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Dear A.,


The conflict in Syria continued to escalate today, as the new Syrian regime and affiliated Islamist groups increase sectarian attacks on the Druze community in the southern Syrian city of Sweida.


In recent days, Syrian forces have killed dozens of Druze civilians. Christians and Muslim minority groups in the area have also come under attack. There have been reports of executions, rape and arson. Disturbing video has
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emerged of terrorists shaving off Druze men's mustaches, which are an important cultural symbol within the Druze community. The ancient Mar Michael church was
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set on fire last night.


Israel is stepping in to protect the Druze and stop the attacks. This morning, the IDF struck the Syrian military headquarters in Damascus. Israel has repeatedly warned the Syrian government to end the attacks against the Druze, but the Syrian government has refused to do so.


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Video footage of Israel's attack this morning on the Syrian Military Headquarters.


The Druze community is an Arab religious minority group primarily found in Israel, Syria and Lebanon. The Druze are known for their loyalty to the states in which they live. In Israel, they serve in key positions throughout Israeli society and the IDF.


Israel is strongly committed to its Druze community, and that community is deeply committed to protecting its Druze neighbors in Syria. Around 1,000 Druze Israelis crossed the border into Syria overnight in an effort to aid the Syrian Druze. The IDF is working to safely return all the Israeli Druze to Israel.


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Druze Israelis protest near the Israeli-Syrian border fence in solidarity with the Druze community in Syria earlier today.


Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
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issued a video statement today imploring members of the Druze community not to cross the fence.


“My fellow Druze citizens of Israel, the situation in Sweida, the situation in southwestern Syria, is very serious. The IDF is working, the Air Force is working, other forces are working. We are working to save our Druze brothers and to eliminate the regime’s gangs.”


“And now I have one request from you: You are citizens of Israel. Do not cross the border. You are risking your lives; you can be murdered, you can be kidnapped and you are harming the efforts of the IDF. Therefore, I ask you – return to your homes, let the IDF operate.”

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz made clear today that the Syrian regime will face "painful blows" if the attacks against the Druze continue.


"The signaling in Damascus is over, now come the painful blows," Katz
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said . "The IDF will continue to operate forcefully in Sweida to destroy the forces that attacked the Druze until their full withdrawal. Our Druze brothers in Israel, you can count on the Israel Defense Forces to protect your brothers in Syria."


Meanwhile, the Trump administration is working to deescalate the situation, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio
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announcing this afternoon that the parties “have agreed on specific steps that will bring this troubling and horrifying situation to an end tonight.”


“This will require all parties to deliver on the commitments they have made, and this is what we fully expect them to do,” Rubio added.


While there are high hopes for the new Syrian government and President al-Sharaa, it is important to recall al-Sharaa’s Islamist roots and past ties to Al-Qaeda.

The United States must work with Israel to protect Syria’s Druze community. The United States should also make clear to the al-Sharaa government that there will be stark consequences for failing to protect Syria’s minority communities.

Tell Your House Member: Reject Anti-Israel Amendments


As soon as this evening, Congress will vote on four key amendments, including an anti-Israel amendment led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to end U.S. funding for lifesaving missile defense programs like Iron Dome.


Contact your House member now and urge them to reject the anti-Israel amendments and strengthen U.S.-Israel cooperation.

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U.S., Europeans set deadline for Iran agreement

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the UK agreed in a phone call this week to set the end of August as the de facto deadline for reaching a nuclear deal with Iran, Axios
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reported yesterday.


If no deal is reached by that deadline, the three European powers plan to trigger the "snapback" mechanism that automatically reimposes all U.N. Security Council sanctions that were lifted under the 2015 Iran deal.

We must permanently and verifiably ensure Iran’s blocked from enriching uranium, its ballistic missile program is destroyed, and its terror proxies aren’t rebuilt and rearmed.


America must increase the pressure on Iran, including through maximum economic pressure and supporting the immediate imposition of snapback sanctions at the U.N. Security Council.

Massive Iranian weapons shipment to Houthis intercepted

The Yemeni National Resistance Forces (NRF) — the legitimate Yemeni government's military that is at war with the Houthis — intercepted the largest shipment of Iranian advanced weapons in NRF history.


The shipment contained over 750 tons of munitions and other military hardware, including hundreds of advanced cruise, anti-ship, and anti-aircraft missiles, warheads and seekers, as well as hundreds of drone engines, radar systems and communications equipment.


General Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM),
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said in a statement, “We commend the legitimate government forces of Yemen who continue to interdict the flow of Iranian munitions bound for the Houthis. The interdiction of this massive Iranian shipment shows that Iran remains the most destabilizing actor in the region. Limiting the free flow of Iranian support to the Houthis is critic to regional security, stability, and freedom of navigation.”


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Meanwhile, the Houthis launched another ballistic missile at Israel this evening. Fortunately, the missile was intercepted thanks to the missile defense systems we lobby Congress to fund.


In the past four months, the Houthis have launched 61 ballistic missiles and at least 15 drones at the Jewish state.

America must stand with our allies to end the Iran-backed Houthi threat to American troops, our allies including Israel, and international commerce.

Israeli defense minister heads to D.C.

Tonight, Israeli Defense Minister Katz will head to Washington, D.C., to meet with his American counterpart, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and other U.S. officials.


"During his visit, the defense minister will discuss a series of security and political issues with his counterpart, foremost among them Iran and other regional threats, procurement matters, and additional strategic cooperation," Katz's office
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said in a statement.

New bipartisan bill to expand U.S.-Israel health collaboration

Today, Reps. Randy Weber (R-TX) and Chris Pappas (D-NH) are
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set to introduce new legislation to expand U.S.-Israel research and development cooperative programs in the medical field.


The BIRD Health Act builds on the long-running Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation program, which promotes cooperative R&D projects between Americans and Israelis.


The bill would expand this cooperation in the medical field by establishing a new $10 million annual funding stream, jointly managed by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Israeli Ministry of Health.


“The United States and Israel share one of the strongest, most enduring alliances in the world, and it just makes sense to join forces in advancing life-saving health technologies that benefit both our nations,” Weber said in a statement.


Pappas added, “The health technology and innovation program created through this bipartisan legislation will strengthen the bilateral partnership between the U.S. and Israel to address emerging health issues, develop innovative solutions, and save lives.”

Haredi parties set to withdraw from government

Today, the Shas’ Council of Torah Sages ordered the party’s 11 members of Knesset (MKs) to resign from their positions as ministers and Knesset committee chairs in protest at the government not passing a law exempting yeshiva students from military service. This follows the withdrawal of MKs from the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) Haredi party on Monday.


The resignation of Shas and UTJ MKs means Netanyahu will have a minority government, making it more difficult to pass legislation.


The resignation doesn’t immediately lead to early elections until there is a vote to dissolve the Knesset, which the Haredi parties are reportedly waiting to do until after the summer recess, setting up a possible early 2026 election.


Continue to
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follow AIPAC on social media for the latest updates.

Jake Braunstein

Director of Policy Communications


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Support our work to keep Israel safe.



The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.


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