Omar Al Ghadban after he and his family visited Jaramana near #Damascus

" #Syria is not safe for the return of refugees who fled #Assad brutality. Many fear the violence of extremists who still operate as the country’s new interim government is trying to bring them to heel"

The mediation effort preceded Israeli strikes in #Syria last week, including one just 500 metres (yards) from the presidential palace in #Damascus, & Reuters could not establish if the mechanism has been used since the strikes occurred.

#Israel has framed the strikes as a message to Syria's new rulers in response to threats against Syria's #Druze, a minority sect that is an offshoot of #Islam with adherents in Syria, #Lebanon & Israel.

1 civilian killed at Harasta near #Damascus & 4 wounded near Hama by #Israel strikes

UN special envoy Pedersen: "I call for these attacks to cease at once & for Israel to stop endangering Syrian civilians and to respect int'l law & #Syria sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity & independence"

#Israel continues airstrikes across #Syria overnight, w attacks outside #Damascus and on Daraa, Hama, Latakia, and Quneitra provinces

Israeli military helicopter reportedly lands on base run by #Suwayda Military Council, a Druze faction opposed to the Government, in southern Syria

SMC, headed by Sheikh Hikmat Salman al-Hijri, opposes an agreement made by other Druze leaders with Damascus to end sectarian violence and bring Druze men into the security forces

#Syria Presidency: Overnight #Israel attacks on #Damascus, including an airstrike 100 meters from the Presidential Palace, are a “dangerous escalation"

Condemns "serious escalation against state institutions and its sovereignty”

Report: Evictions of Alawites from homes near #Damascus by members of #Suria 's General Security Service

Gov't officials say 1000s, majority of them Alawites, removed from housing associated w jobs in regime institutions

But other officials & residents speak of removals from privately-owned homes

#Israel strikes early Thurs and early Friday near Presidential Palace in southern #Damascus

Pretext of protecting #Druze community v. Sunni militants

Local agreements reached Thursday after recent sectarian violence