Israel strikes Damascus as fighting rages in southern Syria

Powerful airstrikes shook Damascus on Wednesday, targeting the defence ministry as Israel vowed to destroy Syrian government forces attacking Druze communities in southern Syria and demanded they withdraw.

Reuters reporters heard warplanes swoop low over the capital and unleash a series of massive strikes on central Damascus. The cityscape was blanketed in smoke with a thick plume rising from the defence ministry.

The Israeli military had earlier announced a strike on the gate of the defence ministry. Shortly before the massive blasts, Defence Minister Israel Katz had said "painful blows will come".

Scores of people have been killed this week in violence around the southern city of Sweida, pitting fighters from the Druze minority against government security forces and members of Bedouin tribes, prompting Israel to strike repeatedly with the declared aim of protecting the Druze.

The violence has underlined big challenges facing interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa despite warming ties with the United States, as he seeks to stitch Syria back together.

Syrian government troops were dispatched to the Sweida region on Monday to quell fighting between Druze fighters and Bedouin armed men but ended up clashing with the Druze militias themselves.

Druze are followers of a religion that is an offshoot of Islam and are spread between Syria, Lebanon and Israel. Druze in Israel have been calling on the Israeli military to protect Druze in Syria.

A Druze spiritual leader said on Tuesday his community was being subjected to a barbaric attack by government forces. The government says outlawed gangs are responsible for the violence.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that 169 people had been killed in this week's violence, while security sources put the toll at 300.

Following calls in Israel to help Druze in Syria, scores of Israeli Druze broke through the border fence on Wednesday, linking up with Druze on the Syrian side, a Reuters witness said. The Israeli military said it was working to safely return civilians who crossed the border.

Israel, which bombed Syria regularly when it was ruled by ousted President Bashar al-Assad, has demanded the new authorities keep forces out of southern Syria.

It has vowed to protect the Druze and has sent Israeli troops into Syrian territory adjoining the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

US Syria envoy Tom Barrack, who has praised Syria's new rulers and declared in May that peace was possible between Syria and Israel, said on Tuesday that Washington was in contact with all sides "to navigate towards calm and integration".

News outlet Sweida24 said Sweida and nearby villages were coming under heavy artillery and mortar fire early on Wednesday.

A Syrian government statement on Wednesday said those responsible for lawlessness in Sweida would be held accountable. It said the government was committed to protecting the rights of the people in Sweida.

Sharaa has repeatedly promised to protect minorities.