Israel strikes Damascus military HQ as fighting between Syrian forces and Druze continues
Date: 14:32 BST
Title: Who are the Druze?
Content: The Druze faith is an offshoot of Shia Islam with its own unique identity and beliefs.
They have historically occupied a precarious position in Syria's political order. Half its roughly one million followers live in Syria, where they make up about 3% of the population, while there are smaller communities in Lebanon, Israel and the occupied Golan Heights.
Earlier this year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned he would not "tolerate any threat to the Druze community in southern Syria" from the country's new security forces.
He also demanded the complete demilitarisation of much of the south, saying Israel saw Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa's Sunni Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as a threat.
Update:
Date: 14:27 BST
Title: Nine injured in Damascus strikes - Syrian health ministry
Content: Nine people have been injured as a result of Israeli strikes in Damascus, according to a preliminary assessment just released by the Syrian heath ministry.
Update:
Date: 14:25 BST
Title: Syria condemns Israeli attacks in south as 'criminal and illegal'
Content: The Syrian government has not yet responded to this round of Israeli strikes, but a few hours ago it condemned what it calls Israel's "criminal and illegal behaviour" in the south of the country.
In a statement, the Syrian presidency called the ongoing fighting between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes unacceptable under any circumstances and contradictory to their principles.
Israel has recently begun intervening in the conflict, saying it is doing so to protect the minority Druze community from attacks.
The statement added that they will affirm their "full commitment" to investigating all the related incidents and will not allow those responsible to go unpunished.
The government said that it places the highest priority on "protecting security and stability" throughout Syria, and that justice is the standard by which they operate.
It concluded by reassuring the people of Suweida - a predominantly Druze city - that their rights will always be protected and that they will not allow anyone to influence their security or stability.
Update:
Date: 14:21 BST
Title: Smoke rises over Damascus following Israeli strikes
Content: We can see smoke rising above Damascus, following a new round of Israeli strikes on Syria's capital.
It appears the principal target was Syria's defence ministry headquarters, as confirmed by an Israeli statement and local media reports.
Update:
Date: 14:16 BST
Title: IDF says it struck Syrian regime's military HQ
Content: We can now bring you an update from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), who say its forces have struck the entrance of the Syrian government's military headquarters in the capital Damascus
In a post shared on X, the IDF says it "continues to monitor developments and the regime's actions against Druze civilians in southern Syria".
It goes on to say that on orders from Israeli politicians, the IDF is "striking in the area and remains prepared for various scenarios".
Update:
Date: 14:05 BST
Title: Israel defence minister: 'Warnings have ended and painful blows to come'
Content: Shortly after Israeli strikes on Damascus began, Israel's defence minister shared a statement of intent on social media.
"The warnings in Damascus have ended - now painful blows will come," Israel Katz writes.
Katz says the Israeli military will "continue to operate forcefully" in Suweida, the area of southern Syria where Israel has recently intervened in clashes between the minority Druze community and other armed groups.
He then speaks directly to the Druze community in Israel, saying the Israel Defense Forces will protect the Syrian Druze population.
"Prime Minister Netanyahu and I, as Minister of Defence, have made a commitment - and we will uphold it," he adds.
Katz also shared a video of a live TV news broadcast, showing a building in Damascus being hit by a strike and the on-air newsreader ducking for cover.
Update:
Date: 14:03 BST
Title: Israel strikes Damascus as Syrian attacks intensify
Content: Israel has intensified its airstrikes on Syria, including on the capital Damascus, as it says it is intervening in support of the minority Druze community - who are engaged in an ongoing conflict with other Syrian armed groups.
Defence Minister Israel Katz has shared video of a live news broadcast which shows a direct hit on a Damascus building.
We will be bringing you the latest updates from Syria here, stay with us.
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