Israel carried out a series of powerful strikes on the Syrian capital Damascus Wednesday, escalating a campaign it says is in support of an Arab minority group involved in deadly clashes with Syrian government forces.

"The minute we see terrorists going into hospitals and murdering children and patients, we cannot stand idle," Fares Alawi told the Israeli news site.

A French court on Thursday ruled in favour of releasing Lebanese militant Georges Ibrahim Abdallah from prison, after he served almost 40 years of a life sentence for attacks on U.S. and Israeli diplomats in France.

A man protesting the participation of an Israel-based team in the Tour de France ran onto the course as the leaders raced for the finish line.

U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee says Israel should "aggressively investigate the murder of Saif Mussallet" in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli military responds to protect Syrian Druze from Islamist militants as local Druze citizens cross the border to aid their brethren, prompting concerns from Israeli officials.

A key governing partner of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it is quitting the government, leaving him with a minority in parliament.

Saif Musallet was just weeks away from celebrating his 21st birthday when he was beaten to death by Israeli settlers when visiting his family in the West Bank. The Florida native’s family has called on the US government to investigate.