Israel strikes near Syria’s presidential palace, a warning to Sharaa

DAMASCUS,— The Israeli military carried out an airstrike early Friday near the presidential palace in Damascus, sending what officials described as a direct warning to Syria’s interim leadership and reaffirming Israel’s position on safeguarding the Druze minority population.

According to a joint statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, the strike served as a “clear message” that Israel would not tolerate the deployment of Syrian forces near the southern region of Damascus or any threats posed to the Druze community.

No casualties were reported in the immediate aftermath of the attack, which Israeli forces said targeted an area “adjacent” to the presidential compound.

The Syrian presidency denounced the strike, labeling it a “dangerous escalation,” and accused Israel of acting under the guise of protecting minorities while advancing its own military agenda.

Syria’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Razan Saffour said on social media that Israel “never struck near the palace” during former President Bashar al-Assad’s tenure, suggesting the latest strike had political motives tied to the post-Assad transition.

Ahmed al-Sharaa, who is also known by the name Abu Mohammed al-Golani, is currently the interim president of Syria. His past includes being part of al-Qaeda, ISIS, and later founding al-Nusra Front, which was initially aligned with al-Qaeda before rebranding to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

The airstrike follows weeks of rising violence in Syria, where clashes broke out between Sunni Muslim and Druze groups after a voice recording emerged that allegedly insulted Mohammed, whom they consider the Prophet.

That violence has led to over two dozen fatalities in towns surrounding Damascus and prompted an initial Israeli strike on the outskirts of the capital, which reportedly killed one Syrian security officer.

A Syrian official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the Israeli missile landed about 100 meters east of the palace’s outer wall.

The conflict has now expanded south into the province of Sweida, a predominantly Druze area. Local leaders met with Syrian officials Thursday night in Sweida and released a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to Syrian unity and rejecting any calls for division or separation.

“Sheikh Laith al-Balous, a Druze elder, told Syria TV that the community ‘does not need protection from anyone,’ reiterating their loyalty to Syria’s national institutions.”

Following the clashes, Syrian forces were seen patrolling the village of Al-Soura al-Kubra in Sweida, where residents returned Friday morning to find homes ransacked.

One resident, Salman Olaiwi, said his home had been broken into and money stolen but expressed relief that tensions had eased.

Israel has made clear its intention to prevent the presence of Syrian forces in the southern region, including Sweida. It has long advocated for a demilitarized buffer zone along its border and emphasized its readiness to act when regional minorities, particularly the Druze, are perceived to be under threat.

Israel is home to a small Druze population and approximately 24,000 Druze also live in the Golan Heights, which was seized from Syria in 1967 and later annexed by Israel in 1981 — a move not recognized internationally.

Some Druze serving in the Israeli military have reportedly written to Netanyahu offering assistance for their kin in Syria, pledging that “hundreds” are ready to support their fellow Druze.

Netanyahu, in response, urged restraint and asked Druze citizens not to take unilateral action.

(With files from Reuters)