Israeli warplanes intensified their aerial assault across southern Syria on Wednesday. As part of this offensive, the Israeli military targeted the Syrian Army’s General Command Headquarters and the area near the Presidential Palace in central Damascus.

According to Syrian health officials, at least three civilians were killed and 34 others injured in the Damascus strike. China Central Television (CCTV) reporter Rand Shukri documented the aftermath, capturing video footage of smoke rising from the military headquarters.

“We are currently in Damascus’ Umayyad Square. Behind me are the buildings of the Syrian Army’s General Command and the Ministry of Defense, which were struck by Israeli warplanes. As you can see, traffic in Umayyad Square is much lighter than usual because security forces have begun gradually blocking the roads,” Shukri reported.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement that day confirming it had launched an attack on Syrian regime military centers in Damascus. The statement noted that in the afternoon, the IDF carried out airstrikes targeting a military objective near the military headquarters and the Presidential Palace in Damascus.

The IDF also stated that the Syrian regime had been using this headquarters to command operations and deploy troops in the southern Syrian region of Sweida.

China Global Television Network (CGTN) reporter Haider Kazwini reported, “Behind me is the Syrian Ministry of Defense building. Today, the Israeli Air Force struck this location nearly three times. After the clashes between Druze fighters and the Syrian army began three days ago in Sweida city, we observed ambulances moving in and out of this building. A massive plume of smoke followed the strike. The explosions caused by the last two Israeli attacks were louder than the first. Now we can see a state of fear and anxiety spreading among the people of Damascus. The streets are gradually emptying as residents attempt to flee, fearing the situation may escalate.”

The attacks occurred after a ceasefire between the Syrian government forces and armed Druze groups in Sweida — the heartland of Syria’s Druze community — was broken.