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8h ago

Israel Launches Second Airstrike Near Syrian Presidential Palace Over Druze Protection

The strikes follow deadly sectarian violence in Damascus suburbs, raising fears for Syria's Druze minority as tensions escalate in the post-Assad transition.

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Members of Syria's security forces deploy in the town of Sahnaya, south of Damascus, on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, after earlier clashes with Druze fighters left at least 11 people dead.
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Overview

  • Israel conducted a second airstrike near Damascus’s presidential palace, with Prime Minister Netanyahu warning against threats to the Druze community.
  • Sectarian violence erupted in the suburbs of Jaramana and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya after a disputed audio recording allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad circulated.
  • The clashes left over 100 people dead, including Druze fighters, government loyalists, and civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
  • Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, a Druze spiritual leader, condemned the violence as a 'genocidal campaign' and called for international peacekeeping intervention.
  • Syria’s foreign ministry rejected foreign intervention, while the UN and international observers urged restraint and respect for Syrian sovereignty.