29 h. ago Israel says airstrikes in Syria are ‘message’ to protect Druze minority

Syria says at least one civilian killed in latest strikes, while most Druze leaders rebuff Israeli protectionIsraeli warplanes have carried out a series of airstrikes outside Damascus and across Syria, after warnings from Israeli officials that the country would intervene to protect the Syria’s minority Druze sect.The airstrikes targeted a Syrian military site in the Damascus suburb of Harasta, as well as hitting unknown targets in Deraa province in south Syria and Hama province in north-west Syria. At least one civilian was killed and four people were injured as a result of the Israeli bombings late Friday night, according to Syrian state media. Continue reading...

Politics

44 h. ago Israel launches airstrikes near Syrian presidential palace in Damascus

Benjamin Netanyahu says strike intended to deter Syria’s new leadership from any hostile move against the DruzeIsrael’s air force launched airstrikes against unidentified targets near Syria’s presidential palace, in what Israeli officials said was a warning to the Syrian government after days of bloody clashes near Damascus between pro-government militia and fighters from the Druze minority sectBenjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, and the defence minister, Israel Katz, said in a joint statement that the strike early on Friday, the second this week in Syria, was intended to deter the country’s new leadership from any hostile move against the Druze. Continue reading...

Politics

47 h. ago Israel launches airstrikes near Syria presidential palace in Damascus

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will not allow Syrian forces to deploy south of Damascus or threaten Druze communityIsrael attacked a target near the presidential palace in the Syrian capital, Damascus, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early on Friday, reiterating his vow to protect members of the Druze community.It marks the second time Israel has struck Syria in as many days, following through on a promise to defend the minority group, which was involved in sectarian violence against Sunni gunmen earlier this week. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Israel breaks ceasefire for third time after launching more airstrikes on Beirut suburbs

A huge plume of smoke billowed over the area after Israel launched fresh airstrikes on Beirut, which hit what looked like a metal tent situated between two buildings with three bombs

Events

1 week ago Children in school shelter among 25 killed in wave of Israeli strikes on Gaza

Israel launches wave of airstrikes as Arab negotiators make new ceasefire proposalAt least 25 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, including 11 in the bombing of a school turned shelter, the strip’s civil defence agency said, as Israel’s war against Hamas in the besieged Palestinian territory grinds on despite a new ceasefire proposal from Arab mediators.Intense Israeli bombings hit several areas of Gaza on Wednesday, killing 11 in a school sheltering displaced people in al-Tuffah, a neighbourhood of Gaza City. The strike ignited a huge fire that claimed most of the casualties, said a civil defence spokesperson, Mahmoud Bassal. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Wave of Israeli airstrikes kill at least 40 across Gaza, says civil defence agency

Missiles hit encampments for displaced Palestinians as talks on response to Israel truce offer ‘almost complete’A wave of Israeli airstrikes on encampments for displaced Palestinians has killed at least 40 people across Gaza, as Hamas officials said consultations on response to Israel truce offer “almost complete”.Civil defence spokesperson Mahmud Bassal said two Israeli missiles hit several tents in the al-Mawasi area of the southern city of Khan Younis, resulting in at least 16 deaths, most of them women and children, and 23 others were wounded. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Airstrike destroys parts of Gaza City hospital as Israel intensifies offensive

Civil defence agency says al-Ahli hospital hit as IDF operations cut off access to southern city of RafahSee all our Israel-Gaza war coverageAn Israeli airstrike destroyed parts of a hospital in Gaza City early on Sunday as Israel continued its military offensive in the war-battered Palestinian territory and cut off access to the southern city of Rafah.The Palestinian civil defence agency said Israel’s air force fired missiles at al-Ahli hospital, also known as the Baptist or Ahli Arab hospital. It is the only hospital still functioning in Gaza City after the destruction of medical facilities in the northern area of the strip. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago France could recognise Palestinian state ‘in June’, says Emmanuel Macron – Middle East crisis live

President says ‘we must move towards recognition’ and process could start at UN conference on settling Israel-Palestine conflict in New York in JuneSuspected US airstrikes in Yemen overnight into Thursday killed at least three people, while the death toll in an earlier attack rose to 13 dead, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels said. The rebels meanwhile aired footage they said showed the debris left after shooting down yet another American MQ-9 Reaper drone, reports the Associated Press (AP). The 13 killed in strikes on Tuesday night around Hodeida’s al-Hawak district made it one of the deadliest single incidents in the ongoing US campaign, the rebels said.Another 15 people were injured. The Houthis described the majority of those killed as women and children, without providing a breakdown. The area is home to the city’s airport, which the rebels have used in the past to target shipping in the Red Sea. Since its start, the intense campaign of US airstrikes targeting the rebels over their...

Politics

3 w. ago Middle East crisis live: Israeli attack on tents housing journalists in Gaza kills at least two, say Palestinian medics

Airstrikes hit media tent outside Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, say medics, injuring nine othersAs we mentioned in the opening summary, ten Britons have been accused of committing war crimes while fighting for Israel in Gaza. Here is some more of the story, written by the Guardian’s legal affairs correspondent Haroon Siddique:Michael Mansfield KC is one of a group of lawyers who will on Monday hand in a 240-page dossier to Scotland Yard’s war crimes unit alleging targeted killing of civilians and aid workers, including by sniper fire, and indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas, including hospitals.The report, which has been prepared by a team of UK lawyers and researchers in The Hague, also accuses suspects of coordinated attacks on protected sites including historic monuments and religious sites, and forced transfer and displacement of civilians. Continue reading...

Events

4 w. ago Israel restarts ground operations in northern Gaza Strip in renewed campaign

At least 25 killed in attack on Khan Younis in south as Israel says it is aiming to pressure Hamas into releasing hostagesIsrael has restarted ground operations in the northern Gaza Strip and killed at least 25 people in airstrikes on the southern city of Khan Younis in what it says is a renewed military campaign aimed at pressuring Hamas into releasing Israeli hostages.At least 25 people were killed in the attack on Khan Younis early on Friday, the local Nasser hospital told AFP, as the search for survivors continued. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Israeli bombing of Gaza school housing displaced Palestinians kills at least 27, say medical officials

Most of those killed were women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry

Events