ISRAEL – There’s growing tensions between Syria and Israel since the clashes broke out late Sunday between the Druze militias and Bedouin tribal fighters in Suwayda, Southern Syria, which left over 30 dead.
Israel later struck Suwayda, including a Syrian tank. Syrian forces responded and were deployed in the city and yesterday the Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra announced that a full ceasefire in Suwayda governorate had been reached between the warrying parties.
Israel Hits Damascus Today
Israel hit the Syrian Capital, Damascus on Wednesday in a strike that targeted the Syrian army’s General Staff Complex, leaving 2 injured.
Syria TV also reported gunfire near the complex, without providing any further details.
The Israeli army, for its part, said that it will send reinforcements to the security fence area on the border with Syria.
Israel Threatens Strikes on Syrian Forces Deployed in Suwayda
Israel on Wednesday threatened to strike Syrian forces deployed in Suwayda if they didn’t withdraw, although their deployment was to restore security and protect civilians and their property following clashes between armed Druze and Bedouin groups.
“The Syrian regime must leave the Druze in Suwayda alone and withdraw its forces,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.
“The army will continue to strike regime forces until they withdraw from the area, and will soon escalate its response against the regime if the message is not understood,” he threatened.
The Israeli army renewed its airstrikes in Suwayda on Wednesday, in the latest violation of Syria’s sovereignty.
Hundreds of Israeli Druze Infiltrate Syria
The Israeli army claimed on Wednesday it is trying to contain the situation on the border with Syria after hundreds of Israeli Druze infiltrated into Syrian territory.
“Israeli Druze citizens crossed the border into Syria in the Majdal Shams area, and that forces are working to return them safely,” an army spokesperson said.
The spokesperson claimed that army forces identified “dozens of suspects attempting to infiltrate Israeli territory from the area of Hader in Syria.”
The army forces “are operating to prevent the infiltration and disperse the gathering,” he said.
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