2025-07-16T17:17:51+00:00
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Shafaq News – Damascus
Israeli fighter jets carried out a
series of airstrikes on Wednesday targeting government and military sites in
Damascus, including the presidential palace and Syria’s Ministry of Defense.
#عاجل 🔴 جيش الدفاع يواصل ضرب أهداف عسكرية للنظام السوري في دمشق🔴هاجم جيش الدفاع قبل قليل مقر الأركان العامة التابع للنظام السوري في منطقة دمشق.🔴يدير قادة النظام السوري من مقر الأركان العامة في دمشق القتال ويقومون بإرسال قوات النظام إلى منطقة السويداء. 🔴كما تمت مهاجمة… pic.twitter.com/Kw3D6nqt7E
— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) July 16, 2025
According to an official military
statement, the attacks were launched “in response to events affecting the Druze
community in southern Syria,” particularly the ongoing clashes in Suwayda. The
Israeli military described the operation as the beginning of “painful strikes
on Syria.”
A spokesperson for the Israeli
army confirmed that airstrikes, guided by military intelligence, targeted
armored vehicles and combat assets reportedly moving toward the Suwayda region.
Additional attacks struck artillery positions, weapons depots, and other
military facilities belonging to the Syrian government in the south.
“The Israel Defense Forces
continue to monitor developments and activities targeting Druze civilians in
southern Syria,” the spokesperson stated.
#عاجل 🔴 تتواصل الضربات ضد أهداف عسكرية تابعة للنظام السوري في منطقة جنوب سوريا🔴أغارت طائرات سلاح الجو بتوجيه استخباري من هيئة الاستخبارات بشن غارات ضد اهداف عسكرية للنظام السوري في منطقة جنوب سوريا. خلال الساعات الماضية تم استهداف بعض الاليات المدرعة والمسلحة بالرشاشات… pic.twitter.com/G0qeZjhHRL
— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) July 16, 2025
The Syrian Civil Defense
Directorate confirmed that the strikes struck residential neighborhoods in
central Damascus, causing large-scale destruction and fires. “The airstrikes
were simultaneous and inflicted significant damage on apartment buildings.”
Civil Defense Director Hassan
al-Hassan told Shafaq News, “Our teams are still on the ground extinguishing
fires and conducting a full field sweep to check for more victims or people
trapped under the rubble.”
The Syrian Ministry of Health
recorded three dead and 34 wounded in the Israeli attacks.
المكتب الإعلامي في وزارة الصحة:ارتفاع حصيلة عدوان الاحتلال الإسرائيلي على العاصمة دمشق إلى 3 شهداء و34 إصابة.#الجمهورية_العربية_السورية #وزارة_الصحة#تصريح
— وزارة الصحة السورية (@SyMOfH) July 16, 2025
In a statement issued shortly
after the attack, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Israeli
strikes “in the strongest terms,” calling them a “cowardly act of aggression.
“The Israeli assault is part of a
deliberate policy aimed at igniting tension and chaos and undermining security
and stability in Syria,” the statement read, describing the strikes as a
“flagrant violation of the UN Charter and international humanitarian law.”
The Syrian government held Israel
fully responsible for the escalation and its consequences, affirming its right
to defend its land and people “by all means permitted under international law.”
بيان حول استهداف إسرائيل مؤسسات الدولة والاعتداء على سيادة سوريا pic.twitter.com/WkdaJxYuoy
— وزارة الخارجية والمغتربين السورية (@syrianmofaex) July 16, 2025
Damascus also called on the
international community—particularly the UN Security Council—to take urgent and
concrete measures to stop Israel’s repeated violations of Syrian sovereignty.
