Israel strikes near Syria’s presidential palace, issues warning over Druze
Al Jazeera
Israel has ramped up attacks on Syria following a week of sectarian violence against the Druze community.
Israel’s military has launched air strikes near Syria’s presidential palace in Damascus after accusing the Syrian authorities of failing to protect the country’s Druze minority from sectarian violence.
The attack early on Friday was the second of its kind by Israel this week and is seen as sending a strong message to Syria’s transitional government led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
“This is a clear message to the Syrian regime: We will not allow [Syrian] forces to deploy south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community,” Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a joint statement with Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz shortly after the attack.
More than 100 people were killed this week during fighting between pro-government forces and Druze fighters in Syria.
The violence has been condemned as a “genocidal campaign” by Syria’s Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri, who called for an immediate intervention by “international forces to maintain peace and prevent the continuation of these crimes”.
Al Jazeera looks at how years of punitive measures cost billions, filled prisons and did little to curb violence.
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