11 killed, 40 injured in Houthi attack in Yemen

Syria has strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur Military Airbase in Idlib province, calling the attack a serious violation of its sovereignty. The Syrian Foreign Ministry said the strikes were an unjustified act of aggression. It warned that continued Israeli attacks could further destabilise the region. According to Syrian state media, Israeli aircraft carried out several strikes on the abandoned military airbase early Tuesday. The attacks targeted the runway and caused damage to the facility’s infrastructure. No casualties were reported in the strikes. The Syrian Foreign Ministry said the attacks were particularly concerning as Damascus was seeking to maintain stability and avoid further escalation in the region. It accused Israel of undermining those efforts and increasing tensions through repeated military operations inside Syrian territory. The ministry said Israeli attacks had continued since December 2024. It argued that the repeated strikes threatened Syria’s territorial integrity and regional security. The Abu al-Duhur airbase is located in the eastern countryside of Idlib in northern Syria. The facility has been largely inactive, but its strategic military infrastructure has remained a target during Israel’s operations in Syria. Israel has carried out numerous strikes in Syria in recent years. Its operations have previously targeted weapons depots, missile facilities and military positions linked to Iranian forces and Hezbollah. The latest strikes also drew concern from Washington. US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said the United States was “deeply concerned” about the Israeli operation. He described the strikes as an unnecessary escalation that would not contribute to regional stability. Barrack said Syria’s current government had not adopted what he called a predatory approach or maintained proxy forces. He added that Damascus had repeatedly indicated a preference for reducing tensions with Israel. The US envoy said Washington remained willing to support diplomatic efforts between the two sides. He stressed that dialogue should be prioritised over military escalation. The latest developments come amid continued instability in Syria following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government. Israel has expanded its military activity in Syria since then, citing security concerns. Damascus has repeatedly condemned Israeli military operations and called for respect for Syrian sovereignty.

The United States has announced that its visa bond programme will become permanent, introducing stricter financial requirements for certain foreign travellers seeking business and tourist visas. Under the new policy, US consular officers will have the authority to require applicants from 50 countries to post a refundable bond of up to $20,000 before a visa is issued. The programme applies to B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) visas and is aimed at reducing the number of visitors who overstay their visas. According to a notice published in the Federal Register, the decision follows the completion of a pilot programme launched in 2025. Officials said the trial demonstrated that visa bonds could be an effective tool for improving compliance with US immigration rules. The new regulation will officially take effect on August 3. During the pilot phase, applicants could be asked to pay bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. The updated rule removes the $5,000 option and increases the maximum bond amount to $20,000, giving consular officers greater discretion when assessing visa applications. The programme covers citizens of 50 countries, with 30 of those nations located in Africa. US authorities say the selection is based on factors such as visa overstay rates and immigration compliance. The move is part of President Donald Trump’s broader immigration agenda, which focuses on tightening border controls and strengthening enforcement of immigration laws. The administration argues that stricter visa policies are necessary to protect national security and discourage individuals from remaining in the United States beyond the period allowed by their visas. However, immigration advocates and civil rights organisations have criticised the decision, saying the higher financial burden could discourage legitimate travellers, including tourists and business visitors, from applying for US visas. They also argue that recent immigration measures have made legal entry into the United States increasingly difficult through higher fees, expanded social media screening, and stricter visa requirements.