DAMASCUS, SYRIA – Israel has confirmed it carried out airstrikes on what it described as a “military target” in “the area of the presidential palace in Damascus” on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Earlier, Israel stated it had targeted the headquarters of the Syrian military in the city. Syria’s health ministry has reported that one civilian was killed in these attacks.
The Israeli strikes follow escalating armed clashes between Sunni Bedouin fighters and Druze militias in southern Syria, which began over the weekend. The violence erupted in the predominantly Druze city of Suweida on Sunday, two days after a Druze merchant was reportedly abducted en route to Damascus. On Tuesday, after two days of deadly confrontations, Israel announced it had bombed Syrian government forces near Suweida. Syrian forces have also faced accusations of attacking the Druze, though the government has condemned attacks on the Druze community and stated its troops are present to restore order.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that he ordered strikes on forces and weaponry in the area because the Syrian government “intended to use [them] against the Druze.” Syria has condemned Israel’s involvement. The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, expressed concern about the Israeli strikes, telling reporters that Washington desires an end to the fighting and is “talking to both sides.” The UK-based monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported on Tuesday that at least 200 people have been killed since the clashes began on Sunday.
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