Syrian government forces loyal to President Ahmed al-Sharaa withdrew from the southern province of Al-Suweida on Wednesday, following three days of clashes with the Druze community and a series of intense Israeli airstrikes across the country. The strikes targeted military convoys and positions in both the Al-Suweida and Daraa provinces, severely disrupting government troop concentrations.
In a significant escalation, Israeli warplanes struck the Syrian Ministry of Defense building in Damascus and an area near the Presidential Palace. Israeli officials described the attacks as a “warning” to President al-Sharaa. By mid-day Wednesday, over 200 Israeli airstrikes had been recorded across Syria—marking one of the most extensive bombing campaigns since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad.
The Israeli campaign began following the eruption of sectarian violence on Sunday between Druze fighters and pro-government Bedouin Arab tribes. Israel claimed its airstrikes were launched to protect the Druze community from advancing government forces.
Late Wednesday, American media outlets reported that Damascus had reached out to Washington in an effort to mediate the escalating crisis. Soon after, footage circulated online showing Syrian military convoys withdrawing from Al-Suweida, confirming reports that the government had agreed to pull back from the south.
The situation also had domestic political implications in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had been scheduled to testify in his ongoing corruption trial, was granted an adjournment on Wednesday due to the security developments in Syria. Critics have accused Netanyahu of deliberately escalating the Syrian conflict to delay court proceedings.
The United Nations condemned the Israeli strikes as violations of Syrian sovereignty. Secretary-General António Guterres called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged all parties to de-escalate.
While Israel insists its actions are aimed at protecting the Druze, most Druze leaders in Syria—excluding prominent cleric Hikmat al-Hijri—have expressed opposition to foreign intervention. They fear that external involvement could undermine their autonomy and cast them as proxies in the broader conflict.