Bloody conflict in Syria: Israel attacks Damascus, worrying!

Bloody conflict in Syria: Israel attacks Damascus, worrying!

Sweida, Syrien - In the past few days, violence in Syria, especially in the province of Sweida, has risen drastically. On July 16, 2025, Israel's air strikes on military destinations in Damascus, including the headquarters of the Syrian army. These attacks were critically pursued by international observers. According to the Syrian Ministry of Health, there were at least one dead and 18 injured in these attacks. Vienna.at reports that the Israeli army continues to attack military facilities of the Syrian regime.

The fights in Sweida, where the religious minority of the Drusen mainly lives, have cost over 300 people since Sunday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. This observation center, although known as reliable, cannot check your reports independently. The current situation has triggered internationally, the UN Secretary General António Guterres also raised the alarm and demands de-escalation and humanitarian access.

The conflict between Drusen and Syrian army

The conflict between the Druze minority and the Syrian army has increased considerably. More and more Drusen from Israel cross the border to Syria to support their relatives. According to reports, there are also tries to flee to Israel to seek protection in Syria. Tagesschau emphasizes that the Drusen of the Syrian government will be targeted against their community.

Israel's Minister of Defense Israel Katz calls for the deduction of the Syrian troops from the Drusen region and threatens to attack increased attacks if this request is ignored. Israel would like to prevent Syrian army parts at the border to avoid further escalation on the Golan heights, where the Drusen are seen as potential allies in a conflict between Israel and Iran.

ceasefire and international reactions

Despite reports on an alleged agreement on an ceasefire, there are still contradictory statements from the Drusian leadership. A drusen leader, Hikmat al-Hajari, contradicts the ceasefire and calls for resistance to the Syrian troops. The conditions of the ceasefire include an integration of Sweida into the Syrian state and the immediate withdrawal of government troops. These developments make it clear that the situation remains both unstable and dangerous. Guterres condemns the attacks not only on the Druze, but also the Israeli air raids on Deraa and Damascus.

The international community agreed on its concern about the conflict. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expresses hope of de-escalation and EU Council President António Costa demands respect for the sovereignty of Syria. At the same time, Turkey criticizes the Israeli attacks as an act of sabotage against peace efforts in Syria.

The Drusen mostly live in Syria, but also have an important population in Israel, Lebanon and Jordan. They are an ethnic-religious group with their own history and teachings. SPIEGEL provides further insight into its cultural heritage and its role in the region, which is threatened by the current conflicts.