The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the Damascus headquarters served as a command center for deploying regime forces to Suwayda, a southern Syrian region gripped by days of deadly clashes between government troops, Druze militias, and Bedouin groups.

Druze leaders in Lebanon are voicing their growing concerns over the deadly violence unfolding in Suwayda while members of the community are trying to cross the border into Syria.

The Druze, a minority group in Syria, are at the heart of escalating tensions with Israel, prompting Israeli airstrikes to safeguard them.

Syria’s foreign ministry says a number of soldiers and civilians have been killed by coordinated Israeli drone attacks and airstrikes near the two countries’ border.

Israeli airstrikes in Syria and Lebanon have killed at least 12 people, according to regional and international sources. The strikes targeted Syrian government forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in what Israel described as an operation to secure its northern borders.

By Timour Azhari BEIRUT (Reuters) -Thousands of Syrian refugees are set to return from Lebanon this week under the first, U.N.-backed plan providing financial incentives, after Syria's new rulers said all citizens were welcome home despite deep war damage and security concerns.

Israel launched several air attacks in Syria and Lebanon in the past day, increasing tensions with its neighbors.

Israel has bombed the areas around the Syrian city of Suweida after renewed fighting between Syrian government forces and Druze militias. This came after clashes broke out between the Druze and Bedouin tribes over the weekend in which 30 were left dead and dozens wounded.

Washington and Jerusalem have kept a watchful eye on Damascus ever since the overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad regime by Sunni Muslim rebels in December. Of greatest concern has been the level of solidarity the new Syrian government maintains with ISIS — the terrorist organization that Syrian interim president