Israel's "land grab" has been criticised by gulf states such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iraq. As tensions continue escalate, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was called to the witness stand in the corruption case against him.

West Asia Tensions | Latest Developments

Syria Civil War

• Days after the collapse of the Assam regime, Israel started attacking Syria after taking control of a "buffer zone". Israel's occupation of Golan Heights and its "land grab" has been condemned by Gulf states such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

• Furthermore, loud explosions were reported in Damascus on Tuesday. As per AFP, the explosions came hours after the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported around 250 Israeli air strikes on Syrian territory.

• As per the UK-based war monitor, Israel has carried out several air strikes on military targets, research centres and other areas in Syria.

• Along with Israel, the United States and Turkey have also bombed several Syrian airbases and military sites in order to "stabilise" the region and prevent the bases from being taken over by ISIS.

• As HTS now takes over Syria, rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Julani has stated that a list of former senior officials will be released soon. This list will determine which officials will be charged for "torturing the Syrian people".

• "We will offer rewards to anyone who provides information about senior army and security officers involved in war crimes,” rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Julani said in a statement on Telegram.

Netanyahu On Trial

• Amid the Gaza war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been called to testify in the corruption case against him.

• Netanyahu is facing three separate cases of corruption filed in 2019. The Israeli PM, who has been accused of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, has denied all charges and stated that the allegations against him are part of a "witch-hunt" by people who want him out of office.

• Ahead of the testimony, Netanyahu carried out a heated press conference during which the prime minister focused his comments on the situation in Syria and the ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza.

War On Gaza

• As the war in Gaza continues to escalate, the Yemeni group Houthis launched an attack towards central Israel in response to "massacres" in Gaza.

• Since October 7, 2023, nearly 45,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks. The majority of these deaths have been attributed to women and children.

• Despite the ceasefire talks resuming, Israel has stated that it does not plan to stop the war in Gaza.

• During a press conference, PM Netanyahu stated that the war in Gaza "won't end now".

• "If we end the war now, Hamas will return, recover, rebuild and attack us again -- and that is what we do not want to go back to," said Netanyahu.