Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes on military targets in Syria after Israeli troops seized a buffer zone, previously established after the 1973 Middle East war. The military said it would deploy forces in additional locations essential for Israel’s defense, though it denied advancing toward Damascus. On the same day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testified in his long-running corruption trial, denying charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Netanyahu called the charges “an ocean of absurd” and insisted his version would dismantle the prosecution's case.

Meanwhile, the ongoing Israel-Hamas war continues to escalate, with Israeli forces killing over 44,500 Palestinians since October 2023. Health authorities report most of the casualties are women and children, though there is no distinction made between fighters and civilians. The conflict began with a Hamas-led attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostages.