Israeli Strikes Hit Syrian Military Headquarters and Presidential Palace as Deadly Clashes Escalate in Suwayda
Israel escalates Syria strikes, hitting Damascus military HQ & presidential palace as Suwayda sees 260+ killed in regime crackdown. The twin assaults mark a dangerous intensification of Syria's multi-front conflict.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – A powerful Israeli airstrike rocked the heart of Damascus on Wednesday, targeting critical regime sites including the General Staff Headquarters and the Presidential Palace, as southern Syria witnessed a surge in deadly violence, with 12 civilians killed in Suwayda, among them two women and an elderly man executed in the street.
Israeli Air Raids Strike Syria’s Military Command and Presidential Complex
A massive explosion rattled the Umayyad Square in central Damascus following a series of three consecutive Israeli air raids that directly hit Syria’s General Staff Headquarters. SANA reported that at least 13 people were injured and extensive destruction to the military building, which lies in one of the most fortified areas of the capital.
Quoting security sources, Reuters confirmed that the Israeli strikes resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries, including within Syria's Ministry of Defense. Meanwhile, Israeli Channel 12 cited a security source stating that the targets of the airstrikes included both the Syrian Presidential Palace and the General Staff Headquarters.
Reuters further verified that one of the strikes landed in close proximity to the presidential complex in Damascus, marking a significant escalation in the scope and symbolism of Israeli military operations within Syria.
Israeli Strikes Hit Syrian Military Headquarters and Presidential Palace as Deadly Clashes Escalate in Suwayda
— Kurdistan 24 English (@K24English) July 16, 2025
Israel escalates Syria strikes, hitting Damascus military HQ & presidential palace as Suwayda sees 260+ killed in regime crackdown. The twin assaults mark a dangerous… pic.twitter.com/ULSmgvsrXK
Suwayda Under Siege: 260 Killed Amid Blackout and Bombardment
Simultaneously, in Syria’s southern Suwayda province, brutal hostilities have intensified as government forces—under the Ministry of Defense—tightened their grip on the city. Amid a complete blackout of internet and electricity services, regime units took control of the strategic Al-Ankoud Roundabout in the city center.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that the town of Rassas, south of the province, has been encircled, sparking fear and panic among residents due to the risk of potential abuses by regime forces.
Heavy bombardment using drones and mortar shells has continued across Suwayda since the early hours of Wednesday. Government-affiliated forces have also besieged Suwayda National Hospital, cutting off support despite the presence of wounded civilians inside, raising alarm about a growing death toll.
According to SOHR, the overall death toll from clashes and summary executions since Sunday, July 13, to at least 260. The victims include:
-82 residents of Suwayda, among them four children and four women.
-156 members of the Ministry of Defense and General Security, including 18 individuals from the Bedouin community.
-22 individuals, including three women, executed extrajudicially by personnel from the Defense and Interior Ministries.
The sharp escalation in both Damascus and Suwayda highlights the expanding scope of conflict and deepening humanitarian crisis unfolding across Syria.
