Israel Strikes Syrian Capital – Defense Ministry and Military Command Hit July 16, 2025 Damascus, Syria Is

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📰 Israel Strikes Syrian Capital – Defense Ministry and Military Command Hit
🗓️ July 16, 2025
📍 Damascus, Syria

📄Israel launched a direct airstrike on Damascus, the Syrian capital, on July 16, targeting a four-story structure adjacent to the Ministry of Defense and a military command center reportedly near the presidential palace. The Israeli military confirmed it had conducted “successful precision strikes” against Syrian military targets.

According to Syrian health authorities, at least one person was killed and 18 others injured in the assault. Drone strikes reportedly preceded the air raids, damaging the entrance to Syria’s Ministry of Defense.

Simultaneously, Israeli warplanes bombed targets in southern Syria, including Sweida and Daraa provinces. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed the strikes were retaliation for violent crackdowns by Syrian government forces on Druze civilians in the south.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that attacks would intensify unless Syrian forces withdrew from Sweida and ceased operations against Druze populations. In response, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad pledged to investigate alleged human rights abuses and prosecute those responsible for the massacres in Sweida.

The IDF’s actions have sparked international concern. U.S. Secretary of State Mark Rubio stated, “We are in contact with both sides and hope to deescalate the situation,” adding, “We are deeply concerned.” Turkey condemned the airstrikes, calling them an effort to destabilize Syria’s internal affairs, while the UAE labeled them a “clear violation of Syrian sovereignty.”

Despite claims of stabilization following Assad’s ousting in December last year, internal conflict persists. Armed confrontations between Syrian government forces and Druze militias have intensified, particularly in Sweida. A ceasefire declared just a day earlier appears to have collapsed, with both sides trading accusations of violations.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that over 300 people have been killed since July 13, including 40 Druze civilians. Of the 109 Druze casualties, 27 were allegedly executed by government forces.

This is Israel’s most direct strike on central government infrastructure in Syria in months, signaling a shift in its deterrence posture. The airstrikes not only target military facilities but serve as a message to Damascus and regional actors that Israeli red lines regarding Druze massacres will be enforced through kinetic means.

Expect further escalations between Israel and Syria if the crackdown in Sweida continues. The Assad regime faces pressure on multiple fronts: internal insurgency, Israeli strikes, and growing international scrutiny. A prolonged military campaign in southern Syria may draw in regional players and destabilize neighboring areas including Jordan and Lebanon.

🔗 Reported from Damascus, Syria – World News War Correspondence Desk
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