Damascus, Syria – The Israeli military carried out an airstrike on Wednesday targeting an armed group near the town of Sahnaya, south of Damascus, the Israeli government said, citing the protection of Syria’s Druze minority as a key motive.
In a joint statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strike was “a warning operation” against militants who were “preparing to attack Druze civilians in Sahnaya.”
“We are committed to the safety and protection of the Druze community in Syria,” the statement read. Israel also sent a message to Damascus demanding action to prevent further threats to the minority population, which is concentrated in the south of the country.
Related: Sectarian Clashes Continue in Southern Damascus Suburb
The strike follows a surge in violence around the Sahnaya area. On Tuesday night, intense clashes erupted in Ashrafiyat Sahnaya between Syrian security forces and unidentified gunmen. Ali Al-Rifai, Director of Public Relations at the Ministry of Information in the Syrian Transitional Government, confirmed in a statement to +963 on Wednesday that five security personnel were killed and several wounded in the assault.
“Gunmen reportedly used machine guns and RPGs to attack checkpoints, took up sniper positions on rooftops, and opened fire on passing vehicles, including one carrying six people from Daraa province, who were killed in the ambush”, Al-Rifai added.
Earlier on Wednesday, local sources reported that dozens of residents from Daraa had headed to Sahnaya after hearing that some of their relatives were trapped by local militias. A security convoy escorting armed militants was also intercepted while attempting to enter the nearby town of Jaramana, triggering another clash with internal security forces.
The violence comes amid rising sectarian tensions following reports of Druze communities being targeted in southern Syria. Israel, which occupies the Golan Heights bordering the region, has recently increased its military presence and voiced concern about the safety of Druze populations on both sides of the border.
