Latest news with #ElekhbariyaTV
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israel attacks Syrian military HQ in Damascus - and issues warning to leave religious minority group alone
Israeli airstrikes have targeted the Syrian military headquarters in Damascus amid renewed clashes in the country. The gate of the Ministry of Defence in the Syrian capital was targeted by two warning missiles from an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft. State-owned Elekhbariya TV said the Israeli strike had wounded two civilians, the Reuters news agency reported. It came as Israeli airstrikes targeted security and army vehicles in the southern city of Sweida, where the Druze faith is one of the major religious groups - marking the third consecutive day Israel has struck Syrian forces. The Israeli military confirmed it had "struck the entrance gate" in Damascus - and that it would be monitoring "actions being taken against Druze civilians in southern Syria". Local media said Sweida and nearby villages were coming under heavy artillery and mortar fire on Wednesday, according to Reuters. The clashes marked the collapse of a ceasefire between Syrian government forces and Druze armed groups, with Israel also warning it would increase its involvement. Israel said it was acting to protect the Druze groups through its attacks on convoys of Syrian forces. Syria blamed militias in Sweida for violating a ceasefire agreement which had only been reached on Tuesday. Read more from Sky News: A statement from its defence ministry said: "Military forces continue to respond to the source of fire inside the city of Sweida, while adhering to rules of engagement to protect residents, prevent harm, and ensure the safe return of those who left the city back to their homes." Israel's defence minister Israel Katz said the military will continue to strike Syrian forces until they withdraw and should "leave Druze alone", according to local reports.
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Israel strikes near Syrian army HQ in Damascus
An Israeli strike hit near the Syrian army and defence ministry headquarters in Damascus, the state-run Alekhbariya channel reported on Telegram, after Israel's military said it had struck there. A loud explosion was heard echoing throughout much of the capital, shortly after a first air strike had targeted the same building in the city centre. It marked the third day in a row that Israel has struck Syria where government security forces have clashed with local Druze fighters in the southern city of Sweida. Security sources from within the defence ministry said that at least two drone strikes had hit the building and that officers were taking cover in the basement. State-owned Elekhbariya TV said the Israeli strike wounded two civilians. The Israeli military said it had "struck the entrance gate of the Syrian regime's military headquarters complex" in Damascus and that it continued "to monitor developments and the actions being taken against Druze civilians in southern Syria". Syria's state media and witnesses said Israeli strikes throughout also struck the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, where a fourth day of fighting swiftly collapsed a ceasefire announced the previous evening. Syrian government troops were dispatched to the Sweida region on Monday to quell fighting between Druze fighters and Bedouin armed men but ended up clashing with the Druze militias themselves. Local news outlet Sweida24 said the city of Sweida and nearby villages were coming under heavy artillery and mortar fire. Syria's defence ministry, in a statement carried by state news agency SANA, blamed outlaw groups in Sweida for breaching the truce. The defence ministry called on residents of the city to stay indoors. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Druze not to try to enter Syria, after dozens crossed the armistice line in both directions following deadly fighting in the Druze heartland. "Do not cross the border," Mr Netanyahu said in a statement, warning of a "very serious" situation in Sweida, where the Islamist-led government has intervened in deadly clashes between Druze and Bedouin fighters. The European Union said it was "alarmed" by the continued clashes in the region and called on all sides to implement a ceasefire and protect civilians. A statement by the EU's diplomatic arm also urged "all external actors" to "fully respect Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity" after Israel carried out strikes in support of the Druze.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Israel steps up Syria strikes with Damascus attack as Druze clashes continue
DAMASCUS/JERUSALEM, July 16 (Reuters) - Israel's military said it struck the entrance to the Syrian defence ministry in Damascus on Wednesday, stepping up attacks on the Islamist-led authorities with the declared aim of protecting the Druze minority from harm by government forces. It marked the third day in a row that Israel has struck Syria where government security forces have clashed with local Druze fighters in the southern city of Sweida. Security sources from within the defence ministry told Reuters that at least two drone strikes had hit the building and that officers were taking cover in the basement. State-owned Elekhbariya TV said the Israeli strike wounded two civilians. The Israeli military said it had "struck the entrance gate of the Syrian regime's military headquarters complex" in Damascus and that it continued "to monitor developments and the actions being taken against Druze civilians in southern Syria". Syria's state media and witnesses said Israeli strikes throughout Wednesday also struck the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, where a fourth day of fighting swiftly collapsed a ceasefire announced the previous evening. Syrian government troops were dispatched to the Sweida region on Monday to quell fighting between Druze fighters and Bedouin armed men but ended up clashing with the Druze militias themselves. Local news outlet Sweida24 said the city of Sweida and nearby villages were coming under heavy artillery and mortar fire early on Wednesday. Syria's defence ministry, in a statement carried by state news agency SANA, blamed outlaw groups in Sweida for breaching the truce. The defence ministry called on residents of the city to stay indoors. Some residents that Reuters was able to reach by phone said they were holed up at home in fear with no electricity.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Israel steps up Syria strikes with Damascus attack as Druze clashes continue
DAMASCUS/JERUSALEM - Israel's military said it struck the entrance to the Syrian defence ministry in Damascus on Wednesday, stepping up attacks on the Islamist-led authorities with the declared aim of protecting the Druze minority from harm by government forces. It marked the third day in a row that Israel has struck Syria where government security forces have clashed with local Druze fighters in the southern city of Sweida. Security sources from within the defence ministry told Reuters that at least two drone strikes had hit the building and that officers were taking cover in the basement. State-owned Elekhbariya TV said the Israeli strike wounded two civilians. The Israeli military said it had "struck the entrance gate of the Syrian regime's military headquarters complex" in Damascus and that it continued "to monitor developments and the actions being taken against Druze civilians in southern Syria". Syria's state media and witnesses said Israeli strikes throughout Wednesday also struck the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, where a fourth day of fighting swiftly collapsed a ceasefire announced the previous evening. Syrian government troops were dispatched to the Sweida region on Monday to quell fighting between Druze fighters and Bedouin armed men but ended up clashing with the Druze militias themselves. Local news outlet Sweida24 said the city of Sweida and nearby villages were coming under heavy artillery and mortar fire early on Wednesday. Syria's defence ministry, in a statement carried by state news agency SANA, blamed outlaw groups in Sweida for breaching the truce. The defence ministry called on residents of the city to stay indoors. Some residents that Reuters was able to reach by phone said they were holed up at home in fear with no electricity. REUTERS
