Israeli warplanes struck multiple targets in central Damascus early Tuesday, in a rare escalation of its long-running shadow war in Syria. The Israeli military said the strikes were part of an effort to deter the Assad government’s intensifying assault on the Druze minority in the country’s south.
Syrian state media reported explosions across the capital just after midnight. Syrian air defenses were activated in several areas, with video footage showing plumes of smoke over the Mezzeh district near the presidential palace. The strikes reportedly hit military sites affiliated with the Ministry of Defense.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least three people were killed and 36 wounded. The Israeli military acknowledged the strikes in a brief statement, saying it had targeted infrastructure “used to support hostile activity” against Israeli interests, and that it acted in line with its policy to prevent regional threats from taking root.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Israel “will act where we must” and that “the protection of innocent lives, including minorities under threat, is a core Israeli value.” He did not elaborate further on the military operation.
The airstrikes came amid some of the bloodiest violence in years in Syria’s southern Suwayda Province, home to the country’s Druze community. Since the weekend, more than 230 people have been killed in fighting between government forces and local Druze militias, according to reports verified by The Guardian and Al Jazeera. Activists and residents have accused the Assad regime of deploying heavy artillery, drones, and air power against civilian areas.
The Syrian government maintains that its forces are targeting “armed militants threatening national stability,” and has denied intentionally harming civilians. Yet rights monitors and humanitarian agencies say the scale and intensity of the assault have devastated residential neighborhoods.
A temporary ceasefire announced on Monday broke down within hours, as fresh shelling was reported early Tuesday and Syrian military convoys moved into key districts of Suwayda. Communications blackouts and road closures have made it difficult to assess the full extent of the damage.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs issued a statement expressing grave concern over the reports of civilian casualties and widespread displacement. “We call on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and to allow unhindered access for aid workers,” the agency said.
Tuesday’s strikes represent a notable shift in Israel’s Syria policy. While Israel has frequently targeted Iranian-backed groups and weapons shipments within Syrian territory, direct military action in response to internal Syrian dynamics—particularly ethnic or sectarian conflict—is rare. Analysts say the decision reflects growing domestic pressure from Israel’s own Druze population, as well as a desire to prevent a humanitarian collapse near its border.
Syria's Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli action as “a flagrant act of aggression,” adding that it violated Syrian sovereignty and international law. In a statement carried by the state news agency SANA, the government vowed to respond “at the appropriate time.”
In Washington, a senior State Department official told Reuters that the United States was “deeply concerned” about the situation in southern Syria, including the Assad regime’s actions and the risk of broader regional escalation. The official called on “all parties to exercise restraint and prioritize civilian protection.”
As the violence escalates, humanitarian organizations warn of worsening conditions on the ground. Aid convoys have struggled to reach affected areas, and thousands of residents have reportedly fled their homes. For the Druze, who have long balanced a delicate relationship with the central government, the crisis may mark a turning point either toward greater autonomy or deeper repression.
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