Israel Strikes Syrian Defence Headquarters Amid Rising Sectarian Violence in Sweida

The Israeli military has confirmed it carried out airstrikes targeting the entrance of Syria’s Ministry of Defence in central Damascus on Wednesday, amid escalating violence in the southern Syrian city of Sweida.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) described the strike as a warning to the Syrian interim government over its actions in the region, which is home to the country’s largest Druze population.

According to Syria’s Ministry of Health, at least one person was killed and 18 others wounded in the strike, which hit multiple sites in the capital. Syrian state media broadcast images of damage to government buildings, including the Defence Ministry.

The IDF stated that the strike was conducted “in accordance with directives from the political echelon” and aimed at deterring further Syrian military movement towards Druze-populated areas in Sweida Governorate. “The IDF continues to monitor developments and the regime’s actions against Druze civilians,” the statement added.

The airstrike marks a significant escalation in an already volatile situation. Violence has surged in Sweida following clashes between Druze militias, Bedouin Sunni tribes, and government forces loyal to interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who came to power following the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.

The Druze, a religious minority with a presence in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, have had a complex relationship with successive Syrian governments. Although largely concentrated in southern Syria, a sizeable Druze community also resides in Israeli-held territory. Tensions have risen sharply over the past week, with the IDF warning Syrian forces against entering Druze areas and later launching strikes against military units reportedly en route to enforce a curfew in Sweida.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the time for warnings had passed. “Now painful blows will come,” he wrote in a post on X. “The IDF will continue to operate forcefully in Sweida to destroy the forces that attacked the Druze until their complete withdrawal.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, has reported that over 250 people have been killed in Sweida province since violence erupted on Sunday. This includes 21 individuals said to have been executed by local groups.

In a further sign of regional volatility, hundreds of Israeli Druze reportedly breached border fences on Wednesday and crossed into Syria to join those protesting against the Syrian government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged restraint. “You are citizens of Israel. Do not cross the border. You are risking your lives… and harming the efforts of the IDF,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, attempts to broker a ceasefire have produced mixed results. On Tuesday, Syrian Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra announced a ceasefire in Sweida, pledging that forces would respond only to direct threats. However, fighting continued into Wednesday. Another ceasefire agreement, reportedly brokered by Druze leaders, calls for full integration of Sweida into the Syrian state and the deployment of internal security checkpoints. While one faction has endorsed the deal, others have rejected it, leaving the situation fluid.

The conflict has highlighted the fragility of Syria’s political landscape in the aftermath of Assad’s ousting. The new rebel-led government, headed by Ahmad al-Sharaa, has sought to consolidate control and re-establish internal order. However, sectarian divisions and local resistance have complicated these efforts.

The unrest also threatens to derail early-stage diplomatic overtures between Syria and Israel. The two countries had reportedly engaged in backchannel talks following the collapse of the previous regime, with the United States easing certain sanctions and recognising the new government earlier this year.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking on Wednesday, said the United States was in contact with both Syrian and Israeli authorities. “We have spoken to all sides and agreed on specific steps that will bring this troubling and horrifying situation to an end tonight,” he posted on X. “This will require all parties to deliver on the commitments they have made.”

Rubio later reiterated concerns during a public event, warning that ongoing violence in southern Syria posed a “direct threat to efforts to help build a peaceful and stable Syria.”

The IDF has meanwhile stepped up its presence near the Syrian border, shifting at least one brigade from Gaza to the north and striking what it described as Syrian tanks, rocket launchers, and vehicles headed for Sweida. “The IDF has decided to reinforce its forces in the area of the Syrian border and will continue to operate… to ensure the security of Israeli civilians,” the military said.

The Syrian presidency responded by condemning what it described as “criminal and illegal behaviour” in Sweida, while pledging investigations and accountability. The government’s official position remains that it seeks a peaceful resolution to the crisis and national integration of the region.

As of Thursday morning, the situation on the ground remains tense, with multiple factions operating independently and foreign intervention adding to the complexity of the conflict.

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