Reports of military chief pushing back on expanding campaign

The Israeli prime minister said control of Palestinian territory will be transferred to friendly Arab forces after Hamas is vanquished.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Wednesday Canada will recognize the State of Palestine at September's UN General Assembly in support of achieving a two-state solution, as Tel Aviv's conduct throughout its war in Gaza continues to push its allies, including France and Britain, to break with Israel.

Foreign ministers of France and 14 other countries represented at a special UN conference issued a "New York call" urging nations across the world to recognise a Palestinian state, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Wednesday.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain said his country would make the move unless Israel agrees to a cease-fire with Hamas.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio blasted French President Emmanuel Macron decision to recognise a Palestinian state as “reckless” while Saudi Arabia described it as “historic” as world reactions to the plan poured in ahead of the UN General Assembly meeting in September.

Dozens of western nations, including France, called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza on Monday as Israel launched fresh attacks on the central city of Deir el-Balah. The countries' joint statement said the Israeli aid distribution system in the Palestinian enclave "deprives Gazans of human dignity" and urged a negotiated ceasefire.

Wednesday's truce between Syrian government officials, Druze leaders came after days of deadly clashes

Ahmed al-Sharaa spoke after Israel said it would destroy government forces it accused of attacking Druze in Syria.

Government withdrawal from southern Sweida province follows days of sectarian clashes and Israeli strikes

The assessment came as experts are trying to determine how long it would take Iran to rebuild its nuclear program in the aftermath of U.S. and Israeli strikes.

After spending nearly two weeks in a secret bunker somewhere in Iran during his country's war with Israel, the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, might want to use the opportunity of the ceasefire to venture out.

In public, Qatar was insisting on the right to defend itself after Iran attacked a U.S. military site in the emirate. Behind the scenes, it was already mediating a truce between Israel and Iran.