Israel strikes Syria, saying it hit group that attacked Druze

Smoke billows from behind a building during an operation by Syria's security forces in the edge of the town of Sharaya, south of Damascus, Wednesday April 30, 2025. Clashes earlier in the area left at least 11 people dead a day after heavy exchange of fire between pro-government gunmen and Druze fighters in the Damascus suburb of Jaramana left 10 people dead. Picture: Omar Albam/AP

Israel said it carried out a strike in Syria against "an extremist group" that attacked members of the Druze community, following through on a promise to defend the minority group as deadly sectarian violence spread near Damascus on Wednesday.

A Syrian Foreign Ministry statement rejected "all forms of foreign intervention" in Syria's internal affairs, without mentioning Israel, and declared Syria's commitment to protecting all Syrian groups "including the noble Druze sect."