ALBAWABA- One person was killed and 18 others injured in Israeli shelling of Damascus, Syria’s Health Ministry confirmed on Wednesday, as Israeli forces launched one of their most aggressive bombing campaigns against Syrian government sites in recent months.
The strikes included direct hits near the presidential palace and the Syrian Army’s General Staff headquarters in the capital.
The Israeli military said it carried out the attacks on what it described as “military targets” near the presidential complex, claiming the operations were directed by the political leadership to “protect the Druze population” and to prepare for “various scenarios.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated it had also bombed multiple military positions in and around Damascus and warned of further operations across Syria.
According to Israeli media, including Channel 12, the strikes specifically targeted the Syrian presidential palace and top military command buildings. The Israeli Broadcasting Authority added that Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir had ordered the redeployment of forces from Gaza to the Golan Heights, reinforcing Northern Command to “increase the frequency of strikes.”
Israeli fighter jets and helicopters also attacked Syrian positions in Sweida and Daraa, amid unrest following deadly clashes between Druze and Bedouin communities in southern Syria.
The Syrian army had been deployed in recent days to restore stability, protect infrastructure, and prevent further bloodshed. Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant declared that Israel would continue its operations “until the forces that attacked the Druze withdraw,” adding: “Our messages to Damascus are over. Now we will deliver painful strikes.”
Critics accuse Israel of exploiting the internal conflict in Sweida to justify deep military incursions and extend its reach inside Syrian territory. The use of Druze protection as a pretext, they argue, masks a broader strategy aimed at confronting the new Syrian regime and weakening state institutions, including by striking near the heart of Syrian leadership.
The assault has sparked wide regional condemnation. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the repeated Israeli raids, calling them blatant violations of Syrian sovereignty.
Turkey’s Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz and the Turkish Foreign Ministry also denounced the strikes, warning they threaten both Syrian stability and broader regional peace.
Many observers have warned that Israel’s direct targeting of the Syrian presidency and command centers marks a serious escalation, one with the potential to trigger wider regional repercussions.
