Latest news with #SyrianMilitary
Sky News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Israel attacks Syrian military HQ - and disrupts live TV broadcast
Why you can trust Sky News 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". Why Israel is getting involved in Syria's internal fighting International affairs editor @DominicWaghorn Israel has shown little respect for international borders since becoming the unrivalled military hegemon of the Middle East. Today that meant an Israeli airstrike on a government building in Damascus. Israel says its attack on a Syrian defence ministry facility was intended as a warning to the new government: stay out of the part of southern Syria we have occupied or else. Israel has moved into parts of the south of the country, built military bases and declared a line of control. On Monday, Syrian tanks heading south to try and restore order following an outbreak of factional fighting were attacked by Israeli warplanes. "The presence of such vehicles in southern Syria could pose a threat to Israel," stated the Israel Defence Forces. In reality, Syria's ageing tanks pose minimal threat to Israel's state-of-the art military. Read the full analysis 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. 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.
Arab News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Syrian TV presenter runs for cover on air as Israeli strikes hit Damascus
DUBAI: A widely circulated video showed a Syrian news presenter visibly startled and leaving her live segment to take cover as Israeli strikes hit Damascus on Wednesday. Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, shared the video on X with the caption: 'The heavy blows have started.' החלו המכות הכואבות — ישראל כ'ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) July 16, 2025 In a major escalation, the Israeli army bombed the Syrian military headquarters in Damascus and carried out additional strikes on Syrian forces amid intensified clashes between government troops and Druze armed groups in the southern city of Suwayda. Israel has attacked Damascus following on threats to ramp up attacks if the Syrian government forces did not withdraw from Sweida, vowing to protect the Druze religious minority. Before the live segment was interrupted, the presenter was reporting on Katz's statement that the Israeli army would continue 'to operate vigorously in Sweida to destroy the forces that attacked the Druze until they withdraw completely.' Clashes raged in Sweida on Wednesday after a ceasefire between government forces and Druze armed groups collapsed. Israel has launched a series of airstrikes on convoys of government forces in southern Syria since the clashes erupted and has beefed up forces on the border. The army said it struck near the entrance to the Syrian Ministry of Defense in Damascus.
Sky News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
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. 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.
ABC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
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.
Khaleej Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Israel strikes hit Syria military headquarters in Damascus, Sweida
The Israeli military said on Wednesday it had attacked the entrance gate of the Syrian military headquarters in the capital Damascus. Two Syrian security sources told Reuters an Israeli strike had hit the defence ministry in the capital. Syria state media said that the Israeli military struck the Druze-majority city of Sweida, where Syrian government forces have deployed despite Israeli warnings. "Israeli occupation drones target the city of Sweida," state-run SANA said. An AFP correspondent witnessed a strike on a military truck at Sweida's western entrance, where government forces had gathered before deploying into the city.
