held accountable. It said the government was committed to protecting the rights of the people in Sweida.
Al-Sharaa has repeatedly promised to protect minorities.
With Reuters
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