Israel launched powerful airstrikes in Damascus on Wednesday, damaging the defense ministry and hitting near the presidential palace as it vowed to destroy Syrian government forces attacking Druze communities in southern Syria and demanded they withdraw.

The attacks marked a significant Israeli escalation against the Islamist-led administration of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and came despite his warming ties with the United States and his administration’s evolving security contacts with Israel.

Describing Syria’s new rulers as barely disguised jihadists, Israel has said it won’t let them move forces into southern Syria while vowing to shield the area’s Druze community from attack, encouraged by calls from Israel‘s own Druze minority.

Scores of people have been killed this week in violence in and around the predominantly Druze city of Sweida, pitting fighters from the Druze minority against government security forces and members of Bedouin tribes.

Reuters reporters heard warplanes swoop low over the capital and unleash a series of massive strikes. Thick columns were seen rising from the city center defense ministry.

The Israeli military struck the entrance to the military headquarters in Damascus and a military target near the presidential palace, an Israeli military official said. Israel would not allow a massacre of Druze in Syria, the official said.

The Syrian Health Ministry said the strikes in Damascus wounded 13 people, the state news agency reported.

The Israeli military official said Syrian forces were not preventing attacks on Druze and were part of the problem.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli military “will continue to operate vigorously in Sweida to destroy the forces that attacked the Druze until they withdraw completely.”

Sharaa is facing major challenges to stitch Syria back together in the face of deep misgivings from groups that fear Islamist rule – mistrust exacerbated by mass killings of the Alawite minority in March.

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.

Sweida residents reached by phone said they were holed up indoors as fighting continued on Wednesday.

“We are surrounded, and we hear the fighters screaming … we’re so scared,” said a resident of Sweida who was reached by phone.

The crack of gunfire interspersed by booms could be heard in the background. “We’re trying to keep the children quiet so that no one can hear us,” the man added, asking not to be identified for fear of reprisals.

Druze are followers of a religion that is an offshoot of Islam and are spread between Syria, Lebanon, and Israel.

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 Israeli military said it continued to strike “Syrian regime” targets in southern Syria, including tanks, and pickup trucks mounted with machine guns heading towards Sweida.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that 169 people had been killed in this week’s violence. Security sources put the toll at 300. Reuters could not independently verify the tolls.

US URGES RESTRAINT

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.

US Syria envoy Tom Barrack, who has praised Syria’s new rulers and declared in May that peace was possible between Syria and Israel, condemned violence against civilians in Sweida.

“All parties must step back and engage in meaningful dialogue that leads to a lasting ceasefire. Perpetrators need to be held accountable,” he said.

Israeli Druze man Faez Shkeir said he felt helpless watching the violence in Syria. “My family is in Syria – my wife is in Syria, my uncles are from Syria, and my family is in Syria, in Sweida, I don’t like to see them being killed. They kicked them out of their homes, they robbed and burned their houses, but I can’t do anything,” he said.

Sharaa has repeatedly promised to protect minorities.

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.

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

The defense ministry called on residents of the city to stay indoors. On Tuesday, a Reuters reporter said they had seen government forces looting and burning homes and stealing cars and furniture in Sweida. One man showed the reporter the body of his brother who had been shot in the head inside their home.

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