Israel bombed an area near the Syrian presidential palace on Friday, in the latest unprovoked attack against Damascus. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said the attack was intended to send a "message" to the nascent Syrian government against deploying forces south of Damascus.

Israeli warplanes bombed targets near Syria’s presidential palace in Damascus, claiming to defend the Druze minority as violent clashes unfolded in southern neighborhoods of the capital.

Israel bombed an area near the presidential palace in Damascus early on Friday, in its clearest warning yet to Syria's new Islamist-led authorities of its readiness to ramp up military action in the name of the country's Druze minority.