Israeli Airstrike Near Damascus Presidential Palace Aims to Shield Syria’s Druze Minority

87 posts • OpenAI (o3)

Updated May 2, 2025, 09:54 AM

Israeli warplanes struck a site just metres from Syria’s presidential palace in Damascus in the early hours of 2 May, the Israeli military said, describing the raid as a warning to President Bashar al-Assad’s government after days of violence involving the country’s Druze minority. No casualties were immediately reported.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement calling the strike a “clear message” that Israel will not allow Syrian forces to threaten Druze communities south of Damascus. Katz said further action would follow if the government in Damascus fails to curb attacks on the sect.

The overnight bombing capped a series of Israeli actions that began on 30 April, when a Zik unmanned aerial vehicle fired missiles at a building outside Damascus and at two additional targets in nearby Sahnaia. The Israel Defense Forces said those sites housed militants preparing assaults on Druze villages; no injuries resulted from the drone sorties.

Israeli interior and foreign ministers had earlier urged intervention after Druze leaders warned of a “genocidal campaign.” AFP reported the sect’s spiritual leadership as saying at least 102 people were killed in recent sectarian clashes in southern Syria.

Syrian officials have yet to comment on the latest strike, which regional media said landed within roughly 400 metres of the presidential compound. The incident raises the risk of a broader confrontation between Israel and Syria amid an already fragile security landscape.

More breaking stories on DeepNewz — updated live.

#Syria #Damascus #Israeli #Druze #Benjamin Netanyahu #Israel Katz #Israel #Syrian #Katz #Zik #Sahnaia #Israel Defense Forces #AFP

Related Prediction Markets

Israel strike on Damascus by July 31?

Israeli troops enter Damascus by October 31?

Will Israeli troops enter Suwayda by July 31?

Strike on Israel's Dimonah nuclear base before August?

•

Sources

rfi.fr(5)france24.com(4)timesofisrael.com(3)europapress.es(3)

Les Echos

@LesEchos

Syria: to the aid of the Druze, Israel carries out an air raid near the presidential palace in Damascus

Al Jazeera English

@AJEnglish

Israel’s military has launched air strikes near Syria’s presidential palace in Damascus after accusing the Syrian authorities of failing to protect the country’s Druze minority from sectarian violence ⤵️