Syria steps back from 'open war' in face of intense Israeli strikes after sectarian violence

Israel launched rare strikes in Damascus on Wednesday in a campaign it said was aimed at defending the Druze community after days of clashes in the southern city of Sweida.

Syria's leader accused Israel on Thursday of sowing discord with a wave of intense airstrikes following deadly sectarian clashes that threatened the country's fragile unity and illustrated its neighbor's capacity to attack across the region.

In a televised speech, Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa promised to protect the rights and freedom of Syria's Druze community — and avoid an “open war” with Israel. He said Syria "will never be a place for division or fragmentation."

His comments came after the Syrian government and leaders in the Druze community announced a renewed ceasefire Wednesday after days of clashes in the southern city of Sweida threatened the relative stability achieved in the country since the toppling of the Assad regime in December.

A previous ceasefire to end the violence in Sweida quickly crumbled so it was unclear whether the latest truce would hold.