Huge Israeli Airstrikes on Damascus

Israel attacked the defense ministry building twice, and near the presidential palace in Damascus on July 16. As the afternoon traffic drove by in the heart of the city, huge plumes of smoke billowed from the landmark building. This was the third day of Israeli airstrikes on Syria.

Syrians have become used to Israel airstrikes. During the Assad regime, Israel carried out deadly attacks on an almost daily basis, eliminating Hezbollah and Iranian weapons supplies. After the fall of the regime on December 8, Israel carried out daily airstrikes across the country eliminating military assets, leaving Syria defenseless, and without an army.

According to the Israeli military, the strike on Damascus was a message to the Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in response to the violence in Sweida.  On Monday, Israel entered into the fray with airstrikes on tanks in Sweida, and drone strikes which killed some Syrian security forces.

The Druze are a religious minority in Syria, but are the majority of the population of Sweida.  They had stayed neutral during the 14-year civil war which led to the ouster of Assad. They were hoping to achieve some form of autonomy. They have yet to reach an agreement with the Sharaa administration that defines their relationship with the new Syrian state.

The violence began on July 13, after armed clashes erupted between the Druze residents in Sweida and Bedouin tribes.  Threats, shootings, kidnappings and looting were reported, which prompted the security forces to arrive. The Druze reported the security forces assisted the Bedouins in their attacks on residents, instead of protecting them.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took advantage of the chaos in Sweida by inflaming emotions on the Druze side, and attempting to look like their hero. There are Druze in Israel, and while some are aligned with Netanyahu and the Zionists, others consider themselves Palestinians and have been discriminated against.

On July 17, the Syrian security forces began withdrawing tanks and soldiers from Sweida following a truce and agreement between all parties.

The BBC characterized the clashes in Sweida as sectarian in nature. Sharaa and his government are Islamists, and much has been written about his past affiliation with known terrorist groups, and the 10-million-dollar bounty on his head, which was rescinded by the U.S. government following his rise to the presidency.

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) more than 300 people have been killed in south Syria since Sunday.

The Withdrawal

On July 17, it was announced in Damascus that local leaders would take responsibility for security in Sweida.

Speech and Violations Investigations

At 4:00 am July 17, President Sharaa gave a televised speech confirming “responsibility” for security in Sweida would be handed to religious elders and some local factions “based on the supreme national interest”.

“We are keen on holding accountable those who transgressed and abused our Druze people, as they are under the protection and responsibility of the state,” he said.

Addressing the Druze, Sharaa said the community was “a fundamental part of the fabric of this nation… protecting your rights and freedom is one of our priorities”.

The latest unrest began brewing in April and May after Druze militias clashed with security forces, leaving more than 100 people dead in Sweida.

Sharaa said “outlaw groups”, whose leaders “rejected dialogue for many months” had committed “crimes against civilians” in recent days, and vowed an investigation and accountability.

Rubio Deal

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had expressed concern on Wednesday about the Israeli bombings, and later announced on X that all sides had “agreed on specific steps that will bring this troubling and horrifying situation to an end”.

“This will require all parties to deliver on the commitments they have made and this is what we fully expect them to do,” he wrote, without elaborating on the nature of the agreement.

The southern Syrian province of Sweida had become the epicenter of a rapidly intensifying conflict, as government forces reportedly carried out military operations against local Druze factions. The violence has triggered widespread civilian casualties, international condemnation, and growing calls for intervention.

Humanitarian Emergency Unfolds

Medical staff at Sweida National Hospital have issued urgent appeals for international assistance, citing critical shortages of electricity, water, and food.

Eyewitness accounts describe looting, home invasions, and targeted killings, including the execution of Mr. Abdullah al-Baaini in front of his family and the death of 15 members of the Al-Radwan family, all civilians. The killing of 80-year-old Sheikh Marhej Shaheen, a respected Druze elder, has further inflamed tensions.

Druze Leadership and Global Appeals

Mufak Tarif, the Druze spiritual leader in Israel, declared the situation a “war of existence” for the Druze people. The Spiritual Presidency of the Druze Unitarian issued a rare international plea to leaders including Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, the Saudi Crown Prince, and King Abdullah of Jordan, urging immediate action to protect Druze civilians.

Military Escalation and Cross-Border Implications

Israel had deployed three military companies to the Syrian border, with a fourth on standby. Israeli media reported airstrikes targeting Syrian regime positions, including convoys on the Damascus–Daraa highway, and the artillery battalion commander of Syria’s 40th Division was reportedly killed near Daraa.

Three Syrian commanders—Khalid al-Zoubi, Abdel Fattah al-Musifra, and Abu Yaqoub Mohaja—were reportedly killed in Israeli airstrikes in Suwayda. Israeli officials have warned of further military escalation if the Syrian regime continues its campaign.

Technology and Tactical Deployment

Syrian security vehicles in Sweida have reportedly been equipped with Starlink satellite internet, raising concerns over coordinated digital warfare. Additionally, Turkish-made Shaheen drones have allegedly been deployed against Druze communities.

Sectarian Clashes and Civilian Impact

The conflict has reignited longstanding tensions between Druze and Bedouin tribes, with Sunni factions reportedly joining Bedouin fighters. Syrian security forces, accused of siding with Bedouin militias, have been implicated in massacres, and property destruction.

Photos of fighters involved in the current clashes have surfaced from previous massacres on the Syrian coast, intensifying fears of repeat atrocities.

International Condemnation and Diplomatic Pressure

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the violations against civilians and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. The United Nations has urged de-escalation and emphasized the need for transparent investigations into alleged war crimes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to protecting Druze communities and maintaining southwestern Syria as a demilitarized buffer zone. Israeli officials have warned of direct intervention if the Syrian regime continues its offensive.

Sweida stands at the heart of a volatile regional crisis, with implications for sectarian stability, international diplomacy, and humanitarian protection. As global actors weigh their responses, the fate of Syria’s Druze population hangs in the balance amid a fragile truce.

[…]

Via https://www.globalresearch.ca/sweida-peace-follows-huge-israeli-airstrikes-damascus/5895373