July 16, 2025: In a dramatic escalation, Israel has launched targeted airstrikes on Syria’s capital, Damascus, striking the Syrian Defence Ministry and areas near the presidential palace, as ongoing clashes intensify in the southern city of Suwayda.
The Israeli military action comes after it warned Syria to withdraw government forces from the south, where Druze communities have been engaged in violent confrontations with Syrian security forces.
According to Syria’s state-run news agency SANA, the country’s Health Ministry confirmed at least nine people have been wounded in the strikes on central Damascus.
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Live footage and images showed smoke plumes rising from government sites, capturing the moment large explosions lit up the city’s skyline.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has strongly condemned the strikes. In an official statement, GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi described the attacks as a “flagrant violation” of Syria’s sovereignty and international law. He called on the international community to hold Israel accountable and urged protection of the Syrian people in line with United Nations principles.
As tensions rise, regional and global leaders are closely monitoring the situation, fearing further escalation in a conflict zone already fraught with instability.