Israel escalated its military operations in Syria on Wednesday, striking the gates of the country’s military headquarters in Damascus and conducting attacks in the southern region of Suwayda. The Israel Defense Forces said the offensive was in defense of the Druze minority and warned of further escalation if Syrian regime forces remain in the area.

Damascus HQ Among Key Targets

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed a midday strike on the gates of Syria’s military headquarters in Damascus. Meanwhile, explosions and drone strikes were reported in Suwayda, where clashes between Druze fighters and Syrian regime forces have intensified.

Syria’s state news agency confirmed both the Damascus explosion and ongoing drone attacks in Suwayda. The regime has since deployed more troops to contain the unrest.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned, “We will also soon raise the bar of responses against the regime if the message is not understood.”

According to an Axios report citing a U.S. official, Israel had promised to end its strikes by Tuesday evening. However, military operations continued the following day, prompting international concern.