Syria – live: Tomb of Assad’s father set on fire by rebels while Israel strikes Syrian military 480 times
Israel denies penetrating Syria beyond buffer zone in occupied Golan Heights
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Your support makes all the difference.Rebel fighters have set fire to the tomb of Syria‘s former president Hafez Assad in his hometown in the country’s northwest.
The insurgents posed with the flag of the revolution in the burnt-out mausoleum on Wednesday, as it was revealed Russian intelligence agents organised the swift escape of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad after convincing him he would lose to encroaching forces.
The fresh details were reported by Bloomberg , which revealed Russia offered Assad a safe exit if he left the country immediately.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed the toppling of Assad on a plan by the US, Israel and one of Syria’s neighbours that he did not name.
His intervention on Wednesday came as Israel said it launched more than 480 airstrikes against military facilities across Syria, destroying the Syrian navy and targeting weapons stockpiles and strategic infrastructure.
The Israeli military said they carried out the strikes over the last 48 hours, hitting weapons production sites in the cities of Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia and Palmyra. The targets also included airfields, anti-aircraft batteries, drones, aircraft and tanks.
Russia has also criticised Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights region in Syria’s south-west as prolonging instability, as the Kremlin said the safety of its military and diplomatic personnel in the country was paramount.
A US official has also said American troops will remain in Syria to take on Isis militants despite the ongoing crisis following the ouster of president Bashar al-Assad.
US troops “have been there now for the better part of a decade or more to fight Isis… we are still committed to that mission,” said US deputy national security adviser Jon Finer.
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Footage shows secret underground tunnels used by Assad regime in Syria
Iran’s leader says Assad ousting was result of plan involving US, Israel
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said Iran had evidence that the toppling of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was a result of a plan by the US, Israel and one of Syria’s neighbours that he did not name.
The intervention on Wednesday came as Israel carried out airstrikes across various weapons production sites in Syria, and the US indicated it would stay put in the country to fend off any rise in Isis militants.
While the US has leapt to the defence of Israel’s actions, Turkey, Qatar and Eqypt have accusedvIsrael of exploiting the crisis to seize positions in a demilitarised buffer zone between the two countries.
Labour MP says Israel is ‘invading Syria’
Labour MP Zarah Sultana accused Israel of “invading Syria” after Benjamin Netanyahu’s troops occupied more of the Golan Heights and launched hundreds of airstrikes targeting military facilities following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad.
“While committing genocide in Gaza, settler terror in the West Bank & bombing raids on Lebanon, Israeli tanks roll into Damascus,” she wrote on X after it was reported that Israeli tanks were moving toward Damascus.
Israel has denied the allegations.
“This is a system of oppression that knows no borders – yet the UK government parrots lines about ‘Israeli self-defence’,” the MP added.
Cars torched in anti-Israel attack in Sydney
Vandals torched a car and sprayed graffiti with anti-Israel slogans including an apparently misspelled “Kill Israiel” in a Sydney suburb, which is home to Australia’s largest Jewish community.
Police Commissioner Karen Webb said there were “antisemitic writings” on the walls of two buildings, two cars including the burnt car, and the sidewalks. She did not detail what words were spraypainted, but the media photographed “Kill Israiel” painted on a garage door.
Premier Chris Minns condemned the attack, calling it an attempt to “intimidate the Jewish community in Sydney”. “This was a targeted attack in Sydney’s eastern suburbs ... directly after the burning down of a synagogue.”
Grief turns to fury as horror of Assad’s ‘slaughterhouse’ jail exposed
‘They tortured me when I asked to see him’: Horrors of Assad’s ‘slaughterhouse’ jail
As the brutality of the Assad regime falls away, Bel Trew finds families driven by desperation, grief and fury as they searched for their lost loved ones
Syrian rebel leader promises stability despite concerns of further violence
Syrian rebel leader promises stability despite concerns of further violence
Syrian rebel leader Abu Mohammed al Jolani says Western fears about future instability are unnecessary
Israel’s warplanes pound Syria as it destroys Assad’s naval fleet
Israel’s warplanes pound Syria as it destroys Assad’s naval fleet
After the fall of the Assad regime, the Israeli military has taken control of a UN-controlled buffer zone in the Golan Heights and hit targets across the country
US troops to stay in Syria despite Assad’s exit
American troops will remain in Syria despite the ouster of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad as part of a counter-terrorism mission focused on destroying Isis militants, a White House official said.
“Those troops are there for a very specific and important reason, not as some sort of bargaining chip,” US deputy national security adviser Jon Finer said.
US troops “have been there now for the better part of a decade or more to fight Isis… we are still committed to that mission”.
Syrian rebels take Deir Ezzor from Kurdish forces
Syrian armed rebels say they have wrested control of the eastern city of Deir Ezzor following intense battle with the US-backed Kurdish alliance.
“We announce the city of Deir Ezzor and its military airport as completely liberated,” senior commander Hassan Abdul Ghani said.
A member of the Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham said in a recorded video that the group will soon conduct a thorough sweep of the city’s neighbourhoods to secure the area.
“We will advance toward Raqqa and Hasakah and other areas in eastern Syria,” the fighters said.
Netanyahu makes it clear: Biden is no longer in charge
Netanyahu has made it clear: Biden’s no longer in charge
US-Israel policy appears to now be fully running through Mar-a-Lago after shocking developments in the Golan Heights, writes John Bowden
Qatar and Turkey join Egypt in condemning Israel’s land grab in buffer zone
Qatar, Turkey and Egypt have now all accused Israel of exploiting the crisis in Syria to seize positions in a demilitarised buffer zone between the two countries following the ouster of president Bashar al-Assad.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he had ordered his ground forces to take control of the buffer zone, established by a 1947 ceasefire agreement with Syria, after armed rebel groups pushed out Mr Assad from Damascus and took power.
Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari told reporters in Doha that it was unacceptable for Israel to “exploit” the current situation in Syria and violate its sovereignty.
Turkey’s foreign ministry echoed Qatar’s sentiment and reiterated its support for Syria’s “territorial integrity”.
“In this sensitive period, when the possibility of achieving the peace and stability that the Syrian people have desired for many years has emerged, Israel is once again displaying its occupying mentality,” the ministry said.
Egypt earlier said it condemned Israel’s “further occupation of Syrian lands”.
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