Israel launches further air strikes on Syria amid Druze tensions
Israel launched around 20 air strikes on Syria late on Friday in what the country’s new rulers branded as a “dangerous escalation”.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Israel hit military targets across Syria in the “heaviest” bombardment so far this year.
The Sana news agency reported Israeli air strikes near Damascus and in the west, in Latakia and Hama, as well as in Daraa in the south.
According to the agency, one civilian was killed at Harasta near Damascus and four others were wounded near Hama.
The latest wave of strikes came hours after Israel targeted an area near the Syrian presidential palace.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said the attack was intended to send a “message” to the nascent Syrian government against deploying forces south of Damascus.
