Israel attacks Syria's Damascus and Suwayda as Gaza deaths cross 58,000 & EU mulls sanctions over civilian toll; details here
Damascus targeted as tensions rise in Suwayda
The airstrikes on Damascus followed Israeli threats to increase military activity if Syrian forces were not withdrawn from Suwayda, where confrontations have erupted between government troops and members of the Druze community. In a direct message to Israel's own Druze citizens, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the situation as 'very severe' and claimed the operations were aimed at protecting the Druze population. He urged Israeli citizens not to cross the Syrian border, warning that doing so would jeopardize their safety and military efforts.
Continued civilian casualties in Gaza
The attacks in Syria coincide with intensified Israeli operations in Gaza, where at least 61 people, including aid seekers, were reported killed in airstrikes this week. One of the most lethal incidents occurred at the Shati refugee camp, where 23 people died, according to medical sources. In Rafah, at least two women were killed and 30 injured near a distribution point managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an organisation supported by Israel and the US. The UN states that 875 people have died while attempting to access aid since late May.
UNRWA officials are warning that malnutrition is on the rise, with one in 10 children now undernourished in Gaza. UNRWA's Philippe Lazzarini described the situation as 'engineered and man-made.' An Israeli airstrike also hit a tent sheltering displaced civilians in Gaza City, killing six people.
EU considers sanctions as humanitarian deal unfolds
The European Union is facing growing calls to act. During a meeting in Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas presented a list of 10 possible measures against Israel, including trade restrictions and sanctions. Although no agreement was reached, EU leaders said they would monitor Israel's compliance with a new humanitarian deal that allows limited food and fuel into Gaza. Countries such as Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain have called for reassessing ties with Israel amid mounting concerns about human rights violations.
Public pressure appears to have driven the latest EU push, but human rights organizations say it's not enough. Amnesty International's Agnes Callamard criticized the EU's lack of decisive action, warning that failure to act risks complicity in alleged war crimes.
Israel's strikes in Syria and Gaza continue to draw international concern as humanitarian conditions worsen and diplomatic pressure mounts.
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The brief but intense conflict with Pakistan in May 2025 served as a brutal reminder of the kinetic threat from the west. While a fragile ceasefire holds, the underlying sponsorship of terror groups by Pakistan continues to be a festering wound, capable of instigating conflict at any moment. The fact that China aided Pakistan with intelligence support during Operation Sindoor shows how Beijing is willing to go the extra mile to stymie India's strategic moves in the region. Simultaneously, the northern border remains a fluid and dangerous frontier. Despite diplomatic overtures and talks of disengagement, Chinese military infrastructure and troop deployments in Tibet and Xinjiang continue to expand. While both New Delhi and Beijing seem inclined to cool tensions that have lingered since 2020, the long-term strategic competition for influence in Asia ensures that the Himalayan front will remain heated. China will continue to use it as a leverage against India. 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The Case For A 4+ Front War Doctrine 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.
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