The Israel Defense Forces said it struck "the entrance" of Syria's military headquarters in Damascus on Wednesday.

The Prime Minister made clear Israel will not allow Syrian forces south of Damascus, will protect Druze community; ceasefire achieved through strength, not concessions

Syria says it is withdrawing troops from a flashpoint southern city after days of deadly clashes with an Arab minority group that triggered military action from Israel.

For weeks, Israel has engaged in back-channel talks over a diplomatic agreement with the Syrian government. Its strikes on Damascus this week highlight a lack of strategic clarity.

The Israeli military says it is monitoring "actions being taken against Druze civilians" - but Syria says its forces have been responding to the "source of fire" inside the southern city of Sweida.

Syrian troops pulled out of the Druze heartland of Sweida on the orders of the Islamist-led government, following days of deadly clashes that killed nearly 600 people, according to a war monitor.

Israel has been bombing Syrian government forces who intervened in clashes in a region controlled by the Syrian Druse minority, which Israel pledged to protect.

Syria's foreign ministry has accused Israel of bearing full responsibility for recent military actions in southern Syria. The ministry emphasized its commitment to protecting all Syrian citizens, including the Druze minority.

China on Thursday called for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity to be respected, as Israel's heavy airstrikes on Syrian capital Damascus have drawn widespread attention. Some experts noted that Israel's recent military actions in the Middle East - enabled in part by US leniency - have intensified regional instability as it seeks to expand its strategic reach,