Netanyahu։ "Israel struck Damascus in defense of the Druze"

Israel struck a target near the presidential palace in Damascus to prevent a threat to the Druze community in Syria, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a joint statement with Defense Minister Israel Katz, quoted by Ynet. "Israel struck near the presidential palace in Damascus. This is a clear signal to the Syrian regime. We will not allow the deployment of forces south of Damascus and any threat to the Druze community," he said.
Earlier, Katz threatened the new authorities in Damascus with tough actions if attacks on Syrian Druze do not stop.

On Wednesday night, clashes broke out between armed groups and Druze self-defense fighters in the Syrian city of Sahnay, near Damascus, where the Druze population predominantly resides.

The Druze are an ethno-confessional group of Arabs who live in Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Jordan. Since the change of power in Damascus at the end of last year, the Israeli leadership has repeatedly stated its commitment to protecting the Syrian Druze.