Israeli drones hit General Staff complex in central Damascus

Israel has struck the headquarters of the Syrian military and close to the presidential palace in the capital Damascus, compounding a volatile situation on the ground and following through on its threats over clashes between Syrian government troops and Druze fighters in the southern Syrian city of Suwayda, AL Jazeera reports.

The strikes came hours after Katz’s threat to the Syrian government to withdraw from Suwayda, where they have been engaged in fierce clashes in recent days with fighters from Syria’s Druze minority, whom Israel views as a potential ally in Syria and claims to be intervening to protect.

 

Fierce fighting has resumed in the southern city, a major centre for the Druze community, since a ceasefire announced by the Syrian government on Tuesday swiftly collapsed.

 

Reporting from Damascus, Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid said he had witnessed two drone attacks on the headquarters of the Syrian Ministry of Defence, one in front of the entrance to the building, and the other near the back. Drones were continuing to circulate overhead and bursts of gunfire had been heard, apparently from Syrian defensive positions shooting at the drones.

 

“This goes to show the situation is escalating. Israeli strikes have now reached the heart of Damascus,” he said.