Israel Strikes Presidential Palace in Syria

Israel has carried out an airstrike on the presidential palace in Syria, according to reports from Reuters. Earlier today, the Syrian Ministry of Defense located in the center of Damascus was also targeted in an attack.

The Israeli military has declared that it has sent additional forces to border regions adjacent to Syria, threatening to escalate strikes as long as Damascus does not withdraw its forces from the south of the country, where bloody clashes have erupted in recent days between Druze communities and local militias.

Israel asserts that the purpose of its military assaults is to support the Druze minority and prevent Syria from strengthening its military presence in bordering areas.

U.S. Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barak, has today called on both sides to “pull back and start a dialogue.”