Israeli fighter jets struck near the presidential palace in Damascus on Friday morning, following a wave of sectarian violence that has resulted in the deaths of over 100 individuals. The targeted strikes were, according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, a response to the violence between pro-government forces and Syria’s Druse minority, a group whose roots are in Islam and who have close ties with those in Israel.
This marks the second time that Israel has intervened militarily during the recent violence, with the aim of preventing further movement of forces from southern Damascus that could endanger the Druse community. The Israeli statement referred to the strikes targeting the area near the Damascus palace of President Ahmed Hussein al-Shara, without drawing immediate comment from the Syrian government.
The conflict had escalated due to an audio clip perceived as disrespectful to the Prophet Muhammad, leading armed Sunni Muslim extremist groups to attack Druse communities, the elite sending security forces to restore order. Druse leaders expressed a willingness to join forces with the government and requested additional protection for Jaramana, a Druse-majority town near Damascus.
The Druse community, which spans across Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel, tends to participate in national politics and serve in local military forces despite keeping their distinct culture and faith. The international community, including the U.S. State Department, is calling on Syria to quell the violence and address the root causes of sectarian tensions.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/02/world/middleeast/israel-syria-druse-strikes.html
