Israel launched rare strikes in Damascus on Wednesday in a campaign it said was aimed at defending the Druze community after days of clashes in the southern city of Sweida.

Syrian government officials and leaders in the Druze religious minority announced a renewed ceasefire Wednesday after that have threatened to unravel the country's postwar political transition and drawn military intervention by powerful neighbor Israel.

The United States did not support recent Israeli strikes on Syria, the State Department said on Thursday, adding that Washington made clear its displeasure after tensions escalated and worked quickly to stop it.