Israel launches fresh attacks against Syrian military headquarters as border tensions grow following clashes
Syrian state media reported two airstrikes hit the city of Sweida on Wednesday, local time, with further explosions also heard in the the capital Damascus.
Israel's military confirmed it had carried out attacks on the entrance to Syrian Defence Ministry headquarters, with officials claiming the attacks were aimed at protecting the Druze minority group from Islamist-led authorities.
The Druze religious group in southern Syria have ties with Israel's own Druze population.
Loud explosions were heard in Damascus on Wednesday. Picture: Izettin Kasim/Anadolu via Getty Images
Sources within Syria's Defence Ministry told Reuters at least two drone strikes had hit the building and that officers were taking cover in the basement.
State owned broadcaster Elekhbariya TV said the Israeli strike wounded two civilians.
Government security forces have clashed with local Druze fighters in the southern city of Sweida in recent days, prompting action from Israel's Defence Forces.
The IDF said it was continuing "to monitor developments and the actions being taken against Druze civilians in southern Syria".
Members of the minority groups have also protested on both sides of the Israel-Syria border in the Golan Heights, sparking clashes with security agents.
On Wednesday, IDF personnel attempted to disperse protestors on both sides of the border after some had broken through fences separating the two nations.
Clashes broke out as troops moved in, with vision appearing to show soldiers deploying flash grenades to try and drive off protestors.
A small grass fire erupted during the chaos, causing demonstrators to flee.
Israel has launched a number of strikes on Syria in recent months in order to target groups it perceives as hostile and a threat to its security.
The IDF has operated within the borders of its neighbour following the fall of the Assad regime, which has drawn the ire of the new Syrian government.
Syrian leader, and former militant, Ahmed al-Sharaa has condemned the latest attacks describing them as a calculated attempt to sow chaos in the country.
There had been speculation al-Sharaa would strike a peace deal with Israel in order to normalise ties between the two nations, although this now appears unlikely in the short-term.
The Golan Heights, in which the border clashes have occurred is disputed territory and most nations, including Australia do not recognise Israel's sovereignty in the region. Picture:The Golan Heights, in which the border clashes have occurred is disputed territory and most nations, including Australia do not recognise Israel's sovereignty in the region.
Israel seized the territory in the Six-Day War of 1967, before annexing it in 1981.
It is likely Syria would demand the return of some, if not all, of the land as part of any peace agreement between the two nations.
With Reuters.
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