US Expresses Concern Over Israeli Strikes in Damascus Amid Escalating Syria Conflict

The United States has voiced its deep concern over a new series of Israeli airstrikes targeting significant Syrian military sites in Damascus on Wednesday. These attacks reportedly resulted in the death of one individual and left at least 18 others injured. The strikes occurred amid continuing unrest in the Druze-majority province of Sweida in southern Syria.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed that Washington was "very concerned" about the strikes, which impacted areas close to the Syrian Army and the Defence Ministry headquarters. "We’re in close contact with all relevant sides, and are working to de-escalate the situation," Rubio stated.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged the strikes, explaining that the targets were military locations from which Syrian regime forces are conducting operations in Sweida. Among the targets was a compound near the Syrian Presidential Palace. The IDF argued that these actions were essential to prevent further assaults on the Druze community in southern Syria.

This escalation follows a significant offensive by the Syrian government, which dispatched troops to Sweida earlier this week. Eyewitnesses reported clashes between these forces, alongside Bedouin fighters, and local Druze armed groups and civilians, leading to some of the most severe violence in the area since the spring.

A military official cited by Reuters mentioned that Israel would not allow the Syrian Army to establish a presence near its border and would take necessary measures to protect the Druze population. "The Syrian army was part of the problem, not the solution to the crisis," the official commented.

After several days of violence, a new ceasefire was reportedly reached late Wednesday between Syrian forces and Druze militias in Sweida, although prior truces have failed to endure. Syrian state media reported that the city is now fully controlled by the government, and security checkpoints have been reinstated.

The recent clashes in Sweida have resulted in over 300 fatalities, according to monitoring groups quoted by AFP. This surge in violence has reignited fears of a broader sectarian conflict in Syria, where the Druze minority has frequently been caught in the crossfire between government forces and extremist groups.

The IDF described the military headquarters in Damascus as a command center utilized for deploying forces against Druze fighters. Israeli authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining stability along the northern frontier and preventing any threats from crossing into Israeli territory.

As this crisis progresses, the United States has indicated its willingness to mediate but has refrained from directly criticizing Israel. Meanwhile, the situation in southern Syria remains volatile, with the long-term feasibility of the ceasefire still in question.