Israeli minister calls for assassination of Syria's Sharaa as strikes hit Damascus

Israel's Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli, has called for the assassination of Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, labelling him a "terrorist" and "brutal murderer".

His remarks came after Syrian army and security forces entered the southern city of Suweida, where deadly clashes between Druze and tribal groups have erupted in recent days.

Shortly after, Israeli airstrikes hit targets in the Syrian capital, Damascus, including areas near the defence ministry and the presidential palace.

At least three people was killed and 18 injured, according to initial reports. The Israeli military said the attacks were launched under the direction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is wanted by the ICC for war crimes in Gaza.

"If it looks like Hamas, talks like Hamas, and acts like Hamas, then it is Hamas," far right minister Chikli said, likening Sharaa and his government to Palestinian armed groups.

"We must not stand idly by in the face of the Islamo-Nazi terrorist regime run by al-Qaeda elements in suits. Shar’a is a terrorist. It’s better to eliminate him now," he added.

Chikli accused the Syrian government of committing massacres against the Druze, while ignoring Israel's own war crimes in Gaza, the West Bank as well as attacks against other regional nations, including Lebanon, Yemen and Iran.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also joined the incitement campaign, referring to "the brutal massacre committed by Ahmed al-Jolani's [Sharaa's] regime against Druze in southern Syria".

He claimed this proved Syria's leadership had "always been violent and brutal Islamist extremists".

Smotrich said Israel must maintain control over the buffer zone and Mount Hermon, territory occupied by Israel since the fall of Assad, to "protect settlements in the occupied Golan Heights".

"We will continue to defend Druze in southern Syria by any means necessary," he added.

Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani said on Monday that safeguarding the Druze community was a Syrian responsibility, and warned foreign powers against interfering in the country's internal affairs.

On Monday, there were eyewitness reports that Syrian government-affiliated fighters had committed 'field executions' of Druze civilians in Suweida, while videos showed Druze men being abused and humiliated by government troops.

Syria's state news agency SANA confirmed Israeli airstrikes in Suweida on Tuesday but provided no further details.

The Israeli bombardment coincided with the deployment of Syrian army and interior ministry forces to Suweida following violent clashes between Druze and Bedouin fighters that began on Sunday, leaving dozens dead or wounded.

Israel regularly justifies its air raids on Syria by claiming to target Iranian-linked groups or to protect Druze communities, particularly those with ties to Israeli Druze.

But most Druze leaders in Syria have publicly rejected foreign intervention, and the Syrian government says it remains committed to protecting all religious minorities.

There are an estimated 800,000 Druze in Syria, mainly living in Suwayda, rural Damascus, Quneitra, and parts of Idlib. Syria’s total population is about 22 million.