As Israel Launches Strikes Against Syria, Netanyahu Criminal Trial Adjourned

Israel launched powerful strikes against Syria on Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

“The IDF struck the entrance of the Syrian regime’s military headquarters in the area of Damascus in Syria,” the IDF said.

“The IDF continues to monitor developments and the regime’s actions against Druze civilians in southern Syria. In accordance with directives from the political echelon, the IDF is striking in the area and remains prepared for various scenarios,” it added.

The IDF struck the entrance of the Syrian regime’s military headquarters in the area of Damascus in Syria.

The IDF continues to monitor developments and the regime’s actions against Druze civilians in southern Syria. In accordance with directives from the political echelon,… pic.twitter.com/WSyBFrCiog

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 16, 2025

Video footage captured the strikes:

BREAKING:

Israel has bombed the Syria’s Ministry of Defense headquarters in Damascus, launching multiple airstrikes.

Three of the strikes also targeted areas near the presidential palace in the capital. pic.twitter.com/wbpbq8OAiX

— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) July 16, 2025

Israel has bombed Syria’s Presidential Palace and General Staff HQ in Damascus — the most direct strike on Syrian leadership to date.

Turkish officials reportedly urged Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to evacuate — he refused.

Israeli military: “We are preparing for… pic.twitter.com/uVlbbyMYMr

— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) July 16, 2025

CNN provided additional info:

Israel, which has been carrying out strikes on Syria since the fall of the Assad regime last December, says it is attacking Syria to protect the Druze, an Arab minority at the center of clashes with government loyalists.

However, another incentive behind Israel’s decision to strike could be related to its opposition of the current Syrian government.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously referred to the new leaders of the country as an “extremist Islamic regime” and a threat to the state of Israel.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Wednesday that his country wants to “maintain the status quo in southern Syria – an area near our border – and prevent the emergence of threats against Israel in that space.”

The Druze, an Arab sect of roughly one million people who primarily live in Syria, Lebanon and Israel, practice an offshoot of Islam which permits no converts – either to or from the religion – and no intermarriage. The Druze are made up of a network of groups with multiple figureheads.

Syria’s new President Ahmed al-Sharaa has pledged inclusion and vowed to protect all of Syria’s diverse communities, but Sunni extremist forces loyal to him have continued to violently confront religious minorities.

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According to ABC News, the strike came amid violent clashes in the southern Syrian city of Sweida.

The Druze population has fought with local Bedouin Sunni tribes and the recently installed Syrian government, the outlet said.

“Following the directive of the political echelon, a short while ago, the IDF began striking military vehicles belonging to Syrian regime forces in the area of As Suwayda in southern Syria. This follows yesterday evening’s identification of Syrian regime convoys, including armored personnel carriers and tanks, moving toward the area of As-Suwayda in southern Syria,” the IDF said.

“The IDF struck several armored fighting vehicles consisting of tanks, APCs, and MLRS, as well as access roads, in order to disrupt the convoys’ arrival to the area. We continue to monitor the developments while remaining ready and prepared for various scenarios,” it added.

Following the directive of the political echelon, a short while ago, the IDF began striking military vehicles belonging to Syrian regime forces in the area of As Suwayda in southern Syria.

This follows yesterday evening’s identification of Syrian regime convoys, including… pic.twitter.com/hVWY5YXfa2

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 15, 2025

“My brothers, Druze citizens of Israel, the situation in Suwayda, the situation in southwestern Syria, is very serious. The IDF is operating, the Air Force is operating, other forces are operating. We are working to save our Druze brothers and to eliminate the regime’s gangs,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced. 

“And now I have one request of you: You are citizens of Israel. Do not cross the border. You are putting your lives at risk; you could be killed, you could be kidnapped, and you are hindering the IDF’s efforts. Therefore, I ask you—return to your homes, let the IDF operate,” he added.

אחיי אזרחי ישראל הדרוזים, המצב בסווידא, המצב בדרום-מערב סוריה, הוא חמור מאוד.

צה”ל פועל, חיל האוויר פועל, כוחות אחרים פועלים. אנחנו פועלים כדי להציל את אחינו הדרוזים וכדי לחסל את כנופיות המשטר.

ועכשיו יש לי בקשה אחת מכם: אתם אזרחי ישראל. אל תעברו את הגבול.
אתם מסכנים את חייכם;… pic.twitter.com/3C6mAJSB4V

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) July 16, 2025

ABC News noted:

More than 250 people have been killed in Sweida province as of Wednesday morning since the violence erupted on Sunday, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a U.K.-based war monitoring group. Those deaths included 21 people who were killed in “field executions” by local groups in Sweida, the organization said.

Syrian government forces were deployed to the Sweida region — home to the largest population of the Druze religious minority in Syria — on Monday in an effort to restore order but ultimately clashed with the Druze militias themselves. On Tuesday, Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra announced a ceasefire agreement in Sweida, saying government forces would “respond only to the sources of fire and deal with any targeting by outlaw groups.” But clashes continued.

As that sectarian violence has grown, the Israeli military has taken action against the Syrian government, the IDF said.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s criminal trial was adjourned amid the strikes.

JUST IN – Netanyahu trial adjourned amid strikes on Syria. pic.twitter.com/5fleEGOMlP

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) July 16, 2025

The Times of Israel wrote:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s testimony in his criminal trial in the Tel Aviv District Court ends early due to the developments in Syria and IDF strikes in that country aimed at defending its Druze community.