Israel confirms strike near Syria’s presidential palace in support of Druze community

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Jerusalem/Damascus, May 2 (IANS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz, in a joint statement, said on Friday that Israel carried out overnight attacks near the presidential palace in Syria’s capital, Damascus.

The strike followed the deadly clashes that intensified earlier this week between local Druze fighters and pro-government forces south of Damascus.

“This is a clear message to the Syrian regime,” the Israeli statement said.

“We will not allow the move of forces south of Damascus and any danger to the Druze community.”

Meanwhile, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said Israeli airstrikes targeted early Friday a site near the Syrian presidential residence in Damascus, causing loud explosions but no immediate casualties.

The observatory described the strikes as a “warning message” as they took place near one of the most fortified and symbolic locations of the Syrian government.

The Syrian authorities have yet to comment on the Israeli air raids.

Amid the sectarian unrest, two wounded Druze Syrians were evacuated on Thursday to Ziv Medical Centre in Safed in northern Israel for medical treatment. On the same day, Katz warned of harsh responses if clashes with the Druze community continue in Syria.

Before dawn on Friday, hundreds of Israeli Druze protesters demonstrated in front of Netanyahu’s private residence in Israel’s northern coastal town of Caesarea, demanding that the Israeli army intervene and protect the Druze in Syria, according to reports by Israeli media outlets.

Earlier on Thursday night, thousands of Druze residents took to the streets in northern Israel, blocking major highways, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to a SOHR update on Thursday, the death toll from two days of sectarian clashes near Damascus has climbed to 101, including nine field executions.

Druze people primarily live in Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, with smaller groups in Jordan. Israel has been working to solidify ties with the Druze community since expanding its territorial control near the border with Syria and in the Golan Heights following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024.

–IANS

int/jk/vd

Related Posts

BJP leaders visit L-G’s residence, await key decisions on Delhi’s future after historic victory

New Delhi, Feb 9 (IANS) After the party’s historic victory in the Delhi Assembly elections, BJP leaders, including winning candidates and party officials, have begun crucial meetings to discuss the next steps for the capital’s governance.

Kailash Gahlot, the victorious BJP candidate from the Bijwasan constituency, arrived at the L-G’s House, stating, “I am here only for a courtesy meeting with the L-G.”

Similarly, Parvesh Verma, the BJP winner from the New Delhi constituency, also paid a visit to the L-G’s residence.

In a parallel development, BJP MP Anurag Thakur arrived in Lucknow at the BJP office to engage in party discussions related to the Delhi elections.

Earlier in the day, a significant meeting was held at the residence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, where key decisions regarding the future of Delhi’s governance were discussed. Union Minister and BJP President J.P. Nadda also attended the meeting.

One of the most anticipated decisions remains the identity of the Chief Ministerial face for Delhi, a question that has captured the public’s attention. The party is yet to announce the CM face officially, and people are eagerly awaiting the announcement.

The BJP’s victory marks the end of the Aam Aadmi Party’s decade-long dominance in Delhi, signalling a major shift in public sentiment. The party’s decisive win in the recent election comes after suffering losses in 2015 and 2020. With a strong mandate, the BJP is poised to implement its vision for Delhi, ending the Kejriwal-led governance era in the city.

Earlier in the day, outgoing Chief Minister Atishi, who retained her Kalkaji seat by defeating BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri with a margin of 3,521 votes, submitted her resignation to the L-G at the Delhi Secretariat.

Despite her victory, the AAP suffered a massive electoral debacle, with senior leaders including Kejriwal himself, and his ministers like Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, and Saurabh Bhardwaj losing their seats.

–IANS

rs/vd

PM solar pump scheme: Madhya Pradesh allocates Rs 447cr in Budget

Bhopal, March 12 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh government has unveiled a transformative initiative under the banner of the “Pradhan Mantri Krishak Mitra Surya Yojana”.

With an ambitious goal of equipping 40 lakh farmers in the state with solar pumps, a significant budget allocation of Rs 447 crore was announced by state Finance Minister Jagdish Devda while presenting 2025-26 Budget in the state Assembly on Wednesday.

The provision of solar pumps is aimed at easing farmers’ financial strain associated with electricity costs, while surplus power generated through these pumps will be procured by the state grid, creating an additional revenue stream for farmers.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed optimism about the scheme’s potential, especially for addressing water scarcity issues in drought-affected areas, particularly Bundelkhand’s districts — Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Panna, Damoh, Sagar, and Datia — as well as Vidisha, Shivpuri, and Raisen in the Betwa basin.

These districts are expected to see improved irrigation and access to drinking water. The initiative aims to irrigate 6,57,364 hectare of farmland and provide drinking water to 44 lakh individuals across these regions.

To encourage adoption, the government will offer a minimum 30 per cent subsidy for solar pump installations on agricultural land, with farmers covering up to 40 per cent of the cost as margin money.

Financial assistance through banks allows farmers to pay just 5-10 per cent initially, with the remaining 30 per cent available via loans.

Eligibility criteria mandate that applicants must own agricultural land and not have existing electric pumps in operation.

In a recent policy update, the government increased the grant amount for the scheme.

So far, 59,400 applications have been approved, and solar pumps have already been distributed to 7,325 farmers.

Additionally, the initiative incorporates the “Varun Mitra” skill development program under the PM Kusum Yojana. This program is designed to foster expertise in solar energy solutions, particularly in training technicians for solar water pumps.

Moreover, the scheme facilitates the setup of renewable energy projects ranging from 500 kilowatts to 2 megawatts, promoting a green agricultural revolution in Madhya Pradesh.

–IANS

sktr/pgh