Skip to main content

Israel Bombs Damascus, Reinforces Syrian Border as Druze Crisis Escalates

Israel rushed additional infantry and armor to the Golan Heights on Wednesday after hundreds of armed Druze civilians from Majdal Shams breached the border fence and entered war-torn southern Syria, Israeli military officials confirmed. The unprecedented incursion, fueled by reports of mass killings of Druze in Suwayda Province, triggered Israeli air strikes that for the first time in years reached the heart of Damascus.

The cross-border movement and retaliatory strikes were first reported by Israel Hayom correspondents Michel Makhoul and Lilach Shoval at 13:23 local time. Subsequent footage circulated on social media showed crowds waving Druze flags, some firing in the air before disappearing into Syrian territory.

What the IDF Says  

In an afternoon briefing, IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israeli jets “hit the entrance gate of the Syrian General Staff headquarters in Damascus” and carried out additional raids around Suwayda. “The IDF is prepared for multiple scenarios and will act wherever Druze civilians are attacked,” Hagari warned, adding that two extra companies were deployed along the frontier “following a situational assessment.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz delivered an even sharper message to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa: “Withdraw your forces from Suwayda or face escalating Israeli responses. Israel will not abandon the Druze.” Katz’s threats coincided with loud explosions heard near Damascus’ Ministry of Defense, where Syrian state media said two civilians were injured.

Fighting Inside Syria  

On the ground, Syrian army units launched a new operation in the Qanawat district—stronghold of Druze cleric Hikmat al-Hijri—while Israeli drones and jets repeatedly struck armored columns on the Suwayda-Damascus highway, according to opposition outlet Syria TV. Residents reported continuous gunfire around the General Staff building and at least three Druze casualties from an Israeli drone attack in downtown Suwayda.  

Complicating matters, activists in neighboring Daraa Province said dozens of Sunni tribe members tried to block the route taken by the Israeli Druze volunteers, raising fears of sectarian clashes. 

Local Druze Leadership Divided  

Inside Israel, Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif issued an “urgent appeal” to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to intervene militarily, saying, “Women, children, and the elderly are being murdered while Israel stands by.” Yet the “Sheikh al-Karama” militia in Suwayda, led by Laith al-Balous, rejected foreign protection and called on Damascus to safeguard civilians and resist “any projects aimed at partitioning Syria.”

Regional and International Reaction  

Arab capitals condemned Israel’s foray. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry labeled the raids a “flagrant violation of Syrian sovereignty,” while the Muslim World League warned against “attempts to sow sectarian strife.” At the United Nations, Secretary-General António Guterres voiced “deep concern” and urged all parties to de-escalate.

Domestic Fallout in Israel  

The security flare-up prompted the Jerusalem District Court to adjourn Prime Minister Netanyahu’s corruption trial, citing “extraordinary national security developments.” In Majdal Shams, Israeli troops fired tear gas to disperse additional Druze demonstrators trying to breach the fence, underscoring the volatile mix of domestic solidarity and regional turbulence.

With Damascus vowing to “defend its airspace” and Israel insisting it will keep striking until Syrian troops withdraw from Suwayda, the four-day-old Druze crisis now threatens to ignite a wider Israel-Syria confrontation not seen since the civil war’s early years. Both sides have placed their forces on high alert; the coming hours may determine whether the Golan border remains a flashpoint—or slides into open war.

Photo: Syria Tv