Israel launched powerful airstrikes on Damascus on Wednesday, blowing up part of the defence ministry and hitting near the presidential palace, while also striking government security forces operating against militants from the country's Druze minority in the southern province of Sweida.

Israel carried out a series of powerful strikes on the Syrian capital Damascus Wednesday, escalating a campaign it says is in support of an Arab minority group involved in deadly clashes with Syrian government forces.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is now leading a minority government after losing the support of another ultra-Orthodox faction. Shas, a Sephardic-haredi political party, announced its decision to exit the ruling coalition on Wednesday in protest of the government’s inaction to restore exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox believers.