Syria slams Israeli Damascus strike as ‘dangerous escalation’

Syria’s Islamist rulers on Friday denounced an air strike near the presidential palace as a “dangerous escalation”, as Israel called it a “clear message” not to harm the Druze minority.

The dawn strike came hours after senior Druze clerics and armed factions reaffirmed their loyalty to Damascus and rejected any call for secession.

They also urged the authorities to appoint local officials to official posts in their Sweida province stronghold.

The statement followed sectarian clashes between…