The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the Damascus headquarters served as a command center for deploying regime forces to Suwayda, a southern Syrian region gripped by days of deadly clashes between government troops, Druze militias, and Bedouin groups.

Israel launched airstrikes in Damascus, blowing up part of the defence ministry as it vowed to destroy government forces attacking Druze in southern Syria.

Syrian troops are trying to intervene in sectarian violence in the south between the Druze minority and Bedouins.