A key governing partner of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it is quitting the government, leaving him with a minority in parliament.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s government suffered a serious blow on Tuesday when an ultra-Orthodox party announced it was bolting the coalition.

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.

Israel has launched strikes near the Syrian Defense Ministry, claiming its support for the religious minority group, the Druze. Moments ago, Syrian government officials and leaders in the Druze religious minority announced a renewed ceasefire following the strikes and after days of clashes that have threatened to unravel the country’s postwar political transition.

Israel says its military has attacked the headquarters of the Syrian military in Damascus Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz says "warnings" have now ended and "painful blows" will come Israel says it is trying to protect members of the Druze community in south-west Syria "We are working to save our Druze brothers and to eliminate the regime's gangs,