Israel's air strikes escalate violence in Syria and Lebanon

Syrian state media reported that Israeli air strikes in Damascus and its northwest suburbs resulted in the deaths of at least 15 individuals. This escalation follows a series of intensified attacks by Israel on Iran-linked targets in Syria, particularly after the Hamas attacks on October 7. Israeli military officials stated that the strikes targeted strongholds of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which has affiliations with both Hamas and Hezbollah. They emphasized their commitment to dismantling infrastructure in Syria that supports Hezbollah's weapon production.

In Lebanon, explosions were reported in Beirut as Israel continued its bombing campaign for a third consecutive day, with a separate strike in eastern Lebanon claiming at least nine lives.

Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip, citing the forced displacement of nearly two million Palestinians as a form of ethnic cleansing. Israel has previously dismissed such allegations.

In the United States, a Pentagon report revealed a troubling increase in military suicides, with 523 reported in 2023, up from 493 in 2022. The majority of these cases involved young men using firearms, highlighting ongoing challenges despite efforts to enhance mental health support and gun safety education within the military.

Meanwhile, New Jersey is facing a drought warning as parts of the Northeast experience their driest conditions in nearly 120 years. Unprecedented wildfires have erupted in areas that have not seen significant rainfall since August, including a brush fire on the northern tip of Manhattan, which has since been contained. Authorities in New York and New Jersey have charged two individuals for allegedly starting separate smaller fires in the region.