by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Israel launched a warning airstrike near the Syrian presidential palace in Damascus overnight, responding to attacks on Druze villages in southern Syria. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the strike, which targeted an open area, was a message to Damascus not to threaten the Druze community.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz called it “a clear message to the Syrian regime,” warning that Israel would not allow forces to threaten Druze areas south of Damascus.
The Syrian presidency condemned the strike as a “dangerous escalation,” accusing Israel of trying to destabilize the country. President Ahmad al-Sharaa said the attack was part of a broader effort to weaken national unity.
The escalation follows deadly sectarian clashes in Suwayda province, where Druze villages were shelled by extremist groups. In response, hundreds of Israeli Druze protested, blocked highways, and called on the government to act. Druze IDF reservists also volunteered to support their community.
Netanyahu spoke with Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Mowafaq Tarif, who thanked him for taking decisive action. Both leaders emphasized the Druze community’s commitment to law and order in Israel.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
American churches and mission groups are preparing to bring millions of Bibles and other Christian literature into Iran despite the ongoing war in the region, Christians familiar with the plans say.
An Iranian Christian convert who fled a deadly crackdown on anti-government protests in early January says he plans to return to his homeland as a fighter, underscoring growing concerns over the safety of minority Christians amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic.
Iran said early Thursday it has no plan to hold negotiations with the United States, rejecting Washington’s claims of ongoing talks, as the nearly month-long U.S.-Israeli war against Tehran continued to rattle the Middle East and global markets.
Iran’s sweeping internet blackout has entered its fourth week, leaving millions of civilians cut off from global communications as the conflict with the United States and Israel intensifies.
The United States has surpassed 10,000 strikes on Iranian targets since launching Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28, marking a major milestone in the ongoing military campaign, according to U.S. Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he is considering calling up the National Guard to assist federal agents at airports as long lines and delays intensify during the ongoing partial government shutdown.
Video has emerged showing protesters booing and chasing away Anthony Albanese and Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke at the nation’s largest mosque after the government banned an Islamist group following a recent massacre of Australian Jews.