Israel hits target near Syrian presidential palace

Israel attacked a target near the presidential palace in the Syrian capital Damascus, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early on Friday, reiterating his vow to protect members of the Druze community.

It marks the second time Israel has struck Syria in as many days, following through on a promise to defend the minority group, which was involved in sectarian violence earlier this week.

"Israel struck last night near the presidential palace in Damascus," Netanyahu said in a joint statement with Defence Minister Israel Katz. "This is a clear message to the Syrian regime: We will not allow (Syrian) forces to deploy south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community."

The Israeli military said in a statement it struck "adjacent to the area of the Palace of Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa in Damascus", without specifying the target. There was no immediate comment from Syria's authorities.

Since Bashar al-Assad was ousted in December, Israel has seized ground in the southwest, vowed to protect the Druze, lobbied Washington to keep the neighbouring state weak, and has blown up much of the Syrian army's heavy weapons in the days after he was toppled.

interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has repeatedly vowed to govern Syria in an inclusive way. But incidents of sectarian violence, including the killing of hundreds in March, have hardened fears among minority groups.

This week's sectarian violence began on Tuesday with clashes in Jaramana, killing more than a dozen people.