Israel struck near the presidential palace in Damascus, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Friday, Israeli media reported.
“This is a clear message to the Syrian regime: We will not allow [Syrian] forces to deploy south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community,” the joint statement said.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed that Israeli fighter jets had struck near the palace of Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus.
On April 30, south of Damascus, in the town of Saqna, which is predominantly inhabited by Druze, clashes broke out between armed Syrian government forces and Druze militias. The day before, clashes broke out in the town of Jaramana.
One of the three religious leaders of the Druze community in Syria, Hikmat al-Hijri, called for the immediate deployment of international forces to protect the Druze population from attacks by pro-government groups. According to al-Hijri, after the events in Sahnaya and Jaramana, the Druze community lost trust in the government in Damascus. The Syrian authorities, however, claimed that the security forces were not involved in the armed conflict and had been sent to restore order.
These events are taking place against a backdrop of instability in Syria, where power has passed to the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former Al-Qaeda commander. Despite promises of inclusive rule, HTS is facing difficulties in controlling radical elements within the coalition, which is heightening fears among minorities, including Druze and Alawites. In March 2025, more than 1,500 Alawites were killed in attacks, fuelling tensions.
