Latest News: On July 16th, a significant explosion was heard in Damascus, the capital of Syria. The Israeli military reported that it had attacked the gates of the Syrian General Staff headquarters located in Damascus. Additionally, Syrian media reported that Israeli drones also struck the Suwayda region again today.
Since July 13th, fierce armed conflict has erupted in the southern province of Suwayda, resulting in significant casualties. On July 15th, the Syrian Interior Ministry accused Israel of launching drone and fighter jet strikes against “illegal” armed groups in Suwayda Province, causing multiple deaths among Syrian security forces and civilians. The Syrian Foreign Ministry stated that this act is an open violation of Syrian sovereignty and constitutes an “unacceptable instance” of ongoing aggression and interference in Syria’s internal affairs.
Today, Defense Minister Benny Katz warned the Syrian authorities against persecuting Druze people, stating that the Israeli military would continue to target Syrian security forces until they withdraw.
The Druze are primarily found in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and the occupied Golan Heights under Israeli control. Following a dramatic political shift in Syria in December last year, Israel seized the Golan Heights buffer zone and adjacent areas on the pretext of “self-defense,” seizing the opportunity to collaborate with the majority of the population in Suwayda Province, seeking to establish what it calls a “defensive zone” in southern Syria.
