'Not afraid of war': Syria slams Israel's 'wide-scale targeting' of civilians - Key details

Syria 's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Thursday vowed accountability for those who "abused our Druze people ," a day after Israel launched airstrikes deep into Damascus , targeting Syria’s military headquarters and a site near the presidential palace.

In his first televised statement after the Israeli strike, Sharaa addressed Druze citizens and said, "We reject any attempt to drag you into the hands of an external party."

"We are not among those who fear war. We have spent our lives facing challenges and defending our people, but we have put the interests of Syrians above chaos and destruction," he said.

He also said he was handing over 'responsibility' for Druze area security to elders and local factions.

He added that the Syrian people are not afraid of war and are ready to fight if their dignity is threatened.

Sharaa also hailed US, Arab and Turkish mediation for saving the region from an "unknown fate."

"The Israeli entity resorted to a wide-scale targeting of civilian and government facilities," he said.

This led to a "significant complication of the situation and pushed matters to a large-scale escalation, except for the effective intervention of American, Arab, and Turkish mediation, which saved the region from an unknown fate", he said.