Early Friday, Israel’s air force conducted an airstrike near Syria’s presidential palace in Damascus, following warnings to Syrian authorities against advancing toward villages inhabited by the Druze minority. This strike came amid escalating clashes over several days between pro-government forces and Druze fighters, resulting in numerous casualties.
The Israeli military reported that their fighter jets targeted an area close to President Hussein al-Sharaa’s palace but provided limited details. Syrian state media claimed that the strike occurred near the People’s Palace, which overlooks the capital.
The Druze community, a religious minority with origins tracing back to a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, predominantly resides in Syria, with over half of the global Druze population of approximately one million found there. Significant Druze populations also exist in Lebanon and Israel, particularly in the Golan Heights—an area captured by Israel during the 1967 war and subsequently annexed in 1981. In Syria, the Druze primarily inhabit the southern province of Sweida and certain suburbs of Damascus.
This strike underscores ongoing tensions and violence in the region, particularly regarding the treatment of minority groups like the Druze amid the broader Syrian conflict. The situation remains volatile as pro-government forces continue to clash with various groups, raising concerns over the safety of these communities and the potential for further Israeli interventions.
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