16-07-2025
Israeli Defense Forces launch attack on Syria's military headquarters
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says it has launched an attack on the entrance of the Syrian military headquarters in the capital of Damascus.
Syrian state media has reported loud explosions in the city.
It's the third day in a row that Israel has launched strikes on Syrian government forces, with strikes over the last few days targeting forces heading towards the southern city of Sweida.
Sectarian violence had erupted there between local Bedouin clans and militia from the Druze community.
The Israeli government says it is protecting the local Druze population — a religious minority living in the south of Syria, with ties to the Druze community in Israel.
The new Syrian regime, led by former militant leader Ahmed al-Sharaa had condemned Israel's behaviour, describing it as a calculated attempt to fuel chaos across Syria.
Israel's military has operated inside Syria since the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad late last year, with troops and tanks crossing over the border from the Israeli occupied Golan Heights into southern Syria hours after the previous regime was toppled by rebel forces.
There had been speculation in recent weeks that President al-Sharaa could strike some sort of peace deal with the Israeli government, normalising ties between the two countries.
