Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel launched a targeted strike near the presidential palace in Damascus, Syria, on Thursday. He reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to protecting the Druze community living in Syria. Reuters noted that the strikes reflect Israel’s deep mistrust of Syria’s ruling Islamist faction, which ousted President Bashar al-Assad last December. Israel has warned that any deployment of Syrian forces or threats to the Druze community in southern Damascus will not be tolerated. Recent sectarian violence in Sahnaya, Damascus, left 40 people dead — an area populated by both Druze and Christians.