Israeli leaders said they launched attacks on Syria this week to protect members of the Druze religious group in the country’s south, amid clashes in the area.

The Israel Defense Forces said it struck "the entrance" of Syria's military headquarters in Damascus on Wednesday.

Israel launched its military campaign in Syria to protect the Druze — a minority group facing extremist violence. But why is this community so important to Israel? To understand that, let’s first look at what’s been happening on the ground in Syria.