Israeli forces led by defence minister Israel Katz launched an operation to destroy Syria’s military fleet as part of a broader campaign to eliminate threats to Israel’s security. Katz announced the operation during a visit to a naval base in Haifa, stating that a “sterile defensive zone” would be established in southern Syria to prevent terrorist threats to Israel. The Israeli military confirmed its presence in the buffer zone between Syria and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights but denied advancing on Damascus, as some reports suggested.
Rebel leader Mohammed al-Bashir has been appointed as Syria’s interim prime minister, leading the transitional government until 2025. The rebel-led Salvation government, affiliated with Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has taken control in parts of northwestern Syria and Idlib. Despite the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, concerns remain about extremist roots and war crimes associated with the rebel forces.
Meanwhile, Israel’s actions in Syria have drawn condemnation from Saudi Arabia and Turkey, who accused Israel of violating international law by seizing the Golan Heights buffer zone. European countries have urged Iran to halt its nuclear escalation after reports of increased uranium enrichment activities.
As the situation in Syria remains unstable, countries like Spain and the UK have paused asylum applications from Syrian nationals amid uncertainty about the future. The UNHCR reports that over 131,000 Syrians across Europe are awaiting a response to their asylum requests. Amidst these developments, Benjamin Netanyahu appeared in court in Tel Aviv for his ongoing corruption trial, becoming the first sitting Israeli prime minister to do so.
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