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Rhyl Journal
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Israeli jets strike near Syrian presidential palace after attacks warning
The strike came after days of clashes between pro-Syrian government gunmen and fighters who belong to the Druze minority sect near the capital, Damascus. The clashes left dozens of people dead or wounded. Friday's strike was Israel's second on Syria this week, and attacking an area close to the presidential palace appears to send a strong warning to Syria's new leadership which is mostly made up of Islamist groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. On Thursday, Syria's Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri harshly criticised Syria's government for what he called an 'unjustified genocidal attack' on the minority community. Early on Friday, the Druze religious leadership said the community is part of Syria and refuses to break away from the country, adding that the role of the state should be activated in the southern province of Sweida and authorities should be in control of the Sweida-Damascus highway. 'We confirm our commitment to a country that includes all Syrians, a nation that is free of strife,' the statement said. In the Damascus suburb of Jaramana, where fighting occurred earlier this week, security forces deployed inside the area along with local Druze gunmen, and at a later stage heavy weapons will be handed over to authorities. As part of the deal, forces from the defence ministry will deploy around Jaramana without going inside. The Israeli army said that fighter jets struck adjacent to the area of the Palace of President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Israel Katz said the strike was a message to Syrian leaders. 'This is a clear message to the Syrian regime. We will not allow the deployment of forces south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community,' said the joint statement. Pro-government Syrian media outlets said the strike hit close to the People's Palace on a hill overlooking the city. Over the past two days the Israeli military said it had evacuated Syrian Druze who were injured in the fighting. The Israeli army said a soldier was killed and three were lightly injured in an accident in the Golan Heights. An army statement added that the soldiers were evacuated to receive medical treatment and that the circumstances of the incident are being investigated. The clashes broke out around midnight on Monday after an audio clip circulated on social media of a man criticising Islam's Prophet Muhammad. The audio was attributed to a Druze cleric. But cleric Marwan Kiwan said in a video posted on social media that he was not responsible for the audio, which angered many Sunni Muslims. Syria's information ministry said 11 members of the country's security forces were killed in two separate attacks, while the UK-based war monitor The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 56 people in Sahnaya and the Druze-majority Damascus suburb of Jaramana were killed in clashes, among them local gunmen and security forces. The Druze religious sect is a minority group that began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shia Islam. More than half of the roughly one million Druze worldwide live in Syria, largely in the southern Sweida province and some suburbs of Damascus. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Middle East War and annexed in 1981.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Second attack in two days: Israel hits target near Syrian presidential palace in Damascus
AP photo. Israel conducted an airstrike near Syria's presidential palace during the early hours of Friday, following their warning to Syrian authorities regarding movements towards villages populated by a minority sect in southern Syria. The strike occurred after several days of violent encounters between pro-government forces and Druze minority fighters near Damascus, resulting in numerous casualties and injuries. Syria's Druze spiritual leader has condemned a "genocidal campaign" against his community after sectarian clashes killed 102 people. Israel sees the new forces in Syria as jihadists and has warned them to protect the Druze minority, with defence minister Israel Katz saying his country could otherwise respond "with significant force". The violence poses a serious challenge to the Islamist authorities in Syria who ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December. This Friday's attack, the second Israeli strike on Syria this week, targeted an area near the presidential palace, seemingly conveying a stern message to Syria's new Islamist leadership, primarily controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham . Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri, the Druze spiritual leader, on Thursday severely condemned the Syrian government for what he termed an "unjustified genocidal attack" on their community. According to the Israeli military's statement, their fighter jets targeted an area adjacent to President Hussein al-Sharaa's Palace in Damascus, without providing additional information. Syrian pro-government media reported that the strike landed near the People's Palace situated on a hill overlooking Damascus. The conflict ignited around midnight Monday following the circulation of an audio recording on social media containing criticism of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, attributed to a Druze cleric. However, cleric Marwan Kiwan denied responsibility for the controversial audio in a social media video. Syria's information ministry confirmed 11 security personnel deaths in two separate incidents, while The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported 56 fatalities in Sahnaya and Jaramana, including local fighters and security forces. The Druze religious community, which emerged as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism within Shiite Islam, comprises approximately one million members worldwide, with over half residing in Syria, primarily in Sweida province and Damascus suburbs. The remaining Druze population is distributed between Lebanon and Israel, including the Golan Heights, which Israel seized from Syria during the 1967 Mideast War and subsequently annexed in 1981.
New Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Israeli military strikes near Syria's presidential palace after warning over sectarian attacks
DAMASCUS: Israel's air force struck near Syria's presidential palace early Friday hours after warning Syrian authorities not to march toward villages inhabited by members of a minority sect in southern Syria. The strike came after days of clashes between pro-Syrian government gunmen and fighters who belong to the Druze minority sect near the capital, Damascus. The clashes left dozens of people dead or wounded. Friday's strike was Israel's second on Syria this week, and attacking an area close to the presidential palace appears to send a strong warning to Syria's new leadership that is mostly made up of Islamist groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. On Thursday, Syria's Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri harshly criticized Syria's government for what he called an 'unjustified genocidal attack' on the minority community. The Israeli army said that fighter jets struck adjacent to the area of the Palace of President Hussein al-Sharaa in Damascus. Its statement gave no further details. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strike was a message to Syrian leaders. 'This is a clear message to the Syrian regime. We will not allow a withdrawal of forces from south of Damascus and any danger to the Druze community,' their joint statement said. Pro-government Syrian media outlets said the strike hit close to the People's Palace on a hill overlooking the city. The clashes broke out around midnight Monday after an audio clip circulated on social media of a man criticizing Islam's Prophet Muhammad. The audio was attributed to a Druze cleric. But cleric Marwan Kiwan said in a video posted on social media that he was not responsible for the audio, which angered many Sunni Muslims. Syria's Information Ministry said 11 members of the country's security forces were killed in two separate attacks, while Britain-based war monitor The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 56 people in Sahnaya and the Druze-majority Damascus suburb of Jaramana were killed in clashes, among them local gunmen and security forces. The Druze religious sect is a minority group that began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam. More than half of the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria, largely in the southern Sweida province and some suburbs of Damascus. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed in 1981.
Hindustan Times
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Israeli military strikes near Syria's presidential palace to ‘protect' Druze minorities
Israel's air force struck near Syria's presidential palace early Friday hours after warning Syrian authorities not to march toward villages inhabited by members of a minority sect in southern Syria. The strike came after days of clashes between pro-Syrian government gunmen and fighters who belong to the Druze minority sect near the capital, Damascus. The clashes left dozens of people dead or wounded. Also read | Israeli firefighting teams battle bushfires near Jerusalem for second day The early Friday strike was the second by Israel this week on Syria and attacking an area close to the presidential palace appears to send a strong warning to Syria's new leadership that is mostly made up of Islamist groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. On Thursday, Syria's Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri harshly criticized Syria's government for what he called an 'unjustified genocidal attack' on the minority community. The Israeli army said in a statement that fighter jets struck adjacent to the area of the Palace of President Hussein al-Sharaa in Damascus. It gave no further details. Also read | Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu calls for 'dismantling' Iran's nuclear infrastructure Pro-government Syrian media outlets said the strike hit close to the People's Palace on a hill overlooking the city. The clashes broke out around midnight Monday after an audio clip circulated on social media of a man criticizing Islam's Prophet Muhammad. The audio was attributed to a Druze cleric. But cleric Marwan Kiwan said in a video posted on social media that he was not responsible for the audio, which angered many Sunni Muslims. Syria's Information Ministry said 11 members of the country's security forces were killed in two separate attacks, while Britain-based war monitor The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 56 people in Sahnaya and the Druze-majority Damascus suburb of Jaramana were killed in clashes, among them local gunmen and security forces. The Druze religious sect is a minority group that began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam. More than half of the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria, largely in the southern Sweida province and some suburbs of Damascus. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed in 1981.
Chicago Tribune
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Israeli military strikes near Syria's presidential palace after warning over sectarian attacks
DAMASCUS, Syria — Israel's air force struck near Syria's presidential palace early Friday hours after warning Syrian authorities not to march toward villages inhabited by members of a minority sect in southern Syria. The strike came after days of clashes between pro-Syrian government gunmen and fighters who belong to the Druze minority sect near the capital, Damascus. The clashes left dozens of people dead or wounded. The early Friday strike was the second by Israel this week on Syria and attacking an area close to the presidential palace appears to send a strong warning to Syria's new leadership that is mostly made up of Islamist groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. On Thursday, Syria's Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri harshly criticized Syria's government for what he called an 'unjustified genocidal attack' on the minority community. The Israeli army said in a statement that fighter jets struck adjacent to the area of the Palace of President Hussein al-Sharaa in Damascus. It gave no further details. Pro-government Syrian media outlets said the strike hit close to the People's Palace on a hill overlooking the city. The clashes broke out around midnight Monday after an audio clip circulated on social media of a man criticizing Islam's Prophet Muhammad. The audio was attributed to a Druze cleric. But cleric Marwan Kiwan said in a video posted on social media that he was not responsible for the audio, which angered many Sunni Muslims. Syria's Information Ministry said 11 members of the country's security forces were killed in two separate attacks, while Britain-based war monitor The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 56 people in Sahnaya and the Druze-majority Damascus suburb of Jaramana were killed in clashes, among them local gunmen and security forces. The Druze religious sect is a minority group that began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shiite Islam. More than half of the roughly 1 million Druze worldwide live in Syria, largely in the southern Sweida province and some suburbs of Damascus. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed in 1981. Originally Published: May 1, 2025 at 9:45 PM CDT
