Israel launched powerful airstrikes on Damascus on Wednesday, blowing up part of the defence ministry and hitting near the presidential palace, while also striking government security forces operating against militants from the country's Druze minority in the southern province of Sweida.

Deadly sectarian clashes in Syria had seemingly eased on Thursday, after a ceasefire was announced between groups fighting in Suwayda and government forces started to withdraw from the Druze-majority southern province.

The Israeli military said the targets included a Syrian government military compound in Damascus as well as another military target near the Syrian presidential palace in Damascus. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz posted a video on X of a TV news live shot in Damascus in which a building is seen exploding behind the presenter.

A key governing partner of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it is quitting the government, leaving him with a minority in parliament. The Shas ultra-Orthodox party said Wednesday it