Midnight shock: Israel hits Iran’s ‘terror cell’ in South Syria; several terrorists apprehended

The Israeli military said on Wednesday (July 2) it had captured a "terrorist cell operated by Iran" in an operation in southern Syria. Video released by the Israeli army showed troops operating at night during alleged arrest raid in southern Syria in which "several terrorists" were apprehended, the military said in a statement. Reuters was not able to independently verify the location or the date when the videos were filmed. The statement said the army works to "prevent the entrenchment of any terrorist elements in Syria". Israel said it was interested in establishing formal diplomatic relations with Syria. US President Donald Trump signed on Monday (June 30) an executive order terminating sanctions programme on Syria, after meeting Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh in May, where he unexpectedly announced he would lift US sanctions.