On Wednesday, Israel carried out extensive attacks on Damascus, including on the Defense Ministry building and an area near the presidential palace, CNN reports.

A Syrian TV channel captured the moment the building was hit, forcing the news anchor to take cover on live broadcast. The video was shared by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, with the words: “the painful attacks have begun.”

Israel: Wants to protect the Druze

In a statement, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said the attacks were aimed at protecting the Arab minority group, the Druze, who are in conflict with Bedouin forces loyal to the government in the Suweida region of Syria.

At least 13 people were injured in the Israeli attacks, according to the Syrian Health Ministry.

US wants to stop Israel's attacks

US Syria envoy Tom Barrack calls developments in the country"worrying" and urges Israel to halt its attacks, BBC reports.

But Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar defends the attacks as necessary for both national security and the protection of the Druze.

Moving troops from Gaza

And Israel looks set to continue its attacks. On Wednesday, an Israeli military official told Al Jazeera that soldiers from Gaza are now “being prepared to deploy to our northern border with Syria.”

"We are increasing the pressure and the pace of the attacks. We have carried out attacks in Damascus and will continue to attack throughout southern Syria," IDF commander Ori Gordin told the TV channel.

According to the human rights organization Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, SOHR, over 200 people have been killed in Syria since Sunday.