&w=3840&q=100)
In 2nd round of strikes, Israel hits Syrian defence ministry in Damascus over violence against Druze
Smoke rises after strikes on Syria's defense ministry in Damascus, according to Al Jazeera TV, in Damascus, Syria July 16, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
In the second round of airstrikes in Syrian capital Damascus, Israel hit the defence ministry on Wednesday afternoon.
Earlier in the day, Israel had struck the Syrian army headquarters in Damascus in what it dubbed a message to Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa to stop the violence against the minority Druze community in the southern Sweida province.
In recent days, pro-regime fighters backed by Syrian military have killed dozens from the Druze community, a distinct religious group spread across southern Syria, northern Israel, and Lebanon in West Asia. This is the latest round of violence against minorities in Sharaa's Syria. Previously, pro-regime groups had massacred more than 1,000 Shia Alawites in western Syria.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Visuals of the Israeli strikes on the defence ministry near the presidential palace in Damascus surfaced on X. Firstpost could not immediately verify the visuals.
Earlier in the day, the Israeli military shared aerial footage of the strike on the Syrian army headquarters and said, 'From the General Staff compound in Damascus, Syrian regime commanders manage the fighting and dispatch regime forces to the As-Suwayda area. In addition, a military target was struck in the area of the Syrian regime's Presidential Palace in the Damascus area.'
At least 248 people, including at least 92 Druze community members, have been killed in clashes in southern Sweida province in recent weeks, with the Syrian military itself killing at least 21 community members, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
While Sharaa has claimed that the Syrian military has been deployed in the province and its capital with the same name to contain violence, the SOHR, witnesses, and Druze community members told AFP that the military joined Sunni groups in attacking Druze people.
צה"ל ממשיך לתקוף מטרות צבאיות של המשטר הסורי בדמשק
צה״ל תקף לפני זמן קצר את קריית המטה הכללי של המשטר הסורי במרחב דמשק שבסוריה.
מקריית המטה הכללי בדמשק מפקדי המשטר הסורי מנהלים את הלחימה ושולחים את כוחות המשטר למרחב א-סווידא׳.
בנוסף, הותקפה מטרה צבאית במרחב ארמון הנשיאות של… pic.twitter.com/58iEQDzJRV — צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) July 16, 2025
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
So far, Israel has conducted 160 strikes inside Syria to deter pro-regime fighters and the military from continuing the violence against the Druze people.
Previously, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz told Al-Sharaa to 'leave the Druze in Sweida alone'.
'As we have made clear and warned, Israel will not abandon the Druze in Syria and will enforce the demilitarisation policy we have decided on,' Katz further said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
28 minutes ago
- First Post
Israel strikes Sweida city in Syria amid tribal clashes, first raid after Al-Sharaa's forces withdrawal
As tensions between Syria's Druze and Bedouin fighters escalate, Israel conducted its first airstrike in the Syrian city of Sweida after the withdrawal of Syrian government forces from the province read more A member of Syrian security forces looks at burnt vehicles amid ongoing clashes in the southern city of Sweida on July 16, 2025. Syrian regime of Ahmed al-Sharaa deployed troops in the predominantly Druze province of Sweida after clashes between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes killed scores of people. (Photo: Bakr ALkasem/ AFP) As the tensions in West Asia continue to escalate, reports are emerging that the Israeli military has carried out airstrikes on the outskirts of Sweida city. The strikes occurred on Thursday night as clashes between tribal fighters and Bedouin fighters intensified. The clashes soon started a wave of tit-for-tat retaliatory violence earlier in the day after Syrian government forces withdrew from Sweida. The violence commenced immediately after the Syrian government forces started to withdraw from the Druze-majority province of Sweida, ending four days of conflict between the army and local Druze fighters. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a speech on Thursday, Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa said that the Druze groups would be left to govern security affairs in the southern province, in what he described as a choice to avoid war. 'We sought to avoid dragging the country into a new, broader war that could derail it from its path to recovery from the devastating war … We chose the interests of Syrians over chaos and destruction," the Syrian president averred. Israeli military intervenes in the Sweida clashes Soon after Al-Sharaa's statement, clashes resumed in the Syrian city with multiple reports suggesting that Druze groups launched revenge attacks on Bedouin villages, killing many civilians and prompting a wave of displacement. It is pertinent to note that the Bedouin tribes had fought alongside government forces against Druze fighters earlier in the week. Syrian security forces initially intervened in the city's affairs on Monday after a local dispute between Arab Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters escalated into fighting. Druze militias tried to prevent the entry of the Syrian army and attacked them, which led to days of clashes with government forces. Meanwhile, Syrian state media reported that Israel conducted strikes near the city of Sweida on Thursday. This marked the first Israeli raids in the city after the Syrian government forces withdrew from the region. 'Israeli occupation aircraft carried out a raid on the outskirts of Sweida city,' said Syria's state-run SANA. The strike came a day after Israel launched rare strikes deep into Damascus, targeting the country's military headquarters and a site near the presidential palace. Israeli officials argued that the strikes were conducted to protect Syria's Druze minority amid escalating tensions across the country. Amid the chaos, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported over 300 deaths in Sweida province since Sunday, including 27 Druze civilians allegedly executed by Syrian forces.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Syrian Forces Withdraw From Suwayda As Mediation Restores Calm Israel Syria War News18
The Syrian government has announced that local leaders will take control of security in the southern city of Suwayda in an attempt to defuse violence that has killed hundreds of people and triggered Israeli military intervention. News18 Mobile App -
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
'No gringo is going to give orders': Brazil's Lula slams US president over 50% tariff; claims Trump is 'not the emperor of the world'
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday hit back at US President 's move to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports, saying Brazil would not bow to foreign pressure and warning of reciprocal action. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Lula expressed his disapproval, saying, 'No gringo is going to give orders to this president,' according to news agency Reuters. He made the remarks during an event with leftist student activists in the state of Goias, wearing a red shirt and defending Brazil's sovereignty. His comments followed a letter from Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, in which the US leader blamed the tariffs on Brazil's treatment of right-wing ex-president and accused the country of unfair trade practices against American companies. The tariffs are due to take effect from August 1. Speaking to anchor Christiane Amanpour in an interview, Lula called Trump's comments a break from diplomatic protocol and argued that the judicial process involving Bolsonaro had nothing to do with trade policy, CNN reported. 'The judiciary branch of power in Brazil is independent. The president of the Republic has no influence whatsoever,' he said. Lula also said that Trump was elected as the leader of the United States and 'not to be the emperor of the world," reports CNN. Bolsonaro is currently on trial in Brazil for allegedly attempting to stage a coup following Lula's 2022 electoral win. He could face more than 40 years in prison if convicted. Lula even compared the situation to Trump's own legal troubles, saying, 'If Trump was Brazilian and if he did what happened at Capitol Hill, he'd also be on trial in Brazil. And possibly he would have violated the Constitution. According to justice, he would also be arrested if he had done that here in Brazil.' Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Initially, Lula said he believed Trump's post was fake. 'It was very unpleasant,' he told CNN. 'I thought it was fake news.' The Brazilian government has vowed to respond with reciprocal tariffs if Trump follows through. 'Brazil is to take care of Brazil and take care of the Brazilian people, and not to take care of the interests of the others,' Lula said. 'Brazil will not accept anything imposed on it. We accept negotiation and not imposition.' The situation marks one of the first strong pushbacks to Trump's recent wave of tariff threats. Over 20 other countries have received similar letters this month, but Brazil stands out due to its significant trade relationship with the US. Lula, who is in his third non-consecutive term as president, also reiterated his government's intention to regulate and tax foreign tech companies. 'We are going to regulate and tax US tech firms,' he said, blaming them for promoting violence and misinformation 'under the argument of freedom of expression.' Brazil's foreign relations minister Mauro Vieira said there had been no direct communication between Lula and Trump so far, but confirmed Lula was open to talks. 'If the circumstances are given, they will speak,' Vieira said, as reported by CNN Brasil. Furthermore, Lula indicated a willingness to find common ground. 'The best thing in the world is for us to sit around a table and talk,' he told CNN. 'If President Trump is willing to take seriously the negotiations underway between Brazil and the US, then I'll be open-minded to negotiate whatever may be necessary.' Meanwhile, tensions escalated further as the US announced an investigation into what it called 'unfair' trade practices by Brazil. According to the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the probe will focus on issues including digital trade, electronic payments, tariffs, corruption, and intellectual property rights. Lula is expected to deliver a televised address to the nation later on Thursday, in which he is likely to elaborate on Brazil's stance and outline possible next steps in the growing trade dispute. At home, the political tension seems to be working in Lula's favour. His approval ratings have recently seen an uptick as many Brazilians support his firm stand in defending national interests.
