Iran War: Tehran denies Iran targeted UAE with missiles

Syria condemns Israeli strikes

Syria has condemned what it called “Israeli aggression” after eight air strikes hit the Abu al-Duhur military airport in Idlib, according to Syria’s state news agency SANA.

Syria sent identical letters to the UN secretary-general and the president of the UN Security Council, saying Israeli attacks since December 8, 2024, including strikes, incursions and alleged abductions, have continued despite what it described as Syrian restraint.

The letters said the attacks are making efforts to restore stability more difficult and increasing the risk of further regional tensions.

Syria called for an immediate end to the attacks and urged Israel to follow the 1974 disengagement agreement. It also demanded that Israel withdraw from territory it entered after December 8, 2024, as well as from the occupied Golan Heights.

Syria said its goal of becoming “a pillar of security and stability” does not prevent it from defending its interests through what it called legitimate means under international law.

Following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, Israeli forces entered the UN-monitored buffer zone in the Golan Heights and have carried out repeated strikes in Syria. Israel says the operations are intended to prevent weapons from reaching armed groups.

Israel has controlled the Golan Heights since capturing the territory from Syria in the 1967 war and annexed it in 1981. The annexation is not recognised by the United Nations.

Netanyahu backs US sanctions on ICC officials

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised US Secretary of State Marco Rubio after Rubio announced new sanctions against officials at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Rubio said the Trump administration was working to counter what he called the ICC’s threat to US sovereignty. He announced sanctions against ICC President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, describing the move as part of an effort to protect Americans from what he called an illegitimate court.

Responding on X, Netanyahu said the ICC had become “a kangaroo court” and accused it of using international law to cover up abuses of power.

Netanyahu praised Rubio for what he called the Trump administration’s efforts to challenge the ICC and said the court’s leadership would face consequences.

The ICC issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the war in Gaza. Israel has rejected the warrants, calling them politically motivated and legally baseless.

The United States is not a member of the Rome Statute, which created the ICC. Washington sanctioned former ICC prosecutor Karim Khan in 2025 and has also imposed sanctions on several ICC judges and officials over investigations involving Israel and alleged US conduct in Afghanistan.