Overview

• Israeli fighter jets conducted a second airstrike near Syria's presidential palace, signaling a warning to the interim government over its failure to protect the Druze minority from sectarian violence.
• Over 100 people were killed in recent clashes between Druze fighters and pro-government forces in Jaramana, Sahnaya, and Sweida, sparked by a disputed audio recording deemed blasphemous by Sunni Muslims.
• Syria's Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri condemned the violence as a 'genocidal campaign' and called for international intervention to protect the community.
• De-escalation agreements have been reached in Jaramana and Sahnaya, leading to troop redeployments and a fragile restoration of security, though minority fears persist.
• Syria's foreign ministry rejected foreign interference, while Israel evacuated wounded Druze for treatment and reaffirmed its commitment to defending the minority group.