Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
CIA spokesperson says law enforcement responded to a security incident outside CIA headquarters.
Brigadier General Saree: Operation achieved its targeted successfully, forcing millions of Zionists to flee to shelters, and halted air traffic at the airport.
YAF spokesperson: We've executed a military operation targeting Ben Gurion Airport in occupied Yafa with ballistic hypersonic missile.
IOF warning forces residents to evacuate and head South in preparation for expansion of aggression.
IOF issues large-scale evacuation orders for residents of 14 areas in northern Gaza.
Israeli media say that for second time in span of hours, a ballistic missile is launched from Yemen toward "Israel".
Israeli media say large explosion heard in central "Israel".
Israeli media: Missile launch from Yemen takes place at end of Yahya Saree's announcement.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in occupied Al-Quds.
Saree: Escalation of aggression on Gaza and the massacres committed necessitate urgent action by the [Arab-Islamic] nation to fulfill its moral and religious duty.

'Israel' bombs Syrian admin. citing threats to Druze minority

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 30 Apr 2025 20:25
2 Min Read

The strikes reportedly hit positions near Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, a town southwest of the capital where clashes have been reported between armed Druze and Syrian security forces.

Listen
  • x
  • AP
    Members of Syria's security forces deploy during an operation on the outskirts of the town of Sahnaya, south of Damascus, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Clashes earlier in the area left at least 11 people dead, a day after heavy exchanges of fire between pro-government gunmen and Druze fighters in the Damascus suburb of Jaramana killed 10. (AP Photo/Omar Albam)

Israeli forces carried out a series of airstrikes on the outskirts of Damascus on Wednesday, claiming the operation aimed to prevent an attack on Syria's Druze population.

The strikes reportedly hit positions near Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, a town southwest of the capital where clashes have been reported between armed Druze and Syrian security forces.

A spokesperson for the Israeli military stated that the operation targeted an "extremist group" preparing to assault Druze civilians in Sahnaya. Channel 14 confirmed that the Israeli Air Force had launched four separate strikes "to send messages regarding the need to protect the Druze."

On a related note, Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Israel Katz, said they expected the Syrian government to intervene to stop such threats.

The narrative aligns with "Israel's" long-documented practice of weaponizing Druze identity for geopolitical ends, particularly in the occupied Golan Heights, where Druze communities continue to reject Israeli annexation. 

A military source later revealed that the Israeli strikes targeted a drone launch site and weapons cache belonging to Syria's Ministry of Defense in the Daraya orchards.

Related News

Erdogan calls on Damascus to focus on SDF deal

Iran welcomes Syria sanctions relief, urges end to Israeli occupation

Another source confirmed the use of Israeli drones and noted that at least two individuals were killed in the strike. Additional UAVs were observed entering Syrian airspace from the occupied Golan, heading toward the confrontation lines south of Damascus.

#BreakingNews 🇮🇱

Israeli warplanes have been conducting intensive flights in Syrian airspace.pic.twitter.com/OcDC09MH84

— Batu Han (@19BaTHaN19) April 30, 2025

A Syrian interior ministry official described the broader operation as an attempt to reassert state authority in the face of escalating violence by armed groups operating autonomously.

Syria's official news agency SANA quoted the Rural Damascus Security Director as saying that a security operation in Ashrafiyat Sahnaya had concluded, with General Security forces deployed "to ensure the restoration of security and stability."

However, the situation on the ground remains highly volatile, with ongoing reports of violence and clashes between armed Druze and Syrian security forces.

Read more: 'Minutes to leave': Alawites purged from Damascus neighborhoods

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 22 people were killed amid the Sahnaya violence, including six individuals from the Druze community and sixteen from security forces or affiliated units.

  • Syria
  • Ashrafiyat Sahnaya
  • Druze
  • Druze community
  • Damascus
  • Sahnaya
  • HTS

Most Read

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben-Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

  • MENA
  • 18 May 2025
Israeli media: Yemen may push 'Israel' towards ceasefire in Gaza

Israeli media: Yemen may push 'Israel' towards ceasefire in Gaza

  • MENA
  • 17 May 2025
Rachel Accurso criticized for speaking out on Gaza children crisis

Ms. Rachel accused of antisemitism for speaking out for Gaza children

  • Politics
  • 20 May 2025
Martyrs, injuries in violent Israeli bombardment of southern Gaza

Israeli operation fails; IOF launch violent strikes on Gaza

  • Politics
  • 19 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Telegram jumps to $540mn profit despite founder facing legal peril: FT
Technology

Telegram jumps to $540mn profit despite founder facing legal peril: FT

Ireland's Simon Harris speaks with the media as he arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Ireland’s deputy premier accuses Israeli government of genocidal acts

Israeli occupation forces near military vehicles at the Gaza border (AP)
Palestine

WSJ: War fatigue grows in 'Israel' 19 months into war on Gaza

The facade of Trump Tower is shown in New York, Friday, March 22, 2024 (AP/Ted Shaffrey)
MENA

Trump Tower in Damascus: Inside Syria’s bold proposal

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS