Israel Bombed Syria’s Capital, Hitting The Defense Ministry And Disrupting This Anchor’s Live Broadcast Nearby
Journalist Dima Abodan was reporting for Syria TV, a broadcast station located opposite of the defense building, when the attack happened.
A woman TV anchor in Syria was broadcasting live when an Israeli missile struck Syria's defense ministry in the capital, Damascus, nearby, causing her to run off camera.
On Wednesday, July 16, Israel bombed the defense ministry and also launched multiple airstrikes on southern Syria, claiming it is protecting the Druze minority, which it views as a potential ally.
The Druze are an ethnoreligious minority group found primarily in Israel, Lebanon and Syria, that has a distinct religion, culture and language, while also identifying as Arabs.
On Sunday, July 13, deadly clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin tribes erupted in Suwayda province in southern Syria, which is largely inhabited by Druze.
The violence reportedly began after a Druze merchant was kidnapped, leading to armed Druze fighters seizing the al-Maqwas neighborhood, which is inhabited by the Bedouin, escalating the violence between the two groups, according to the BBC.
The clashes had killed more than 203 people and injured hundreds of others, including Druze, Bedouin and Syrian security forces as of Tuesday, July 15, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported.
The Syrian government had declared a ceasefire on Tuesday, but Israel interfered and launched a series of airstrikes on Syrian military convoys and positions near and within Suwayda shortly before bombing the defense ministry in Damascus.
Israeli officials said Israel was acting to prevent Syrian government forces from threatening the Druze population.
Journalist Dima Abodan was reporting for Syria TV, a broadcast station located opposite of the defense building, when the attack happened, according to RT.
Abodan is seen jumping from her seat and hiding after the strike was broadcasted live.
Israel’s Ministry of Defense, Israel Katz, later shared the video of Abudan hiding on X, writing, “The painful blows have begun”.
The Syrian government has condemned Israel’s actions as unlawful intervention in its internal affairs and a violation of international law, local news agency SANA reported.
Cherry Mohamed
Nira Nyangweso
Cherry Mohamed
