Israel strikes Syria's military headquarters and area near presidential palace in third day of attacks

Israel says it has launched air strikes on the entrance of the Syrian military headquarters and near the presidential palace in the capital of Damascus.

Syrian state media reported loud explosions in the city, and later said at least one person was killed and 18 injured in Israeli strikes.

It is the third day in a row that Israel has launched strikes on Syrian government forces, with strikes during the past few days targeting forces heading towards the southern city of Sweida.

Sectarian violence had erupted there between local Bedouin clans and militia from the Druze community.

The Israeli government says it is protecting the local Druze population — a religious minority living in the south of Syria, with ties to the Druze community in Israel.

The new Syrian regime, led by former militant leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, had condemned Israel's behaviour, describing it as a calculated attempt to fuel chaos across Syria.

Israel's military has operated inside Syria since the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad late last year, with troops and tanks crossing over the border from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights into southern Syria hours after the previous regime was toppled by rebel forces.

There had been speculation in recent weeks that President al-Sharaa could strike some sort of peace deal with the Israeli government, normalising ties between the two countries.

'Let the IDF operate', Netanyahu says On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio repeated American pleas for restraint, telling a press conference the US was "talking to all relevant sides" about bringing an end to the fighting.

He said he was "very worried" about escalating violence in southern Syria.

"It is a direct threat to efforts to help build a peaceful and stable Syria," he said.

"We have been and remain in repeated and constant talks with the governments of Syria and Israel on this matter."

[PIC: Syria strike]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been giving evidence in his corruption trial in a Tel Aviv courthouse earlier on Wednesday, but left the stand as the situation developed.

In a video statement Mr Netanyahu urged Israeli Druze not to cross the border.

"You are risking your lives; you can be murdered, you can be kidnapped, and you are harming the efforts of the IDF," he said.

"Therefore I ask you — return to your homes, let the IDF operate."

The IDF announced it would "reinforce its forces" along the border with Syria, through the occupied Golan Heights.

"The IDF will continue to operate, both in defence and offence, to ensure the security of Israeli civilians," the IDF said in a statement.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Israel's air strikes Wednesday.

"The Secretary-General further condemns Israel's escalatory airstrikes on Suweida, Daraa and in the center of Damascus, as well as reports of the IDF's redeployment of forces in the Golan," Mr Guterres's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

'Act of sabotage', Türkiye says Along the so-called "Shouting Fence" in the Druze town of Majdal Shams, in the very north of the Golan Heights, crowds had gathered along the Israeli border waving the Druze flag.

Live scenes from the area showed people trying to push the razor wire-topped fence over, and some managing to cross into the Syrian buffer zone on the other side.

By doing so, it appeared the Israeli Druze running across the border were trying to force Israel to intervene further in the Syrian conflict.

But regional neighbours have appeared less supportive of Israel's actions.

On Wednesday, the Turkish foreign ministry said Israel's strikes would play a destabilising role on Syria's future.

"Israel's attacks on Damascus, following its military interventions in the south of Syria, constitute an act of sabotage against Syria's efforts to secure peace, stability, and security," the ministry said in a statement.

Israel seized the territory from Syria during the Six-Day War in 1967, and annexed it in 1981.

Much of the international community does not recognise Israel's claim to the land, with countries including Australia noting Israel's occupation and effective control of the area.

The United States does recognise Israel's sovereignty there, in a move announced by US President Donald Trump during his first term in office.

Original Story Link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-16/idf-launches-attack-on-syrian-military-headquarters/105540008?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web