Israeli warplanes intensified their air campaign across southern Syria on Wednesday, striking the Syrian Army General Command headquarters and the presidential palace area in central Damascus. Syrian health authorities reported that the strikes on Damascus left at least three civilians dead and 34 others injured. China Central Television (CCTV) reporter Rand Shukri documented the aftermath of the attack, capturing smoke billowing from the military headquarters. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement on the day, confirming it had launched attacks on Syrian regime's military targets in Damascus. The statement noted that in the afternoon, the IDF conducted airstrikes on the military headquarters in Damascus and a military target near the presidential palace. The IDF also stated that the Syrian regime used the headquarters to command operations and deploy troops to the Sweida region in southern Syria. Hydar Kazwini, a reporter with China Global Television Network (CGTN), highlighted the light traffic on Damascus streets, as anxiety spread among residents following the strikes. The strikes came after the collapse of a ceasefire between Syrian government forces and armed Druze groups in Sweida, the heartland of the Druze community in Syria. The Druze are a religious and ethnic minority originating from Islam, living primarily in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel, with smaller communities in Jordan and elsewhere. Israel carried out several waves of strikes in Damascus and Sweida, with the stated aim of preventing the Druze minority from being harmed. Shotlist: Damascus, Syria - July 16, 2025 1. Various of smoke rising after Israeli strikes; Damascus, Syria - July 16, 2025 2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Rand Shukri, reporter, China Central Television (CCTV): "We are now at Umayyad Square in Damascus. Behind me are the buildings of the Syrian Army General Command and the Ministry of Defense, which were struck by Israeli warplanes. As you can see, traffic in Umayyad Square is significantly lighter than usual, as security forces are gradually blocking the roads."; Damascus, Syria - July 16, 2025 3. Various of traffic on Umayyad Square, buildings of Syrian Army General Command, Ministry of Defense; 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Hydar Kazwini, reporter, China Global Television Network (CGTN): "Behind me is the building for the Syrian Defense Ministry, it was hit [about] three times by the Israeli air force today, following the clashes between the Druze militants in Sweida City and the Syrian military, which started three days ago. We heard the ambulances going in and out from the building. A very big plume of smoke was seen following that strike. The sound of the explosions caused by the last two strikes by the Israelis are louder than the first one. Now we can see that the state of fear and anxiety is spreading out among the people in the city of Damascus. And the streets are starting to be a little bit empty now as people are trying to flee, fearing that situation and the strike might continue."; 5. Traffic; 6. Various of views seen from vehicle. [Restriction - No Access Chinese Mainland/Orient TV/Syria Alshaab TV/Zanoubia TV/Alhurra TV/ANN TV/Al Jazeera/ Al-Arabiya TV]