Monday

December 16, 2024

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian civil war

2024 Israeli invasion of Syria

The Cabinet of Israel approves a plan proposing to double the occupied Golan Heights' regional Israeli settlers population. (BBC News)

Fall of the Assad regime

In his first public statement since being overthrown, former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad says that he "didn't intend to leave Syria", claiming that he went to Khmeimim Air Base in Latakia Governorate to "oversee combat operations" only to find that the Syrian Army had abandoned their positions and surrendered to rebel forces. Amid "an intensified attack by drone strikes" at the air base, Assad says that Russia decided to airlift him to Moscow. (BBC News)

Syrian mass graves

A recently created mass grave containing the bodies of 17 executed Syrian Army soldiers is discovered in the Syrian Desert near Deir ez-Zor. (SOHR)

Sectarianism and minorities in the Syrian civil war

The brother of the Imam of the Great Prophet Mosque of Masyaf is assassinated by unidentified gunmen, Hama Governorate, in a potential revenge operation, due to the Imam being associated with Hezbollah and other Iranian- and Shia-associated militias. (SOHR)

US intervention in the Syrian civil war

The US Air Force conduct strikes targeting ISIS camps and operatives, killing one dozen ISIS fighters according to the Pentagon. (US Department of Defense)

Israel–Hamas war

The Gaza Health Ministry announces that the death toll in the ongoing war has surpassed 45,000. (Al Jazeera)

Mexican Drug War

An improvised device exploded left two soldiers dead and five elements injuried, ocurred near Los Gallineros locality, Cotija de la Paz, Michoacán. The next day, the general of the Secretariat of National Defense, Ricardo Trevilla Trejo pointed to Cárteles Unidos to be behind the attack.(Revista Proceso)(Política Expansión)

Health and environment

2024 Australia heat wave

Walpeup, Victoria, Australia, reports a temperature of 47.1 °C (116.8 °F), the hottest temperature reported in the state since 2019. Extreme heat wave warnings and fire risk warnings are also issued for areas across Australia. (The Guardian) (ABC News Australia)