An Israeli airstrike targeted an area near the presidential palace in the Syrian capital, Damascus, early on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated that the army attacked a target close to the presidential palace in the Syrian capital, reiterating their commitment to protect the Druze minority, according to a statement reported by The Times of Israel.
They were quoted as saying, “We will not allow the deployment of forces south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community.”
This is the second time in two days that Israel has launched a strike on Syria, following its pledge to defend the Druze minority.
Additionally, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that “the air force’s attack on the presidential palace in Damascus tonight is a clear warning message to the Syrian regime.”
There has been no response or comment from the Syrian government regarding this strike, as reported by Enab Baladi.
On Thursday, May 1, the Israeli army announced via its official account the deployment of forces on the southern border of Syria in preparation to prevent what it described as “hostile forces” from reaching the area and Druze villages, coinciding with tensions in areas of Syria with a Druze majority.
The army added that it was monitoring developments and raised its readiness for “defense and to deal with different scenarios,” as it put it.
The army noted that Tel Aviv had evacuated two Druze individuals to a medical center inside Israel after they were injured in Syria, without indicating the circumstances of their injuries.
These statements coincided with the signing of an agreement in the southwestern province of As-Suwayda, involving Druze community leaders and figures from the city along with representatives from the government.
The Druze leaders issued a statement affirming that the Druze community is “an integral part of the unified Syrian homeland, and our homeland is our honor, our Syria is our dignity, and love of the homeland is part of faith; we reject division, secession, or separation.”
Accordingly, the leaders agreed on several points regarding action in As-Suwayda, including:
Activating the role of the Ministry of Interior and the judicial police in the province of As-Suwayda with residents from the province. Ensuring the As-Suwayda – Damascus road is the state’s responsibility. Establishing security and safety across Syrian territories.Furthermore, Israeli military statements have come amid tensions in cities and towns in the countryside of Damascus, predominantly inhabited by Druze, between Druze groups and government-affiliated factions.
The clashes began after the circulation of an audio recording attributed to one of the Druze religious leaders that contained an insult to the Prophet Muhammad, which the Druze leader later denied.
Israel became involved in the confrontation, as the Israeli army stated that its Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, had issued instructions to prepare to strike Syrian government targets if what it termed “acts of violence against the Druze” did not cease.
The army announced on its official X account that its forces struck militants attacking “Druze civilians” on the outskirts of Damascus using drone strikes.
Additionally, the Israeli army is monitoring developments in the area, with its forces “on high alert for defense in anticipation of different scenarios.”
The Israeli broadcasting corporation (KAN) reported via its website an urgent news update from an unnamed security source stating, “For the third time, the Israel Defense Forces targeted a gathering of militants in Sahnaya in the Damascus countryside using drones.”
For his part, the governor of Rural Damascus, Amer al-Sheikh, stated during a press conference attended by a reporter from Enab Baladi yesterday that there were Israeli airstrikes in the city of Sahnaya targeting members of the security forces, resulting in the death of one member and a civilian from the area.
The situation in the towns of Sahnaya, Ashrafiat Sahnaya, and Jaramana in the Damascus countryside, as well as villages in As-Suwayda, has moved towards a cautious calm after two days of clashes and tensions.
Israel strikes near presidential palace in Damascus Enab Baladi.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Israel strikes near presidential palace in Damascus )
Also on site :