Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 19, target chemical weapons sites in Syria

Israel's offensive has killed over 44,500 Palestinians in the Gaza since the start of the war, according to local health authorities. They say most of the dead are women and children but do not

Palestinian medical officials say an Israeli strike on a home where displaced people were sheltering in the northern Gaza Strip has killed at least 19 people.

That's according to the Kamal Adwan Hospital, which received the casualties on Wednesday after the overnight strike in the town of Beit Lahiya.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Israel has been waging a renewed offensive against Hamas militants in northern Gaza since early October.

Hospital records show that a family of eight were among those killed, including four children, their parents and two grandparents.

The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people, including children and older adults. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead.

 

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed over 44,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to local health officials. They say women and children make up more than half the dead but do not distinguish between fighters and civilians in their count. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.

  Here's the Latest:  Turkish foreign minister says Ankara hopes for an inclusive govt in Syria  ANKARA, Turkey Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Monday that Ankara hopes the fall of the Syrian government will usher in a new era where different ethnic and religious groups can live peacefully under an inclusive new government.

Fidan also said his country hopes that a new Syria would maintain good relations with its neighbors and bring stability to the volatile region.

The developments in Syria yesterday have given us a glimmer of hope, Fidan said in a speech to Turkish ambassadors. We expect international actors, especially the United Nations, to reach out to the Syrian people and support the formation of an inclusive government.

The minister said Turkey would continue to support Syria's territorial and political unity and work toward the country's prosperity, security and stability.

But Fidan said it was important that the Islamic State group and Kurdish militants do not take advantage of the situation, adding that Turkey would work with determination to prevent Syria from turning into a haven for terrorism.

Turkey, which has reached out to its Syrian brothers during difficult times, will also be by their side, as the new page opens in Damascus, Fidan said. We believe that the Syrian people will also make good use of this golden opportunity.

Israel says a drone that appears to have originated in Yemen hit a city in central Israel  TEL AVIV, Israel The Israeli military said Monday that a drone that appeared to have originated in Yemen slammed into a city in central Israel.

Video posted by Israeli news sites showed a large burst of smoke erupting from a high-rise apartment building.

The military said sirens were not sounded to warn of the incoming drone. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Iran-backed militants in Yemen have been attacking Israel since Hamas' assault on southern Israel in October 2023.

Their drones have at times evaded Israel's sophisticated aerial defence system.

Turkey-backed forces take full control of Syrian city from US-backed and Kurdish-led force  ANKARA, Turkey The Turkish-backed forces known as the Syrian National Army launched an offensive against the Syrian Democratic Forces in the northern Syrian city of Manbij on Dec 6, days after expelling SDF fighters from the city of Tal Rifaat.

Turkish security officials said Monday that control of Manbij has been secured, without providing further details. The officials provided the information on condition of anonymity, in line with Turkish regulations.

Turkey views the SDF, which is primarily composed of a Syrian Kurdish militia group, as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, and a terrorist organisation. The force, however, has been a key partner of the United States in the fight against the Islamic State group.

Separately, the US-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said in a statement on Monday that a Turkish drone strike in the village of al-Mistriha north of Raqqa in eastern Syria killed 12 civilians, including six children.

Top aide to Assad's brother found dead, war monitor says  BEIRUT A Syrian opposition war monitor says a top aide to the brother of Syria's ousted president was found dead in his office near the capital, Damascus.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Maj Gen Ali Mahmoud, who was in charge of Maher Assad's office, had led a 2018 military campaign in southern Syria.

A video that circulated on social media allegedly showed Mahmoud covered in blood while sitting on a chair. His clothes appear to have been set on fire. It was not clear if he was killed by Maher Assad or he committed suicide, the observatory's chief Rami Abdurrahman said.

Maher Assad was in charge of the army's 4th Armored Division which played a major role in Syria's conflict since it began in March 2011.

Israel says it has struck suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets in Syria.  JERUSALEM Israel's foreign minister says the strikes were to prevent them from falling into the hands of hostile actors.

Gideon Saar said Monday that the only interest we have is the security of Israel and its citizens.

That's why we attacked strategic weapons systems, like, for example, remaining chemical weapons, or long-range missiles and rockets so that they will not fall in the hands of extremists.