Latest news with #Damascus-aligned
Rudaw Net
4 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Israeli military strikes Syrian army headquarters in support of the Druze
Also in Syria Israel strikes Damascus during Rudaw live coverage Israel strikes entrance of Syrian military headquarters in Damascus Five killed, two injured in 'terrorist' attacks on Rojava Asayish Syrian official forces control Druze city, announce ceasefire A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Israeli military on Wednesday struck the Syrian government's General Staff headquarters in Damascus, following warnings from Tel Aviv that it would escalate operations in defense of Syria's Druze minority amid ongoing violence in Suwayda province. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) 'attacked the Syrian regime's General Staff headquarters in the Damascus area a short while ago,' said Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army's Arabic spokesperson, in a post on X. Syrian state television reported 'a new aggression by the Israeli occupation air force' targeting Umayyad Square, near the military headquarters building in central Damascus. The incident took place during a live broadcast by Rudaw's correspondent Solin Mohammedamin, showing powerful explosions striking the building. Earlier in the day, the IDF stated it had struck the entrance of a Syrian military headquarters in the capital. Adraee also announced that the IDF had dispatched additional reinforcements, including intelligence, reconnaissance, and offensive units, 'to increase the pace of strikes and stop attacks against the Druze in Syria.' The escalation comes a day after Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajari, spiritual leader of Syria's Druze minority in Suwayda, warned that the community was facing 'extermination.' He said a statement issued previously welcoming Damascus-affiliated forces into Suwayda was made under pressure to prevent further bloodshed. Damascus-aligned forces entered Suwayda following days of clashes between Druze groups and Bedouin tribes. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that nearly 250 people have been killed in the violence. A ceasefire was later announced by the Syrian defense ministry, reportedly following an agreement with Druze leaders. However, clashes continue in the city. Israel has in recent months reiterated its commitment to protecting the Druze community in Syria, citing 'strong ties' and security concerns related to any buildup of hostile forces near its borders. Over the past 24 hours, Israeli airstrikes targeted tanks, missile launchers, combat vehicles, and pickup trucks equipped with heavy machine guns 'that were moving toward Suwayda,' Adraee said. Meanwhile, Turkey condemned the Israeli strikes. Burhanettin Duran, head of the Turkish Directorate of Communications, said in a statement that "Israel's attacks on Syria target not only Syria's stability and security but also the tranquility of our entire region.' He added, 'Turkey will continue to support Syria's territorial integrity, as it has always done.' Turkey has been a staunch supporter of the new Syrian government under the leadership of Ahmed al-Sharaa, formed by the now-dissolved Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement released on Wednesday that 'we are acting to save our Druze brothers and to eliminate the gangs of the [Syrian] regime.' Netanyahu also addressed Israeli Druze citizens attempting to cross the border into Syria near Suwayda, located close to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. 'I have a single request of you: you are Israeli citizens. Do not cross the border. You are risking your lives; you could be murdered, you could be taken hostage, and you are impeding the efforts of the IDF,' he said. 'Return to your homes and let the IDF take action.' Israel, which views Syria's new Islamist-led government as a threat, has increased efforts to target regime military infrastructure since the fall of Assad. Israeli forces have also moved into buffer zones east of the annexed Golan Heights, citing the need to prevent security threats from emerging along its northern border. SOHR reported on Wednesday that Israel has carried out 68 attacks on Syrian territory since the beginning of 2025 - 58 of them airstrikes and ten ground-based. These attacks reportedly damaged or destroyed 102 targets, including weapons depots, command centers, and military vehicles.
Rudaw Net
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Syria says one person killed in Israeli airstrike
Also in Syria UN says Syria's interim government responsible for safety of minorities Israel strikes near Syrian presidential palace Sweden says ready to help Syria if Damascus upholds inclusivity France, Germany concerned about Syria sectarian violence A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least one person was killed and four others were injured in a series of Israeli airstrikes in Syria overnight, state media reported, amid deadly clashes between Damascus-aligned forces and armed members of Syria's Druze community, whom Israel has pledged to protect. A civilian was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Harasta, a northeastern suburb of Damascus, SANA reported early Saturday morning. Four others were injured in a separate strike on the village of Shatha in northwestern Hama province. Additional strikes targeted at least two locations in Daraa province in the southwest. The Israeli military's Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee confirmed via X on Saturday that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carried out airstrikes 'on a military site, an anti-aircraft artillery, and surface-to-air missile infrastructure in Syria." 'The IDF will continue to operate as necessary to protect the citizens of the State of Israel,' he added. The escalation comes amid clashes between Druze fighters and Syrian security forces in the southern province of Suwayda. The violence was reportedly triggered by an audio recording insulting the Prophet Muhammad and falsely attributed to a prominent Druze cleric. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 56 people have been killed in the clashes, including 16 members of the government-affiliated General Security, 10 fighters from pro-regime armed groups, and 30 Druze fighters. Israel, which is home to about 150,000 Druze, has vowed to protect the minority community in Syria. On Friday, Israel carried out a strike near the presidential palace in Damascus after warning the Syrian government against sending additional forces to the south. 'This is a clear message to the Syrian regime. We will not allow forces to be sent south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community,' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement. Referring to interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa by his former nom de guerre, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, Katz posted on X: 'When Jolani wakes up in the morning and sees the results of the Israeli Air Force's strike, he understands very well that Israel is determined to prevent harm to the Druze in Syria.' Katz added that while it is Sharaa's 'duty to protect the Druze… from the attacks of jihadist perpetrators,' Israel also has a 'duty to protect the Druze in Syria from harm - for the sake of our Druze brothers in Israel, their loyalty to the state, and their tremendous contribution to Israel's security.' The Syrian Presidency condemned Friday's airstrike as a 'dangerous escalation against the country's institutions and sovereignty,' and accused Israel of 'ongoing reckless actions aimed at destabilizing the country, worsening security crises, and targeting Syria's national security and unity.' The presidency said that Damascus 'will not compromise on its sovereignty or security and will continue to defend the rights of its people by all available means.' The Arab Parliament - a regional legislative body that represents the Arab League comprising all 22 Arab states - released a statement condemning 'the Israeli occupation entity's airstrike' near the presidential palace in Damascus. 'This strike is part of the ongoing blatant violations and aggressions committed by the occupation entity against the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Syria,' the statement added, urging 'the international community and the United Nations, especially the UN Security Council, to take action against these repeated violations.' After the regime of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad was toppled last December, Israel has carried out numerous airstrikes to destroy Syria's military stockpiles and has also sent troops across the border into a buffer zone east of the annexed Golan Heights, justifying the move as a precaution against political instability in Syria. In the past 48 hours, Israel has conducted over 20 airstrikes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
