Israel has confirmed a strike in southern Syria targeting what it described as an "extremist group" preparing to attack members of the Druze minority in the town of Sahnaya, near Damascus.
According to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, the operation served as a warning and was aimed at preventing further violence against the Druze, a community with close ties to Israel. “Israel will not allow harm to the Druze community in Syria,” the statement read.
The strike comes amid heavy clashes between Druze fighters and forces aligned with Syria’s interior and defense ministries. At least 17 people were reportedly killed in nearby Jaramana, highlighting deepening sectarian unrest in areas once loyal to the Assad regime, which was ousted in late 2024.
Three Syrian citizens from the Druze community have been evacuated to Israel for medical treatment, Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee announced on his “X” account on Wednesday. The wounded were transferred to the Ziv Medical Center in Safed after being hit in Syria.
The Israeli army said it was closely monitoring developments in the region and remained ready to deal with different scenarios.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan later condemned Israel’s actions, calling them an "unacceptable provocation" and accusing it of exploiting regional instability. He warned against dragging Syria into further chaos just as a new government is attempting to restore order.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Hussam Al-Tahhan, Director of HTS Security in Damascus Countryside, announced the end of the security operation in Ashrafieh Sahnaya. He claimed that his forces had been deployed across the neighborhood to restore calm.
The situation remains tense as local and international actors brace for potential further escalation in post-Assad Syria.
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