Overview
- After deadly clashes in Aleppo between Syrian government forces and the SDF, a cautious quiet took hold as both sides ordered a halt to fire, with the SDF denying claims it shelled Al‑Razi hospital and each party blaming the other for civilian harm.
- In Sudan, Port Sudan authorities proposed a ceasefire conditioned on RSF disarmament and withdrawal, while the United States urged acceptance of an unconditional humanitarian truce and the UAE backed a civilian-led transition, saying evidence shows both sides committed war crimes.
- Battlefield reports said forces aligned with the Tasis coalition, including the RSF and SPLM‑N, tightened control over approaches to Kadugli and that thousands fled, though these claims rely on a single field source and remain difficult to verify.
- Israel’s recent approvals bring settlement count to 69 over three years, with analysts saying the expansion is reshaping the West Bank, as Defense Minister Yisrael Katz vowed never to fully withdraw from Gaza and signaled steps toward broader sovereignty.
- Israeli security officials warned that leaks and briefings about potential action against Iran could trigger dangerous misreadings, while in Washington the Justice Department’s new Epstein releases drew Democratic accusations of a cover‑up that DOJ denies, citing legal limits on disclosures.