Aftermath of deadly Israeli air attacks in Damascus

Israel launched a bid of aerial attacks connected cardinal Damascus, hitting a Ministry of Defence compound and areas adjacent the statesmanlike palace.

The attacks connected Wednesday killed astatine slightest 3 radical and wounded 34, according to Syria’s Ministry of Health, arsenic reported by authorities media.

Israel besides conducted attacks successful confederate Syria, wherever convulsive clashes betwixt Druze groups, Bedouin tribes, and Syrian information forces person persisted for much than 4 days.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that much than 250 radical person died successful Suwayda state during these confrontations.

Israel, which occupies the Syrian Golan Heights, claims its operations are intended to support the Druze number – whom it views arsenic a imaginable state – and to people pro-government forces allegedly attacking it.

Syria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Israeli attacks connected Damascus and Suwayda arsenic “part of a systematic Israeli argumentation to ignite hostility and chaos and undermine information successful Syria”, urging the planetary assemblage to instrumentality “urgent action” against Israeli aggression.

The aerial attacks followed deadly clashes successful Suwayda betwixt Syrian authorities forces and section Druze fighters.

The struggle began with reciprocal kidnappings and attacks betwixt Druze fighters and section Bedouin tribes. Government troops intervened to reconstruct bid but ended up clashing with Druze groups and reportedly targeted civilians successful immoderate instances.

The Druze, a number with important power successful some Syria and Israel, are regarded by Israel arsenic loyal allies, with galore serving successful the Israeli military. A Tuesday ceasefire rapidly collapsed, with warring resuming the pursuing day.

On Wednesday,  the Syrian authorities and Druze person Sheikh Yousef Jarbou announced a caller ceasefire successful the city, and said the service had begun withdrawing from Suwayda.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said connected Thursday that protecting the country’s Druze citizens and their rights is simply a priority, arsenic helium announced that section leaders volition instrumentality power of information successful Suwayda successful a bid to extremity the violence.

Suwayda’s Druze assemblage appears divided. Leader Yasser Jarbou announced that a ceasefire had been negotiated with the Syrian government, portion different leader, Hikmat al-Hijri, rejected immoderate specified agreement. Many Syrian Druze reason Israeli involution connected their behalf.

Israel has been moving to grow its power successful confederate Syria since President Bashar al-Assad’s autumn successful December. Rather than pursuing information agreements with Syria, Israel has conducted repeated bombing campaigns successful the state this year. Many analysts suggest Israel prefers a weakened Syria implicit a perchance threatening stronger neighbour.