Israel recovers hostage bodies from Gaza tunnel as West Bank violence rages

After the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Afaf Mohammed climbed Mount Qasyun to admire a sleeping Damascus for the first time in more than a decade, as access was restricted during the civil war. People now flock to the mountain to enjoy the view, relax, and experience a newfound sense of freedom and joy in post-Assad Syria. The reopening of Mount Qasyun serves as a symbol of hope and renewal for the people of Damascus, who...

Yemeni rebels launched new attacks against Israel following Israeli air strikes in rebel-held Sanaa, hitting the airport and other targets, resulting in casualties and damage. The rebels claimed to have fired a missile at Ben Gurion Airport and launched drones at Tel Aviv and a ship in the Arabian Sea. Israel responded with military action, targeting rebel military infrastructure in Yemen, citing the smuggling of Iranian weapons and senior officials. Full Article

Israeli air strikes targeted Sanaa's international airport and other locations in Yemen, resulting in six reported deaths. World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was present during the attack, with one crew member injured. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue strikes until the job is done, targeting Huthi rebels aligned with Iran's anti-Israel alliance. Full Article

In Ankara, Turkey's Central Bank lowered interest rates by 250 basis points to 47.5%, aiming to ease monetary tightening policies and combat inflation. This decision follows a period of aggressive rate hikes since June 2023, with annual inflation beginning to decline. The rate cut coincided with a 30% increase in the country's minimum wage, falling short of demands by workers unions and remaining just above the hunger threshold. Full Article

Syria's new authorities have detained Mohammed Kanjo Hassan, a military justice official responsible for issuing death sentences at Saydnaya prison under Assad's regime. Following Assad's ousting, deadly clashes erupted in Tartus as gunmen tried to protect him. With the challenge of restoring security and seeking justice for victims of abuse, Syria's new leaders from HTS face the monumental task of safeguarding the country from further collapse and addressing sectarian tensions. Full Article

A Palestinian TV channel linked to a militant group reported that five of its journalists were killed in an Israeli strike on their vehicle in Gaza, with Israel's military stating it targeted a "terrorist cell". The journalists, affiliated with Islamic Jihad, were identified as Faisal Abu Al-Qumsan, Ayman Al-Jadi, Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Khalil, Fadi Hassouna, and Mohammed Al-Lada'a. The incident sparked condemnation from press freedom organizations, with the Committee to Protect Journalists expressing devastation over the...