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Syria war escalates: Russia strikes Idlib, Israel hits Hama and Tartus

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Syria war escalates: Russia strikes Idlib, Israel hits Hama and Tartus

Sergei Lavrov: US want to support Jabhat al-Nusra in Idlib

Despite US President Donald Trump’s warning not to attack Syria’s north-western Idlib province, Russian jets struck at least 23 destinations around the opposition held province on Tuesday while, in an obvious retaliatory action, Israeli missiles targeted, what Tel Aviv described as, Iranian military positions in Hama and Tartus provinces in Syria.

According to London based The Telegraph, the rebels said the Russian strikes had mostly targeted military positions of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Turkistan Islamic Party in the Jisr al-Shughour district, killing at least three civilians.

On Monday US President had warned the Syrian government and its Russian and Iranian allies against “recklessly” attacking Idlib. In his tweet, Trump warned of “a grave humanitarian mistake” in which hundreds of people could be killed.

Read More: US Warns Syria, Russia, Iran Not To Attack Idlib

Syrian government forces have been, for weeks, amassing around Idlib for an assault on the last remaining militant held territory.

Syrian government spokesperson was quoted on Tuesday saying, “The government plan was to give the maximum possible chance for reconciliation but unfortunately there was no progress in this regards. The radicals are in control in Idlib.”

According to AFP report from Beirut, Israeli strikes on Tuesday targeted Iranian military positions.

Syrian official SANA news agency also reported that its air defence systems downed several missiles launched from Israeli warplanes. “The air defence system responded to an Israeli aggression carried out by aircraft… that targeted some of our military positions in the provinces of Tartus and Hama,” it said. One person was reportedly dead and four were wounded in the missile attack.

London based opposition controlled Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) chief Rami Abdel Rahman said that missiles struck Wadi al-Oyoun in the central province of Hama, near a scientific research centre, which was targeted by Israeli forces in July this year and last year.

Read More: Military officials from Russia, Iran, Iraq and Syria meet in Baghdad

Rahman further said that Iranian military positions in coastal region of Banias in Tartus province were also targeted. “There was material damage,” he added.

Syria war escalates: Russia strikes Idlib, Israel hits Hama and Tartus

Meanwhile, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has stressed on Tuesday that only the Syrians can decide the future of their country, noting that the US behaviour towards the situation in Idlib indicates that Washington wants to protect Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organisation.

While talking to Russian 1 TV, he affirmed that the de-escalation zone in Idlib is the only zone where thousands of terrorists are positioned led by Jabhat-al-Nusra.

Syria war escalates: Russia strikes Idlib, Israel hits Hama and Tartus

In another major development Israel’s Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz, while addressing a conference in Herzilia on Tuesday said that Tel Aviv has launched hundreds of strikes against various targets inside Syria during last two years.

He said, “Only just now it was published — in the name of military sources, so I can quote it too — that in the last two years Israel has taken military action more than 200 times within Syria itself.”

Katz claimed that most of the targets belonged to Iran, saying, “Understand the significance of this matter in terms of preserving the red line, preventing the things that Iran has done, is doing and is trying to do against Israel from Syria.”

Israel began carrying out military strikes in Syria in 2013.

Syria and Iran have repeatedly rejected Israeli claims that Iran has military bases in Syria. Tehran says that it has been offering military advisory support at the request of the Damascus government.

Iranian Defence Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami was in Damascus last week when he signed an agreement for defence and technical cooperation to ensure the continued presence and Iranian participation during Syria’s reconstruction.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Muallem in a meeting in Damascus on Monday that the his country will continue to support Syria in its fight against terrorist groups.

Syria has been facing foreign-backed militancy, generally referred as civil war by western media, since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and it’s Western and regional allies are aiding the terrorist groups wreaking havoc in the country.

In another development, Haaretz reports that Israel’s Defence Minister Avigdor Liberman, on Monday signalled that Israel could attack suspected military assets in Iraq as it has done with scores of airstrikes in Syria.

Last week, Reuters, citing Iranian, Iraqi and Western sources, had reported that Iran had transferred short range ballistic missiles to Iraq in recent months. However, Tehran and Baghdad have denied of such development.

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India envoy Dinesh Trivedi meets PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman 

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman amid diplomatic tensions.

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India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, a day after his meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka.

According to the High Commission of India in Bangladesh, Trivedi sought PM Modi’s guidance on further strengthening the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh through a constructive and people-centric approach.

The meeting came a day after Trivedi held discussions with Tarique Rahman on matters of mutual interest and ways to advance ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Dinesh Trivedi Meets Bangladesh PM

During his meeting with Tarique Rahman on Monday, Trivedi conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Modi and reiterated India’s commitment to working with the Bangladeshi administration and its people in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner.

The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and explored avenues for strengthening India-Bangladesh relations with a people-centric approach.

The engagement took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Trivedi also shared his experience of serving in Dhaka over the previous two months.

Sheikh Hasina Extradition Request

The meeting assumed significance as Bangladesh has expressed hope that India will expedite the extradition process involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted following a student-led uprising in 2024.

According to a statement issued by the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office, Dhaka also reiterated its request for India to return individuals it alleges were involved in the killing of Shahid Osman Hadi, a prominent figure associated with the July uprising who was shot on December 12, 2025.

Tarique Rahman stressed the need to create a suitable environment to take forward relations between Bangladesh and India.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and other officials attended the meeting.

India-Bangladesh Ties Amid Diplomatic Friction

The latest high-level engagements come amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries following a virtual press interaction by Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi on August 5.

The event, organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia to mark the second anniversary of her ouster, prompted strong objections from Dhaka.

During the interaction, Hasina said she remained determined to return to Bangladesh in December and restore democracy, while acknowledging the possibility of imprisonment or a death sentence upon her return.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently registered a strong protest and said the development had affected public sentiment and complicated efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

India has said the government had no involvement in the event. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it was organised by a private media entity and clarified that New Delhi did not endorse views expressed at the forum.

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Trump, PM Modi will resolve tariff issue over Russian oil trade, says US official

White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue over US tariff threats linked to India’s Russian oil trade.

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US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue surrounding the threat of US tariffs linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said on Tuesday.

Navarro’s remarks came days after the US Senate passed a bill authorising the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the top five purchasers of Russian oil. The measure argues that such purchases directly contribute to financing Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Navarro comments on India’s Russian oil trade

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Navarro said India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia before the Ukraine war began in 2022.

He alleged that India became heavily involved in the trade after Russia’s invasion and sold refined products on behalf of Russia, which he said helped support the Russian war effort.

“Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia, but afterwards it got heavily involved,” Navarro said.

The White House adviser also claimed that the issue had since been resolved and attributed some of the shift in India’s Russian oil trade to an opinion article he recently wrote in the Financial Times.

Trump and Modi will resolve issue, Navarro says

Navarro said the relationship between Trump and Modi would help address the tariff-related issue.

“The president and your prime minister have a very good working relationship. They are going to work that out amongst themselves,” he said, adding that it was not his place to intervene.

His comments come amid US concerns over countries purchasing Russian oil and proposed measures aimed at imposing additional tariffs on major buyers.

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US Senate passes Russia sanctions bill, India-China face 100% tariff risk

The US Senate has passed a Russia sanctions bill that could allow 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China.

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The US Senate has approved a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could allow President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, including India and China.

The legislation was passed by an 86-11 vote and will now move to the US House of Representatives, which is scheduled to reconvene on August 31.

The bill is named in honour of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of Ukraine who died on July 11. Graham had pushed for tougher sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine.

India and China among major Russian energy buyers

The legislation gives the US president the power to impose tariffs on the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas.

India and China are among those countries, along with Azerbaijan, Hungary and Slovakia.

The bill also contains an exception for countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and taking steps to reduce their dependence on Russian supplies.

What does the Russia sanctions bill contain?

Apart from the proposed tariffs, the legislation includes sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military officials, financial institutions and energy projects.

The bill would also expand US sanctions to older and reflagged oil tankers allegedly used by Moscow to bypass existing restrictions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

At the same time, the White House would have the option to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that doing so is in the national interest.

Bill also extends Iran sanctions law

The legislation also contains a provision related to Iran. It would extend the expiration date of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 until 2031.

The law penalises companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector.

The bill’s passage in the Senate marks the next step in the US legislative process, but it still needs approval from the House of Representatives before it can move forward.

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