G7 nations call on 'all sides' to respect Syria's territorial integrity | US general visits Lebanon as IDF begins withdrawal | IAF shoots down two hostile drones from Yemen

15:16 - G7 nations call on 'all sides' to respect Syrian territorial integrity

The leaders of the G7, the group of the seven major democracies, called on "all sides" to respect Syrian territorial integrity, amid continuing criticism of Israel's capture of the former demilitarized zone between the countries.

In a joint statement, G7 leaders said they will "lend our full support for an inclusive Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition process in the spirit of the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 2254. We call on all parties to preserve Syria’s territorial integrity and national unity, and respect its independence and sovereignty."

"We reiterate our support for the UN Disengagement Observer Force monitoring the Golan Heights between Israel and Syria," the statement added.

"Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of holding the Assad regime accountable for its crimes and will continue to work with the OPCW and other partners to secure, declare and destroy Syria’s remaining chemical weapons stockpiles."

14:28 - Syrian media report alleged Israeli airstrikes near Damascus, Latakia

Syrian media reported an alleged Israeli airstrike near the capital Damascus and the coastal city of Latakia.

11:39 - Israel will stay in Syria buffer zone until new Syrian rulers guarantee Israeli security

The Israeli troops will stay in the demilitarized zone in Syrian territory, along the Golan Heights frontier, until the new Syrian government can guarantee Israel's security on the border, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) stated.

"The collapse of the Syrian regime created a vacuum on Israel’s border and in the buffer zone established by the 1974 Separation of Forces Agreement.
Israel will not permit jihadi groups to fill that vacuum and threaten Israeli communities on the Golan Heights with October 7th-style attacks," the PMO said.

"That is why Israeli forces entered the buffer zone and took control of strategic sites near Israel’s border. This deployment is temporary until a force that is committed to the 1974 agreement can be established and security on our border can be guaranteed."

11:18 - Jerusalem mayor condoles family of 10-year-old Yehoshua, son of prominent rabbi killed in terror attack

"I was shocked and dismayed to hear of the death this morning of the boy Yehoshua Aharon Tovia Simcha, may God avenge his blood, who was mortally wounded last night in a shooting attack at the tunnel checkpoint at the entrance to Jerusalem," Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon stated.

"This is an important Jerusalemite family, involved in education and donations, a family valued and loved by all its surroundings, and belonging to the magnificent holy communities in our city."

"On behalf of the residents of Jerusalem, on behalf of the members of the city council, we would like to convey our condolences to the dear parents, the renowned educator Rabbi David Zusha, the head of the Chassidic yeshiva in Beitar, and to his mother, the esteemed educator Rachel."

"We would like to convey our condolences from a painful heart, also to the injured and injured. We pray that God will send them complete healing soon," Leon stated.

09:48 - Drone alerts in Netivot, Sderot and Ashkelon were false alarms

The hostile drone alerts that started in Netivot and spread further north were a false alarm, Israeli media reported.

09:36 - Terrorist who killed child yesterday turns himself in after overnight manhunt

The terrorist who killed a child and wounded several other people in a shooting attack yesterday turned himself in to Israeli forces after they closed off Bethlehem while searching for him.

"After a joint manhunt by the IDF forces, the police and the Shin Bet, which included a military encirclement of Bethlehem and the application of military pressure in the area, the terrorist who carried out the shooting attack in the area of ​​Al-Khader Junction in the Etzion Block turned himself in to the security forces," the IDF stated.

09:07 – US CENTCOM commander visits Lebanon as IDF begins withdrawal

Gen. Michael Kurilla, commander of the U.S. CENTCOM, visited Lebanon on Wednesday to monitor the Israeli withdrawal from the town of al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, and the replacement of IDF troops with Lebanese army forces.

“Kurilla traveled to Beirut, Lebanon and met with Gen. Joseph Aoun, Commander of the Lebanon Armed Forces and Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers, the Co-chair of the implementation and monitoring mechanism for the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon,” CENTCOM stated.

“The leaders discussed ongoing efforts to advance a lasting cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon via the mechanism, which is chaired by the U.S. and assisted by France, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and the Israel Defense Forces. Gen. Kurilla was present at the implementation and monitoring headquarters today during the ongoing first Israeli Defense Forces withdrawal and Lebanese Armed Forces replacement in Al Khiam, Lebanon as part of the agreement.”

09:01 – Hostile drone triggers alarm sirens in Netivot, Sderot and near Ashkelon

Hostile drone infiltration alarms were activated in the southern town of Netivot.

Israeli media reported that the drone probably came “from the east,” meaning it was probably launched by Iran-backed militias in Iraq or by the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Following alarms in Netivot, alarm sirens spread to towns further north, including Sderot and surrounding communities and towns near Ashkelon.

Eyewitness reports also said an interceptor missile was launched toward the area of Eilat, Israel's southernmost point.

08:57 – IDF troops close off Bethlehem in manhunt for terrorist who killed 10-year-old child yesterday

The IDF said its troops laid roadblocks around the town of Bethlehem and created additional roadblocks in the pursuit of the Palestinian terrorist who killed a 10-year-old boy and wounded several other people in a terror shooting yesterday evening.

The terrorist opened fire at an Israeli civilian bus traveling from the Gush Etzion settlement block toward Jerusalem.

08:00 – IDF intercepts a drone in southern Israel, no sirens activated

The IDF said the Israeli Air Force (IAF) intercepted an unmanned aircraft that was launched “from the east,” code for attacks launched from Iraq or Yemen.

Per the IDF’s policy, no sirens were activated and there were no casualties.

“The drone that was intercepted this morning in the south of the country was launched from Yemen,” according to Army Radio’s military correspondent, Doron Kadosh.

“Its flight path is similar to that of the drone that hit a building in Yavne a few days ago without being intercepted and without an alarm being triggered. The Air Force learned lessons from the incident and successfully intercepted the drone this morning.”

05:00 – France calls on Israel to withdraw from Golan buffer zone

The French Foreign Ministry on Wednesday evening called on Israel to withdraw its troops from the buffer zone separating Syria from the Israeli Golan Heights, saying that “any military deployment in the separation zone between Israel and Syria is a violation of the disengagement agreement of 1974.”

“France calls on Israel to withdraw from the zone and to respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Foreign Ministry spokesman said.