
Israel's continued interventions worsen Syria's crisis: Turkish FM
"Any attack targeting Syria's territorial integrity, unity, and sovereignty undermines regional peace efforts," Fidan told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a phone conversation on the situation in southern Syria, Xinhua news agency reported.
It is important to implement the mutual understanding reached by the parties involved, Fidan added, which should refer to an immediate and comprehensive nationwide ceasefire announced earlier in the day by the Syrian authorities.
In a statement issued Saturday morning, the Syrian authorities said the truce aimed to preserve national unity and ensure the safety of civilians amid "critical circumstances," describing the move as a national and humanitarian obligation.
The statement came hours after US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack revealed the truce on X, stating that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syrian interim leader Ahmed al-Sharaa had agreed to a cessation of hostilities, brokered by Rubio.
Earlier on Tuesday, Israel launched a series of airstrikes targeting convoys of Syrian forces in and around the southern Syrian city of Sweida, killing and wounding several personnel and further escalating days of deadly clashes between local Druze armed factions, Bedouin tribes, and the Syrian interim government's forces.
Syria condemned Israel's involvement and said the strikes had resulted in the deaths of members of the armed forces and civilians.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)

First Post
3 minutes ago
- First Post
Trump 'caught off guard' by Israeli bombings in Syria, Gaza church last week, says White House
Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after receiving the news of Israeli strikes in Syria and asked him to 'rectify' the matter read more US President Donald Trump sitting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. File Image / Reuters US President Donald Trump was caught 'off-guard' by Israel's unprecedented air strikes against Syria last week, the White House has said. Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after receiving the news of Israeli strikes in Syria and asked him to 'rectify' the matter. The president was, similarly, surprised by Israel's airstrike on the only Catholic church in Gaza that killed at least three people. The White House said he strongly condemned the attack on the church to Netanyahu and asked the prime minister to release a statement a statement calling the strike a mistake. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The president enjoys a good working relationship with Bibi Netanyahu, and stays in frequent communication with him. He was caught off guard by the bombing in Syria and also the bombing of a Catholic Church in Gaza,' press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. Refresh for updates.


Time of India
19 minutes ago
- Time of India
A month after ceasefire with Israel, Iranians fear another war
The ceasefire that ended Iran's 12-day war with Israel has held for nearly a month without incident, but many Iranians remain uneasy, struggling with uncertainty as fears of another confrontation linger. "I don't think this ceasefire will last," said Peyman, a 57-year-old resident of Shiraz in Iran's south, one of numerous cities hit last month as Israel unleashed an unprecedented bombing campaign against its staunch rival. The Israeli offensive targeted key nuclear facilities and military sites, killing top commanders and nuclear scientists and hundreds of other people, while also wreaking havoc in some residential areas. The attacks triggered the fiercest fighting in history between the longtime foes, ending with a ceasefire announced on June 24. But Israel has signalled it could return to fighting if Iran attempts to rebuild nuclear facilities or carry out any actions deemed a threat, such as moving to develop an atomic bomb -- an ambition Tehran has consistently denied it was pursuing. Live Events Iran, in turn, has vowed to deliver a harsh response if attacked again. Nuclear diplomacy with the United States -- which briefly joined the war with strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites -- has stalled, deepening a sense of uncertainty about what lies ahead. "I am scared the war would start again," said Hamid, a 54-year-old government employee who gave only his first name. "It will lead to the death of more innocent people and the destruction of the country's infrastructure." During the war, Israel struck major Iranian cities including the capital Tehran, hitting military sites, government buildings and the state television headquarters. More than 1,000 people were killed in Iran, according to authorities. Retaliatory missile and drone attacks killed 29 people in Israel. - 'Don't want to flee again' - Many residents fled Tehran, seeking refuge in other parts of the country, even though few regions were untouched by the blasts and smoke-covered skies. Nearly a month later, a series of fires that broke out across Iran in recent days -- including one at a major oil facility -- have triggered speculations which officials were quick to dismiss, denying any acts of sabotage. "This war really frightened me," said 78-year-old housewife Golandam Babaei, from the western Kermanshah province. She lived through the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, a painful memory for many of her generation. "I kept telling myself, please God, do not let the past repeat itself," Babaei told AFP. The war with Israel, although much shorter and fought mostly with air strikes and missiles rather than by ground forces, revived grim memories of the conflict with Iraq. That war, triggered by an Iraqi invasion in 1980, killed an estimated 500,000 people on both sides. It featured chemical warfare and prolonged front-line bombardments, scarring Iranians in the then-nascent Islamic republic born out of the 1979 revolution. Since then, for decades, Iran had managed to keep conflicts away from its territory. But now after the 12-day war with Israel, some Iranians feel a profound sense of vulnerability. "I kept thinking I don't want to flee again, we have nowhere to go. I cannot run to the mountains like the past," said Babaei. - Uncertain future - For Ali Khanzadi, a 62-year-old war veteran, the conflict with Israel highlighted a change compared to the 1980s when "we didn't have any advanced military equipment" to fight the Iraqis. Khanzadi, who was wounded in battle in 1983, said that the war with Israel, while much shorter, had a more sinister dimension. Unlike in the past, modern military technology means "they can kill a child in his sleep remotely using a drone," he said. In the face of the Israeli threats and attacks, Iranian authorities have repeatedly invoked national unity. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said the offensive was aimed at toppling the Islamic republic's clerical system, and urged Iranian diplomats and military officials to proceed with "care and precision" as the country cautiously moves on. Tehran has said it remained open to nuclear diplomacy with the United States which the war had derailed, but officials have expressed concerns over renewed attacks and demanded unspecified US guarantees to resume negotiations. Ordinary Iranians appear to share fears that the conflict could erupt again. "I hope that this will not happen," said Hamid. Babaei said she was praying "for peace, for us to remain safe in our homes".


Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
"He has ended wars, like India and Pakistan": White House Press Secretary on President Trump's global efforts
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised US President Donald Trump's foreign policy actions during a recent press briefing, citing several key global developments attributed to his leadership. "Look at what the president (US President Trump) has done on the world stage. He has ended wars, like India and Pakistan. He continues to work aggressively to end the war in Russia and Ukraine," Leavitt said, highlighting Trump's ongoing diplomatic efforts. She also pointed to Trump's actions on Iran and in the Middle East. "He completely obliterated Iran's nuclear sites. He has continued to hopefully negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza, to end that conflict and release all of the hostages," she said. Emphasising the impact of these efforts, Leavitt added, "We've seen many of the hostages released as a result of this president's efforts." Reflecting this, US President Donald Trump said that another 10 hostages held in Gaza are expected to be released "very shortly," amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Doha between Israeli and Hamas delegations, The Jerusalem Post reported. Live Events "We got most of the hostages back. We're going to have another 10 coming very shortly, and we hope to have that finished quickly," Trump said during a dinner with lawmakers at the White House on Friday (local time), according to The Jerusalem Post. The president also praised the work of his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, for his role in the ongoing talks. According to The Jerusalem Post, Israeli and Hamas negotiators have been taking part in the latest round of ceasefire talks in Doha since July 6, discussing a US-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire. Trump has made repeated comments over the past several weeks suggesting that a new hostage deal would soon be agreed upon. A senior Hamas spokesperson issued a warning on Friday, cautioning that the group would not consider future interim truces unless a deal is achieved in the current round of negotiations. "We are closely monitoring the ongoing negotiations and hope they will result in an agreement that guarantees the cessation of the war against our people, the withdrawal of occupation forces, and the relief of our people," said Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades spokesperson Abu Ubaida in a video statement, as cited by The Jerusalem Post. Former secretary of state Antony Blinken claimed on Wednesday that the United States and its partners in the Middle East were "85% of the way" to being done before the Trump administration took over. Despite this, the early days of the new Trump administration saw a breakthrough in a hostage deal after months of stalled talks. Hamas abducted over 250 people during its October 7, 2023, rampage, where the terror group invaded southern Israel and massacred more than 1,200 people. As of now, The Jerusalem Post reports that 50 hostages remain in Gaza, with 20 believed to be alive. The Jerusalem Post added that the ongoing diplomatic efforts are part of a broader push to bring an end to the hostilities and secure the safe return of the remaining hostages.