At least four Syrians were killed Friday in the southern province of Suwayda when Israeli aircraft bombed a farm west of the city. Local media reported the victims—Issam Azzam, Laith Bahsas, Hamza Kahoul, and Fadi Abu Turabi—died after firing on a drone, believed to be Israeli, which then bombed the area in response.
The drone strike, near a property owned by Azzam, triggered a large explosion that rocked the area. Eyewitnesses said the drone retaliated seconds after gunfire erupted from the ground. No official details have been provided on the affiliations of those killed.
The incident came hours after Israeli warplanes bombed the vicinity of the presidential palace in Damascus, a move widely condemned by Arab states and international actors. Israel described the strike as a “warning” to the Syrian government and said it was meant to prevent any threat to the Druze community near its border.
International Condemnation
Syrian officials labeled the strike a “dangerous escalation” and a violation of sovereignty. The presidency said it would not compromise on Syria’s unity or allow efforts to destabilize the country.
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, and Yemen each issued statements strongly condemning the attack. The Qatari Foreign Ministry called it a “serious violation of international law,” warning that continued Israeli aggression risked regional chaos. Jordan labeled the strikes a breach of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and warned of growing instability.
The Israeli air campaign extended beyond Damascus. Strikes were also reported in Hama, Daraa, and the Damascus countryside. Syrian state media confirmed casualties in Harasta and Shatha, while additional raids hit Izraa and areas around the capital. The Israeli military said it targeted “military infrastructure and air defense systems.”
Public Outcry
Protests erupted across several Syrian cities, including Suwayda, where residents mourned the four young men killed. Video resurfaced of Issam Azzam feeding demonstrators in Karama Square, reinforcing local outrage.
The Israeli government claims its actions are aimed at protecting Syria’s Druze community, but Druze leaders inside Syria have pushed back. A statement issued Thursday by Druze authorities affirmed their commitment to a unified Syria and rejected any separatist agenda.
Observers see Israel’s moves as an attempt to leverage minority dynamics to justify intervention. Damascus, meanwhile, stresses equal citizenship for all sects and warns against foreign powers using ethnic or sectarian pretexts to interfere.
The incident highlights the growing volatility along Syria’s southern front and raises fears of wider regional fallout amid ongoing Israeli operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
