Israel strikes Syria's military headquarters as the regime clashes with Druze civilians

Israel reported on Wednesday that its forces struck near the entrance of the Syrian Defense Ministry s headquarters in Damascus The IDF continues to monitor developments and the regime's actions against Druze civilians in southern Syria In accordance with directives from the political echelon the IDF is striking in the area and remains prepared for various scenarios the Israel Defense Forces IDF wrote on X Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also put out a report saying that his country's forces were acting to save our Druze brothers and eliminate the regime's gangs and warning Druze in Israel not to go into Syria I have one request of you You are citizens of Israel Do not cross the confines Netanyahu explained on Wednesday You are endangering your lives you could be killed you could be kidnapped and you are harming the IDF s efforts Therefore I ask you return to your homes let the IDF do its work WHY SYRIA PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN TRUMP S PLANS FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACEThe southern Syrian city of Sweida has become a flashpoint in fresh days as the country s leaders clash with armed Druze groups Syria s Defense Ministry claimed its forces acted after militias in Sweida violated a ceasefire agreement reached on Tuesday Syria s Defense Ministry reportedly stated in a message that its forces were continuing to fire in Sweida while adhering to rules of engagement including preventing harm according to the Associated Press Israel has threatened to increase its involvement in Syria and vowed to protect the Druze religious minority which began as a th-century offshoot of Ismailism a branch of Shiite Islam the Associated Press revealed Most of of the world s Druze population lives in Syria with the rest predominantly in Israel and Lebanon And I raise the question What else demands to happen for the international neighborhood to make its voice heard What else necessities to happen What are we still waiting for Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar noted on Wednesday Our interests in Syria are known limited and clear First of all to maintain the status quo in the southern Syrian region which is also close to our boundary And to prevent the rise of threats against Israel in this area The second thing - to prevent harm to the Druze population with which we have a bold and strong relationship - with the Druze citizens here in Israel TRUMP S PUSH FOR ISRAEL-SYRIA PEACE GETS MAJOR BACKING AS ACTIVIST BRINGS MESSAGE TO JERUSALEMThe Druze are a prominent minority in Israel where members of the area hold key military positions In Col Ghassan Alian who is Druze became the first non-Jewish commander of the Golani Brigade Additionally unlike other minorities in Israel Druze males are not exempt from conscripted military institution Israel is committed to preventing harm to the Druze in Syria due to the deep brotherhood alliance with our Druze citizens in Israel and their familial and historical connection to the Druze in Syria and we are acting to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them and to ensure the demilitarization of the area adjacent to our dividing line with Syria a joint report by Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz read The latest unrest in Syria began with kidnappings and attacks between the Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze armed factions in the southern part of the country according to the Associated Press Syrian regime forces operating to restore order have also clashed with the Druze and have reportedly been carrying out extrajudicial killings and looting and burning civilian homes In March Syria s al Qaeda-linked regime killed members of the Alawite and Christian communities Former Syrian President Bashar Assad whose regime was toppled in December by Ahmed al-Sharaa and his group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham a U S -designated terror organization is a member of the Alawite population