Syria's al-Sharaa addresses Israeli attacks in televised speech

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa gave a televised address on Wednesday night, saying that Syria has rejected all forms of division over its long history and would overcome attempts by Israel to tear the country apart, according to reports.

Israel "seeks to dissolve the unity of our people and to weaken our ability to progress in the process of reconstruction and revival," al-Sharaa said. 

Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli air strikes targeted Syrian governmental buildings, including the army headquarters in the capital, Damascus, and other parts of the country. 

The Israeli attacks come after days of deadly clashes between Syrian government forces and members of the Druze minority in Sweida, a predominantly Druze province in southern Syria. 

Al-Sharaa vowed on Thursday that those behind violence against the Druze minority would be held accountable and that security responsibility would be returned to local authorities.

"We are keen on holding accountable those who transgressed and abused our Druze people, as they are under the protection and responsibility of the state," Sharaa said, adding that the Druze community "was a fundamental part of the fabric of this nation... protecting your rights and freedom is one of our priorities".