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US, EU express concern following Israeli strikes on Damascus – DW – 07/16/2025
Israel struck sites in Syria amid fighting between the Druze minority and the Syrian government. Meanwhile, an ultra-Orthodox party withdrew from Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's cabinet. DW has the Syrian government and key Druze religious leader Sheikh Yousef Jarbou announced a ceasefire in the southern Syrian province of Sweida after clashes earlier reportedly left hundreds dead.
"An agreement was reached for a ceasefire in Sweida and for the establishment of security checkpoints across the city," the Syrian-state run SANA news agency reported. The Druze-majority city of Sweida is the capital of Sweida province.
It's unclear if the ceasefire deal will last, however, as a previous truce collapsed a day earlier.
Another influential Druze religious leader, Hikmat al-Hijri, has rebuked the idea of a new ceasefire deal. He urged Syrian government forces to leave Sweida. Al-Hijri earlier called for foreign powers to protect the Druze community in Syria, prompting Israel's military intervention.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told journalists he had phoned "relevant parties" amid the violence in Syria. Rubio said he was "very concerned" by the fighting.
Rubio also said he expected imminent "deescalation" after Israel attacked the Syrian army headquarters in Damascus.
"We think we're on our way towards a real deescalation," Rubio told journalists, saying there was a "misunderstanding" between Israel and Syria.
"In the next few hours, we hope to see some real progress," Rubio said.
The EU said it was "concerned" by Israeli attacks on the Syrian capital.
"Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity need to be respected," European Council President Antonio Costa posted on X.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry labeled Israel's strikes in Damascus an "act of sabotage."
"Israel's attacks on Damascus, following its military interventions in the south of Syria, constitute an act of sabotage against Syria's efforts to secure peace, stability and security," Turkey said.
The Israeli army struck targets in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Wednesday, as Israel claims its military intervention aims to protect the Syrian Druze minority.
"The IDF struck the entrance of the Syrian regime's military headquarters in the area of Damascus in Syria," the Israel Defense Forces said. Two Israeli attacks were reported in the area.
It's the third day in a row that Israel launched airstrikes on Syria.
"The warnings to Damascus have ended — now painful blows will come," Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on social media platform X.
Clashes between Bedouin Sunni tribes and the Druze community broke out in the southern Syrian province of Suweida on Sunday. On Monday, the Syrian government deployed troops to Suweida, with Syria's military then being drawn into fighting with the Druze militias.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights organization said at least 300 people have been killed in southern Syria since the clashes broke out on Sunday.
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The Druze are a small ethno-religious group in the Middle East who primarily live in Syria, Lebanon and Israel.
Amid the clashes, Druze in Israel have been attempting to enter Syria to help Druze militia groups, with members of the Syrian Druze community then attempting to go into Israel.
The Israeli military strikes on Syria come as Israel expresses distrust towards the Islamist-influenced Syrian government of Ahmad al-Sharaa.
Al-Sharaa's government came into power after Syrian rebels ousted Bashar Assad, whose family had maintained an iron-grip on Syria for decades. Demonstrations against the Assad regime in 2011 sparked the Syrian civil war.
Israel's military has launched strikes in Syria amid clashes between Syrian government forces and the Druze minority.
In addition to Syria, this blog will also cover developments in other parts of the Middle East, such as Gaza and Yemen.
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