Israel announced on Wednesday that it had bombed Syrian army headquarters in Damascus, following its warning to Syria’s Islamist-led government to halt attacks on the Druze minority in Sweida province. The warning came as sectarian violence reportedly claimed nearly 250 lives.
Syrian government forces entered Sweida, a predominantly Druze city, on Tuesday to oversee a ceasefire negotiated with Druze leaders after clashes with Bedouin tribes left over 100 people dead. However, witnesses said government troops instead joined Bedouin fighters in launching a violent assault on Druze militias and civilians.
The outbreak of violence is the most severe since earlier battles between government forces and Druze fighters in Sweida and near Damascus in April and May, which also resulted in over 100 fatalities.
Tensions between Syria’s Islamist leadership and religious and ethnic minorities have remained high since the ousting of former president Bashar al-Assad in December.
Photos from Damascus on Wednesday showed the aftermath of Israeli strikes on the Syrian army and defence ministry buildings.
Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, urged Syria to withdraw from Sweida, warning, “Israel will not abandon the Druze in Syria. We will enforce the demilitarisation policy we have set.” He promised increased military action if Syrian forces failed to comply.
Shortly thereafter, the Israeli military confirmed it had bombed the entrance to Syria’s military headquarters in Damascus. Syrian state television reported two people injured in central Damascus but did not specify the location.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s stance, stating that southern Syria must be entirely demilitarised. He warned that Israel would not tolerate the presence of Syria’s Islamist-led forces near Israeli-controlled areas.
Israel has since deployed additional troops to the armistice line between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syrian territory.
Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of the Druze in Israel, described the situation as “an existential battle for the Druze community.”
According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Syrian government forces were actively fighting alongside Bedouin militias against Druze groups. An AFP journalist on the ground reported ongoing gunfire, shelling, and rising smoke in several areas of Sweida.
The journalist counted approximately 30 bodies, including both armed combatants and civilians. The Suwayda 24 news outlet reported heavy shelling using mortars and artillery.
Syria’s defence ministry accused “outlaw groups” of attacking its forces and claimed it was continuing operations to neutralise hostile fire.
The Observatory reported that the death toll in Sweida had reached at least 248 since the violence began on Sunday. Among the dead were 92 Druze, including 28 civilians, with 21 reportedly executed by government troops. At least 138 Syrian security personnel and 18 allied Bedouin fighters were also killed.
The longstanding tensions between the Druze and Bedouin communities flared after the abduction of a Druze vegetable seller, which led to a series of retaliatory kidnappings.
While Israel has positioned itself as a protector of the Druze, some analysts believe this stance is a strategic justification for preventing Syrian government forces from nearing its borders.