Turkey to provide weapons and support to Syria under new defense agreement
The announcement came a day after Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler and Syria's Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation on military training and consultancy, reinforcing Turkey's support to Syria's interim government.
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CNN
30 minutes ago
- CNN
Protesters in Israel demand hostage deal in one of the largest demonstrations since Gaza conflict began
Large crowds of Israelis took to the streets on Sunday, launching a nationwide grassroots strike and widespread protests to demand the government secure the release of 50 hostages still in Gaza. In one of the largest coordinated demonstrations since the beginning of the Gaza war nearly two years ago, protesters blocked major roads, closed private businesses, and staged rallies in big cities. People also protested outside government minister's homes. Organizers estimated that hundreds of thousands took part in the strike across Israel. The day of protests began at 06:29am, the exact time when Hamas launched its deadly attack on Israel on October 7. Family members of the hostages, leading the strike alongside the October Council, which represents bereaved families from the war, held a press conference in Tel Aviv, announcing an 'emergency break' until the hostages are released. 'Today, we stop everything to save the lives of 50 hostages and soldiers. Today, we stop everything to remember the supreme value of the sanctity of life,' said Anat Engrest, whose son Matan, is held hostage in Gaza. Polls have repeatedly shown a large majority in Israel support a ceasefire deal to release all of the hostages in exchange for an end to the war. The last round of negotiations fell apart in late-July, when the US and Israel withdrew their teams from talks in Doha, accusing Hamas of not negotiating in good faith. 'We are united in one simple demand directed at the Israeli government: Put an Israeli proposal on the table today for a comprehensive deal - to end the war in exchange for the return of the last hostage. No slogans, no sabotage, no demands that we know the other side won't accept,' said Vicky Cohen, whose son Nimrod, is a hostage. 'It's time to end the horrific nightmare the entire country has been living in for 22 months.' The strike was announced last week, following the Israeli security cabinet's decision to expand the war and take over Gaza City, despite the Israeli military's warning that the operations could endanger the 50 remaining hostages in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to still be alive. The Israeli military says the operation will begin 'soon' and the government says it will provide the local population with tents before relocating them 'for their protection.' Almost the entire population in Gaza has been displaced, with many forced to move multiple times. As of early Sunday afternoon, Israeli police say 38 protesters had been arrested across the country for disturbing the peace. Israel's largest labor organization, the Histadrut, did not join the strike, though it encouraged employers to let workers participate. But many technology companies, law firms, academic institutions and private sector enterprises announced their participation and support, alongside citizens who declared they would take the day off or refrain from business transactions. Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed support for the hostage families, while visiting the central gathering at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv. 'All of the people of Israel are anxious, concerned, and want the hostages to come home. There is not a single Israeli woman or man who does not want them home,' Herzog said. But members of the Israeli government slammed the day of protests. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting: 'Those who are calling today to end the war without defeating Hamas not only harden Hamas's stance and delay the release of our hostages – they are also ensuring that the horrors of October 7 will repeat themselves again and again.' Itamar Ben Gvir, the far-right Minister of National Security, said the strike was a 'cynical political maneuver on the backs of the hostages,' linking it to long-standing anti-government protest movement. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents most of the hostages who remain in Gaza, said in response: 'You can continue to hide behind spins and political calculations, but you cannot escape responsibility.' The Forum announced plans to set up a protest encampment on the Gaza border called 'Waypoint 50' – representing the 50 hostages – to continue pressuring the government to secure their release.
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Russia readying nuclear-powered cruise missile test, Ukrainian military intelligence says
By Tom Balmforth and Jonathan Landay LONDON/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Russia is preparing to test its new nuclear-capable, nuclear-powered cruise missile and if successful, plans to use the results to bolster its negotiating position with the West, Ukrainian military intelligence said on Friday. Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for the service, issued the written statement to Reuters just before U.S. President Donald Trump was due to hold talks in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin on ending Moscow's war in Ukraine. He did not give an assessment of the possible timing of the test in the statement, given in response to questions submitted by Reuters for a report published on Tuesday that Moscow was preparing to test the 9M730 Burevestnik cruise missile. He did not say how his service arrived at its assessment. It has for years received intelligence from the United States and its NATO allies, and it has its own networks inside Russia. Reuters on Tuesday reported two U.S. researchers and a Western security source as saying that Moscow was readying a test of the Burevestnik at its Pankovo test site on the Barents Sea archipelago of Novaya Zemlya. The researchers said imagery from Planet Labs, a commercial satellite firm, showed extensive activities at the site, increases in personnel and equipment and the presence of ships and aircraft associated with previous tests of the weapon dubbed the SSC-X-9 Skyfall by NATO. The Russian defense ministry, the Pentagon and the CIA declined to comment for that report. The White House did not comment directly on whether a test was being prepared, saying in response to a question about it that Trump wanted peace in Ukraine. Yusov said Moscow, which has threatened to use nuclear weapons over the Ukraine war, saw a test as diplomatic leverage. "Russia is preparing for another round of tests of the 9M730 Burevestnik," his statement said. "The purpose of these tests is to validate scientific and technical solutions implemented by the missile." "If successful, Russia will leverage the test results to defend its interests in negotiations with the West," he continued. Putin has said the weapon is "invincible" to missile defenses, with an almost unlimited range and unpredictable flight path. But many experts say it is unclear if the missile can evade defenses, would not give Moscow capabilities it does not already have, and would spew radiation. The Burevestnik has a poor test record, according to the Nuclear Threat Initiative advocacy group, with two partial successes among 13 known tests.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Trump Leaves Alaska With Nothing Except a Lecture From Preening Putin
President Donald Trump has ended his high-stakes Russia summit without announcing a deal to end the war in Ukraine, despite rolling out the red carpet for Vladimir Putin as the first U.S. president in years to invite him to America. After a ride in the presidential limousine, a military flyover, and three hours of talks, a somewhat subdued Trump told reporters in Alaska: 'We didn't get there—but we have a very good chance of getting there.' Both leaders said they made progress on ending the bloody conflict that Putin started in February 2022 when his forces invaded Ukraine. During a press conference lasting only a few minutes, Trump and Putin spoke of an agreement of sorts, but gave no details, took no questions, and made no mention of a ceasefire. 'There's no deal until there's a deal,' Trump said. 'I will call up NATO in a little while. I will call up the various people that I think are appropriate, and I'll, of course, call up President Zelensky and tell them about today's meeting. It's ultimately up to them.' The lack of an announcement is likely to fuel claims that Putin was using the meeting as a stalling tactic to stave off further U.S. sanctions. The Russian authoritarian has been frozen out by the West for years, and his visit has been depicted in Moscow as a win for the Kremlin. At the press conference, Putin addressed the room first, and then spoke for eight-and-a-half minutes about the history of the two nations, his desire for more business ties with America, and flattered the American president by agreeing that the war would not have happened if Trump had been in office. He also told reporters that he greeted Trump on the tarmac in Alaska by saying, 'Good afternoon, dear neighbor—very good to see you in good health and to see you alive.' But Putin also made the point that in order to make a 'lasting and long-term' end to the war, 'we need to eliminate all the primary root causes' of the conflict in Ukraine. This is viewed as shorthand for Putin's hardline demands, which have repeatedly been rejected: that Ukraine disarms, gives up a large part of its land to Russia, and swears off joining NATO. Friday's summit in Alaska's Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson was the first time Putin has been on U.S. soil in 10 years. It was also the first time a U.S. president has given the VIP treatment to a Russian leader who faces an arrest warrant for war crimes issued by the International Criminal Court as well as being sanctioned by the U.S. government. Ahead of the meeting, Trump said that he hoped to broker a ceasefire with Putin but was prepared to 'walk out' if they failed to reach a deal. He had also previously warned Putin of 'very severe consequences' if he didn't agree to a ceasefire, including potentially harsh new sanctions that would ramp up economic pressure on Russia. But no mention was made of this on Friday, and Trump ultimately left without taking questions from the hundreds of assembled journalists. 'It was a nothing burger,' said Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, who has co-sponsored a proposal with Republican Lindsey Graham for 'bone-crushing' sanctions against Russia. Before they left, Trump told Putin: 'Probably see you again very soon,' to which Putin replied in English: 'Next time in Moscow.' 'Ooh, that's an interesting one,' Trump said. 'I'll get a little heat on that one, but I could see it possibly happening.'
