A deadly chain of events has reignited conflict in southern Syria, with Israeli warplanes unleashing two powerful airstrikes on the country's defence ministry headquarters in Damascus on Wednesday.
The strikes, which left four floors of the building in rubble and its facade decimated, come amid a sudden surge of violence between Syrian troops, Bedouin Arab tribes, and Druze fighters in the south, a conflict that has claimed more than 250 lives in under a week.
According to Syrian officials, one person was killed and at least 18 others injured in the Israeli bombardment. The strikes mark Israel's first hit on the Syrian capital since May, and the third consecutive day of attacks targeting government forces, including tank convoys and military outposts.
The Israeli Defence Forces IDF justified the escalation by pointing to what they described as a growing threat to the Druze population in Sweida province. An IDF spokesperson said the strike on the defence ministry served as a warning to Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa over his government's involvement in the region. Israeli officials have also vowed to block Syrian troops from taking control of the south, a stance viewed with suspicion by many Druze leaders, who fear being seen as aligned with a foreign power, as The Guardian has reported.
Tensions in Sweida first erupted after a Bedouin gang allegedly robbed a Druze man, sparking cycles of revenge attacks that spiralled into open warfare. By Sunday, the Syrian army had deployed forces into the province, which is predominantly Druze, hoping to restore order. However, their arrival has only deepened mistrust, especially after allegations of extrajudicial killings, executions, and sectarian abuse emerged from within the city.