After striking regime targets in southern Syria, Israel turns its focus to Damascus. CNN’s Jeremy Diamond has the latest on this fast-developing situation.

Damascus

Israel and Iran have agreed a ceasefire after a twelve day conflict. Meanwhile, Israel strikes in Gaza continue with the humanitarian crisis deepening.

Middle East Conflict

Israeli military forces have launched a series of airstrikes in the Syrian capital, Damascus, including a strike at the entrance to Syria's military headquarters that injured two civilians, according to Syrian state media. Additional strikes have been reported near key government sites, with confirmation of locations ongoing. 

The situation has also seen hundreds of Druze individuals from Israel and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights crossing into Syria, reportedly to aid fellow Druze in Suwayda, which has been under attack. Israeli authorities have attempted to prevent these crossings, deploying tear gas and urging citizens not to cross the border. The Israeli government has stated that further military action will be taken if Syrian government forces do not withdraw from Suwayda, with recent strikes targeting tanks and military equipment near the city.

Series of Israeli strikes hits Syrian capital

Yeah, well, as we have seen, the Israeli military has been carrying out airstrikes in the Syrian capital of Damascus. We know of at least one strike at the entrance to Syria's military headquarters there. Two civilians were injured as a result of that strike, according to Syrian state TV. We have also seen several other strikes in Damascus, some of which we are still working to confirm the exact location of them. But there have been reports of strikes near the defense ministry, as well as near the presidential palace. But what we are watching here on the Israeli side of the border is really quite stunning, Becky. And that is that we are seeing Druze individuals in Israel, either Israeli Druze or Syrian Druze who live in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, attempting to cross into Syria to try and help their fellow Druze brothers in Syria who have been under attack in the city of Suwayda. And we are seeing hundreds of these Druze individuals crossing the Israeli border fence into the Israeli-controlled buffer zone inside of Syria, trying to make their way to, presumably, that city of Suwayda. It has been an extraordinary scene to witness these hundreds of people who have broken across this guarded border fence. We have seen the Israeli military out deploying tear gas to try and get these individuals, many of whom are Israeli citizens, back onto the other side of the border. The Israeli prime minister has addressed the matter directly, saying that the situation in Suwayda, that southern city with a very heavy Druze population, calling that situation very serious, but saying that he has one request for the Druze population in Israel, and that is, quote, do not cross the border. He maintained that the Israeli military is carrying out actions. And, indeed, we have heard from the Israeli defense minister, Yisrael Katz, who said that Israel will intensify its attacks on government forces if they do not withdraw from Suwayda. And, indeed, in addition to the strikes that we've seen in the Syrian capital of Damascus, there have also been Israeli strikes in and near Suwayda, including strikes on tanks and other heavy equipment, trucks carrying machine guns, according to the Israeli military, that they say were headed toward that city of Suwayda. Becky?

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Series of Israeli strikes hits Syrian capital

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