'Bloodthirsty...': Outraged Erdogan Tears Into Israel; Rejects Syria Partition Amid IDF Bombings
/ Jul 18, 2025, 05:29PM IST
Turkish President Erdogan has lashed out at Israel, calling it a 'bloodthirsty terrorist state' and accusing it of using the Druze as a pretext to attack Syria. He warned that if Israel is not stopped, it could set the entire region and the world on fire. Erdogan reaffirmed Turkiye's commitment to Syria's territorial integrity. His remarks came after Turkiye and 10 Arab states issued a joint statement backing Syria's unity and condemning Israeli attacks amid ongoing Druze-Bedouin clashes and Israeli strikes on Damascus.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Macron slams 'abject cruelty' of Hamas hostage video
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday that Hamas showed "inhumanity without bounds" by releasing videos of two emaciated Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian militant group in and its Islamic Jihad ally have recently released three clips showing captives Rom Braslavski and Evyatar David, who were seized during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the war."Abject cruelty, inhumanity without bounds: this is what Hamas represents," said the French head of state of the "unbearable images"."The absolute priority for France is the immediate release of all the hostages," he added on the footage shared by the Palestinian Islamist groups, 21-year-old Braslavski, a German-Israeli, and 24-year-old David both appear weak and footage of David showed him digging what he said in the staged video was his own grave, triggering particular who has said France will recognise a Palestinian state in September, promised to "work without respite" for "the re-establishment without delay of a ceasefire, and to allow the mass delivery of humanitarian aid, still blocked at the gates of Gaza".But he also argued that Hamas must have no part ruling coastal strip once the war ends."We must have the total demilitarisation of Hamas, its complete exclusion from any form of governance and the recognition of Israel by the state of Palestine," he Macron, the European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, also condemned the videos as showing Hamas's "barbarity", insisting the Islamist militants disarm and release the dozens of hostages it still keeps in Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga added his voice to the outrage, insisting that "Hamas's inhuman treatment of the Israeli hostages deserves a very strong condemnation"."People in Gaza should not remain suffering because of Hamas's heinous crimes. It must lay down its arms and release all hostages immediately," Sybiga added on and David are among 49 hostages taken during Hamas's 2023 attack still held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are of the 251 hostages seized in the attack have been released, some in exchange for Palestinians in Israeli 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to a tally based on official campaign in Gaza has killed at least 60,430 people, also mostly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The United Nations considers those figures to be reliable.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Palestinian Guards Detained As Firebrand Israeli Leader Ben-Gvir Storms Al-Aqsa With Settlers
Last Updated: Ben-Gvir, who openly prayed at the compound in defiance of long-standing agreements, was condemned by Palestinian leaders, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia Three Palestinian guards at Al-Aqsa Mosque were arrested by Israeli police on Sunday after far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered the holy site with thousands of settlers. According to the Ministry of Islamic Endowments, the detained guards were Muhammad Teena, Muhammad Badran, and Ahmad Abu Aliya, Al Jazeera reported. Earlier in the day, Ben-Gvir, Israel's National Security Minister, visited the compound in occupied East Jerusalem on the Jewish day of mourning, Tisha B'Av. He was accompanied by more than 1,000 Israeli settlers, including members of the ultra-nationalist Temple Mount group. Reports suggest the number of visitors may have reached 3,000. Although the visit occurred during designated hours, Jewish prayer at the site remains prohibited under long-standing agreements known as the status quo. Despite this, Ben-Gvir openly prayed at the compound, becoming the first government minister to do so publicly. His actions drew swift condemnation from Palestinian leaders, as well as from Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, described Ben-Gvir's visit as dangerous and provocative. Jordan's Foreign Ministry also condemned the incursion, urging Israel to avoid actions that could escalate tensions. During his visit, Ben-Gvir called for Israel to annex the Gaza Strip and encourage Palestinians to leave. 'This is the only way that we will return the hostages and win the war," he said. His remarks came shortly after Hamas released distressing videos of hostages held in tunnels, including one showing 24-year-old Evyatar David in poor health. Ben-Gvir condemned the footage and used it to justify his controversial stance. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said after the visit that Israel's policy of maintaining the status quo at the compound 'has not changed and will not change." (With inputs from agencies) view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
Post-Assad Syria sees fresh violence as Druze, SDF clash; Israel raids southern border
New outbreaks of violence overnight into Sunday rocked Syria at two distinct flashpoints, straining a fragile ceasefire and calling into question the ability of the transitional government to exert its authority across the whole country. read more Bedouin fighters rest in the shade of a house as Syrian government security forces block them from entering Sweida province, in Busra al-Harir village, southern Syria, Sunday, July 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed) Syria was shaken by renewed violence overnight into Sunday with fresh clashes reported in two volatile regions, further undermining a fragile ceasefire and raising concerns over the interim government's ability to assert control nationwide. In the country's north, pro-government forces engaged in skirmishes with Kurdish-led troops who currently hold sway over much of the area. Simultaneously, armed confrontations broke out between state forces and Druze militias in the southern province of Sweida. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The renewed fighting comes as the transitional authorities attempt to uphold a tenuous truce in Sweida, following previous clashes with Druze fighters last month. They are also working to enforce a pact with the Kurdish-led, US-supported Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to reintegrate large parts of north eastern Syria into the national fold. Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who rose to power after leading an unexpected rebellion that unseated long-time ruler Bashar Assad in December, has faced persistent challenges in stabilising the country. His leadership—marked by Islamist affiliations and support from aligned militant factions—has drawn scepticism from opposition groups as well as ethnic and religious minorities. On Saturday, state television reported violent encounters between government forces and Druze militias in Sweida province. According to the state-run Alikhbaria network, an unnamed security source confirmed that the ceasefire had collapsed after Druze fighters attacked Syrian security personnel, resulting in at least one fatality. The Defense Ministry has not released any official comment. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that, along with one security officer killed, a Druze fighter also died in the violence, and at least nine others were injured. The group said the confrontation took place in the Tal al-Hadeed area—an important high ground that borders neighbouring Daraa province. State media says that aid convoys continue to enter Sweida city as a part of a tense truce after over a week of violent clashes in July between Druze militias and armed Bedouin clans backed by government forces. However, humanitarian conditions remain dire, and residents of Sweida have called for the road into the city to be fully opened, saying the aid that has come in is not enough. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The clashes that displaced tens of thousands of people came after months of tensions between Damascus and Sweida. The fighting led to a series of targeted sectarian attacks against the Druze minority, who are now skeptical of peaceful coexistence. Druze militias retaliated against Bedouin communities who largely lived in western areas of Sweida province, displacing many to neighboring Daraa. Elsewhere, in the northern Aleppo province, government-affiliated fighters clashed with the SDF. The Defense Ministry said three civilians and four soldiers were wounded after the SDF launched a barrage of rockets near the city of Manbij 'in an irresponsible way and for unknown reasons.' SDF spokesperson Farhad Shami on the other hand said the group was responding to shelling by 'undisciplined factions' within government forces on Deir Haffar, an eastern city in the same province. The eastern part of Aleppo province straddles areas controlled by the government and by the SDF. Though the two are slowly trying to implement a ceasefire and agreement that would integrate the areas under Damascus, tensions remain. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The Ministry of Defense's attempts to distort facts and mislead public opinion do not contribute to security or stability,' Shami said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. In Quneitra province, in the south, the Israeli military announced it conducted another ground operation in the area that borders the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. It said its troops questioned several suspects they accuse of involvement in weapons trafficking in the village of Hader, and raided four areas where they found weapons being trafficked. Since Assad's ouster, Israel has conducted numerous strikes and military operations in southern Syria, saying its forces are taking out militant groups that they suspect could harm Israelis and residents in the Golan Heights. Damascus has been critical of Israel's military activity, and the two sides have been trying to reach a security arrangement through U.S.-mediated talks. Syria has repeatedly said it does not intend to take military action against Israel. Those talks intensified after Israel backed the Druze in Sweida during the earlier clashes. Israel struck military personnel near the southern city and most notably launched an airstrike targeting the Defense Ministry headquarters in the heart of Damascus. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
