Israel Joins Russia in Attacking ISIS in Golan

A picture taken on July 25, 2018, from the Tal Saki hill in the Golan Heights shows smoke rising above buildings across the border in Syria during airstrikes backing a Syrian-regime-led offensive in the southern province of Quneitra. (AFP/JALAA MAREY)
A picture taken on July 25, 2018, from the Tal Saki hill in the Golan Heights shows smoke rising above buildings across the border in Syria during airstrikes backing a Syrian-regime-led offensive in the southern province of Quneitra. (AFP/JALAA MAREY)
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Israel Joins Russia in Attacking ISIS in Golan

A picture taken on July 25, 2018, from the Tal Saki hill in the Golan Heights shows smoke rising above buildings across the border in Syria during airstrikes backing a Syrian-regime-led offensive in the southern province of Quneitra. (AFP/JALAA MAREY)
A picture taken on July 25, 2018, from the Tal Saki hill in the Golan Heights shows smoke rising above buildings across the border in Syria during airstrikes backing a Syrian-regime-led offensive in the southern province of Quneitra. (AFP/JALAA MAREY)

Russia’s Defense Ministry announced Thursday that dozens of ISIS members were killed and their rocket launchers destroyed in an Israeli strike on their bases in the Golan Heights a day earlier.

This is the first time Moscow reveals details about a military operation conducted by the Israeli army on Syrian territories.

“A precision strike by jets and Israeli artillery destroyed ISIS terrorists and their rocket launchers,” the Russian ministry said.

The announcement came following reports of Russian resentment after Israel shot down a Syrian Sukhoi fighter jet, which Damascus had said was conducting military operations against ISIS positions in the province of Quneitra.

Meanwhile, political and security leaders in Lebanon mobilized to hold talks with a visiting Russian diplomatic and military delegation in charge of following up the issue of the Syrian refugees.

The Russian delegation, headed by the Special Presidential Envoy to Syria Alexander Lavrentiev, arrived in Beirut on Thursday.

The first outcome of his visit was the establishment of a specialized tripartite committee representing Lebanon, Syria and Russia to coordinate a plan for the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland through Syrian regime guarantees.

Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, the head of Lebanon’s General Security, in addition to others would most likely represent Lebanon in the committee while Syria would be represented by head of the country’s National Security Agency Ali Mamlouk.

After meeting the Russian delegation at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, President Michel Aoun said Lebanon was ready to provide the necessary assistance to implement the Russian proposal for the return of the displaced Syrians.

For his part, Lavrentiev said that the Russian delegation discussed with the Lebanese officials the situation in the region, particularly in Syria, and its impact on the neighboring countries including Lebanon.

He said the Syrian regime was not able to provide much financial help to returnees and urged foreign donors to provide assistance, adding that the issue should not be politicized.

Lavrentiev described the delegation's talks with the Lebanese officials as "constructive and fruitful," noting that the total number of all Syrian refugees around the world is around 6.5 million, according to UN statistics.

The same delegation also met with PM-designate Saad Hariri and discussions focused on the proposals regarding the upcoming plan for the return of the displaced Syrians.

Meanwhile, head of the Syrian regime Bashar Assad told Russian media on Thursday that his regime's next priority would be retaking Idlib province.

Assad told the Tass news agency that rescue workers from the White Helmets group would be killed if they did not turn themselves in.

"Either they can lay down their arms as part of an amnesty ongoing for four or five years, or they will be liquidated like any other terrorist," he said.



Clerics Accuse West Bank Israeli Settlers of Attacking Christian Sites

Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
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Clerics Accuse West Bank Israeli Settlers of Attacking Christian Sites

Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)

Christian leaders accused Israeli settlers on Monday of attacking sacred sites in the West Bank, in violence that one said was forcing some to consider quitting the occupied territory.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III - visiting the Christian town of Taybeh with other Jerusalem-based clerics - said settlers had started a fire near a cemetery and a 5th century church there last week.

"These actions are a direct and intentional threat to our local community ... but also to the historic and religious heritage," the patriarch told diplomats and journalists at a press conference in Taybeh.

Settlers had also attacked homes in the area, he said.

"We call for an immediate and transparent investigation on why the Israeli police did not respond to emergency calls from the local community and why these abhorrent actions continue to go unpunished," he added.

Israel's government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Israel's government had previously said that any acts of violence by civilians are unacceptable and that individuals should not take the law into their own hands.

During the visit, the heads of the churches led locals in prayer as candles flickered in the ruins of the 5th century church of St George. They spoke with residents who described their fears.

B'Tselem and other rights groups say settler violence in the West Bank has risen since the start of Israel's war against Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza in late 2023.

Dozens of Israelis have also been killed in Palestinian street attacks in recent years and the Israeli military has intensified raids across the West Bank.

Palestinian health authorities and witnesses said two men, including a US citizen, were killed by settlers during a confrontation on Friday night.

Fears over violence were pushing Christians to leave the West Bank, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Roman Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem since 2020, said.

"Unfortunately, the temptation to emigrate is there because of the situation," he added. "This time it's very difficult to see how and when this will finish, and especially for the youth to talk about hope, trust for the future."

Around 50,000 Christian Palestinians live in Jerusalem and in the West Bank, an area that includes many of the faith's most sacred sites including Bethlehem where believers say Jesus was born.

Around 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 war, which Palestinians see as part of a future state.