Wed Jul 16 23:24:48 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Syria Condemns Israeli Airstrikes as ‘Dangerous Escalation’ Amid Unrest in Suwayda**

**Damascus, Syria** – Syria has strongly condemned a series of Israeli airstrikes on Damascus and southern Syria, denouncing the attacks as a “dangerous escalation” and a violation of international law. The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Israel of deliberately seeking to “inflame tensions, spread chaos, and undermine security and stability in Syria.”

The Israeli strikes targeted a compound housing the Ministry of Defence, areas near the presidential palace in Damascus, and locations in Suwayda province, where days of intense clashes have erupted between Druze groups, Bedouin tribes, and Syrian security forces. Syrian officials reported that the strikes resulted in three deaths and 34 injuries.

Israel claims its operations are aimed at protecting the Druze minority, whom it considers allies, and preventing hostile forces from gaining ground near its borders. However, Syria has rejected this justification, calling the strikes a “flagrant assault” and accusing Israel of pursuing regional hegemony.

Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr reported from Damascus that the Israeli warplanes were circling the skies over the Syrian capital, causing panic in the city. The strikes on Damascus caused structural damage to the Defence Ministry compound and affected areas near the presidential palace.

In Suwayda, the violence has resulted in over 250 deaths, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The fighting began with kidnappings and attacks between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes, escalating when government troops intervened.

Israel has warned that it will escalate its operations unless Syrian troops withdraw from Suwayda, a strategically important province bordering both Israel and Jordan.

Following the attacks, Syria’s Ministry of Interior announced a new ceasefire in Suwayda, with government troops reportedly beginning to withdraw from the area. However, the long-term impact of the Israeli strikes and the ongoing unrest in Suwayda remain uncertain.

Ammar Kahf, executive director of Omran Center for Strategic Studies, stated that Israel is attempting to impose its will on Syria’s new leadership and that the strikes represent an unacceptable violation of Syrian sovereignty.

Read More