State Dept. Plans to Close Diplomatic Missions and Fire Employees Overseas

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa called for national unity and peace after over 1,000 people were killed in clashes in coastal Syria. The violence erupted between new security forces and loyalists of the former government, leading to the largest challenge to the new government's forces since Assad's overthrow. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Alawite civilians were among those killed in "executions" by security personnel, prompting fears of reprisals in the region. Full Article

Three days of clashes in Syria have resulted in scores of civilian deaths, with over 1,000 people killed in the coastal provinces of Tartus and Latakia, mostly by government forces, according to two war monitoring groups. The government denied accusations of targeting civilians, stating they operate according to international humanitarian law. The unrest, the bloodiest since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad, has raised concerns of a larger sectarian conflict in Syria. Full Article

A man with a Palestinian flag climbed London's Big Ben clock tower and remained perched on the structure after nightfall, despite emergency crews urging him to come down. Negotiators attempted to communicate with him using a megaphone, but he insisted on coming down on his own terms. Police closed off the area, including Westminster Bridge, as they worked to resolve the situation with the assistance of the London Fire Brigade and the London Ambulance Service....

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rejected negotiating with the United States over the country's nuclear program, denouncing "bullying governments" and dismissing President Trump's recent offer. Despite Trump's suggestion of talks or potential military action, Khamenei warned that negotiations are used by some countries to make new demands, which Iran will not accept. The 2015 nuclear accord had been effective until Trump withdrew, imposing sanctions and prompting Iran's nuclear program to now be at a...

Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi predicts that women in Iran will overthrow the Islamic system established after the 1979 revolution, despite potential military conflict, emphasizing their resistance against religious tyranny and gender apartheid. Mohammadi, currently on temporary release from prison, highlights the ongoing protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in custody, expressing solidarity with women facing harsh sentences for their involvement. She believes that women's continued defiance will ultimately lead to the...

Evangelical Christian leaders who supported President Trump are now urging him to declare Israel's ownership of the West Bank based on biblical promises, seeking to pave the way for annexation despite international opposition. Prominent figures like Ralph Reed and Terri Copeland Pearsons are leading this movement, aiming to fulfill what they believe to be a biblical prophecy. The push for annexation comes as tensions escalate in the region, with supporters hoping to end discussions of...