Moment terrified presenter takes cover as Israel launches major strikes on Syria

By Alice Scarsi, World News Editor

Syrian presenter takes cover after explosion live on air

The harrowing moment a Syrian TV presenter took cover as Israel launched an airstrike on Damascus was caught on camera. Prior to the strike, the woman can be seen in the video talking to the camera, with the city in the background.

Seconds later, the camera shakes, and a large plume of smoke and debris can be seen rising from the ground. The woman, terrified, then takes cover, abandoning her chair and desk from which she was leading the TV report. On Wednesday, Israel launched a series of attacks at key targets in Syria. With its attack, the Israeli military hit the Syrian Defence Ministry headquarters, as clashes in the southern Syrian city of Sweida continued to flare. Israel’s attack came hours after a drone strike on the same building. Syrian state media reported at least 13 people wounded. Another strike hit near the presidential palace in the hills outside of Damascus.

Israel has launched airstrikes on Syria. (Image: SKY NEWS)

Smoke billows following Israeli strikes near the Syrian army and defence ministry headquarters (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

As clashes have raged for days in the southern Syrian city of Sweida between government forces and Druze armed groups, Israel has launched dozens of strikes targeting government troops and convoys, which it says are in support of the religious minority group, and has vowed to escalate its involvement.

The escalating violence appears to be the most serious threat yet to the ability of Syria’s new rulers to consolidate control of the country after a rebel offensive led by Islamist insurgent groups ousted longtime despotic leader, Bashar Assad, in December, bringing an end to a nearly 14-year civil war.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said after the airstrike in a post on X that the “painful blows have begun.” An Israeli military official who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations said the army was preparing for a “multitude of scenarios” and that a brigade, normally comprising thousands of soldiers, was being pulled out of Gaza and sent to the Golan Heights.

Syria’s Defence Ministry had earlier blamed militias in the Druze-majority area of Sweida for violating a ceasefire agreement that had been reached Tuesday, causing Syrian army soldiers to return fire. It said they were “adhering to rules of engagement to protect residents, prevent harm, and ensure the safe return of those who left the city back to their homes.”

The Syrian army's General Staff Complex was hit by Israel on Wednesday (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

Following the strikes on Wednesday, a source in the Syrian Interior Ministry claimed to state news agency SANA that an agreement on a ceasefire in Sweida had been reached.

The primarily Sunni Muslim leaders have faced suspicion from religious and ethnic minorities, whose fears increased after clashes between Government forces and pro-Assad armed groups in March spiralled into sectarian revenge attacks. Hundreds of civilians from the Alawite religious minority, to which Assad belongs, were killed.

The latest Israeli strikes may spark fury in the White House, amid reports from Axios correspondent Barak Ravid that the Trump administration had asked Israel to hald its attacks in Syria and seek dialogue.