<br><br>**Israel's Military Strikes Syrian Army HQ A Desperate Bid to Protect the Druze Minority?**<br><br>In a bold and potentially destabilizing move, Israel has launched military strikes against Syria's army headquarters in Damascus, resulting in significant loss of life. The latest escalation in tensions between the Israeli and Syrian governments comes in response to the Syrian government's brutal suppression of the Druze minority in Sweida province.<br><br>Tensions have been simmering between the two nations for some time now. In February, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that southern Syria must be completely demilitarized, stating that Israel would not accept the presence of forces controlled by the Islamist-led government near territory it controls.<br><br>The latest escalation began when Syrian government forces entered Sweida province to oversee a ceasefire agreed with Druze community leaders. However, witnesses reported that the government forces joined forces with local Bedouin tribes in attacking Druze fighters and civilians, leaving over 100 people dead.<br><br>Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has called on Damascus to leave the Druze in Sweida alone, while the Israeli military has stated that it will continue to take action until Syrian forces withdraw from the area. The situation remains dire, with reports of sporadic gunfire and shelling continuing to ring out across the city.<br><br>According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 248 people have been killed in Sweida province since violence erupted on Sunday. The watchdog group also reported that 28 civilians were among the 92 Druze killed, with 21 of them being summarily executed by government forces.<br><br>As the situation continues to unfold, it is clear that Israel's military strikes are a desperate bid to protect the Druze minority from further persecution and violence. The question remains, however, whether this bold move will ultimately lead to a resolution or simply fuel further conflict in the region.<br><br>**Keywords** Israel, Syria, Druze minority, Sweida province, military strikes, conflict resolution
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