Israel escalated its campaign against Syria on Wednesday with a wave of airstrikes that hit the defence ministry in central Damascus, just metres from the headquarters of Al-Araby TV, an affiliate of The New Arab.
The strikes, which came hours after Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened to "raise the bar" of attacks, killed at least three people and injured 34 others, according to Syria's Health Ministry.
Among those caught in the bombardment was Dima Abo Dan, an anchor from The New Arab's affiliate Syria TV who was live on air when the first blasts hit. Footage from the studio showed the shockwave from an explosion rattling the building as the journalist froze mid-broadcast before fleeing.
Breaking down in tears, Dima told The New Arab: "I can’t describe my feelings at all. As soon as I entered the studio, in the same place, at almost the same time, I felt suffocated, scared and confused."
She said she had already been on edge before going live, as Israeli statements warned Damascus of incoming strikes.
"I already had that fear, that worry… that maybe these strikes could affect the studio here. Maybe we could be hit, maybe something could happen to the crew, to the cameramen, to everyone with us on air.
"And while I was reading the news, those fears translated live on air. I was thinking to myself, 'could this really happen?' - and then what I was afraid of actually happened," she said.
Umayyad Square, a civilian hub
Israel targeted the iconic Umayyad Square in the heart of the capital, which is home not only to Syria’s defence ministry but also to media offices, residential buildings, the opera house, public libraries, and businesses.
The square was also the site of massive popular celebrations when the Assad regime fell in December 2024.
Footage showed four explosions from the strikes battering all sides of the Syrian military headquarters. Large plumes of some rose into the skies before another airstrike hit the presidential palace. At least three people were killed and over 34 others were wounded in the attack, according to the Ministry of Health.
Dima said she feared for her life, and horrific images of the moment of the bombardment still haunt her days later. She added: "The moment I came in and kept looking at the scene, I remembered how I was sitting, how I managed to escape, how that glass didn’t shatter into fragments. And even now, I’m shaking. Could it be that I might not have been here now?"
Al-Araby TV journalist Reem Khabbazy said panic spread through the building during the strikes. One staff member suffered light shrapnel injuries, while others scrambled for cover as multiple waves of Israeli warplanes struck.
Minutes after the deadly strike, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said that the "warnings in Damascus have ended" and threatened Syria with "painful blows".
'Life goes on, but fear remains'
The Damascus strikes came as Israel claimed it was "protecting" Syria’s Druze community amid deadly sectarian violence in Suweida. Katz threatened to escalate attacks unless Syrian forces withdraw from the province, warning that "regime forces" would face further strikes if they remained.
Syrian officials and witnesses in Suweida accused pro-government militias of committing executions, looting and arson against civilians, further fuelling local anger. Dima told TNA: "Israel does not distinguish between a citizen, a civilian, a child, or a soldier. We were on air and transmitted the evidence of Israel’s crime live."
She said that the latest airstrikes have left a sense of dread among Syrians in Damascus and beyond, adding: "The mornings were different in the past. We used to return to heavy movement in the streets from everyone. Now there is worry, there is fear. And I feel this fear right now. But life goes on."
Meanwhile, efforts to announce a ceasefire in Suweida collapsed within hours after Druze spiritual leaders urged militias to keep fighting until the province is "fully liberated" from Damascus’s control.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) said on Friday that at least 321 people had been killed since Wednesday, including six children and nine women. The true death toll could be much higher.