Escalating Tensions in Syria and Gaza

The recent Israeli airstrikes in Syria, launched in response to atrocities against the Druze minority, have unraveled a fragile ceasefire and escalated regional tensions, entangling Iran, Turkey, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S. in a deeper power struggle. A potential normalization agreement between Israel and Syria, brokered by U.S. officials, has been overtaken by violence. Israeli Druze citizens crossed into Syria to support their embattled relatives, prompting a warning from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa framed the Israeli intervention as destabilizing, while Israeli policymakers debate supporting al-Sharaa as an anti-Iranian strongman or taking broader military action. Regional analysts suggest that Israel should prioritize diminishing Iranian influence in Syria, and that a regional diplomatic effort is needed to stabilize the country. Turkey is invested in al-Sharaa's success, hoping to expand its influence in Syria, while Iran remains a long-term threat, waiting to exploit missteps by others. The U.S. is pulled back into the conflict, despite President Trump's statement that Syria's internal affairs are "not our war."

The Israeli military has killed at least 67 Palestinians waiting for UN aid lorries in northern Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The UN World Food Programme said its convoy encountered "massive crowds of hungry civilians" that came under gunfire. The Israeli military disputed the number of deaths, stating it had fired warning shots to remove an "immediate threat." The incident has highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, with the UN warning of widespread starvation and malnutrition, particularly among women and children. The Hamas-run health ministry has reported 18 deaths "due to famine" in the past 24 hours, and the UN has called for an urgent influx of essential goods. The Israeli military has also issued evacuation orders for a crowded part of central Gaza, sparking panic among tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Bedouin fighters outside the Syrian city of Suweida have told the BBC they will observe a ceasefire with the Druze community but have not ruled out resuming hostilities. The clashes between Druze and Bedouin tribes, along with government forces, have resulted in over 1,120 deaths and displaced at least 128,000 people. A UK-based monitoring group reported a "cautious calm" in the region, but fighting resumed. Bedouin fighters are demanding the release of their injured people still in Suweida, referred to as hostages, and threaten to re-enter the city if their demands are not met. The violence started after the abduction of a Druze merchant, and Israeli forces carried out air strikes in support of the Druze.

At least 85 Palestinians were killed and over 150 wounded while trying to reach aid distribution points in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. The deadliest incidents occurred in northern Gaza, where 67 people were killed near the Zikim crossing with Israel. Witnesses reported Israeli troops firing into the crowd, while the Israel Defense Forces claimed they fired warning shots to disperse a threatening gathering. The incident comes as Israel's military issued new evacuation orders for central Gaza, further restricting aid distribution and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Gaza's population is facing catastrophic hunger, with at least nine children under 5 dying from malnutrition since March. The violence has prompted calls for a ceasefire, including from Pope Leo XIV, as Israel and Hamas continue ceasefire talks in Qatar.

Keith Siegel, an Israeli-American hostage released by Hamas after nearly 16 months in captivity, is calling for a new Israel-Hamas deal to free the remaining 50 hostages still held in Gaza. Siegel, who was freed on February 1, said he refused to thank his captors during the handover, and has been advocating for a new agreement to secure the release of the remaining hostages. His wife Aviva, who was also taken captive but released after two months, praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and expressed support for a new deal. The Siegels have become prominent voices in the effort to secure the release of the remaining hostages, with Keith stating that an agreement "must be signed" to bring them home.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa have agreed to a ceasefire, according to U.S. Envoy Tom Barrack. The agreement follows recent Israeli airstrikes on the Syrian capital, Damascus, and is backed by Turkey and Jordan. The ceasefire comes after clashes between the Druze minority and Bedouins in southern Syria, which Israel said it was defending. The US had previously announced a deal for Syrian government forces to pull back from the area.

The Syrian city of Sweida is in ruins after sectarian violence broke out between Druze militia and Arab tribal fighters, with bodies strewn across the streets and homes burned to the ground. The violence began after government forces clashed with pro-Assad armed groups, sparking mistrust among minority groups, including the Druze. Israel intervened on behalf of the Druze, striking government targets, before a US-brokered ceasefire was agreed. The city is on fire, with marauding groups looting and burning homes, and government security forces struggling to maintain order. A humanitarian corridor is being established to evacuate the estimated 30,000 trapped civilians, as the new president urges calm and promises to stem the violence.

Syria's armed Bedouin clans have withdrawn from the Druze-majority city of Sweida following weeklong clashes and a US-brokered ceasefire. The clashes, which killed hundreds and displaced over 128,000 people, were sparked by a series of tit-for-tat kidnappings and sectarian attacks. The Bedouins, who were supported by government forces, blamed the Druze factions loyal to Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri for the violence. Humanitarian aid convoys have entered Sweida, but tensions remain, with the US envoy calling for an end to fighting and a return to peace and dialogue.

Israeli forces opened fire on crowds of Palestinians near Gaza aid sites on Saturday and Sunday, killing over 90 people. On Saturday, at least 32 people were killed near a food distribution site in Rafah, and on Sunday, more than 60 people were killed near a border crossing. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by Israel and the US, has been distributing aid since May, but its sites have been associated with deadly incidents, with around 700 people killed while trying to obtain aid. The Israeli military claimed to have fired "warning shots" in response to crowds approaching them. Human rights groups have criticized the foundation's "militarized model" and its collaboration with Israeli authorities, saying it undermines humanitarian principles. The situation in Gaza is dire, with widespread international condemnation of Israel's restrictions on aid, and the UN has said that assistance entering the enclave is "a drop in the ocean of needs".

32 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded when Israeli troops opened fire on crowds trying to reach food distribution sites run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in southern Gaza, according to witnesses and hospital officials. The incidents occurred as people massed near the distribution hubs, with eyewitnesses describing the shooting as "indiscriminate" and saying troops fired warning shots before opening fire on the crowds. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation said it had distributed millions of meals to Palestinians, but local health officials say hundreds have been killed trying to reach the distribution sites. The Israeli military said it fired "warning shots" and was investigating reports of casualties. The violence comes as Gaza faces a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with over 2 million Palestinians teetering on the edge of famine.

A child is seen fleeing an Israeli strike on the Bureij Refugee Camp in Gaza, with the munitions striking near a UNRWA school behind her. The incident is part of a larger conflict in Gaza, where a surgeon has described a humanitarian crisis in the hospitals, with malnourished babies and children arriving with gunshot wounds from food distribution sites. Additionally, Gaza's only Catholic church was hit by an Israeli tank, killing three and injuring many more.

At least 67 Palestinians were killed and over 150 injured while waiting for aid in Gaza, according to hospital officials. The deaths occurred in northern Gaza, where aid was entering through the Zikim crossing with Israel. The Israeli military claimed it shot at a gathering that posed a threat, but said reported numbers were higher than their initial findings. The incident is the latest in a series of killings of Palestinians waiting for food and aid, with hundreds killed in recent weeks.

Around 30,000 mostly Druze people are trapped in the besieged Syrian city of Sweida and surrounding towns with dwindling food and water, little internet, and no electricity. A fragile ceasefire is holding between Druze leaders and Arab Bedouin tribal fighters, but the humanitarian situation is worsening. The city has been ravaged by sectarian violence, with homes and businesses burned and pillaged, and multiple corpses lying on the streets. The Druze militia controls access to the city, and aid efforts are being hindered by the distrust between the Druze leaders and the new Syrian government. Nearly 130,000 people have been displaced due to the fighting, and the ceasefire is seen as key to finding solutions to help those suffering.

The Druze are a religious sect with around one million followers worldwide, half of whom live in Syria. Clashes broke out between Druze militias and Sunni Muslim Bedouin tribes in southern Syria, sparked by the kidnapping and robbery of a Druze vegetable seller. The violence escalated into sectarian attacks, with Druze factions feeling vulnerable and mistrusting the Syrian government, led by interim president Ahmad al Sharaa. One Druze faction, led by Hikmat al Hijri, called for Israeli intervention, prompting airstrikes that killed hundreds of Syrian government troops. Thousands of fighters from Arab tribal groups flocked to support the Bedouin tribe, leading to brutal violence and looting. A US-brokered ceasefire was negotiated, allowing Druze factions to maintain security in the city of Sweida, but the situation remains fragile and tense, with fears of further clashes.