Israel has launched a surprise attack on Damascus, striking sensitive targets in what appears to be a clear message from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the new Al-Sharaa regime. The raid has already resulted in casualties, shocking journalists who were documenting the challenging situation in Syria, particularly in the southern region. This acute crisis is marked by intensifying Israeli military operations and violent internal clashes, severely impacting the civilian population.
Today, Israel escalated its actions, operating on multiple fronts. It directly hit military headquarters and command centers in Damascus while also conducting airstrikes in Suwayda, southern Syria, near the Jordanian border. Suwayda is a predominantly Druze city, with the Druze community constituting about 90% of the provincial population, alongside smaller Christian and Bedouin Sunni minority communities.
The Syrian Ministry of Health has reported at least one dead and 18 wounded, though other sources indicate a toll of at least three dead and 34 wounded, in addition to extensive structural damage to the affected buildings, including the Mazzeh military airport area.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly ordered military forces and vehicles to be targeted, including an attack on tanks in Suwayda, as a warning to the new Al-Jolani regime, stating his intent to protect the Druze. Official Israeli policy aims for the complete disarmament of Syria’s southern region. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has threatened to intensify attacks if Syrian forces do not withdraw from the Suwayda region.
Since early July, Suwayda has been the scene of bloody clashes, causing over a hundred casualties among armed residents, primarily Druze, and members of Bedouin Sunni tribes. These conflicts stemmed from a wave of kidnappings, including that of a Druze businessman. On July 14, government forces entered the city to quell the fighting, imposing martial law and movement restrictions “until further notice.” Druze religious leaders consented to the intervention and urged armed groups to cooperate and surrender their weapons in the hope of restoring calm. However, the announced ceasefire quickly ended, and violence resumed shortly thereafter.
The Syrian Ministry of Defense reported that 18 security force members sent to quell the clashes were killed, and many were wounded, during attacks by what were termed “outlaw groups.” Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has reported over 300 deaths in the province since Sunday, including Druze civilians allegedly executed by Syrian forces.
The situation in Suwayda exemplifies the growing concerns for the security and rights of minorities in Syria following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. Sectarian violence, exacerbated by instability and external intervention, continues to undermine the safety and well-being of the local population.
Over the past three months, Israel has established six new bases in the provinces of Quneitra and Daraa, bringing its total number of military bases in southern Syria to ten. This expansion, which violates the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, extends Israel’s operations beyond the occupied Golan Heights. The new bases are strategically positioned to monitor villages; Tulul al-Humr is just 40 kilometers from Damascus.
Netanyahu aims for the complete disarmament of southern Syria, including Suwayda and neighboring provinces, by not allowing the presence of any armed group. The Syrian government, however, reiterates that the presence of weapons is the exclusive responsibility of the government, but attempts to integrate minority armed groups, such as Druze and Kurds, have largely failed, complicating regional stability.
Meanwhile, the security of the civilian population is severely compromised. A deep sense of fear and insecurity due to restrictions on freedom of movement is impeding daily life. The establishment of the Israeli base in Al-Hamidiyah, Quneitra province, strategically located near the occupied Golan Heights, has had dramatic consequences for the local population. Living conditions in Al-Hamidiyah are dire, with aid remaining limited.
Approximately 6,000 people have been forced to flee the village, where the Israeli army has demolished at least 15 civilian homes. Displaced residents complain that they have lost everything and that promises of a swift return have not been kept. Israeli forces have also seized and damaged agricultural land, digging trenches and occupying areas outside the buffer zone, even destroying ancient forests. Access to fields, the main source of income, is often prevented, and residents report checkpoints, raids, house searches, and arbitrary detentions. Israel continues its policy of expansion with complete impunity. Affected communities are calling for international intervention to prohibit the entry of Israeli forces and ensure their security.
The European Union has expressed alarm over the clashes and strongly condemned the violence against civilians, while urging all external parties to fully respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Lebanon and Erdogan’s Turkey have also strongly condemned the Israeli intervention, calling for an immediate cessation of attacks and emphasizing the importance of Syrian stability for the entire region. In particular, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Israeli attacks on Damascus aim to “sabotage Syria’s efforts to ensure peace and security,” emphasizing that the Syrian people have a “historic opportunity to live in peace and integrate with the world” after the overthrow of the previous regime.
