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Israeli army says three of its soldiers have been killed and one injured during fighting in Jabalia in northern Gaza.
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Al Jazeera
20 minutes ago
- Al Jazeera
Ceasefire collapses in Syria's Suwayda as Israel threatens escalation
Fighting between Druze armed groups and government troops has continued in the southern Syrian city of Suwayda, with a ceasefire in tatters, as Israel launched further strikes on Syrian forces and warned it would escalate unless they withdrew. The sectarian violence in the predominantly Druze city resumed in force on Wednesday, despite the announcement of a ceasefire by the Syrian government the previous night, Syria's defence ministry told Al Jazeera. Ministry officials blamed groups 'outside the law' for breaking the ceasefire and attacking government troops, who they said were responding to fire while taking into account rules of engagement to protect civilians. Speaking from Damascus, Al Jazeera's Osama Bin Javaid said that following Tuesday's ceasefire announcement, the situation had 'spiralled out of control once again'. He said at least 70 people were believed to have been killed in the fighting so far, while the U.K.-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that more than 250 people had been killed, as of Wednesday morning, including four children, five women and 138 soldiers and security forces. The observatory added that at least 21 people were killed in 'field executions.' 'The situation on the ground is [in] that the city centre itself there are sporadic clashes, but on the outskirts there's a lot of fighting that has been happening between these Druze fighters and [government] forces,' Bin Javaid said. On top of the clashes on the ground, Israel, which sees the Druze minority as a potential ally and has been attacking Syria under the pretext of protecting the group, has continued its air strikes on Syrian troop positions around Suwayda, with at least seven strikes launched on Wednesday, he said. Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday warned the Syrian government on to leave the Druze alone and withdraw its forces from Suwayda, or it would ramp up its strikes. 'As we have made clear and warned — Israel will not abandon the Druze in Syria and will enforce the demilitarisation policy we have decided on,' he said, adding that it would escalate its activity 'if the message is not understood.' Syria has condemned Israel's intervention as a violation of international law as have several Arab nations. The outbreak of violence in the southern city on Sunday was triggered by a wave of recent kidnappings and attacks between local Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze armed groups, including the abduction of a Druze merchant on Friday on the highway linking Damascus to Suwayda, witnesses told the Reuters news agency. Syria's Druze population numbers about 700,000, with Suwayda home to the sect's largest community. Bedouin and Druze factions have a longstanding feud in Suwayda, with violence occasionally erupting. Bin Javaid said that tensions in the latest outbreak of violence had been inflamed by material of killings and abuses posted on social media. 'That created a flurry of reaction… from both sides,' he said. Since the overthrow of longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, concerns have been raised over the rights and safety of minorities under the new authorities, who have also struggled to re-establish security more broadly. 'Since this government took charge, the Druze have not really accepted them as the government that will look after their aspirations and hopes as well,' said Bin Javaid. Clashes between troops and Druze fighters in April and May killed dozens of people, with local leaders and religious figures signing agreements to contain the escalation and better integrate Druze fighters into the new government. The Druze developed their own militias during the nearly 14-year ruinous civil war. Since al-Assad's fall, different Druze factions have been at odds over whether to integrate with the new government and armed forces.
Al Jazeera
7 hours ago
- Al Jazeera
The Take: Why is Israel escalating its strikes against Syria?
Israel has attacked Syrian government forces in a wave of deadly air strikes, at the same time as violence has gripped the southern province of Suwayda. In the spotlight is Syria's Druze minority, also present in Israel. What does the fighting spell for Syria's future? In this episode: Osama Bin Javaid (@osamabinjavaid), Al Jazeera correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Amy Walters and Tamara Khandaker, with Phillip Lanos, Spencer Cline, Duha Mosaad, Melanie Marich, Marya Khan, Kisaa Zehra and our guest host, Manuel Rapalo. It was edited by Sarí el-Khalili and Kylene Kiang. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this episode. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take's executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and YouTube
Qatar Tribune
11 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
UN reports surge in settler violence against Palestinians in West Bank
dpa Geneva The UN Human Rights Office has raised the alarm over a sharp rise in attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. According to the office in Geneva, 96 Palestinians were injured in June alone - the highest monthly figure in over two decades. Hundreds of homes were also destroyed. Since the beginning of this year, the UN has documented 757 settler attacks that resulted in Palestinian casualties or property damage - a 13% increase compared to the same period in 2024, a spokesman said on Tuesday. These actions, the spokesman added, are contributing to the ongoing consolidation of Israel's annexation of parts of the West Bank, a practice deemed illegal under international law. The forced displacement of civilians in occupied territories may constitute a crime against humanity, the office warned. Child killed by gunshot to the head Israeli security forces have used force against unarmed individuals in the West Bank, the UN office said. The spokesman cited the case of a 2-year-old Palestinian child who was shot in the head and killed in January, and a 61-year-old man who was fatally shot while riding a bicycle in July. Since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Israeli forces and settlers have killed 964 Palestinians in the West Bank, according to UN figures. Nearly 3,000 homes have been demolished, often on the grounds that they lacked building permits, even though such permits are nearly impossible for Palestinians to obtain, the spokesman said. In the same period, 35 Israelis in the West Bank and 18 more inside Israel have been killed in Palestinian attacks or clashes. UN criticizes Israeli plans for displacement camp in Gaza The UN Human Rights Office also condemned Israeli government plans for a designated zone in southern Gaza meant to house displaced Palestinians. Israel has referred to the site as a 'humanitarian city,' but the UN says the project could amount to forced relocation, which is prohibited under international law. Palestinians ordered to move there would be at risk of arbitrary detention, and the proposed relocation could not be described as voluntary, the spokesman said, noting that with basic infrastructure destroyed, people would have no real choice in their movements.
