Five violent raids left the military headquarters located in the emblematic Umayyad Square almost destroyed, while damage was reported in the buildings of the National Library, the Opera House, the Radio and Television and residential buildings.

Ambulances rushed to the scene amid initial reports of dozens of military personnel and civilians among the dead and wounded.

Earlier, Israeli warplanes resumed their missile attacks on Syrian army positions in the southern city of Sweida, where violent clashes between Druze militias and government forces have left at least 200 dead and more than 400 wounded since last Sunday.

Israel escalated since last Sunday its air raids against government forces in the provinces of Sweida and Deraa, in the south of the country.

According to the official news agency SANA, several soldiers lost their lives and material damage was caused.

Tel Aviv assured that it would continue its bombardments unless government forces withdrew from Sweida province, inhabited by the Druze minority which Israel claims it wants to protect.

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