Israel Strikes Near Syria’s Presidential Palace in Support of Druze Community

Caesarea: Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister, Israel Katz, said in a joint statement yesterday that, Israel attacked overnight near the presidential palace in Syria's capital, Damascus. The strike followed deadly clashes that intensified earlier this week between local Druze fighters and pro-government forces south of Damascus. According to Nam News Network, this is a clear message to the Syrian government, the Israeli statement said. Israel has declared that it will not allow the move of forces south of Damascus and any danger to the Druze community. Amid the sectarian unrest, two wounded Druze Syrians were evacuated on Thursday to Ziv Medical Centre in Safed, in northern Israel, for medical treatment. On the same day, Katz warned of harsh responses if clashes with the Druze community continue in Syria. Before dawn yesterday, hundreds of Israeli Druze protesters demonstrated in front of Netanyahu's private residence, in Israel's northern coastal town of Caesarea, demanding that the Israeli army intervene and protect the Druze in Syria, according to reports by Israeli media outlets. Earlier on Thursday night, thousands of Druze residents took to the streets in northern Israel, blocking major highways. Druze people primarily live in Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, with smaller groups in Jordan. Israel has been working to solidify ties with the Druze community, since expanding its territorial control near the border with Syria and in the Golan Heights, following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's government in December last year.