Israeli Strikes on Damascus, Temple Mount News, and Digital ID in China

Tipping Point Quick Hits (7.17.25)

Israeli Airstrikes Hit Damascus

This is an ongoing and rapidly changing situation, but I want you to be aware of the escalating military conflict between Israel and Syria. Yesterday, powerful Israeli airstrikes hit Damascus, Syria, targeting the Syrian Defense Ministry as well as areas near the presidential palace. These are some of Israel’s most direct strikes on central Syria in years and have caused extensive damage in the heart of Damascus.

In fact, reports from today indicate that several Western diplomats were almost hit by the missiles while passing by in an armored convoy.

Israel launched the strikes after a clash between Syrian government forces and local Druze militias, which resulted in around 300 deaths—some of which were reportedly execution-style. (The Druze are a minority religious sect who practice an offshoot of Islam but have strong ties to Israel. Some Druze even have held key military positions in Israel. Around one million Druze live in Syria, Lebanon and the Golan Heights.)

From Israel’s perspective, the strikes were to protect the Druze and push Islamic militants away from Israel’s border. The Syrian government and Druze factions announced a ceasefire yesterday afternoon, but Israel’s airstrikes haven’t let up. The United States has attempted to de-escalate the situation. “We told the Israelis to stand down and take a breath,” one U.S. official said yesterday.

Why does this matter?