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A curated weekday guide to major news and developments over the weekend. Here’s today’s news:
SYRIA
Israel’s government yesterday agreed to double the country’s population in the occupied Golan Heights to “thwart potential threats,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, adding that Israel “has no interest in a conflict with Syria.” Emily Atkinson and Jack Burgess report for BBC News.
Israel struck Syria 75 times overnight on Saturday, targeting weapons depots and air defenses, according to a UK-based war monitor, and began striking again this morning. Vivian Yee reports for the New York Times; AP News reports.
Although Israel has “clearly crossed the lines of engagement,” Syria is not interested in opening a new conflict, the head of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel group said on Saturday. Abbie Cheeseman reports for the Washington Post.
The Kremlin today said that no final decisions have been made on Russia’s military bases in Syria. Syrian sources say that Russia is pulling back its military from the Syrian front lines but at present is not leaving its two main bases in the country. The Guardian reports; Tuvan Gumrukcu, Suleiman Al-Khalidi, and Guy Faulconbridge report for Reuters.
Satellite images show Russia moving military equipment at its Syria bases, with Syrian sources reporting Moscow’s military cargo planes are departing toward Libya. Tuvan Gumrukcu reports for Reuters.
Unexploded mines scattered around Syria pose a severe threat to civilians, the HALO Trust nonprofit warned on Saturday. Andrew Jeong and Bryan Pietsch report for The Washington Post.
SYRIA — REGIONAL RESPONSE
Several Arab countries today denounced Israel’s plan to double its Golan Heights population, with Turkey describing it as a bid to “expand its borders through occupation.” Howard Goller reports for Reuters; the Guardian reports via AFP.
Israel and Jordan held secret talks on Friday to coordinate their Syria response, Israeli officials said. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.
Hezbollah has lost its supply route through Syria, the group’s head said in his first remarks since the fall of the Assad regime. Maya Gebeily reports for Reuters.
SYRIA — U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
Several Western and Arab countries on Saturday released a joint statement calling for the establishment of an “inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government” in Syria.
U.S. officials have been in direct contact with HTS, Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed Saturday. Separately, Britain’s foreign minister said yesterday the U.K. “has had diplomatic contact” with the group, while the EU announced it will send a top diplomat to make contact with the new government. Matthew Lee reports for AP News; William James reports for Reuters; Jennifer Rankin reports for the Guardian.
Several Democrat and Republican lawmakers said it is too soon to lift Syria sanctions, with Sens. James Risch (R-ID), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) all citing the need to wait for the rebel government’s next actions. Patricia Zengerle reports for Reuters.
Russian wheat supplies to Syria have been suspended due to uncertainty over the new government and payment delays, Russian and Syrian sources said Friday. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy said on Saturday Kyiv will set up food supply mechanisms to Syria. Olga Popova, Gleb Stolyarov, and Jonathan Saul report for Reuters.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
The death toll of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has surpassed 45,000 people, Palestinian health officials said today, adding that 52 people were killed over the past day. Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy report for AP News.
Palestinian Authority security forces clashed with militants on Saturday in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, with at least one confirmed death. Ali Swafta reports for Reuters.
Israel filed an appeal against the arrest warrants the International Criminal Court issued for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the Foreign Ministry said yesterday. Freddie Clayton and Omer Bekin report for NBC News.
Israel yesterday announced it will close its embassy in Ireland, citing the Irish government’s support for South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Sophie Tanno and Michael Schwartz report for CNN.
ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR — U.S. RESPONSE
The Biden administration asked Israel to approve U.S. assistance to Palestinian Authority security forces’ operation targeting militants affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and Hamas, Palestinian, U.S., and Israeli officials said. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.
Netanyahu yesterday said he discussed “the need to complete Israel’s victory” in a “friendly” Saturday conversation with President-elect Trump. Eugenia Yosef, Sophie Tanno, Nadeen Ebrahim, and Michael Rios report for CNN.
U.S. PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION AND NEW CONGRESS
Trump yesterday announced he intends to appoint Devin Nunes as chairman of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board. Maegan Vazquez and Leigh Ann Caldwell report for the Washington Post.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) yesterday warned that pressure campaigns to push Trump’s nominees through Congress “run a lot of risks” and could create problems for future nominees. Greta Reich reports for POLITICO.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) yesterday said President Biden should consider issuing preemptive pardons for members of the Jan. 6 House Committee in light of Trump’s threats to jail them. Alexandra Marquez reports for NBC News.
Trump’s Defense Department pick, Pete Hegseth, plans to release the woman who accused him of sexual assault from a confidential settlement agreement, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said yesterday. Jack Forrest reports for CNN
SpaceX executives have not sought a higher security clearance that would give Elon Musk access to details about sensitive government programs in which the company is involved to avoid Musk answering questions about his contacts with foreign nationals and drug use, sources say. Joe Palazzolo, Emily Glazer, and Micah Maidenberg report for the Wall Street Journal.
TRUMP LEGAL MATTERS
ABC News will donate $15 million to Trump’s future presidential foundation to settle a defamation lawsuit brought by Trump, according to an agreement signed Friday. Michael M. Grynbaum and Alan Feuer report for the New York Times.
U.S. DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENTS
The top and longest-serving aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, yesterday resigned from her City Hall post, as Manhattan prosecutors reportedly may be preparing to indict her. William K. Rashbaum, Dana Rubinstein, Emma G. Fitzsimmons, and Chelsia Rose Marcius report for the New York Times.
More than 120 House Democrats have signed a letter urging Biden to have the Equal Rights Amendment ratified, a move they believe would incorporate sex equality into the Constitution. Mariana Alfaro reports for the Washington Post.
SOUTH KOREA MARTIAL LAW CRISIS
The South Korean National Assembly on Saturday voted to impeach and suspend President Yoon Suk-Yeol over his martial law declaration. The country’s constitutional court will now review the impeachment. Choe Sang-Hun, Jin Yu Young, and Victoria Kim report for the New York Times; Raphael Rashid reports for the Guardian.
Yoon yesterday failed to comply with a summons from prosecutors related to his insurrection charge, local media report. Heekyong Yang reports for Reuters.
RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR
Russia has begun using North Korean troops “in significant numbers” in the Kursk offensive for the first time, Zelenskyy said on Saturday. Olena Harmash and Tom Balmforth report for Reuters.
OTHER GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday offered to mediate between Sudan’s military leader and the United Arab Emirates, his office said. AP News reports.
Brazilian police on Saturday arrested an ex-minister and former President Jair Bolsonaro’s close ally over meddling in the 2022 coup attempt investigation. Ana Ionova reports for the New York Times.
Georgia’s lawmakers on Saturday elected a former soccer star turned far-right politician to the presidency, deepening the country’s political turmoil. Valerie Hopkins reports for the New York Times.
A planned Sunday meeting between the presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo was cancelled, dashing hopes for a deal that would curb Congo’s M23 rebel insurgency. Reuters reports.
Suspected jihadists killed 39 civilians in western Niger’s borderlands in recent days, the country’s defense ministry said yesterday. Boureima Balima reports for Reuters.
U.S. FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) warned against “right-wing flirtation with isolation and decline” in a Foreign Affairs essay published today, in an apparent criticism of Trump’s proposed isolationist policies. Connor O’Brien and Joe Gould report for POLITICO.