Israel’s military said Friday it had carried out an airstrike near the Syrian Presidential Palace.
The operation was justified as a measure to protect the Druze community, following reports of armed conflict in Damascus suburbs including Jaramana and Sahnaya.
Israeli broadcaster KAN reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz released a joint statement confirming the attack.
“We struck a target near the Presidential Palace in Damascus,” the statement read. “We will not tolerate any threat to the Druze.”
The statement warned that Israel would prevent any military withdrawal south of Damascus, framing such moves as a direct threat to Druze populations.
“No forces will be allowed to deploy south of Damascus, and any danger to the Druze community will be met with force,” it said.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the airstrike was directed by him and Netanyahu and served as a warning to the Syrian regime.
Referring to Syrian self-named President Ahmad al-Sharaa using an alternate name, Katz said, “When Joulani wakes up in the morning and sees the results of the Israeli Air Force jet attack, he understands very well that Israel is determined to prevent harm to the Druze in Syria.”
Syrian interim government officials confirmed their forces had retaken control of the affected neighborhoods after several days of unrest.
Israel used the local instability as justification to deepen military intervention beyond its occupied borders. A similar Israeli airstrike was carried out on April 30.
Israel’s military confirmed that five wounded Druze individuals from Syria were transferred into Israel for treatment.