Syrian TV Presenter Flees Studio Following Airstrike; Israeli Defense Minister Posts Video With Caption: 'The Heavy Blows Have Started'
The Israeli army later confirmed it had targeted the Syrian army HQ in Damascus and a military target near the presidential palace.
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The strike came amid escalating sectarian violence between Syria's Druze minority, with which Israel is aligned, and Bedouin communities in the southern Syrian city of Suwayda, which in turn has led to the intervention of the Syrian army.
Syria TV posted footage on X of the moment the strike happened, showing presenter Dima Abodan gasping, hunching over and then making a swift exit.
مذيعة #تلفزيون_سوريا تغادر الاستوديو بسبب غارة للاحتلال الإسرائيلي استهدفت مبنى وزارة الدفاع وسط العاصمة #دمشق #نيو_ميديا_سوريا @DimaAbodan pic.twitter.com/lHVawfDOqA
— تلفزيون سوريا (@syr_television) July 16, 2025
Later, Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz also posted the video on X, with the caption: 'The heavy blows have started.'
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in Washington that the U.S, was 'very concerned' about the escalating violence.
'I just got off the phone with the relevant parties. We're very concerned about it, and hopefully, we'll have some updates later today. But we're very concerned about it,' Rubio said
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