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Watch: Moment strikes hit in Damascus as reporter live on air

An Al Jazeera reporter could be seen shielding himself while on air, as a large explosion hit a building behind him earlier today.

He could be heard saying the building was the Syrian military headquarters.

Israel has launched powerful airstrikes in Damascus, damaging the defence ministry and hitting near the presidential palace as it vowed to destroy Syrian government forces attacking Druze communities in southern Syria and demanded they withdraw.

The attacks marked a significant Israeli escalation against the Islamist-led administration of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa and came despite his warming ties with the United States and his administration's evolving security contacts with Israel.