Syrian presidency says Israeli strike near palace 'serious escalation'
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Syria has condemned the attack as a violation of the country's sovereignty amid "Israel's" claim that it was a warning against threats to the Druze community.
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The Israeli airstrike which targeted an orchid orchard near the Syrian Presidential Palace, Damascus, Syria (Social media)
Damascus condemned the Israeli airstrike near the presidential palace, calling it a serious attack on Syria’s unity and sovereignty, and urged Arab and international support.
The Syrian presidency condemned the Israeli strike that targeted the area around the presidential palace in a statement published on Friday, calling it a dangerous escalation and a direct assault on Syria’s sovereignty and institutions. It warned that the attack threatens national security and the unity of the Syrian people, marking the first official confirmation of the strike.
The presidency noted that the attack constitutes a blatant violation of international laws and conventions, calling on the international community and Arab states to take a clear stance against these aggressive assaults.
They also urged Arab countries to unify their positions and express full support for Syria in confronting these attacks, emphasizing the need to uphold the rights of Arab nations in resisting Israeli aggression.
Weakening Syrians' will not an option
The statement stressed that the relevant security agencies are continuing their investigations to hold those responsible accountable, affirming that Syria will not compromise on its security or sovereignty, and will continue to defend the rights of its people by all available means.
Additionally, the Syrian presidency reaffirmed its commitment to national unity, emphasizing that no aggression, whether domestic or external, will succeed in weakening the will of the Syrians or hindering the state's efforts to achieve stability and peace in all regions.
It affirmed that Syria is moving forward on the path of reconstruction and revival and will not retreat in the face of attempts to sow confusion or destabilize the country, stressing that the government will continue to work with full determination to protect the homeland and its citizens from any security threats.
A warning or brazen interference?
Earlier on Friday, Israeli airstrikes targeted a location situated just 400 meters from the Syrian Presidential Palace in Damascus, where President Ahmad al-Sharaa resides, with the Israeli military later confirming the attack, according to Al Mayadeen's correspondent, stating its aircraft had struck the area in what it described as a warning to the Syrian government.
“This is a clear message to the Syrian regime. We will not allow forces to be sent south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Israel Katz announced in a joint statement.
Katz renewed the warning through social media, emphasizing that al-Sharaa would witness the consequences of the strike and recognize what he described as "Israel's" resolve to, in his words, "prevent harm to the Druze in Syria."
'Israel' bombs Syrian administration, citing threats to Druze minority
This comes after Israeli forces carried out a series of airstrikes on the outskirts of Damascus on March 30, 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."
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".
These developments come a day after clashes in the nearby city of Jaramana between local armed groups and pro-government forces, which resulted in casualties on both sides. The renewed tensions have raised concerns of a broader sectarian conflict.
"Israel" has a significant Druze population, mostly concentrated in the Galilee, Carmel, and the occupied Golan Heights, which borders Syria.
