Israel Launches Airstrikes Near Presidential Palace in Damascus

Israeli fighter jets struck near the presidential palace in Damascus, the Syrian capital, early Friday, in what Israel’s prime minister and defense minister said was a message to the Syrian government after a wave of sectarian violence.

In recent days, more than 100 people have died in clashes between Syrian pro-government forces and militants from the country’s Druse minority. The Druse practice a secretive religion with its roots in Islam, and those living in Syria have close ties to the Druse community in Israel.

Friday’s strike is the second time since the violence erupted this week that Israel has intervened militarily.

“This is a clear message to the Syrian regime,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement about the strike. “We will not allow a movement of forces from south of Damascus and any danger to the Druse community.”

In a separate statement, the Israeli military said its warplanes had “attacked the area near the palace of Ahmed Hussein al-Shara in Damascus,” referring to Syria’s president. Mr. al-Shara, a former Al Qaeda affiliate whose rebel coalition toppled President Bashar al-Assad in December, now presents himself as a statesman, but Israeli leaders have expressed wariness.

The strike drew no immediate comment from Syria’s government. Images on social media showed plumes of smoke rising in the night sky in Damascus after Israel’s action. It was not clear what had been hit or how much damage had been done.