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The National
31 minutes ago
- The National
Trump ally says Israeli military will 'take Gaza down like we did Tokyo and Berlin'
US Senator Lindsey Graham said on Sunday that Israel is preparing to intensify its military campaign in Gaza, comparing the strategy to Allied operations on Tokyo and Berlin at the end of Second World War. 'What we're talking about today is a change in strategy. I think President (Donald) Trump has come to believe, and I certainly come to believe there's no way you're going to negotiate an end of this war with Hamas,' Mr Graham told NBC in an interview. 'Hamas is a terrorist organisation who is chartered to destroy the State of Israel. They're religious Nazis. They hold Israeli hostages.' Mr Graham, from South Carolina, said that Israel has concluded that dismantling Hamas is the only way to ensure its security. 'If they're going to do in Gaza what we did in Tokyo and Berlin – take the place by force, then start over again, presenting a better future for the Palestinians, hopefully having the Arabs take over the West Bank and Gaza,' he said. 'I think going forward … you're going to see a change in tactics, a full military effort by Israel to take Gaza down,' he said. On Thursday, Mr Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said Hamas' latest response to ceasefire proposals showed a 'lack of desire' to reach a truce. Mr Witkoff said Washington will look at 'alternative options,' without elaborating. Mr Trump told reporters on Sunday that Israel would have to make a decision on next steps in Gaza, adding that he did not know what would happen after moves by Israel to pull out of ceasefire and hostage-release negotiations with the Hamas militant group. Mr Trump underscored the importance of securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, saying they had suddenly 'hardened' up on the issue. 'They don't want to give them back, and so Israel is going to have to make a decision,' he said the start of a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at his golf property in Turnberry, Scotland.


The National
2 hours ago
- The National
Syria expected to hold parliamentary election in September, official says
Syria is expected to hold its first parliamentary election under the new government in September, the head of the electoral process said. Voting for the People's Assembly should take place from September 15-20, the head of Syria's High Elections Committee Mohamed Taha Al Ahmad said. President Ahmad Al Shara"emphasised the necessity of proceeding with the electoral process in all Syrian governorates, rejecting division, which is denounced by all Syrians," he said. All those who "sided with the criminals and supported them" and individuals "who advocate for division, sectarianism and factionalism" will be excluded from running in the vote. He added that the number of parliamentary seats will increase from 150 to 210, with the president appointing 70 members. This decision is likely to come under intense scrutiny following President Al Shara's decision to appoint two brothers, Maher and Hazem, to top government positions. Mr Ahmad said the international community and independent election monitors will be invited to oversee the poll. The vote will be the first after the fall of Bashar Al Assad's regime. Mr Al Shara, leader of a former Al Qaeda offshoot, came to power in Syria after guerrilla fighters he led brought down Assad in December, after more than 13 years of civil war. The announcement came as the country was gripped by a series of violent incidents in recent weeks. A Syrian committee investigating sectarian violence in the Alawite heartland said on Tuesday it had identified 298 suspects implicated in serious violations during bloodshed that left at least 1,426 members of the religious minority dead in March. The findings come after fresh violence involving the country's Druze community, raising further questions over the new government's ability to manage sectarian tensions.


Al Etihad
2 hours ago
- Al Etihad
UAE's Calidus concludes successful participation at IDEF 2025 in Istanbul
27 July 2025 20:02 ISTANBUL (WAM)UAE-based Calidus Holding Group has concluded its successful participation in the 17th edition of the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF 2025), held at the Istanbul Expo Centre from July 22 to 27, as part of the UAE National Pavilion, supervised by Tawazun Council for Defence Enablement (Tawazun).The Calidus stand witnessed strong engagement from senior officials, military leaders, and official delegations from around the world, who praised the advanced capabilities of the UAE's defence industry and commended Calidus products for their reliability, precision, and competitiveness on regional and global the exhibition, Calidus signed several agreements and memorandums of understanding, including an MoU with Türkiye's Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) to support supply chain collaboration and industrial localisation programmes, as well as an MoU with CTech to explore joint satellite communications and data link projects for military Director and CEO of Calidus Holding Group, Dr. Khalifa Murad Al Blooshi, stated that the participation significantly boosted the company's international presence and showcased the technological innovations of the UAE's defence sector, particularly in AI-driven and next-generation defence solutions, all designed and manufactured exhibited a range of advanced solutions, including the MATV armoured combat support vehicle integrated with the Al Hedaa missile launcher, six variants of the Al Hedaa system, models of the B-250 light attack and B-250T advanced trainer aircraft, a mock-up of the CLS military vehicle production facility, and cutting-edge electro-optical and infrared company also presented its locally manufactured military chassis, built for high-load and extreme-condition performance. The company emphasised that its IDEF 2025 participation aligns with its broader vision to strengthen the UAE's role as a key player in the global defence landscape through technology localisation, strategic autonomy, and regional and international market expansion.