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Israeli military operations inside southern Syria have intensified tensions and raised concerns about a prolonged Israeli presence as forces expand control within and around a buffer zone near the Golan Heights. Last month, Israeli troops carried out a raid in the village of Beit Jin in southwestern Syria, during which 13 residents were killed, according to local accounts. Israel said the operation targeted members of a militant group planning attacks into Israel and that its forces came under fire, wounding six soldiers, before responding with ground fire and air support. Syrian authorities described the incident as a massacre, while residents rejected Israeli claims that militants were operating in the village. The raid was one of several recent Israeli actions in Syria that have increased local opposition and reduced prospects for improved relations between the two countries, despite pressure from the United States to ease tensions. Prospects for limited Israeli-Syrian engagement had emerged late last year after Sunni Islamist-led rebels removed former Syrian President Bashar Assad, a close ally of Iran. Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, has said he does not seek conflict with Israel. Israel, however, has expressed distrust of al-Sharaa due to his past militant affiliations. Israeli forces subsequently moved into the United Nations monitored buffer zone in southern Syria adjacent to the Golan Heights, which Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed, a step not widely recognised internationally. Israeli troops have established checkpoints, military positions and landing sites, including on Mt Hermon, and have increased patrols and drone surveillance across nearby Syrian areas. Israel has said its presence is temporary and aimed at preventing attacks by militant groups and remnants of pro-Assad forces. It has not provided a timeline for withdrawal, and talks on a bilateral security arrangement have not produced results. Developments in neighboring Lebanon and Gaza have also influenced perceptions in Syria. Israel continues to hold positions in southern Lebanon following a ceasefire with Hezbollah, while maintaining airstrikes and surveillance operations. In Gaza, Israeli plans include buffer zones even after a future withdrawal from parts of the territory. At a regional meeting in Doha earlier this month, al-Sharaa accused Israel of using perceived threats to justify military actions, saying withdrawal to positions held before Assad’s removal was necessary for security on both sides. The interim Syrian government faces multiple internal challenges, including unresolved arrangements with Kurdish-led authorities in the northeast and instability in the southern province of Sweida, where sectarian clashes earlier this year resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths. Israel has portrayed itself as a protector of Syria’s Druze minority and has also sought contacts with Kurdish groups. Analysts say Israel’s approach risks undermining international efforts to support a unified Syrian state. Michael Young of the Carnegie Middle East Center said the strategy contradicts the positions of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and the United States, which favor a stable and consolidated Syrian government. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel seeks a demilitarized zone extending from Damascus to the UN buffer zone, including Mt Hermon. While he said agreements with Syria remain possible, he stressed Israel would adhere to its security principles. Israel’s actions have drawn rare public criticism from US President Donald Trump, who has supported al-Sharaa’s efforts to consolidate control. Trump said it was important that Israel maintain dialogue with Syria and avoid steps that could disrupt the country’s recovery. Netanyahu is expected to discuss Syria during a planned visit to Washington later this month. Analysts say Israel is unlikely to withdraw soon, while Syria’s interim government has limited leverage against Israel’s military strength.

Iran on Saturday introduced a new, higher pricing tier for its heavily subsidized petrol, marking the first such increase since a 2019 hike triggered nationwide protests and a deadly security crackdown. Petrol has long been considered a social entitlement in Iran, but the government is under growing pressure from a weakening rial, high inflation and international sanctions linked to its nuclear program. Despite these strains, officials appear cautious, seeking to avoid public anger after months of economic hardship and a recent brief war with Israel. Under the revised system, motorists will continue to receive 60 liters per month at the lowest subsidized rate of 15,000 rials per liter, with the next 100 liters priced at 30,000 rials. Fuel purchased beyond that quota will now cost 50,000 rials per liter. Even at the new rate, Iranian gasoline remains among the cheapest globally. At gas stations in Tehran, there were no immediate signs of unrest, though some police presence was visible. Many drivers expressed frustration but resignation, saying the government made decisions without public consent. Iran’s vast fuel subsidies place a heavy burden on state finances. The International Energy Agency previously ranked Iran as the world’s second-largest energy subsidizer, estimating oil subsidies at $52 billion in 2022 alone. Economists argue repeated price hikes have failed to resolve budget deficits and instead fueled inflation, currently hovering around 40%. The move revives memories of 2019, when abrupt fuel price increases sparked protests in more than 100 cities. Amnesty International says at least 321 people were killed in the subsequent crackdown. Officials describe the new tier as a step toward curbing excessive fuel consumption and have signaled that prices may be reviewed every three months, raising concerns that further increases could follow.

A UAE-backed separatist group has taken control of key oil-rich provinces in southern Yemen, threatening to reignite the country’s long-stalled civil war and destabilize the wider Gulf region. The Southern Transitional Council (STC) seized most of Hadramout and Mahra provinces this month, including major oil facilities. The STC, established in 2017 to restore an independent South Yemen, enjoys strong support across the southern half of the country and backing from the UAE. Yemen has been mired in a civil war since 2014, when Iran-aligned Houthi rebels captured the capital, Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile. Saudi Arabia and the UAE later joined the conflict to support the government. The latest clashes pit the STC against Yemeni government forces and their tribal allies, even as both sides are part of the anti-Houthi coalition. The STC’s recent advances, including control of the PetroMasila oil facility and a border crossing with Oman, give it significant leverage in any future negotiations over southern Yemen’s autonomy. Saudi Arabia has sought to calm tensions, sending a delegation to Hadramout and emphasizing that it rejects attempts to create a “fait accompli.” Analysts say the UAE appears to have expanded its influence, while the STC’s actions undermine the fragile political balance among anti-Houthi partners. The escalation comes amid a fragile truce with the Houthis, which had reduced violence since 2022. Observers warn that the takeover could destabilize Yemen further, heighten regional rivalries, and threaten critical trade routes along the Gulf.  

Hamas on Tuesday warned it will not advance to the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement until Israel faces greater pressure to reopen a key border crossing, halt deadly strikes, and allow more aid into the territory. Husam Badran, a member of Hamas’ political wing, called for “full implementation of all first-phase terms” before moving forward, including ending ongoing demolitions of Palestinian homes in areas still under Israeli control. Since the ceasefire began on October 10, Israeli military operations in Gaza have killed at least 376 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Israel has defended its actions as responses to attacks or incursions near its controlled areas, though civilians, including women and children, have also been killed. Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan enters tougher phase with major risks ahead Hamas, with limited leverage, faces pressure from regional powers like Qatar and Turkey to maintain the fragile truce. Israel announced plans to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza via the Jordan-Israel border, while international discussions continue over governance arrangements in the next ceasefire phase. The Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel killed around 1,200 people and left 251 hostages, most of whom have since been returned. Source: AP 

More than a year after a fragile ceasefire took hold along the Israel-Lebanon border, residents of war-battered towns like Metula say they are still struggling to rebuild their lives as renewed tensions unsettle the region. In Metula, Israel’s northernmost town, Ilan Rosenfeld walks through the burnt-out remains of the café and farm he built over four decades. Clay plates lie shattered on the ground and twisted metal from Hezbollah rockets is scattered in the rubble. “Everything I had, everything I built is gone,” Rosenfeld said, adding that he now wakes up each day “with only tears left.” He was among tens of thousands forced to flee when fighting erupted between Israel and Hezbollah in October 2023, after Hamas’ attack in southern Israel triggered a wider regional conflict. Although the Israeli government says most displaced residents have returned, large parts of the border communities remain half-empty. Metula has seen just over half of its 1,700 residents come back. Many returned to damaged homes, ruined orchards and businesses unable to recover. Local authorities say around 60% of homes in the town were hit by rocket fire. Others, left untended for months, were destroyed by rats. Tourism and agriculture — the backbone of the local economy — have been devastated, prompting some business owners to bring in workers from Thailand to fill labour gaps. Jacob Katz, who runs a produce business, said many workers never came back after the war. “We’ve lost a lot, and we can’t read the future,” he said. Rosenfeld now sleeps in a small shelter next to the ruins of his café, steps away from a military watchtower and armoured vehicles. He says repeated appeals for government aid have gone unanswered. Metula’s deputy mayor, Avi Nadiv, said residents feel abandoned. “The government needs to do much more for us. People living on Israel’s northern border are the country’s human shield,” he said. A spokesman for the Cabinet minister overseeing reconstruction claimed local officials had failed to use funds already allocated, blaming “political considerations.” Meanwhile, Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon have continued, with several reported weekly. Hezbollah has refused to disarm fully unless Israel withdraws from disputed areas, keeping the border tense despite the ceasefire reached in late 2024. A November U.N. report said at least 127 civilians had been killed in Lebanon since the ceasefire, calling some of the Israeli strikes “war crimes.” Israel insists its operations target Hezbollah positions and that the group uses civilians as shields. Last week, Israel killed Hezbollah’s top military commander in Beirut, raising fears of further escalation. The group has yet to respond. On the ground in Metula, signs of tension are everywhere. Public shelter maps have been updated and explosions from military drills echo through the hills. Farmer and reservist Levav Weinberg said his children are too frightened to ride their bikes. His family returned in July to keep their business alive but now they are reconsidering. “The army cannot protect me and my family,” he said. “Living in Metula means sacrificing your family these days. It’s not an easy life, and at some point the kids pay the price.”  

Israeli police forcibly entered the East Jerusalem compound of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees early Monday, escalating Israel’s campaign against an organisation already banned from operating on its territory. The U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) said in a statement that “sizeable numbers” of Israeli forces, including motorcycle units, trucks and forklifts, entered its Sheikh Jarrah compound and cut its communications. The agency called the move an “unauthorized and forceful entry” and described it as a violation of its U.N.-granted privileges and immunities. Photos taken by an AP photographer showed police vehicles outside the facility and an Israeli flag placed on the roof. Images shared by UNRWA staff showed Israeli officers inside the compound. Police said the entry was part of a “debt-collection procedure” led by the Jerusalem municipality, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The raid is the latest step in Israel’s push against UNRWA, which provides aid and services to about 2.5 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, along with 3 million more in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Established after the 1948 war to support Palestinians forced from their homes, the agency has long been politically contentious. UNRWA’s supporters say Israel wants to erase the refugee issue by dismantling the agency, while Israel argues the refugees should be permanently resettled elsewhere. During the Israel-Hamas war that began on Oct. 7, 2023, UNRWA served as Gaza’s main humanitarian lifeline amid widespread destruction and strict Israeli restrictions on goods entering the territory. Israel has accused the agency of being infiltrated by Hamas, allegations the U.N. denies. After months of criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and far-right allies, Israel formally banned UNRWA in January. The U.S., once its largest donor, halted funding in early 2024. UNRWA says it has struggled to continue working in Gaza, even as other U.N. agencies such as WFP and UNICEF try to fill what the agency calls an unfillable gap. Tamara Alrifai, UNRWA’s communications chief, said at the Doha Forum on Saturday that the agency has also been excluded from U.S.-led talks on Phase 2 of the ceasefire. The Jerusalem compound had already been closed since May after far-right protesters, including at least one Israeli lawmaker, pushed through its gate in front of police. Members of Israel’s far-right have urged the government to turn the compound into a settlement, and the housing minister said last year he had instructed officials to explore reclaiming the land for state use and housing development.  

An international authority that will oversee the next phase of Gaza’s U.S.-brokered ceasefire is expected to be announced before the end of the year, an Arab official and a Western diplomat told the Associated Press on Friday. Under the ceasefire terms, the authority — known as the Board of Peace and chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump — will supervise Gaza’s reconstruction under a two-year, renewable U.N. mandate. It is expected to include about a dozen leaders from the Middle East and the West, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. A committee of Palestinian technocrats responsible for running day-to-day administration in post-war Gaza is also set to be unveiled. The Western diplomat said the announcement will likely coincide with Trump’s upcoming meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later this month. The ceasefire agreement also calls for an armed International Stabilization Force to provide security and ensure the disarming of Hamas, a key Israeli demand. The step would mark significant progress in implementing Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, which has suffered two years of Israeli military operations against Hamas. The truce, in place since Oct. 10, has come under strain due to sporadic violence and accusations of violations. The first phase is nearing completion, though Hamas has yet to hand over the remains of the final Israeli hostage required under the deal. Talks are continuing over which countries will contribute troops to the international force. The Arab official said deployment is expected in the first quarter of 2026, a timeline echoed by a U.S. official who said “boots on the ground” could become a reality early next year. Axios first reported the anticipated announcement. Intense negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire are expected to begin soon, focusing on the difficult issue of Hamas disarmament. The plan requires Israeli forces to withdraw from the areas of Gaza they still control as the international force deploys. Funding for Gaza’s reconstruction remains unresolved, and some Palestinians have raised concerns over the absence of Palestinian representation in the governing authority and the lack of a clear commitment to eventual statehood. Netanyahu’s government opposes a Palestinian state, while the deal offers only a vague pathway contingent on future conditions. Israel meanwhile said it intends to reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt in the coming days, as outlined in the ceasefire. That could allow Palestinians to leave Gaza after nearly two years of extremely limited movement. But Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar voiced “deep concern” on Friday, insisting the crossing must permit movement in both directions. Egypt says Palestinians must be able to return to Gaza and will only support reopening if two-way movement is allowed. Israel says returns will not be permitted until the remains of the last Israeli hostages are recovered. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the eight countries said the Rafah crossing must allow full “freedom of movement” and reiterated their rejection of any attempt to expel Palestinians from their land. Fresh violence also shook the region on Friday. Israel’s military said its forces killed a man in northern Gaza who approached troops with another man carrying “suspicious objects.” Another Palestinian man was killed in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Health Ministry said the 38-year-old was shot by Israeli forces, while the military said he had thrown a rock. The incidents added to fears that tensions could undermine the fragile ceasefire. The latest Israel-Hamas war erupted after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. Israel’s ensuing offensive in Gaza has killed more than 70,100 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, whose casualty figures are widely viewed as credible by international agencies.  

Iran launched a series of powerful missiles in the Sea of Oman and near the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Friday during the second day of a naval drill, state television reported. According to the report, the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard fired the missiles from mainland Iran, striking targets in the Oman Sea and adjacent areas near the Strait of Hormuz. The missiles identified included cruise missiles Qadr-110, Qadr-380, and Ghadir, with ranges of up to 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles), along with a ballistic missile designated 303. Footage broadcast on state TV showed the launches and their impact on targets. This is the second drill of its kind since the Israel-Iran conflict in June, which killed nearly 1,100 people in Iran, including military commanders and nuclear scientists, and claimed 28 lives in Israel due to Iranian missile strikes. Iran rejects UN Atomic Agency Resolution, warns of retaliatory measures Iran has repeatedly stated its readiness to counter any future Israeli attack. The Revolutionary Guard, responsible for Persian Gulf operations and the Strait of Hormuz, carried out the exercise, while Iran’s regular navy oversees the Sea of Oman and beyond. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global oil chokepoint, handling 20% of worldwide crude shipments. The U.S. Navy’s Bahrain-based 5th Fleet has long patrolled the region to ensure maritime passage remains open. Source: AP 

Israel on Tuesday said it had received “findings” handed over by Palestinian militants in Gaza to the Red Cross, believed to include the remains of one of the two hostages still held in the territory — an Israeli and a Thai national. Officials said the remains would be sent for forensic testing. Palestinian media reported they were recovered in Beit Lahiya, in northern Gaza. The remains of 26 hostages taken during the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack have been returned since the U.S.-brokered ceasefire began on Oct. 10. Israeli fire killed two Palestinians in Gaza on Tuesday. Hospital officials at Nasser Hospital said a drone strike in Khan Younis killed videographer Momahed Wadi, who owned a drone photography company that previously filmed weddings and more recently documented the destruction in Gaza. Separately, Al-Awda Hospital said a man was shot dead near the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. Israel’s military did not comment but has said such shootings often occur when militants approach or fire at its troops. Gaza’s Health Ministry said more than 350 Palestinians have been killed across the territory since the ceasefire took effect, as both Hamas and Israel accuse each other of violating the truce. The Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in 2023 killed about 1,200 people, and more than 250 others were taken hostage. Almost all of them or their remains have been returned in various agreements. The ministry says Gaza’s death toll has surpassed 70,100. It is staffed by medical professionals and is considered broadly reliable by the international community. In the occupied West Bank, Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinians on Tuesday. The military said one suspect stabbed and lightly wounded two soldiers near a settlement in the central West Bank before being shot. Another was fatally shot in the southern West Bank after allegedly carrying out a car-ramming attack that wounded a soldier. The army said the man tried to flee when troops attempted to arrest him. The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the two as an 18-year-old from north of Ramallah and a 17-year-old from Hebron. Israel has intensified operations in the West Bank since the Gaza war began, saying it aims to dismantle militant networks. Palestinians say many of those killed have been stone-throwers, protesters or civilians. Israeli settler violence against Palestinians has also risen in recent weeks. Israeli forces on Tuesday demolished the Nablus-area family home of Abdul Karim Sanoubar, a detained Palestinian accused of planting bombs on buses in central Israel in February. Thirteen surrounding homes were evacuated. Israel says such demolitions deter attacks, while critics call them collective punishment that inflames tensions. The military said the explosives in that planned attack never detonated and that the demolition was approved by legal authorities. Troops later moved to Aqabah town to demolish the home of another man accused of carrying out a shooting that killed one person. Israel also launched more strikes in southern Lebanon on Tuesday amid ongoing tensions with Hezbollah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu renewed calls for a demilitarized buffer zone along the Israel-Syria border while visiting soldiers wounded in Syria. Syrian officials said 13 people were killed Friday when Israeli forces opened fire during a raid on a village as residents confronted them. Israel says its operations in Lebanon and Syria target militants, but critics say civilians — including women and children — are frequently among the dead. Pope Leo XIV, departing Lebanon on a visit to the Middle East, briefly urged peace and noted the continued violence in southern Lebanon.  

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked President Isaac Herzog for a pardon while his corruption trial is still underway, a move that drew heavy criticism from opposition leaders and watchdog groups on Sunday, even as some Israelis voiced support and called for the country to move forward. The president’s office described the request as extraordinary and said it carries serious implications for Israel’s justice system and Netanyahu’s political future. Netanyahu is on trial for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three cases involving alleged favors to wealthy associates, including a telecom executive, a Hollywood producer and a newspaper publisher. The indictments were filed in 2019 after lengthy investigations, and the trial began in May 2020. Netanyahu denies all allegations and says he is the victim of a politically motivated campaign by the media, police and judiciary. He has not been convicted of any charges. His testimony has been postponed several times, with Netanyahu citing diplomatic engagements and security concerns during Israel’s recent conflicts with Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. Earlier delays were caused by prolonged political deadlock before Netanyahu returned to power in late 2022. Critics, including some families of Israelis held in Gaza, have accused him of prolonging the war for political survival. Netanyahu said his request for a pardon would help calm political tensions and promote national unity at a moment of major regional upheaval. He said closing the case now would allow Israel to move toward reconciliation. Several ministers, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, voiced support for him. His request follows public appeals by U.S. President Donald Trump, who urged Israel to pardon Netanyahu during a recent speech in Jerusalem. Trump later sent a letter to Herzog calling the prosecution politically motivated. Netanyahu referenced Trump’s appeal in his Sunday statement. Herzog and Netanyahu were once political rivals but now maintain a stable working relationship. Herzog has previously indicated that a negotiated settlement between prosecutors and Netanyahu’s legal team would be the best way to resolve the long-running legal battle. Opposition leaders said granting a pardon now would damage Israel’s democratic institutions and suggest that powerful figures are above the law. Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, said Netanyahu’s request lacked any acceptance of responsibility and could send a dangerous signal about public norms. Opposition leader Yair Lapid said Netanyahu cannot receive a pardon without admitting guilt, expressing remorse and immediately retiring from political life. Legal experts said the request does not halt the trial. Only the attorney general can pause proceedings, said Emi Palmor, former director general of the Justice Ministry. The request will be reviewed by the Justice Ministry and then by legal advisers in the president’s office. The president has wide discretion to grant a pardon, but such decisions typically come only after legal proceedings end. Experts say pre-conviction pardons are extremely rare and could undermine the rule of law and the principle of equality before the law. The Israel Democracy Institute said earlier this month that granting a pardon during ongoing proceedings would pose a serious threat to the country’s justice system.