Israel has intensified its military response in the region, conducting air strikes in Yemen following a deadly drone attack attributed to the Houthi movement in Tel Aviv. Israeli fighter jets targeted fuel storage facilities and a power station in Hodeidah, a known Houthi stronghold. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Ghalant asserted the nation's right to defend itself, citing over 200 Houthi attacks on Israel, and emphasized that the blood of Israeli citizens has a price.

In a separate but equally tragic development, Israeli air strikes in Central Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least 13 individuals, including three children, according to Palestinian health officials. These actions come amid ongoing tensions in the region.

In domestic news, the U.S. mourns the loss of long-serving Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who passed away at the age of 74 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Lee was instrumental in expanding the Violence Against Women Act and was the lead sponsor of legislation that established Juneteenth as a national holiday.

Meanwhile, the situation in Syria remains dire as the humanitarian crisis escalates. Over 14 million Syrians have been displaced due to the ongoing civil war, which has now entered its second decade. Despite the severity of the crisis, international funding to address humanitarian needs has drastically decreased, with only 6% of the required support being met this year. The normalization of relations with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is gaining traction among regional powers, despite the worsening conditions on the ground.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recently expressed a desire to reset relations with Assad, a stark contrast to previous calls for his ousting. This shift reflects a broader trend among Arab states seeking to engage with Assad, despite the ongoing humanitarian disaster and the regime's history of violence against its own citizens.

In the U.S., legislative efforts to hold Assad accountable, including the CAESAR bill and the Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act, face significant hurdles. The Biden administration has intervened to stall these measures, reflecting a reluctance to deepen U.S. involvement in the protracted Syrian conflict. As the humanitarian situation deteriorates, concerns grow over the implications of reduced international engagement and support for the Syrian people.