Israel strikes Damascus, vows to protect Druze.

The video captures powerful airstrikes hitting central Damascusparticularly the Syrian Defense Ministry and areas near the presidential can see explosions ripping through the buildings and thick plumes of smoke rising from the city center YouTube 4 France 24 4 YouTube 4 Financial Times 8 TIME 8 YouTube footage includes scenes released by both Israeli military sources and Syrian outlets, including buildings riddled by debris and large fires after the impact : Why Israel struck and its stated purpose events: sectarian violence in Sweida Violent clashes broke out in Syrias Druzemajority Sweida province between Druze militias, Sunni Bedouin groups, and progovernment estimate around 250 people killed in the July escalation alone New York Post 8 TIME 8 AP News claims the operation aimed to stop Syrian regime forces, which it says were supporting those attacking the Druze, from advancing toward Sweida 15 TIME 15 New York Post Druze communities Israels Defense Minister Israel Katz declared: "The warnings in Damascus have ended  now painful blows will come," making clear that the strikes were intended to protect Druze civilians both in Syria and within Israeli territory Deutsche Welle 5 TIME 5 Wikipedia leaders in Israel had urged such action as violence escalated The Times of India 3 Wikipedia 3 TIME and tactics According to Reuters, Israeli jets struck the entrance of Syrias Army General Command and damaged part of the Defense Ministry complex near Umayyad Square, along with a site close to the presidential described these as command centers coordinating regime forces toward Sweidathe strikes were also meant as a deterrent 3 Reuters 3 Wikipedia and diplomacy Syrian officials reported at least three deaths and 34 injuries from the strike; other reports vary up to five regime casualties a ceasefire, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio describing the situation as a misunderstanding and saying the violence would end soon YouTube 2 Reuters 2 Wikipedia Tom Barrack later criticized Israels intervention as poorly timed and potentially destabilizing, even while not absolving Syrian abuses TIME 2 AP News 2 New York Post takeaways Item Detail Date of strike 16 July 2025 Location targeted Central Damascus: Defense Ministry, near presidential palace Casualties 3  5 killed, dozens injured Israels justification To deter regime forces assaulting Druze communities in Sweida Outcome Ceasefire brokered, Syrian forces withdrew from Sweida temporarily International reaction ceasefire; concerns raised over escalation and sovereignty Broader context This strike reflects escalating sectarian tensions in postAssad Syria, where the Druze minority has faced systematic violence and growing s public justification ties both to regional security and a selfdeclared moral obligation to protect Druze populationsespecially given the communitys longstanding service within Israels armed forces Reuters 2 TIME 2 Wikipedia 2 YouTube 1 YouTube 1 Reuters 2 YouTube 2 Deutsche Welle critics warn that such actions risk deepening divisions and degrading Syrias already fragile stability Financial youd like more detailssuch as statements from Druze leaders, satellite imagery of damage, or analysis from regional expertsjust let me know!