@gmanews: An Al Jazeera reporter could be seen shielding himself on Wednesday, July 16, while on air, as a large explosion hit a building behind him. He could be heard saying the building was the Syrian military headquarters. Israel launched powerful airstrikes in Damascus on Wednesday, 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. Courtesy: Al Jazeera via Reuters #GMAIntegratedNews