Israel Targets Terror Groups in Damascus and Welcomes Druze Leaders

On Thursday, Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) air force conducted targeted strikes against terror groups operating in Damascus, Syria. These attacks specifically targeted Islamic Jihad locations, believed to be planning future terrorist operations against Israel. The precision airstrikes were a response to an imminent threat, according to Israeli defense sources.

The IDF's Northern and Intelligence Commands worked in tandem to locate and strike an Islamic Jihad headquarters, from which attacks on Israel were being planned. Katz made it clear that Israel would not tolerate terror organizations operating against its security in Syria, stating, "There will be no impunity for Islamic terror against Israel in Damascus, nor in any other area."

In a statement, Katz further emphasized that the Israeli Air Force would continue to target terror groups wherever they may operate, including in Syria. He declared that anywhere terror groups organize against Israel, the Israeli jets would be hovering above and taking action.

The attack in Damascus marks a significant escalation in Israel's efforts to neutralize threats emanating from Syria, signaling a shift in the Israeli strategy to confront terrorists even within Syria's capital. While Israel has historically focused on eliminating threats near the Syrian-Israeli border, this new strike in Damascus represents a more direct approach toward the heart of the Syrian regime's control.

Although the strike on Damascus does not necessarily indicate a change in Israel's broader strategy, it demonstrates Israel's readiness to act decisively, even in areas where Syrian authorities may not directly control or even be aware of the activities. Israel has maintained that governments are responsible for terrorist activity within their territory, regardless of their knowledge of specific operations.

In a related development, Katz also approved the entry of over a hundred Druze sheikhs from Syria into Israel for a pilgrimage to the Nabi Shu'ayb shrine near Tiberias, an important religious site for the Druze community. This gesture highlights Israel’s ongoing engagement with the Druze population and religious diplomacy in the region.