Damascus/Jerusalem, July 16, 2025: Intense Israeli airstrikes rocked Damascus on Wednesday, with direct hits reported near the Syrian defence ministry, amid escalating violence in southern Syria, where government forces have clashed with Druze militias.
Residents in the capital described low-flying warplanes followed by powerful explosions that blanketed the city in smoke. A plume rose above the heavily guarded ministry complex, and local media blamed Israel for the afternoon strikes.
The Israeli military confirmed targeting the entrance of the Syrian regime’s military headquarters in Damascus and warned of more “painful blows” to come. Defence Minister Israel Katz said the strikes were aimed at pressuring the Syrian military to withdraw from Sweida, a Druze-majority city where intense fighting has broken out this week.
The violence has claimed dozens of lives. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, at least 169 people have been killed, though Syrian security sources put the number closer to 300. The conflict pits Druze fighters against government troops and armed Bedouin tribes, highlighting the fragile state of Syria’s internal dynamics under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, despite his administration’s improving ties with the West.
“We are surrounded and we hear fighters screaming… we’re so scared,” said a Sweida resident, speaking anonymously by phone. Gunfire and explosions could be heard in the background. “We’re trying to keep the children quiet so no one hears us.”
Tensions surged after Syrian troops were sent to quell intercommunal fighting in Sweida earlier this week but instead engaged directly with Druze militias. The Druze, a religious minority spread across Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, have called for international and regional protection. A prominent Druze religious leader condemned the government’s actions as a “barbaric assault.”
As the crisis deepened, Israeli Druze citizens crossed the border fence into Syria to join their kin, prompting a response from the Israeli military, which said efforts were underway to safely return those civilians.
The Israeli army also confirmed targeting military vehicles—including tanks and machine-gun mounted pickups—heading toward Sweida. In addition to the airstrikes in Damascus, Syrian officials confirmed two drone hits on the defence ministry, forcing personnel to take shelter in the basement. State TV reported that at least two civilians were injured.
The Syrian government has blamed “outlawed gangs” for the chaos in Sweida and issued a statement pledging to hold those responsible for lawlessness accountable, while insisting it remains committed to protecting citizens.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Special Envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, said Washington is in contact with all parties to help “navigate towards calm and integration.” Barrack has previously praised Syria’s new rulers and expressed optimism for long-term peace between Syria and Israel.
Local outlet Sweida24 reported ongoing heavy artillery and mortar fire across Sweida and nearby villages on Wednesday. Reports have also emerged of looting by government troops, with one resident showing a Reuters journalist the body of his brother, allegedly killed inside their home.
Despite promises from President Sharaa to safeguard minorities, the ongoing assault on the Druze heartland threatens to further destabilize the region and deepen sectarian divides.
