Israel strikes Syria’s military headquarters and area around presidential palace

Israel says it has struck a “military target” in “the area of the presidential palace in Damascus”

It earlier said it hit the headquarters of the Syrian military in the city – one civilian has been killed in the attacks, the Syrian health ministry says

Israel says it is trying to protect members of the Druze community in south-west Syria, where there have been deadly sectarian clashes

“We are working to save our Druze brothers and to eliminate the regime’s gangs,” says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

The strikes on Damascus follow days of Israeli attacks on the Suweida region in south-west Syria. Syria’s government has condemned the “violations”.

Footage from Syrian state broadcaster Syria TV shows the moment the country’s military headquarters was hit. Traffic was stopped as security forces worked in the area. Debris was seen strewn in the surrounding roads and the front of the building has been partially destroyed. The number of people injured in Damascus has risen to 28, the Syrian health ministry says in an update on the impact of Israelis strikes.

Syria’s post-Assad government is still in its infancy – its army and security forces are weak, fragmented, and struggling to assert control.

In the immediate aftermath of former dictator Bashar al-Assad’s fall in December, Israel launched a sweeping wave of air strikes, targeting more than 400 military sites in just 48 hours.

The intent was clear: to prevent any rapid militarisation that could threaten Israeli security, particularly near its northern border.

Although the new Syrian leadership has signalled it has no appetite for regional war, US-backed negotiations with Israel may be under way.

Credit: bbc.com

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