Israel says it has conducted airstrikes on Syrian government infrastructure in the south of the country, in response to what it described as attacks on Druze civilians in Suweida province.
In a statement, the Israeli military confirmed the hits on a command center and weapons stored at military compounds overnight.
The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] will not tolerate harm towards the Druze population in Syria and will continue to operate to defend them, the military announced.
The Syrian foreign ministry condemned the airstrikes as an outrageous assault on Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, dismissing Israel's justifications as flimsy pretexts and fabricated excuses.
According to Syrian officials, the escalation marks continued Israeli interference in internal affairs, accusing it of undermining security and stability.
Israel, home to a significant Druze minority, has often justified such military operations as efforts to protect their community across the border. The Druze identify as an offshoot of Shia Islam with unique beliefs, and are spread across various nations, including Syria, Lebanon, and Israel.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that further action may be necessary, threatening to strike with even greater force if the Syrian government exploits regional conflicts to target Druze communities.
The recent military action follows heightened violence in Suweida, where clashes between government forces and local armed groups have surged after Druze militiamen attempted to enter government-held areas.
A UK-based war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, reported that fighting escalated due to mortar fire landing in Druze-controlled territories, while civilian areas in Suweida city faced shelling, creating panic among residents.
In contrast, the Syrian government claimed its security forces had dismantled an organized criminal network involved in car theft and drug trafficking, stating they arrested nine suspects during this operation.
This unrest follows a history of violence in Suweida, where clashes between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouin tribes, and government forces resulted in hundreds of casualties last July.
While Israel's actions continue to frame itself as a protector of the Druze, analysts suggest that the latest escalations are heavily tied to local dynamics rather than broader regional wars. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has indicated Damascus' desire to avoid further conflict, emphasizing a measured approach.
