Israel strikes near Damascus presidential palace over Druze violence

Israel’s military said Friday it launched air strikes near the presidential palace in Damascus after the country’s defence minister threatened intervention if Syrian authorities failed to protect the Druze minority.

Syria’s Druze spiritual leader has condemned a “genocidal campaign” against his community after sectarian clashes killed 102 people.

The violence poses a serious challenge to the Islamist authorities in Syria who ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December.

Israel has since…