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New Delhi: As clashes between Druze militias and the Syrian government forces rage in Sweida region of Southern Syria, Israel launched unprecedented strikes on the Syrian military headquarters and the Presidential Palace in Damascus on Wednesday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the attack was in retaliation to Syria’s military actions against Druze fighters in area. The strikes blew up the entrance gate of a defence installation, while the extent of damage on the Presidential Palace isn’t fully clear.

Notably, the Druze community in the region is located mostly in Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan. The IDF justified its attacks as a step to ensure the safety of the Druze population which is reportedly being targeted by the Syrian regime forces.

Conflict has been ongoing in the region since the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad government since December last year. While this ended a nearly 14-year civil war, the new regime of Ahmad Al Shara alias Abu Mohammad Al Jolani has been struggling to control and consolidate territories, especially the ones having Pro-Assad and religious minority groups.

Initially, Druze and Sunni Bedouin tribes had a fall out which resulted in abductions and killings on both sides. This situation escalated after Syrian regime forces stepped in to maintain order, while facing allegations of killing and looting.

Meanwhile, Syria’s defence ministry said, “Military forces continue to respond to the source of fire inside the city of Sweida, while adhering to rules of engagement to protect residents, prevent harm and ensure the safe return of those who left the city back to their homes,”  according to a report in Hindustan Times.

The current Syrian regime blamed armed factions for the breakdown of a ceasefire that had been in place between the Syrian government forces and Druze militants. Later in the day, The Times of Israel reported Israel also attacked Syrian Presidential Palace, while also mentioning that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked Israeli Druze, concentrated in the Golan Heights, to not cross the northern border into Syria. He assured them that the IDF will aid the Syrian Druze community under attack from Syrian state forces.

Meanwhile, the civilian death toll continues to rise in Southern Syria with UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reporting 250 dead, among which 21 were allegedly executed. The blame for these killings has been put on both Syrian state forces as well as armed militias, according to the Associated Press.

(Curated by Lakshya Jha)