Western diplomats were within meters of Israeli strikes in Damascus: Sources
No-one in the convoy was injured and it continued on its way, the people said, declining to give further details on the nationalities or number of those involved.
Israel launched powerful airstrikes on Damascus on Wednesday, blowing up part of the defense ministry and hitting near the presidential palace, while also striking government security forces operating against militants from the country's Druze minority in the southern province of Sweida.
A Syrian medical source said the strikes on the ministry killed five members of the security forces.
Israel says its strikes were part of an effort to protect the Druze minority in southern Syria, an assertion rejected by Syria's president, who said Israel aimed to undermine the new government's efforts to bring the country together.
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Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Lebanon delays implementing arms restriction amid Syria concerns
LEBANON: Lebanon has delayed the implementation of arms restrictions, Arab News has learned, amid growing concerns over developments in neighboring Syria — though it remains committed to disarming non-state militias, including Hezbollah. US Special Envoy Tom Barrack, speaking from Beirut on Monday, said the issue of Hezbollah's disarmament remains a domestic Lebanese matter. 'As far as the US is concerned, Hezbollah is a foreign terrorist group that we have no direct dealings with, and we are discussing this file with the Lebanese government,' said Barrack, who called on the Syrian government 'to take responsibility for the developments that occurred in Sweida,' considering that 'part of that responsibility may lie in the failure of communication between all Syrian components.' Barrack, who returned to Beirut on his third visit to Lebanon as part of his mission to establish a mechanism to implement the ceasefire agreement, including the withdrawal of Hezbollah's weapons, expressed, after his meeting with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, 'the US's disappointment if no agreement is reached on the issue of arms and the failure of the ceasefire agreement.' He warned that when it comes to guarantees, 'the US cannot compel Israel to do anything.' Barrack began his meetings with officials by meeting President Joseph Aoun in the presence of the US Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson. Aoun handed him, 'on behalf of the Lebanese state, the draft comprehensive memorandum for the implementation of Lebanon's commitments, starting from the declaration of Nov. 27, 2024, through the ministerial statement of the Lebanese government, and the presidential inauguration speech,' according to a statement issued by the presidency's media office. The statement clarified that 'the draft memorandum centered on the urgent need to save Lebanon through the extension of the Lebanese state's authority over its entire territory by its own forces alone, the exclusive possession of arms by the Lebanese armed forces, affirming the Lebanese constitutional institutions' sole authority over decisions of war and peace. 'This would go in parallel with preserving Lebanese sovereignty across all its international borders, reconstruction efforts, and launching economic recovery; all with the guarantee and support of Lebanon's brothers and friends around the world, in a way that safeguards the safety, security, and dignity of all Lebanon and all Lebanese.' A Lebanese political source told Arab News that 'the Lebanese response handed to Barrack did not include a timeline for addressing the weapons issue, as the situation has changed in light of the developments in Syria.' The source explained that Barrack's meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Tuesday, who is negotiating on behalf of Hezbollah, will be key to understand the next steps following the recent developments which 'have raised more questions.' The source continued: 'The American document includes demands not only related to Hezbollah's weapons, but also to Lebanon's relationship with Syria and the border issue.' it added: 'The American side indeed wants a clear timeline for arms withdrawal, but in light of what happened in Sweida, will there be repercussions on Lebanon? Lebanon is afraid of what occurred and extremely concerned about its borders. It is demanding a halt to the entry of Syrians into its territory, including refugees and the potential approach of militants.' In a press conference held after he met with Salam, Barrack said that the reason for his return to Beirut was 'President Donald Trump's great interest in achieving regional stability,' stressing that Beirut remains 'at the center' of the process. 'As we have said before, Lebanon is the key to this experiment that began long ago with the emigration of religious minorities and political parties, who have succeeded around the world. The idea is to restore that success.' Barrack said his return to the region comes amid instability in Syria, where government forces were recently deployed to contain deadly clashes between Bedouin and Druze communities that left hundreds dead last week. 'However, we must stress the need to focus and restore stability to Lebanon and hope to the region, and we will continue down this path. We will follow up on our meeting with your leaders, who have been more than helpful in reaching the conditions and solutions that will resolve this situation, not only for Lebanon but for all the issues happening simultaneously. We are bringing hope along with economic reforms and prosperity, and this is what we will work on.' Barrack said: 'There is a cessation of hostilities agreement that came into effect, but it has not succeeded. There are reasons for its failure, and that is part of what we are all trying to resolve. Failure would be disappointing to the US. There are no consequences, just disappointment. We are trying to help, influence, guide, and bring parties together; just some kind of influence to return to the model you all want to see: prosperity and peace for your children in the region.' As for whether there are guarantees for Lebanon, Barrack argued that the US in 'not here to impose anything on anyone, and we cannot compel Israel to do anything.' He said: 'We are here to use our influence and leverage to help reach an outcome. The matter is up to the government and everyone. When you grow tired of squabbling and rivalries, then everyone reaches the conclusion that there must be greater understanding and peace with neighbors so life can be better.' Regarding the possibility of imposing sanctions on Lebanese officials, Barrack reiterated that 'Sanctions against Lebanese officials is an extremely complicated issue. 'It exists and is sensitive, but it is not under consideration now,' he said. 'What we are trying to do is bring peace and stability, not throw more fuel on the fire.' On developments in Syria and the issue of minorities in Lebanon, Barrack said that US 'feels great concern, sorrow, and sympathy toward all the events in Syria, and is offering support. 'There is recognition that the new parties trying to govern the country must understand the importance of accommodating minorities, engaging in dialogue, and coordinating with neighbors, including Israel, and pushing all these pieces together.' Barrack argued that 15 years of civil war have left the country in dire conditions and its ethic minorities deeply divided. 'The situation in Lebanon is different; there is an existing government working with minorities and the army. There is a stable army understood by the people. In Syria, however, there is a new government, and minorities and tribes who spent most of their childhood in chaos and in the absence of government. What is happening is the result of tribal, individual, and familial clashes. What is happening is undoubtedly horrific, and a quick solution must be found.' On Monday, Barrack toured and met with Maronite Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi, Metropolitan Elias Audi of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Beirut and its Dependencies, Army Commander Gen. Rodolphe Haikal, former leader of the Progressive Socialist Party Walid Jumblatt, and met with several MPs during a dinner at the US embassy. Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, in a speech delivered on July 18, warned Barrack that he is 'handing over Lebanon to Israel.' He asked: 'Do they want Lebanon to be divided between Israel and Syria? The weapons are an obstacle because they enabled Lebanon to stand on its feet and prevented Israel from expanding.' Qassem warned in his speech that 'armed groups in Syria may launch an attack on eastern Lebanon,' saying: 'All sects in Lebanon are under threat. Once we remove the danger, we are ready to discuss the defense strategy and the national security strategy.'
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Israeli forces push into parts of a central Gaza city that the war had largely spared
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: Israeli ground troops for the first time Monday pushed into areas of a central Gaza city where several aid groups are based, in what appeared to be the latest effort to carve up the Palestinian territory with military corridors. Deir Al-Balah is the only Gaza city that has not seen major ground operations or suffered widespread devastation in 21 months of war, leading to speculation that the Hamas militant group holds large numbers of hostages there. The main group representing hostages' families said it was 'shocked and alarmed' by the incursion and demanded answers from Israeli leaders. Israel says the seizure of territory in Gaza is aimed at pressuring Hamas to release hostages, but it is a major point of contention in ongoing ceasefire talks. The UN food agency, meanwhile, accused Israeli forces of firing on a crowd of Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid over the weekend. Gaza's Health Ministry called it one of the deadliest attacks on aid-seekers in the war that has driven the territory to the brink of famine. In the latest sign of international frustration, the United Kingdom, France and 23 other Western-aligned countries issued a statement saying 'the war in Gaza must end now.' They harshly criticized Israel's restrictions on humanitarian aid and called for the release of the 50 hostages remaining in Gaza. Evacuation orders dropped at dawn Associated Press reporters heard explosions and saw smoke rising from parts of the city that were ordered evacuated on Sunday. The Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said it was the first time ground troops had operated in the area. A man living in the evacuation zone, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said Israel dropped pamphlets at dawn ordering people to evacuate. Two hours later, tanks rolled into the area. He said his 62-year-old father, who had spent the night elsewhere, fled from house to house as Israeli forces moved in and saw them flattening structures with bulldozers and tanks. Both men managed to leave the evacuation zone. United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said two UN guesthouses in Deir Al-Balah were damaged by shrapnel. He said the cause was still being investigated but that heavy Israeli airstrikes had been reported in the area. Local and international staff will continue to work there, he said. The military declined to say if it had ordered the evacuation of aid groups based in the city, saying only that it maintains continuous contact with them and facilitates their relocation when necessary. UN says nearly 90 percent of Gaza is now off limits Tens of thousands of people have sought refuge in Deir Al-Balah during repeated waves of mass displacement in Gaza. The UN humanitarian coordinator says 87.8 percent of Gaza is now under evacuation orders or inside Israeli military zones, 'leaving 2.1 million civilians squeezed into a fragmented 12 percent of the Strip, where essential services have collapsed.' Israel has taken over large areas of Gaza and split the territory with corridors stretching from the border to the sea as it seeks to pressure Hamas to release more hostages. In response to the Deir Al-Balah incursion, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum warned in its statement that 'the people of Israel will not forgive anyone who knowingly endangered the hostages — both the living and the deceased. No one will be able to claim they didn't know what was at stake.' Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war and killed around 1,200 people. Fewer than half of the 50 hostages still in Gaza are believed to be alive. Israel blames the deaths of Palestinian civilians on Hamas because the militants operate in densely populated areas, and it accuses the group of prolonging the war because Hamas has not accepted Israel's terms for a ceasefire. Rare condemnation from UN food agency The World Food Program, in a rare condemnation, said the crowd surrounding its convoy in northern Gaza on Sunday 'came under fire from Israeli tanks, snipers and other gunfire.' It said 'countless lives' were lost. A photographer working with the AP counted 51 bodies at two hospitals. The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 80 people were killed. Israel's military said it fired warning shots 'to remove an immediate threat' and questioned the death toll reported by the Palestinians. It declined to comment on the WFP statement. Hundreds of people have been killed while seeking food in recent weeks, both from UN convoys and separate aid sites run by an Israeli-backed group that has been mired in controversy. The Palestinian death toll from the war has climbed to more than 59,000, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Its count does not distinguish between militants and civilians, but the ministry says more than half of the dead are women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas government, but the UN and other international organizations see it as the most reliable source of data on casualties. Israel detains Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson Gaza health officials said at least 18 people, including three women and five children, were killed in Israeli strikes overnight and into Monday. The Israeli military had no immediate comment. At least three people were killed when crowds of Palestinians waiting for aid trucks were shot at in the area of the Netzarim corridor in central Gaza, according to two hospitals that received the bodies. The Gaza Health Ministry said Israeli forces detained Dr. Marwan Al-Hams, acting director of the strip's field hospitals and the ministry's spokesman. Israeli troops killed a local journalist, Tamer Al-Zaanein, who was accompanying Al-Hams, and wounded two other people when they detained him near a Red Cross field hospital in southern Gaza, according to the Health Ministry and the journalist's family. The International Committee of the Red Cross declined to provide details but said it was 'very concerned' about safety and security around the hospital 'and the impact this can have on patients and staff.' The Israeli military had no immediate comment. Israel again strikes rebel-held port in Yemen The fighting in Gaza has triggered conflicts elsewhere in region, including between Israel and the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have fired missiles and drones at Israel in what they say is in solidarity with Palestinians. The Israeli military said it struck the Hodeidah port in Yemen early Monday. Israel has struck the port before, including two weeks ago, accusing the Houthis of using it to import arms from Iran. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the targets included areas of the port that Israel had destroyed in previous strikes. 'The Houthis will pay heavy prices for launching missiles toward the state of Israel,' Katz said.
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
Watchdog finds hundreds of Instagram, Facebook ads crowdfunding for Israeli military
LONDON: Consumer watchdog Eko has uncovered hundreds of ads on Meta platforms — including Instagram and Facebook — that promote crowdfunding campaigns for the Israel Defense Forces, in apparent violation of the company's own advertising policies. The ads, run by pro-Israel groups, aim to raise funds for military equipment such as drones and tactical gear, despite Meta's rules prohibiting the promotion of firearms and weapons-related content. According to Eko's research, at least 117 ads have been published since March 2025 explicitly soliciting donations for equipment used by the IDF. The ads, launched by two groups, targeted users in the US, UK and EU, and generated at least 76,000 impressions — the number of times an ad is displayed to users. Combined, the campaigns raised more than $2.4 million through landing pages linked to the ads. 'We are the sniper team of Unit Shaked, stationed in Gaza, and we urgently need shooting tripods to complete our mission in Jabalia,' one Facebook ad read. Eko said most of the ads raised funds for Autel EVO drones, the model that Israeli soldiers have reportedly retrofitted with grenades and used in deadly attacks in Gaza, including against children. An investigation by Israeli outlet +972 Magazine recently revealed that Israel has acquired large numbers of Chinese-made Autel quadcopters — drones typically used for photography and available for purchase on Amazon — and adapted them to carry explosives. 'Most of our drones are broken and falling apart— and we don't have any replacements,' another ad said. 'Donate now — every second counts, every drone saves lives.' While Eko noted it is unclear whether funds raised through the ads were directly used to purchase drones, IDF soldiers told +972 that they had received Autel drones through donations, fundraisers and Facebook groups. One of the groups identified by Eko is the nonprofit Vaad Hatzedaka, which linked to a donation page listing equipment it was seeking to fund, including two Autel drones. As of this month, the campaign had raised more than $250,000 of its $300,000 goal. Another campaign, launched by Israeli singer-songwriter Mayer Malik, claimed to have collected more than $2.2 million for the IDF. Meta's advertising policies explicitly ban content that promotes the sale or use of restricted goods such as weapons, ammunition and explosives. 'Meta is profiting from genocide — approving ads that help funnel millions of dollars toward killer drones and military gear likely used to murder Palestinians,' Vicky Wyatt, campaign director, said. 'This isn't just a moderation failure — it's a business model built to reward whoever pays, no matter the harm.' While Meta has removed some of the ads flagged in Eko's latest report, the watchdog said the company has done little to address broader concerns raised during a previous investigation in December 2024. At the time, Eko flagged 98 similar ads, prompting takedowns, but Meta allowed the advertisers to return with near-identical campaigns. The IDF itself is not directly running the fundraising campaigns. The new findings come just days after a separate investigation by the Tech Transparency Project revealed that platforms including X and WhatsApp were being used as storefronts for weapons sales by arms dealers linked to Houthi militants in Yemen. Eko warned that Meta's approval of the IDF-linked ads may also breach the EU's Digital Services Act, which requires platforms to remove content that violates national or EU laws.
