Israel launched rare strikes in Damascus on Wednesday in a campaign it said was aimed at defending the Druze community after days of clashes in the southern city of Sweida.

The agreement followed Israeli airstrikes in the Syrian capital of Damascus — a move Israel said was meant to defend the Druze and deter militants from the Syria-Israel border. Here’s what to know about the Druze and what triggered the recent violence in Syria.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is now leading a minority government after losing the support of another ultra-Orthodox faction. Shas, a Sephardic-haredi political party, announced its decision to exit the ruling coalition on Wednesday in protest of the government’s inaction to restore exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox believers.