Israel is launching air strikes near the presidential palace in Damascus

Israeli fighter planes struck near the presidential palace in Damascus, the Syrian capital, early Friday, in what the leaders of Israel said that it was a message to President Ahmed Al-Sharaa that they are ready to attack deeply in his country after a recent wave of sectarian violence.

In recent days, more than 100 people have died in clashes involving several parties – Sunni Muslim extremists who are not fully under the control of the government, the forces of the new government and militiamen of the Druse of the country.

Drus practice a secret religion with its roots in Islam, and some of those who live in Syria have links with the Druse community in Israel.

The Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, described the strikes as “preclusion” and said that when Mr. Al-Sharaa “wakes up and sees the results of the Israeli Air Force planes, he will understand that Israel is determined to prevent any damage to Drus in Syria.”

In a previous statement to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr. Katz said: “We will not allow a movement of forces in the south of Damascus and any danger to the Druse community.”

Friday’s strike was the second time that violence broke out this week that Israel had intervened militarily in Syria on behalf of the Drus.