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Israel threatened to escalate attacks on Syrian government forces unless they withdraw from the southern province of Sweida, which is dominated by the country’s Druse minority.
July 16, 2025Updated 10:20 a.m. ET
Israel conducted airstrikes in Syria’s capital on Wednesday, targeting the Defense Ministry and an area near the presidential palace, according to the Syrian authorities and a war monitoring group.
Israel warned Syria’s leaders on Wednesday that it was closely monitoring the government’s actions in Sweida, a southern province dominated by the Druse minority. Israel has pledged to protect the Druse and its defense minister, Israel Katz, threatened to intensify strikes on Syrian forces if they did not pull back from Sweida.
Deadly clashes have raged for days in Sweida. More than 200 people have been killed in four days of clashes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor — the deadliest bout of unrest to hit the region in years.
The observatory said the Israeli airstrikes on the Syrian capital, Damascus, had caused “extensive” damage. At least nine people were injured, according to Syria’s health ministry.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.
A cease-fire in Sweida was announced on Tuesday. But violence flared again on Wednesday between government forces and Druse fighters, according to the Syrian authorities and the observatory.
Euan Ward is a Times reporter covering Lebanon and Syria. He is based in Beirut.
