Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testified in court Tuesday, recounting how former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry boasted about the strength of U.S.-trained Afghan forces during the Obama administration. Netanyahu said Kerry used Afghanistan as an example to advocate for U.S. training and arming of Palestinian police forces, part of an effort to pressure Israel into concessions in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).
Turkish-backed militias, operating under the Syrian National Army (SNA), have advanced into northern Syria, displacing tens of thousands of Kurdish civilians. The SNA captured Manbij, a Kurdish-controlled city, on Tuesday. This followed last week’s seizure of Shahba, where Kurdish officials reported over 120,000 people were forced to flee. The SNA’s offensive is part of “Operation Dawn of Freedom,” aimed at removing Kurdish forces from northern Syria.
Israel has announced plans to create a “sterile defense zone” in southern Syria following significant military operations and the collapse of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
Hamas, the Sunni jihadist group ruling Gaza, applauded the overthrow of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad regime by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist organization. In a statement Monday, Hamas hailed the "aspirations for freedom and justice" of the Syrian people and urged national unity. HTS’s November campaign rapidly toppled Assad’s forces, leading to his flight to Moscow over the weekend.
On Sunday, U.S. forces launched a series of strikes on ISIS locations in Syria, targeting over 75 sites to prevent the resurgence of the terrorist group.
The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria has sparked warnings of a looming migrant crisis. With President Bashar al-Assad fleeing to Russia over the weekend, European leaders welcomed the regime's fall, but the resulting instability may drive millions of Syrians toward Europe, echoing the 2015 migrant crisis.
Vice President-elect JD Vance reinforced President-elect Donald Trump’s position on avoiding involvement in Syria, declaring that the ongoing conflict is "not our fight." In a post on X, Vance echoed Trump’s remarks, emphasizing the need for the United States to focus on its own priorities and avoid entanglement in Syria.
Syrians in Damascus celebrated Monday, flooding Umayyad Square to mark the end of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The sudden collapse of Assad’s government follows a rapid rebel offensive that ousted the dictator after decades of rule by his family.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) carried out extensive airstrikes across Syria on Sunday, targeting key military installations and weapon stockpiles to counter threats to Israel’s security.
