Israeli fighter jets struck near the Syrian presidential palace in Damascus early Friday, delivering what officials described as a pointed warning to Syria’s new leadership following deadly clashes involving the Druze community.
In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said, “This is a clear message to the Syrian regime. We will not allow the deployment of forces south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community.” The statement confirmed Israeli forces carried out the strike targeting the vicinity of the People’s Palace on a hill overlooking the capital.
Israel reportedly struck an area just 100 meters from the Syrian presidential palace in Damascus, signaling support for Syria’s Druze minority and warning jihadist factions. Syria condemned the strike as a “dangerous escalation” and urged international support. pic.twitter.com/OGsVRPBJLC
— Geopoliti𝕏 Monitor (@GeopolitixM) May 2, 2025
The Syrian government condemned the strike near the presidential compound as a “dangerous escalation.” President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s father, Hussein al-Sharaa, posted a public statement on Facebook denouncing Israel’s actions. “The Zionist enemy state is threatening and attacking Syria… They think the new Syrian state will remain silent, as it did in the past,” he wrote.
Tensions have been high since violent clashes broke out earlier in the week between pro-government militias and Druze fighters in areas south of Damascus, including the suburb of Jaramana. The fighting followed the spread of an audio clip allegedly insulting Islam’s Prophet Muhammad, falsely attributed to a Druze cleric. Cleric Marwan Kiwan publicly denied involvement in a video statement.
#Syria 🇸🇾: “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham” (#HTS) conducted operations against Druze Militias in the city of #Sahnaya.
HTS used a #China-made 🇨🇳 Zijiang M99 anti-materiel sniper rifle, BMP-1 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicles) with 2A28 ‘Grom’ cannon and ‘Al-Karrar’ Armored vehicles. pic.twitter.com/9QvMJ8sjXl
— War Noir (@war_noir) April 30, 2025
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 99 people have been killed in the last four days of fighting, including 51 in the towns of Sahnaya and Jaramana. The Syrian Information Ministry confirmed that 11 security personnel were killed in separate incidents.
#Syria 🇸🇾: Druze Group “Sweida Military Council” carried out mortar attacks against “Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham” (#HTS) in the vicinity of #Sweida (#Suwayda).
Group seemingly used Yugoslavian 60mm M57 mortar with #Iran-made 🇮🇷 DIO M61 HE mortar bombs. pic.twitter.com/2FoOCc9KvF
— War Noir (@war_noir) May 1, 2025
The Druze community, which traces its roots to a 10th-century offshoot of Shiite Islam, has long lived in relative isolation in Syria’s southern Sweida province and in Damascus suburbs. More than half of the estimated 1 million Druze globally reside in Syria, with other communities in Lebanon and Israel.
Druze religious leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri condemned the Syrian government’s response, calling the assault on his community an “unjustified genocidal attack.”
In a separate joint statement, Druze spiritual leadership reaffirmed the sect’s unity with the Syrian nation while urging the state to reestablish control over Sweida and secure the Damascus-Sweida highway.
After a meeting earlier tonight consisting of nearly all Druze religious, civil, and community leaders in the Suwayda Governorate of Southwestern Syria, they have released a statement swearing loyalty to a unified Syria led by the government in Damascus, rejecting any violence by… pic.twitter.com/FAtkEa0vpH
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) May 1, 2025
Regional media reported a new wave of Israeli airstrikes late Friday, describing it as a ‘massive’ bombing campaign targeting multiple locations across the country.
A warehouse inside a former Syrian army camp in the Hama countryside and positions near Jebal Shaara in Latakia province were reportedly hit. Another strike targeted the Signal Battalion, responsible for military communications north of Damascus.
In the capital, four airstrikes struck near the Barza neighborhood, triggering loud explosions. Additional attacks were reported in Daraa, where the 175th Regiment military base was reportedly destroyed. Israeli jets also targeted sites in Idlib and surrounding areas. As of Friday evening Eastern Time, Israeli aircraft continue to fly over Damascus amid unconfirmed reports of casualties.
صور لاثار الغارة الإسرائيلية على الفوج 175 في #درعا
إيفان حسيب – Ivan Hassib pic.twitter.com/vlNIyDKWXq
— Ivan Hassib (@Ivan_Hassib) May 2, 2025
Israeli airstrikes tonight targeted different fronts in Syria. This attack occurred in Izraa, located in Daraa Governorate. pic.twitter.com/DkxhNmhsB0
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) May 2, 2025
Reconnaissance drones have also been observed flying at low altitude over Damascus and surrounding areas, Al Jazeera Arabic reported. Unnamed sources reportedly identified the drones as Israeli.
The Israeli military is also allegedly compiling a list of more potential targets inside Syria, according to the Kan public broadcaster. These would include both military and government infrastructure linked to the interim Syrian leadership, which Israel has labeled a “terror group from Idlib that took Damascus by force.”
