On Friday, Israel’s air force conducted an airstrike near Syria’s presidential palace, following warnings to Syrian authorities against advancing toward villages inhabited by the Druze minority. This action occurred amid escalating violence between pro-Syrian government forces and Druze fighters, resulting in numerous casualties over recent days.
The Israeli military reported that its fighter jets targeted areas adjacent to the palace of President Hussein al-Sharaa in Damascus, although specific details of the strike were not provided. Syrian state media indicated that the attack occurred near the People’s Palace, located on a prominent hill overlooking the city.
The Druze, a religious minority originating from a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, largely reside in Syria, particularly in the southern Sweida province and some suburbs of the capital. With an estimated global population of around 1 million, most Druze also live in Lebanon and Israel, including the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria during the 1967 Middle East War and officially annexed in 1981.
The situation reflects ongoing tensions in the region, where the Druze community’s interactions with both Syrian government forces and Israeli military operations continue to evolve amid the broader context of the Syrian conflict. The Israeli strike serves as a reminder of the complexities of local and international dynamics, highlighting Israel’s role in the ongoing turmoil in Syria and its implications for minority groups like the Druze.
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