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Syrian leader claims Israel is trying to destabilise country

Syrian leader claims Israel is trying to destabilise country

Independent17-07-2025
A ceasefire between Syrian government forces and Druze fighters in the southern province of Sweida appears to be holding, mediated by the US and Turkey.
The conflict escalated following the abduction of a Druze merchant, leading to clashes between Druze militias, Bedouin tribes, and government troops.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa accused Israel of attempting to destabilise Syria after Israeli airstrikes hit Damascus, including near the presidential palace and defence ministry.
Israel justified its intervention by stating its responsibility to protect the Druze population and demanding the demilitarisation of the region south of Damascus.
Reports indicate a high civilian death toll in Sweida, with one local journalist claiming over 500 bodies at the national hospital and human rights groups documenting at least 207 fatalities.
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Keir Starmer to recall cabinet for emergency meeting on Gaza crisis
Keir Starmer to recall cabinet for emergency meeting on Gaza crisis

The Guardian

time18 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

Keir Starmer to recall cabinet for emergency meeting on Gaza crisis

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Downing Street sources said the government would set out its next steps to help resolve the situation in the Middle East in the coming days, but gave scant details, risking fuelling further criticism of Starmer over his response. Government sources insisted the prime minister was 'unequivocal' in his concern over the scenes in Gaza and was 'horrified' at images of starvation, desperation and suffering of children and babies, as he called his cabinet back to Westminster. During his talks with Trump at his Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire, Starmer is expected to press the US president to use his influence over the Israeli government to push for a resumption of peace talks between Israel and Hamas, after talks ground to a standstill. The deal under discussion was expected to include a 60-day ceasefire, with aid supplies ramped up as conditions for a lasting truce were brokered, but the US and Israel withdrew their negotiation teams from Qatar on Thursday. Starmer is also coming under growing domestic pressure, including from his own cabinet and a third of Labour MPs, to formally recognise a Palestinian state. The government has disappointed many on its own side by saying this would only happen as part of a negotiated peace deal. In contrast, Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that France would formally recognise a Palestinian state at the UN general assembly in September. UK government aides suggested France's move would be purely symbolic without a path towards peace, which diplomats are expected to discuss next week at the UN. Starmer is also expected to discuss progress in implementing the economic deal the UK has signed with the US, which slashes some of Trump's tariffs on cars, aluminium and steel, and which the UK hopes will be the first step towards a closer trading relationship. 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Britain is ready to fight if conflict breaks out over Taiwan, says Defence Secretary John Healey
Britain is ready to fight if conflict breaks out over Taiwan, says Defence Secretary John Healey

Daily Mail​

timean hour ago

  • Daily Mail​

Britain is ready to fight if conflict breaks out over Taiwan, says Defence Secretary John Healey

Defence Secretary John Healey has said Britain is ready to fight if conflict breaks out over Taiwan. The island nation has long been at loggerheads with China, strongly rejecting Beijing 's claim to sovereignty over it after the countries separated in the late forties. China's president Xi Jinping has previously said he would not rule out using force in the 'reunification of the motherland'. And now Mr Healey, when asked what the UK is doing to help countries like Taiwan prepare for potential Chinese escalation, has said Britain would fight in the Pacific. He was speaking on a visit to the HMS Prince of Wales, docked in the Australian city of Darwin, with the country's deputy prime minister and defence minister Richard Marles. He told The Telegraph, during the carrier group's nine-month Pacific deployment: 'If we have to fight, as we have done in the past, Australia and the UK are nations that will fight together. 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Experts have previously warned an invasion of Taiwan could cause a large-scale conflict, pulling in nations from across the world. It is because the country manufactures most advanced computer chips. Mr Healey said 'threats' in the Indo-Pacific region are on the rise. It follows the Chinese military taking control of contentious reefs - and was accused of intimidating its neighbours there. The Defence Secretary's remarks also come as the HMS Prince of Wales carrier group sails with advanced F-35 fighter jets from Singapore to northern Australia for the first time in nearly 40 years. The fleet will continue on to Japan, likely coming close to Taiwan. The Defence Secretary's remarks also come as the HMS Prince of Wales carrier group (pictured on the visit today) sails with advanced F-35 fighter jets from Singapore to northern Australia for the first time in nearly 40 years Deploying the strike carrier group, which is the UK's largest of its kind, in the Pacific for nine-months shows Britain is aware of increasing threats in the region. Sending it to Darwin in particular indicates close ties between the UK and Australia - key to any potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific. Indeed, Mr Healey noted such a partnership was especially important currently, as threats in the region increase. The defence secretary emphasised the UK's interest in international rules, stability and security, as well as both freedom of the seas and navigation in the area. British officials have previously not commented on whether the UK would intervene in any conflict in the region. This is in line with the United States' stance, which has been dubbed 'strategic ambiguity' - and most other nations follow it too. Two Royal Navy patrol vessels are stationed permanently in the region. The UK government recognised, in its National Security Strategy published earlier this year: 'There is a particular risk of escalation around Taiwan.' Former defence secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured in 2019) said the UK is probably becoming more candid on its stance on the matter as threats in the Indo-Pacific increase. Former defence secretary Gavin Williamson said the UK is probably becoming more candid on its stance on the matter as threats in the Indo-Pacific increase. 'I think there's a realisation that by being completely silent it doesn't make it more or less likely', he explained. Deterrence, he added, involves making clear the consequences that will come if others act dangerously or maliciously. Mr Williamson, who led the MoD from 2017 to 2019, added it is important someone as prominent as the British defence secretary is clear actions have consequences. Former US president Joe Biden has previously broken strategic ambiguity on several occasions, saying the US would support Taiwan against China. His successor Donald Trump has not done this - but Pentagon officials are said to be preparing for conflict. His government has said it will review its membership of the AUKUS security agreement, between the US, Australia and the UK. It comes as part of Mr Trump's 'America first' approach. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has also not spoken out whether the nation would join the US and other allies to fight China in any conflict in the region. He refused to comment on the matter last week. The UK and Australia have made a renewed commitment to each other in recent times. The two nations signed the Geelong Treaty this weekend - a 50-year agreement cementing their commitment to the AUKUS pact. It also commits them to building a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. The HMS Prince of Wales anchoring in Darwin marks the first time a British carrier strike group has docked in Australia. It is also the first time a non-US carrier has taken part in Australia's annual military drills, the so-called Talisman Sabre. The event this year was the largest it has ever been. While the UK is turning more of its attention to the Indo-Pacific, Mr Healey (pictured on the visit today) confirmed there would be no change to its level of engagement with Taiwan Foreign secretary David Lammy also boarded the HMS Prince of Wales, on the same day as and just before his colleague Mr Healey. He has previously said Britain plans to undertake more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait. Last month, a Royal Navy patrol ship, the HMS Spey, moved through the strait - which was praised by Taiwan but frowned upon by China. Britain does not comment on the future movements of its vessels. But it is thought the HMS Prince of Wales will soon also travel through the strait on its way to South Korea and Japan. While the UK is turning more of its attention to the Indo-Pacific, Mr Healey confirmed there would be no change to its level of engagement with Taiwan. Mr Williamson said Britain would likely only alter this stance if China got increasingly aggressive.

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