Record rainfall in Japan kills 8, strands thousands at Narita airport
Record rainfall in Japan killed eight people and stranded thousands of travellers at Tokyo's Narita Airport on Friday, as flooding disrupted tr...
Rebel groups in Syria have captured the city of Homs, marking their third major victory in a week as they push toward Damascus in a bid to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.
Rebel armed groups in Syria have taken control of the strategic city of Homs, marking their third major territorial gain in just over a week. The offensive, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, follows the capture of Hama last Thursday and Aleppo earlier in the week.
The rebels, now advancing toward Damascus, have declared their intent to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad. Militant leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, in a statement to CNN, emphasized their goal of toppling the regime, with Homs serving as a critical milestone in their campaign.
In southern Syria, the city of Daraa has also fallen to rebel forces. According to sources, a deal was struck allowing the Syrian military to withdraw to the capital in exchange for safe passage.
International Reactions
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, after meeting with Syrian officials, condemned the rebels, describing their actions as a regional threat. He reiterated Iran’s support for Assad, warning of a resurgence of terrorism across neighboring countries if the situation worsens.
Meanwhile, the United States has urged de-escalation. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called for adherence to UNSCR 2254, emphasizing a political solution to end the civil war.
Human Toll
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports over 800 fatalities since the offensive began. As the conflict intensifies, international concerns about the humanitarian crisis and regional stability continue to grow.
Disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has increased the strategic importance of Bab al-Mandab, raising fears that instability in both waterways could trigger a wider global energy and trade crisis.
Flights at Catania airport in Sicily will remain suspended until early Friday as ash from Mount Etna continues to disrupt air travel, following hundreds of cancellations and diversions over the past week.
Iran says the Strait of Hormuz remains under its control, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of “total control” over the strategic waterway and insisting it will not reopen until Washington fulfils its commitments under an interim deal.
Iran and the United States remain at loggerheads over efforts to agree a permanent end to the war in the Gulf, according to a senior Iranian source who said there had been no progress in talks to revive the interim deal agreed in June and define a timeframe to implement it.
Russia has accused Ukraine of threatening global grain supplies after recent strikes on Black Sea agricultural infrastructure, while Moscow carried out a new overnight attack on Ukraine’s major Danube port of Izmail.
Record rainfall in Japan killed eight people and stranded thousands of travellers at Tokyo's Narita Airport on Friday, as flooding disrupted transport and cut power to 20,000 homes.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 14th of August, covering the latest developments.
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