Syria Condemns Israeli Airstrike Amid Sectarian Clashes Near Damascus

 

Isarel

Syria Condemns Israeli Airstrike Amid Sectarian Clashes Near Damascus

Syria has sharply condemned foreign intervention after a rare Israeli airstrike struck near Damascus on Wednesday, as deadly sectarian violence escalated in the area.

According to Syrian authorities, the Israeli strike killed at least one security officer and wounded several others. The Israeli military confirmed it had targeted an “extremist group” near the capital, claiming the group was responsible for recent attacks on the country’s Druze community, a religious minority.

In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz described the operation in Sahnaya, southwest of Damascus, as a “warning action” against an armed group allegedly planning further attacks on Druze civilians.

Syria’s Foreign Ministry responded by reaffirming its “unwavering commitment” to protect all citizens, including the “honorable Druze community.”

State media outlet SANA reported that Syrian forces launched a large-scale operation around Sahnaya following an armed group’s attack on a government checkpoint late Tuesday, which injured three officers. Simultaneous assaults reportedly targeted both civilian and security vehicles in nearby areas. At least 11 people have been killed, and dozens injured in the recent wave of violence.

Syria’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Osama al-Rifai, urged citizens to remain calm and avoid retaliatory acts. “Everyone must refrain from calls for revenge and allow justice to take its course,” he said in a statement quoted by SANA.

Local journalists in Damascus, speaking anonymously due to safety concerns, told CNN the fighting involves pro-government forces clashing with Druze militia groups. Since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, Israel has positioned itself as a protector of the Druze population in Syria, a community that follows a distinct branch of Islam and is spread across Syria, Lebanon, and Israel.

While some Druze in Syria have cautiously welcomed Israeli support, many others have publicly rejected it. Within Israel’s recognized borders, many Druze hold citizenship and serve in the military. However, in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, most Syrian Druze reject Israeli citizenship and do not serve in the Israeli army.

“As we honor the Druze community’s contribution to Israel’s security on this Memorial Day for fallen soldiers, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting their brethren in Syria,” the Israeli government said in its statement, also calling on Syria to safeguard the Druze population.

Later on Wednesday, Israel's military announced it had evacuated three wounded Syrian Druze civilians for medical treatment inside Israel.

The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, voiced deep concern over the escalating violence, particularly near Damascus. In a statement, he condemned the Israeli attacks and urged full respect for Syria’s sovereignty.

“These attacks must end,” Pedersen said.

Despite calls for calm, the situation in Sahnaya remains tense. Residents told CNN that sporadic clashes and attacks involving mortars and medium-caliber machine guns continue. Efforts by Syrian authorities and community leaders to de-escalate the violence are ongoing.