Spotlight on Syria (April 9 –23, 2025)
IDF forces continued targeted raids in the Golan Heights buffer zone. UN officials claimed that Israeli “violations” threatened stability in Syria, while the United States expressed support for Israeli actions against terrorist elements in Syria; President Erdoğan accused Israel of trying to ignite ethnic and sectarian conflict, although the Turkish foreign minister said they did not seek to confront Israel in Syria; Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas held his first meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and agreed to enhance cooperation; The Palestinian Islamic Jihad reported that two of its senior operatives were arrested by the authorities in Syria “without cause.”; Syrian security forces confiscated various weapons, including anti-tank and shoulder-fired missiles, during operations against gangs in Daraa Governorate in southern Syria; Syrian President al-Sharaa met with United States Congressmen for the first time. One Congressman claimed al-Sharaa expressed a willingness to improve relations with Israel.
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