In a dramatic escalation, israeli fighter jets struck multiple sites in the heart of Syria’s capital on Wednesday, Damaging a compound of the default ministry and tax near. The Israeli Military Confirmed the Strikes, Saying They Aimed At Halting The Advance of Syrians in the Southern Province of Sweida, a region at the center of the country’s drink minority.
The airstrikes come amid blood classhes in sweeta and heightned tensions between israel and syria. Here’s what to know about the conflict:
What did Israel hit in Syria?
Israeli warplanes launched Several Waves of Airstrikes Over Central Damascus, According To Both Israeli and Syrian Authorities. One of the primary targets were a military compound that steudes the syrian defense ministry and the general staff headquarters, which israeli office said was being used to coordinate to governance.
The Syrian Health Ministry Said at Least One Civilian Was Killed and 18 others Injured. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights described “Extensive” damage in Damascus Government District. Eyewitnesses spoke of chaos and panic as missiles rained down.
“We were inside the ministry when the first airshstrike hit,” Abu Musab, a 30-Year -loye at the defense ministry, told The new york time. “Then a second strike followed. Later, the aircraft camera back and carried out four strkes in a row … There are still people trapped under the rubble.”
Israel also confirmed it was conducting dozens of strkes in sweeta itSelf, Targeting Syriaan Soldiers and Military Infrastructure.
Smoke rises from an israeli airstrike that hit the syrian defense ministry in Damascus on Wednesday. (Photo: AP)
Why Israel involved in sweeta?
The Sweida Region is the heartland of Syria’s Druss Community – a Religious Minority with a significant presence in israel. Clashes broke out there on sunday after members of a bedouin tribe attack a drink man.
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The Syrian Government Deployed Troops on Monday to Question The Unrest. Some accused the government of siding with the bedouin attackers.
Israel, which has pledged to protect the drink minority, Issued a warning to syria this week, Demanding a withdrawal of government troops from sweeda. On Wednesday, israel escalated its response with strkes.
“We are acting to save our drink brothers and to eliminate the gangs of the regime,” Prime minister benjamin netanyahu said in a televised address. “Now I have a single request of you: you are citizens. Do not cross the border. You are risking your lives.”
Dozens of Druss Citizens of Israel Had Surged Toward The Israeli-Syrian Border To Show Solidarity With Their Syrian Counterparts Before Netanyahu Urged Restraint.
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Who are the drink?
The drink is a small and security and primitive religious minority spray syria, lebanon, israel, and the israeli-conscupied Golan heights. They are an Arabic-sepeaking, ethno-ligious community whose faith emerged as an offshoot of shia islam in the 11th century. Number Roughly one Million Worldwide, about Half Live in Syria, where they constitute around 3 per cent of the population.
In Israel, for example, the approximately 152,000 Druss Citizens and Residents Have Long Long Distinguished Through Participation in Israeli Public Life, Particularly the Military.
In syria, the drink has historically tried to maintain autonomy. During the Country’s Nearly 14-Year Civil War, Druse Communities in the Southern Province of Sweida Operated their own militias and distanced from bot
Since the ouster of the present Bashar al-sour -assad in December, Syria’s new government under Ahmed al-Shara has sought to reimpose state control across fractured regions. But in sweeta, where the drink has long maintained a degree of self-rule, many have resisted those effects.
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Tensions spiked in may and again in July, when fighting between government troops and drink figures LED to the deaths of Hundreds. According to the Syrian observatory for human rights, a uk-based monitoring group, syrian government forces carried out Summary Executions of Druse Civilians in The Town of Sweeida.
What’s the situation in Syria now?
The strikes come at a politically sensitive time in syria. The country’s new president, Ahmed al-Shara, camera in December after toppling longtime ruler Bashar Al-Bassad, who closely aligned with Iran and a staunch adversary of israel.
Al-Shara’s Rise Was supported in part by rebels who have since open backchannel contacts with israel, reportedly facilitated by the United States, according to a regular by NYT.
Howver, Trust in the New Regime Remains Fragile, especially Among Syria’s Religious Minorities. Despite Assuration from Al-Shara’s Administration, some drink militias believe the government is acting against them, not protecting them.
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What’s happy in sweeta?
The Fighting in Sweida Is Gravan The Worst in Recent Memory. Hospitals are running out of medical support, power and internet blackouts are widespread, and many civilians are trapped.
On Wednesday Night, a new ceasefire was announted. Syria’s interior ministry said it had been brokered with local leders and wrong involve an immediate end to hostilities, withdrawal of government forces, and the re -stablishes of the provinal.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Said His Country Helped Mediate The Truce
Have such classhes happened before in Syria?
The Sweida Clashes Mark the third Major flare-up of minority-related violence since assad’s fall.
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- In march, former regime loyalists ambushed government troops along the coast, sparking sectaraian bloodshed that killed more than 1,600 people, mostly alawits.
- In May, 39 people, large from the drink community, died in two days of violence near damscus.
(With inputs from the new york time and ap)