Syria accuses Israel of carrying out new attacks overnight

There are new details about Monday's Israeli attack on Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, which killed at least 22 people.

One of the most controversial aspects of the attack was its conduct—after an initial bombardment, a second followed nine minutes later, when rescue teams and journalists were already on the scene. The tactic is commonly described as a "double tap."

However, according to a video released by CNN International , the second attack was not carried out using just one missile, but two, fired almost simultaneously. According to the network, this second attack was the deadliest, as both projectiles directly hit the staircase where the rescuers were.

A government source in Damascus told SANA, the official Syrian news agency, writes the AP, that Tuesday's attack, which killed at least eight people, occurred because Syrian army units found monitoring and listening systems during a routine patrol at a military base south of the capital.

When soldiers tried to dismantle them, Israeli aircraft reportedly launched strikes that killed several soldiers, injured them, and destroyed military vehicles.

The same source adds that airstrikes, combined with drone attacks, prevented forces from reaching the site until late Wednesday, but that the Syrian army was eventually able to destroy some of the control equipment and evacuate the bodies.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz published a short statement on the social network X. "Our forces operate in all theaters of war, day and night, for the security of Israel," the minister wrote.

כוחותינו פועלים בכל זירות הלחימה יום וליל למען ביטחון ישראל

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) August 28, 2025

The publication appears to allude to the operation allegedly carried out by the IDF on Syrian soil during this Thursday morning, but Tel Aviv has not yet officially commented on the latest developments in the neighboring country or its potential involvement.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Israel's Foreign Minister in Washington on Wednesday, reaffirming Israel's "unwavering commitment to security."

The meeting between Rubio and his counterpart Gideon Sa'ar took place while, according to an adviser to President Donald Trump, another meeting was also taking place at the White House to develop a comprehensive plan for the post-conflict in the Gaza Strip, where Israel continues to escalate its military operations.

According to media outlets such as Axios and the BBC, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Trump's son-in-law and former advisor Jared Kushner are participating in this meeting, but not any Palestinian official.

The White House has not officially released information about the meeting, which is not on the President's official agenda.

Regarding the meeting between Rubio and Sa'ar in Washington, both sides released similar statements.

According to the State Department, Rubio and Sa'ar "agreed that close and continued cooperation between their countries is vital to the security and prosperity of the region" and the Secretary of State "discussed the importance of countering Iran's malign influence" in the region.

The Israeli Embassy in Washington said they discussed "different challenges and opportunities in the Middle East," including the potential nuclear threat from Iran, the war in Gaza, and the importance of "repelling anti-Israel initiatives in the international arena."

In a brief contact with the press, neither of the heads of diplomacy answered questions.

Regarding the White House meeting, presidential envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News that it was intended to “develop a very comprehensive plan for the next day” in the Palestinian territory.

“I think many people will realize how solid and well-intentioned this plan is,” he said, without giving further details.

Syria accused Israel on Thursday of carrying out more airstrikes on its territory, after reports overnight that the IDF had carried out a ground operation in the Kiswa region, south of Damascus.

Haaretz cites the official Syrian news agency, SANA, which says the attacks occurred after attempts by Syrian forces to dismantle Israeli listening devices discovered at a military base.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Foreign Ministry says at least eight people were killed in Tuesday's attacks, which it described as part of the Israeli occupation's "aggressive policy aimed at undermining security and stability in the region."

Good morning, and welcome to the liveblog where we'll be following up-to-the-minute developments in the Middle East.

Catch up on yesterday's key developments in the previous liveblog.