Israeli Air Attack Hits Syria After Riots In Damascus Erupt

JERUSALEM - Israel stepped up military attacks in Syria by launching airstrikes on the outskirts of Damascus and issuing threats against Syrian leadership. The attack was carried out under the pretext of responding to unrest in the area inhabited by the Druze community earlier this week.

The airstrikes carried out on Thursday (1/5), according to the Syrian government, killed a number of civilians including those from the Druze community. Earlier acts of violence broke out on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Ashrafiyat Sahnaya and Jaramana areas, near Damascus.

According to Syrian officials, the clashes were triggered by leaked voice messages allegedly from a resident of Druze who contained insults to the Prophet Muhammad SAW. As a result of the clashes, at least 16 people were reported killed, including security forces.

Israel's authorities and defense chiefs called the airstrike a warning operation' to prevent violence against the Druze community. While Israel's foreign chief authority, Gideon Saar, called for international action to "protect minority groups in Syria" from its regime and terrorist groups".

Israel's defense chief, Israel Katz, also issued an open threat: "If violence against the people of Druze in Syria is not stopped, we will respond very strongly."

The Syrian government denounced the attack as a violation of state sovereignty. The Syrian Foreign Minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, emphasized that internal issues must be resolved through inter-community dialogue, and warned against foreign interference.

The Syrian Directorate of Public Security stated that the situation had returned to calm after a meeting was held with local leaders. The government also announced a ceasefire and plans to collect weapons from residents in Jaramana and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya.

Israeli public broadcasters reported that Israeli soldiers from the Druze community had asked high-ranking officials to step in to protect their families across the border.

Syrian authorities accuse violence of being sparked by a group of lawbreakers' who want to create sectarian tensions. The government insists that all Syrian citizens, including the Druze community, are treated equally before the law.

Israel's attack on Wednesday reportedly targeted the area around Ashrafiyat Sahnaya. The official Syrian news agency, SANA, said that the attack resulted in casualties from civilians, including residents of Druze.

The attack became one of Israel's newest military actions in Syria. Since last February, Tel Aviv has increased the intensity of airstrikes in various parts of Syria, although there has been no direct threat from President Ahmed al-Sharaa's administration.

Israel has occupied most of Syria's Golan Heights since 1967. After the Bashar al-Assad government collapsed in December, Israel declared the 1974 arms release agreement no longer valid and took over the demilitarized zone area.

Tensions continue to rise, while international concerns are also increasing as Israeli actions that claim to be carried out to protect minority groups -- especially in the middle of the second year of genocide in Gaza.