Syria accuses Kurds of breaking truce in threat to chances of deal
Syria's government said a drone strike by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces killed seven of its soldiers on Wednesday, though the SDF denied this, in an incident that threatens to derail a ceasefire after days of fighting in the northeast, Reuters reported.
The Syrian army called the attack, which it said took place as soldiers were securing a captured military base containing explosives, a dangerous escalation.
Spain urges EU to create joint army amid Greenland dispute
Spain is urging the EU to move towards creating a joint army for the bloc as a deterrence measure, Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said in comments to Reuters on Wednesday ahead of a day of meetings in Davos, Reuters reported.
The region should focus first on bringing together its tangible assets to properly integrate its defence industry, and then mobilising a coalition of the willing, the foreign minister said.
The concern over whether European citizens would be willing to assemble militarily is a “legitimate debate”, but the chance of assembling a critical mass was higher as a bloc than on a national level, Albares said, adding: “A joint effort would be more efficient than 27 separate national armies.”
Seven more countries agree to join Trump's Board of Peace
Seven countries including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt say they will join US president Donald Trump's Board of Peace, according to a joint statement, BBC reported.
They will join Israel, which also publicly confirmed its participation earlier.
On Wednesday evening Trump said Vladimir Putin had also agreed to join - but the Russian president said his country was still studying the invitation, according to BBC.
Israeli strike in Gaza kills three journalists, first responders say
Three Palestinian journalists have been killed in an Israeli strike in central Gaza, first responders say, BBC reported.
Gaza's Hamas-run Civil Defence agency said their car was hit in the al-Zahra area and named them as Mohammed Salah Qashta, Anas Ghneim and Abdul Raouf Shaat. They are understood to have been working for an Egyptian relief organisation.
The Israeli military said it struck "several suspects who operated a drone affiliated with Hamas... in a manner that posed a threat" to its troops. It added that the incident was under examination, according to BBC.
