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Russia Confirms Israel’s Bombing of Iranian Stronghold in Syria

Missile fire is seen from Damascus, Syria, May 10, 2018. (Reuters)
Missile fire is seen from Damascus, Syria, May 10, 2018. (Reuters)
    Daraa, London, Moscow - Asharq Al-Awsat
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Russia Confirms Israel’s Bombing of Iranian Stronghold in Syria

Missile fire is seen from Damascus, Syria, May 10, 2018. (Reuters)
Missile fire is seen from Damascus, Syria, May 10, 2018. (Reuters)

The Russian Ministry of Defense said that the Syrian air defense forces thwarted, at dawn on Sunday, a strike carried out by two Israeli fighters against the Sayeda Zainab area, south of Damascus, which is known as the stronghold of Iran and its militias in Syria.

General Vadim Kulit, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, told the Russian news agency TASS that two Israeli fighter jets were intercepted while attacking targets near Damascus early Sunday.

“From 05:40 am to 05:54 am, two F-16 tactical fighter jets of the Israeli Air Force, which stayed outside Syria’s airspace, delivered a strike, from the southwestern direction, with two guided missiles at facilities in the settlement of Sayeda Zainab in the Damascus governorate,” he said, adding that both missiles were downed by the Russian-made Buk-M2E systems of the Syria air defense units.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported, for its part, that a violent explosion hit separate areas of the Syrian capital, adding that the people heard the sound of a strong explosion and a cloud of smoke was seen in the air.

This is the third attempt by the Israeli forces to launch an air strike on Syrian territory this week. On July 19, Israeli warplanes launched eight missiles at sites in the Aleppo governorate, and on July 22, four missiles hit facilities in Homs.

Meanwhile, concerns mounted among the residents of the Druze-dominated Suweida region in southern Syria due to a leaked government document that spoke of an imminent ISIS attack as military reinforcements were being brought in to neighboring Daraa.

Activists in the region leaked a document by the Damascus police chief and addressed to the Syrian Minister of Interior, speaking of ISIS plans to infiltrate deep into Suweida to carry out terrorist operations.

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Amnesty Says RSF Committed Ethnic Cleansing in Sudan

Abubakr Alsawi, right, waits during the exhumation of his brother Mohammed Alsawi, 73, who was killed in 2023 by the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces in Omdurman, on the outskirts of Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP)
Abubakr Alsawi, right, waits during the exhumation of his brother Mohammed Alsawi, 73, who was killed in 2023 by the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces in Omdurman, on the outskirts of Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP)
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Amnesty Says RSF Committed Ethnic Cleansing in Sudan

Abubakr Alsawi, right, waits during the exhumation of his brother Mohammed Alsawi, 73, who was killed in 2023 by the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces in Omdurman, on the outskirts of Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP)
Abubakr Alsawi, right, waits during the exhumation of his brother Mohammed Alsawi, 73, who was killed in 2023 by the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces in Omdurman, on the outskirts of Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP)

The Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing during their attack on el-Fashir city between 2024 and 2025, Amnesty International alleged Wednesday.

Sudan has been mired since April 2023 in a brutal war between the army and the RSF, which has killed tens of thousands and forced millions to flee, according to the United Nations.

Both sides have been accused of atrocities, with a UN independent fact-finding mission in February concluding that the 2025 assault on el-Fashir bore the "hallmarks of genocide".

Amnesty's wide-ranging report found that the RSF "committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing during its campaign to seize el-Fashir".

The NGO interviewed 247 victims or witnesses between early 2024 and October 2025 in North Darfur.

It said the RSF systematically attacked settlements around el-Fashir which housed the Zaghawa people, an ethnic group in western Darfur.

The report alleged widespread and deliberate violence against children including killing, abductions, forced recruitment, and rape.

"It is a stain on the conscience of humanity," said Amnesty chief Agnes Callamard in a statement.

RSF fighters burned homes long after residents had fled, the report said, "suggesting an intent to render the areas uninhabitable", consistent with "ethnic cleansing".

During the final RSF offensive on el-Fashir in October 2025, Amnesty said "hundreds were executed, and many others were tortured or detained" as they attempted to flee.

The report also noted violations happened "repeatedly and on a large scale", and suggested "those in positions of authority knew, or should have known, what was occurring, and failed to stop it or hold anyone accountable".

Amnesty International -- which stressed that its investigation into the incidents was ongoing -- also said such acts "may be relevant to the crime of genocide".

The international NGO urged an immediate ceasefire and deployment of an international force to protect civilians.

The report comes as the UN Human Rights Council held a debate over El-Obeid city in North Kordofan, where there are fears of an imminent RSF assault after weeks of intense attacks.

Arab World

Source to Asharq Al-Awsat: 4 Issues at Cairo Talks Aim to Accelerate Gaza Ceasefire Implementation

Palestinian man uses a sledgehammer on the rubble of destroyed buildings near a displacement camp in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, on June 28, 2026. (AFP)
Palestinian man uses a sledgehammer on the rubble of destroyed buildings near a displacement camp in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, on June 28, 2026. (AFP)
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Source to Asharq Al-Awsat: 4 Issues at Cairo Talks Aim to Accelerate Gaza Ceasefire Implementation

Palestinian man uses a sledgehammer on the rubble of destroyed buildings near a displacement camp in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, on June 28, 2026. (AFP)
Palestinian man uses a sledgehammer on the rubble of destroyed buildings near a displacement camp in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, on June 28, 2026. (AFP)

Four “critical and decisive” issues are at the center of the latest round of Cairo-hosted negotiations aimed at accelerating the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire, according to a well-informed Egyptian source involved in the talks.

Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire announced last October, killing more than 1,000 Palestinians and assassinating senior Hamas leaders. Mediators led by Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye are seeking to preserve the agreement and move it into its next phases in an effort to restore calm to the enclave after nearly three years of war.

A Hamas delegation and representatives of other Palestinian factions arrived in Cairo on Tuesday.

The Egyptian source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the talks, expected to continue through Wednesday, build on negotiations launched last week and are intended to settle four key issues.

The first is the immediate launch of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, with priority at this stage given to its work rather than the issue of weapons of factions.

The second involves establishing the framework for weapons storage and reconciling proposals for both disarmament and storage. The third focuses on redefining the mandate of the Board of Peace, particularly with regard to the guarantees it can provide.

The fourth concerns coordination over the planned International Stabilization Force, with several countries having already dispatched delegations to discuss the initiative. The identities of participating states are expected to become clear soon.

The source acknowledged that differences remain over several issues, but said Nickolay Mladenov, the High Representative for the Board of Peace, could travel to Cairo if the talks continue to progress positively and recent amendments gain momentum.

He added that the most encouraging development is Hamas’ constructive approach, noting that its delegation has full authority to make decisions and is participating alongside other Palestinian factions.

The source also pointed to intensive diplomatic efforts to ensure the success of the Cairo talks, highlighting the presence of Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin in the Egyptian capital.

Egypt, Türkiye, and Qatar, he stressed, are coordinating to shield Hamas from pressure by other regional actors, including Iran, which has recently become more involved in the crisis, in an effort to speed up implementation of the Gaza agreement.

He continued that the immediate priority is completing the first phase of the ceasefire before moving to the second, which envisions the national committee assuming responsibilities in Gaza and the deployment of international forces.

By contrast, Israel remains focused on procedural matters, including compiling and classifying weapons inventories, while Arab mediators are pressing for agreement on the core political issues needed to enable international forces to assume their role.

Overall, the source described Hamas’ position as positive so far but remained skeptical that Israel would fully implement the agreement without further pressure from the US.

Hamas political adviser Taher al-Nunu said in a statement Tuesday that a delegation led by Zaher Jabarin had arrived in Cairo for meetings with Egyptian officials and mediators to continue implementing the ceasefire agreement.

Arab World

Syria Drafts Law to Protect Victims’ Rights from Assad Era

Monday’s demonstration outside the Palace of Justice in Damascus called for criminalizing symbols of the Assad era (Facebook). 
Monday’s demonstration outside the Palace of Justice in Damascus called for criminalizing symbols of the Assad era (Facebook). 
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Syria Drafts Law to Protect Victims’ Rights from Assad Era

Monday’s demonstration outside the Palace of Justice in Damascus called for criminalizing symbols of the Assad era (Facebook). 
Monday’s demonstration outside the Palace of Justice in Damascus called for criminalizing symbols of the Assad era (Facebook). 

Syria’s Ministry of Justice has completed a draft law aimed at protecting the rights of victims of the Assad era, preserving the historical record, safeguarding the collective memory of future generations, and preventing the recurrence of abuses.

Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais said Tuesday that the bill will be submitted to parliament as soon as it convenes to complete the constitutional process and secure final approval.

His remarks came a day after demonstrators gathered outside the Palace of Justice in central Damascus, calling for enforcement of Article 49 of Syria’s constitutional declaration. The provision criminalizes glorifying the former Assad regime and its symbols, as well as denying, praising, justifying, or minimizing its crimes.

Recent weeks have also seen protests in several parts of the country accompanied by violence and vandalism targeting supporters of the former regime and remnants of its security and military apparatus, raising concerns about social stability.

Al-Wais stressed that denying or justifying crimes committed by the former regime, or glorifying those responsible, violates the constitutional declaration because it undermines victims’ rights and Syria’s national memory. He said these principles form part of the country’s transitional justice framework.

He added that the Public Prosecution is pursuing such violations under existing law and urged the public to report acts or statements that breach the constitutional declaration so legal action can be taken.

According to legal sources, launching transitional justice proceedings before enacting a dedicated transitional justice law has created a gap between Syrians’ expectations for comprehensive accountability and current prosecutions conducted under the penal code.

Mohammed Suleiman Dahla, head of the Damascus Bar Association, told Asharq Al-Awsat that ongoing cases classify abuses as war crimes and crimes against humanity under international criminal and humanitarian law while simultaneously prosecuting them under the Syrian Penal Code.

He said the forthcoming transitional justice law — expected before the current trials conclude — would become the governing legislation, particularly regarding sentencing. Specialized judicial chambers handling such crimes have already begun operating in Damascus within the regular court system, from the Public Prosecution through investigative bodies to the criminal court, with plans to expand them to other provinces.

Dahla stressed that transitional justice legislation is essential for social recovery, institutional reform, closing the chapter on the past, preventing future abuses, and preserving historical memory. He also called for reviewing laws that helped the former regime consolidate control over the state, society, and the economy.