Israeli strikes in the central Gaza Strip have resulted in the deaths of at least six individuals, as reported by Palestinian medical officials on Monday. These strikes also targeted suspected chemical and long-range weapons sites in Syria to prevent them from falling into the hands of rebels who recently seized Damascus.
The U.N. Security Council is set to convene emergency closed consultations on Syria following a request from Russia, which has granted asylum to Syrian leader Bashar Assad. Russian President Vladimir Putin personally made the decision to offer asylum to Assad, with the Kremlin confirming this move.
Since the beginning of the conflict, over 44,500 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza due to Israel's offensive. Local health authorities note that a significant number of the casualties are women and children, without distinguishing between combatants and civilians.
Meanwhile, Syrian insurgents have declared that they will not impose any religious dress code on women and are committed to upholding personal freedoms for all individuals. The General Command of the insurgents emphasized the importance of respecting individual rights and personal freedom in building a civilized nation.
In a separate development, more than 4,000 Syrian army soldiers have crossed into Iraq following the overthrow of the Assad government by rebel forces. The soldiers surrendered their weapons and will be housed in a camp in Iraq, signaling a significant shift in the region's dynamics.
The U.N. human rights chief has called for Assad and other top Syrian officials to face justice for possible war crimes committed during the civil war that began in 2011. The high commissioner for human rights stressed the need for accountability in any transition process in Syria.
Furthermore, Turkey's Foreign Minister expressed hope for the establishment of an inclusive government in Syria post-Assad's regime. Turkey aims for different ethnic and religious groups to coexist peacefully under a new government that maintains stability and good relations with neighboring countries.
Lastly, Israel reported that a drone, believed to have originated in Yemen, struck a city in central Israel, causing a burst of smoke in a residential building. Additionally, Turkish-backed forces have taken full control of the Syrian city of Manbij from U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led forces, marking a significant development in the ongoing conflict.
