U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday said that Israel’s airstrike on Damascus, which targeted Syria’s military headquarters, was “likely a misunderstanding.” The comments came amid rising tensions between Israel and Syria and as President Donald Trump ramps up efforts to broker peace in the region.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Israeli airstrike on Damascus was probably the result of a misunderstanding, following deadly clashes between Syrian government forces and the Druze minority in the southwest of the country. Speaking alongside President Donald Trump and Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Rubio told reporters, “It’s complicated. These are historic, longtime rivalries between different groups in the southwest of Syria.”

Rubio confirmed he had been in contact with both sides since fighting erupted earlier in the week. “We think we’re on our way towards real de-escalation,” Rubio said. He expressed hope for progress “in the next few hours” as the Trump administration seeks stability in the region.

Israeli Airstrikes Amid Clashes Over Druze Community

Israeli strikes reportedly hit the headquarters of Syria’s Ministry of Defense in Damascus, killing three and injuring nearly three dozen others. Israel said its intervention was in defense of the Druze minority near the Golan Heights, an area Israel has annexed but which the U.N. considers Syrian territory.

The violence followed attacks on Druze civilians by Bedouin militias and Syrian government forces. Reports indicated Druze men were being targeted, their homes burned and looted, and men publicly humiliated. Clashes reportedly began after a Druze man was attacked at a Bedouin checkpoint in Sweida province, escalating into a week of violence with death tolls estimated between 30 and 90 people.

Trump’s Middle East Peace Efforts Continue

The incident comes as Trump intensifies efforts to foster peace in the region after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December. The U.S. recently removed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) terrorist designation, viewing Syria’s future as a potential “beacon of hope” in the Middle East.

Trump’s administration continues to pursue a deal involving Syria and Israel, despite ongoing violence. Rubio’s remarks suggest Washington is eager to prevent further escalation that could derail these efforts.