Israeli Airstrikes Kill Eight, ‘Mainly Iranians’

A military parade at the Russian Hmeimim base in Lattakia, western Syria. (Russia Today)
A military parade at the Russian Hmeimim base in Lattakia, western Syria. (Russia Today)
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Israeli Airstrikes Kill Eight, ‘Mainly Iranians’

A military parade at the Russian Hmeimim base in Lattakia, western Syria. (Russia Today)
A military parade at the Russian Hmeimim base in Lattakia, western Syria. (Russia Today)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has confirmed that five members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iranian and Afghan nationalities were killed as a result of the Israeli airstrike on their headquarters near the administrative borders with Latakia.

Three IRGC-backed militiamen, one of whom was Syrian while the two others were of non-Syrian nationalities were killed by the Israeli strikes.

In Hama, the airstrikes hit weapons and ammunition warehouses in mountains and forests in the area of Deir Shmail in the western countryside of Hama near the administrative border with Latakia.

While in Latakia, several airstrikes hit military headquarters, weapons and ammunition warehouses in the south of al-Haffa.

The Israeli airstrikes left nearly 14 people injured and destroyed warehouses.

No official statement was made by the Israeli side regarding the strikes.

During the past years, Israel launched several airstrikes in Syria and targeted sites of Iran and Hezbollah. Israel rarely confirms launching airstrikes in Syria.

Airstrikes targeted the southern Syrian province of Quneitra on Wednesday night. No casualties were recorded.

The official SANA news agency reported the raids but not the casualties, saying four soldiers were wounded in the attack.



Israel Ready to Negotiate Permanent Gaza Ceasefire during 60-day Truce, Netanyahu Says

09 July 2025, US, Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the press at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Douglas Christian/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
09 July 2025, US, Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the press at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Douglas Christian/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Israel Ready to Negotiate Permanent Gaza Ceasefire during 60-day Truce, Netanyahu Says

09 July 2025, US, Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the press at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Douglas Christian/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
09 July 2025, US, Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking with the press at the US Capitol in Washington. Photo: Douglas Christian/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will likely have a ceasefire agreement with Hamas to release more Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian group. 

Netanyahu said 50 hostages were still being held captive by Hamas. Of that figure, he said, only 20 are believed to be alive. 

"I want to take them all out. We now have a deal that supposedly will get half of the living and half of the dead out," Netanyahu said in an interview on Newsmax show "The Record with Greta Van Susteren" that aired on Thursday. 

"And so we'll have 10 living left and about 12 deceased hostages, but I'll get them out, too. I hope we can complete it in a few days." 

On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel's retaliation has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, Gaza's health ministry says, and reduced much of Gaza to rubble. 

The two sides have had two ceasefires - one in November 2023 and another in January 2025- since the fighting started. 

Netanyahu said Israel and Hamas will likely have a 60-day ceasefire, which the two sides could use to try to end the conflict. 

Hamas said on Wednesday there were several sticking points in the ongoing ceasefire talks including the flow of aid, withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, and "genuine guarantees for a permanent ceasefire." 

Netanyahu's interview with Newsmax comes as he wraps his third visit to Washington since President Donald Trump took office in January. 

Speaking of Trump, the Israeli leader said his country has never had "such a friend, such a support of Israel, the Jewish state in the White House." 

Last month, the US joined Israel in striking Iran, a move that Trump has said "obliterated" three of Iran's nuclear sites. 

When asked about a damage assessment, Netanyahu said, "Within months, they could have produced atomic bombs."