What we know
- Syrian and Russian warplanes have launched "concentrated air and missile strikes" on the central province of Idlib, "killing and wounding dozens of terrorists and destroying their vehicles and weapons," the Syrian Defense Ministry said today.
- Elsewhere, Syria's army and allied forces have been battling the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the country's eastern Deir Al Zor province, state media reported.
- Israel launched its largest wave of airstrikes across Lebanon since it agreed to a ceasefire with Hezbollah last week, killing at least 11 people after the militant group fired a volley of projectiles yesterday.
- President-elect Donald Trump said on social media that there will be "HELL TO PAY" unless the Israeli hostages Hamas still holds in Gaza are freed before he takes office in January.
U.S. is 'deeply troubled' over Israeli strike that killed aid worker
A representative for the State Department said the U.S. is "deeply troubled" and "outraged" after an Israeli strike killed Ahmad Faisal Isleem Al-Qadi, who was working with Save the Children in Gaza.
Vedant Patel, deputy spokesperson for the State Department, told reporters during today's briefing that the U.S. urged Israel to "transparently investigate actions like these."
"We condemn the intentional killing of aid workers anywhere," Patel said. "As it relates to this particular incident, we have asked for additional information and I am not going to draw any conclusion until that has happened."
Al-Qadi was killed Saturday, the same day Israel struck a convoy and killed three members of World Central Kitchen. Israel's military alleged that one of the WCK workers was a Hamas operative who was targeted in the strike.
Israel kills seven involved in Oct. 7 terror attack, its military says
Israel's military said today that it had killed "seven terrorists" in "targeted strikes" in the center of the Gaza Strip.
The dead were members of Hamas and “took part in” the group's terror attack on Oct. 7, 2023, the IDF said in a statement.
The attack was carried out by troops of the 99th Division, which has been operating in the central Gaza Strip corridor area for “the past two weeks,” the IDF said.
Iran would consider sending troops to Syria if asked, foreign minister says
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said today that the Islamic Republic would consider sending forces to Syria if asked to by the Syrian government, state news reported.
Araghchi made the comment during an interview with a Qatari media outlet and Tasnim News Agency, a state news outlet, later reported the headline. The Islamic Republic of Iran has backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad throughout the civil war alongside Russia.
Funeral for IDF soldier presumed dead in Gaza to be held on Long Island
Omer Netura, an IDF soldier who was among the Oct. 7, 2023, hostages held in Gaza, will be laid to rest on Long Island, where he was raised.
Neutra, 21, was an American dual citizen who was serving in the IDF at the time of the attack. Officials declared yesterday that he was presumed dead after more than a year as a hostage.
His family is holding his funeral today in Syosset, though his body remains in Gaza.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., are expected to attend the funeral along with several other New York public officials.
IDF says Israeli strike in Syria targeted Hezbollah operative
A Hezbollah commander was targeted in an Israeli strike in Damasus today, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
Salman Nemer Jamaa was in the country operating as Hezbollah's representative to the Syrian Armed Forces, the IDF said. Israel accused Syria of enabling Hezbollah's forces by allowing the Lebanon-based militant group to smuggle weapons through the country.
Hezbollah has fought on the ground in Syria in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad over the years.
The IDF said Jamaa was killed in the strike. Hezbollah has not publicly confirmed his death.
Video shows Aleppo’s airport abandoned after Syrian rebel forces claim control
Video from Syrian opposition news outlet Shaam Network shows an empty and damaged Aleppo International Airport.
Syrian rebel forces claimed to have captured the airport over the weekend.
Gaza death toll rises to over 44,500, health ministry says
The death toll in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, has risen to over 44,500 people including 36 deaths in the past 24 hours, the Palestinian health ministry said today.
Over 105,000 people have been wounded, and thousands remain under rubble, the ministry said in a statement.
One killed in Israeli strike near Damascus Airport, state media reports
An Israeli strike hit a car "on the road to" Damascus International Airport, according to Syrian state news agency SANA, quoting a police source.
One person was killed in the attack, according to Syrian State News Radio SHAM FM, which reported that a car “believed to be Israeli” was "targeted."
Damascus International Airport, 20 miles southeast of Damascus, the capital, is the largest airport in Syria.
Syria must hold talks with rebels, Turkey's foreign minister says
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must reconcile with his own people and hold talks with the opposition, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said.
After talks with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi yesterday, Fidan said the pair have agreed to resume diplomatic efforts to help restore calm in Syria following last week’s surprise rebel offensive.
Turkey backs forces opposed to Assad, while Iran has thrown its support behind his government.
“Recent developments show once again that Damascus must reconcile with its own people and the legitimate opposition,” Fidan said at a joint news conference. “Turkey is ready to make all the necessary contribution toward this.”
Gaza has highest number of child amputees per capita in the world, UNRWA says
Gaza is suffering from an "epidemic of traumatic injuries," the commissioner general of the United Nations refugee agency wrote on X today.
The enclave now suffers from the “highest number of child amputees per capita in the world,” Phillipe Lazzarini said.
The World Health Organization estimates that "one in four people injured during the war sustained life-changing injuries & will need rehabilitation services, including care for amputations & spinal cords injuries," he added.
