Syrian state-run media say Israel carried out an air strike near Syria's southern Druze-majority city of Suweida late on Thursday. The Sana news agency is reporting that "Israeli occupation aircraft carried out a raid on the outskirts" of the city, without giving any further details. Israel's military has not commented on the issue.

Israel carried out a series of powerful strikes on the Syrian capital Damascus Wednesday, escalating a campaign it says is in support of an Arab minority group involved in deadly clashes with Syrian government forces.

As cease-fire talks stalled, a deadly strike on a Catholic church in Gaza City prompted Pope Leo XIV to call for an immediate end to the fighting.

Archbishop Alexios stands in front of the bodies of Palestinian Christians Saad Salama and Foumia Ayyad, who were killed in an Israeli strike on the Holy Family Church, according to medics, as mourners attend their funeral at the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church, in Gaza City, July 17, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas

Pope Leo XIV is “deeply saddened” after three people were killed in a strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church, he said in a Vatican telegram on Thursday. Calling the strike a “military attack,” the Vatican’s Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said: “In commending the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God,

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is now leading a minority government after losing the support of another ultra-Orthodox faction. Shas, a Sephardic-haredi political party, announced its decision to exit the ruling coalition on Wednesday in protest of the government’s inaction to restore exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox believers.