An esoteric, monotheistic Abrahamic faith of Arab origin, with reincarnation beliefs and a community identity distinct from Islam.
Israel is ready to move forward with two pilot zones in southern Lebanon as talks with Beirut continue under US mediation. Washington seeks a broader security framework with Syria, while Netanyahu is under pressure from Trump’s calls to redeploy. The discussions come amid ongoing clashes and regional tensions.
The United Nations chief has urged the immediate removal of sanctions on Syria as he concludes a two-day visit, stressing Syria’s crossroads and the need for investment to rebuild infrastructure, institutions and livelihoods. He has met interim leadership, civil society and UN peacekeepers, while calling for international support to accelerate recovery and safe returns for refugees.
A blast in Jaramana, a Damascus suburb, has wounded several people as authorities investigate an explosive device planted in a minivan taxi. Initial casualty figures vary by source, with officials updating counts as the investigation continues. A group has claimed responsibility, and sectarian tensions in the area remain high.
Lebanon has passed a landmark amnesty law in a show-of-hands vote, replacing death sentences with long prison terms and reducing others. The law aims to ease prison overcrowding but faces opposition from families of soldiers and some factions. Repeal of the death penalty follows years of debate and sectarian pressures.
Unrest in Syria’s Sweida province has left 10 government security personnel wounded as clashes unfold between state forces and local armed groups. The fighting follows days of tension over exams and previous attacks, with reports of civilian injuries and ongoing exchanges of fire.
Syrian President al-Sharaa has told the UN that Israel’s strikes in Syria are unacceptable and that the Golan Heights will remain Syrian. He has urged withdrawal from border areas and signaled openness to a security agreement, as talks with Israel show progress toward a broader peace.
Syria’s President has reaffirmed that the Golan Heights will remain Syrian territory and has called on Israel to withdraw from areas seized after December 2024. Israel’s defence minister pledges that any territory seized will remain Israeli, while the UN still regards the Golan as Syrian. The exchange follows a UN General Assembly address and renewed threats of action from both sides.
Since Oct. 15, Israeli forces have continued incursions into southern Syria, detaining civilians, seizing land and targeting farming areas near Quneitra and Daraa. The Syrian government and UN rights bodies warn of ongoing violations of sovereignty and civilian livelihoods as authorities call for Israel’s withdrawal under the 1974 disengagement framework.
The Syrian government has claimed that Israel is exploiting Suweida’s Druze community for political ends and arming a militia. Netanyahu has described a brief call with Syria’s president as pivotal in halting a massacre during July 2025 clashes, though Damascus remains unclear about the call. A ceasefire in Suweida has held since July 2025, with ongoing talks toward a broader, US-backed roadmap.