Israel's latest military attack on Syria has triggered widespread international condemnation, with airstrikes on central Damascus on Wednesday and southern Syria earlier this week.
The strikes, which began on Monday, targeted Syrian government forces and infrastructure, including the army headquarters and an area near the presidential palace in Damascus.
Israel claimed the campaign was aimed at defending the Druze minority in Suweida province following violent clashes between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes.
On Wednesday, Israel struck the headquarters of the Syrian army in Damascus, a compound that also houses the defence ministry.
Syrian state television reported further Israeli strikes on the army headquarters compound, where a wing of the four-story building was destroyed. The health ministry said at least three people died in those strikes.
In a speech on Thursday, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa condemned Israel for "wide-scale targeting of civilian and government facilities".
He said the strikes were pushing "matters to a large-scale escalation, except for the effective intervention of American, Arab and Turkish mediation, which saved the region from an unknown fate".
United States: Vague reassurances, muted tone
Late on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Washington had "agreed on specific steps" to end the violence, though no details were provided.
The statement stopped short of directly criticising Israel or addressing the civilian impact of the strikes.
European Union: Calls for restraint, criticism of Israel
The European Union initially urged "all external actors" to respect Syria's sovereignty and later issued a more direct call for Israel to "immediately cease" its strikes.
EU officials have warned that the attacks risk inflaming sectarian tensions and undermining fragile regional dynamics.
United Nations: Guterres condemns escalation
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the Israeli airstrikes and reiterated the need for respecting Syrian sovereignty and preventing further escalation.
"The Secretary-General further condemns Israel's escalatory airstrikes on Suweida, Daraa and in the centre of Damascus, as well as reports of the IDF's redeployment of forces in the Golan," Guterres's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
Arab, MENA states denounce attacks
Iraq's foreign ministry strongly denounced "repeated military interference by the Israeli occupation authorities, which constitutes a flagrant violation of Syria's sovereignty and a threat to the region's stability".
The Gulf Cooperation Council strongly condemned Israel's repeated attacks on Syrian territory, calling them a "flagrant violation" of sovereignty and international law.
GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi warned that the strikes mark an "irresponsible escalation" and undermine regional stability.
He reaffirmed the bloc’s support for Syria’s unity and urged the international community to act to stop the violations and protect the Syrian people.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan sharply criticised Israel's expanding military campaigns, calling them part of a broader "strategy of aggression" in the Middle East.
Fidan warned that Israeli attacks were deepening sectarian divides and risked dragging Syria into renewed conflict. He linked the strikes to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, accusing Tel Aviv of systematically violating international law.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi denounced the strikes as "unhinged aggression" and warned that Israel's actions pose a threat to the entire region.
He urged regional and international actors, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the UN, to intervene. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai accused Israel of acting with Western support and called it "the greatest threat to regional peace".
Russia: 'Gross violation' of Syrian sovereignty
Russia's foreign ministry condemned the attacks as a "gross violation" of Syrian sovereignty and international law.
Moscow called for the international community to hold Israel accountable for its actions.
China: Urges de-escalation
China joined the chorus of concern, with foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stating that "Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected".
Beijing warned against actions that could "escalate the situation further".
Taliban condemns Israeli strikes on Syria as 'systematic crime'
Afghanistan's Taliban administration condemned Israel's airstrikes in Syria, calling them a "systematic crime” and a “violation of the sovereignty of an independent state".
In a statement posted on X, Taliban Deputy Spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said the attacks aimed to "destabilise the region and spread chaos", and urged influential states and regional bodies to intervene and halt Israeli aggression.