Israeli relentless warmongering and expansionism

A tentative ceasefire appears to be holding in southern Syria after a brutal week marked by deadly clashes and escalating tensions. Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the truce on Saturday, yet the underlying realities on the ground reveal a much deeper and more troubling story.

The clashes, which erupted in the province of Suwayda on July 13, involved armed Druze groups and Bedouin tribes — communities tragically caught in the crossfire of broader regional power struggles.

Under the guise of protecting the Druze minority, Israel launched a series of aggressive and unprovoked strikes across southern Syria and even targeted the capital, Damascus, on Wednesday. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reports that the death toll from violence has now tragically surpassed 1,000 people.

This staggering human cost starkly exposes Israel’s relentless warmongering and expansionist ambitions in West Asia. Since its devastating assault on Gaza in October 2023, Israel has escalated its campaign of violence, targeting not only Gaza but also Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. These military actions are part of a calculated strategy to impose Israeli dominance and destabilize entire nations.

Israel justifies its attacks with convenient narratives: defending the Druze minority in Syria, neutralizing Hezbollah in Lebanon, dismantling Iran’s nuclear program, or responding to attacks from Yemen’s Ansarullah. Yet these explanations serve as thin veils masking a pattern of aggressive intervention that violates sovereignty and inflames regional tensions.

Despite the high death toll and widespread suffering, Israel’s military ventures have failed to achieve their stated goals. In Gaza, Israel has killed tens of thousands of civilians, including women and children, yet Hamas remains resilient.

In Lebanon, the Lebanese resistance refuses to bow to Israeli pressure.

Iran has dealt significant blows to Israel in recent confrontations.

Ansarullah movement in Yemen continues to resist Israeli aggression steadfastly.

Israel’s recent strikes in Syria follow the same aggressive pattern. They aim to fragment Syria and extend Israeli control over more territory, escalating a dangerous trend since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December last year.

Although the Syrian government under Ahmed al-Sharaa has so far refrained from direct military confrontation, popular anger against Israel’s occupation is rising sharply.

History shows that Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon in the early 1980s triggered widespread resistance and ultimately costly conflicts for the occupying forces. Syrians today are increasingly ready to form resistance groups and rise up against Israel’s incursions.

While the Syrian government has mainly limited itself to denouncing Israel’s aggression in statements, the growing anti-Israel sentiment among the Syrian population could open a new front of resistance. This serves as a stark reminder that occupation and aggression only sow seeds of conflict and instability.

The world must recognize that Israel’s unchecked military aggression is not about defense—it is a deliberate policy of domination, suffering, and division. The ongoing violence in southern Syria is a tragic symptom of this larger, dangerous strategy that endangers peace across the entire region.

 

Ceasefire in Syria signals Israeli hegemonic agenda

According to the Tehran Times, the newly announced ceasefire between Syria and Israel—brokered in the aftermath of an Israeli military escalation—has thrown into sharp relief the Tel Aviv regime’s relentless pursuit of regional dominance in West Asia.

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the truce on Saturday, following intense Israeli airstrikes across southern Syria and the capital, Damascus, earlier in the week.

Israel claimed the bombings were carried out to “protect” the Druze minority amid spiraling violence in the southern province of Suwayda. However, critics argue this justification is nothing more than a pretext for deeper interference in Syrian affairs.

The clashes that erupted on July 13 between armed Druze groups, Bedouin tribes, and Syrian forces in Suwayda have claimed hundreds of lives.

Following the ceasefire announcement, al-Sharaa accused Israel of deliberately reigniting tensions in the region through its “flagrant aggression,” particularly the bombing of Damascus and the south.

In a statement saturated with militaristic bravado, Netanyahu declared that the ceasefire was achieved “through strength, not through pleas, not through begging.”

His comments underscore Israel’s ongoing strategy of intimidation, rather than diplomacy, in dealing with its neighbors.

While Israel frames its intervention as a humanitarian act, the reality on the ground suggests otherwise.

Netanyahu’s actions reflect a calculated effort to entrench Israeli hegemony in Syria under the guise of minority protection. Despite agreeing to a ceasefire, Israel has retained its grip on the Syrian territories it already occupies—territories widely recognized as being under illegal occupation under international law.

Adding further complexity to the situation, al-Sharaa, whose government maintains strategic ties with Washington, publicly thanked the United States—particularly the administration of President Donald Trump—for its role in brokering the ceasefire.

This acknowledgment raises troubling questions, can Israel’s aggressive campaign be separated from US geopolitical objectives in the region? Is Washington playing the role of silent accomplice while Netanyahu enforces a militarized order through unilateral violence?

The contradiction is glaring. On the one hand, al-Sharaa condemns Israeli aggression; on the other, he expresses gratitude to the very power widely seen as enabling it.

The good cop–bad cop dynamic between the US and Israel is once again on display - Netanyahu leads with force, while Washington follows with diplomatic posturing—both working toward the same endgame.

Israel’s invocation of the Druze issue appears part of a broader strategy scripted by pro-Zionist lobbies to justify the flexing of military might and normalize its presence deep inside Syrian territory.

The ceasefire is not a gesture of peace but a tactical pause—a calculated move in Israel’s long-term project of territorial expansion and political domination in West Asia. 

Past precedents—from Gaza to Lebanon—show that Israeli ceasefires are often little more than instruments of propaganda, soon violated when they no longer serve strategic objectives. Expansionism, militarism, and occupation remain pillars of Israeli policy.

This ceasefire, like others before it, cannot mask the true nature of Tel Aviv’s ambitions. It is a smokescreen, designed to conceal more sinister plans for redrawing the map of West Asia (the Middle East) to Israel’s benefit.

Only sustained unity and strategic cooperation among Muslim and Arab nations can resist this agenda and challenge the forces seeking to destabilize the region under the pretense of peace.

 

House approves US$832 billion defense funding

According to The Hill, House approved legislation early Friday allocating roughly US$832 billion in funding for defense programs for fiscal 2026. The passage came just weeks after Republicans approved a separate US$150 billion plan to advance President Trump’s defense priorities.

The GOP-led chamber approved the bill 221-209, mostly along party lines; five Democrats voted in favor of the bill, and three Republicans opposed it.

The measure marks only the second appropriations bill Republicans have been able to pass for 2026, after GOP appropriators said the effort to pass Trump’s tax and spending cuts megabill dominated the party’s focus over the past few months.

The bill passed Friday would boost funding for active, reserve and National Guard military personnel by US$6.6 billion above current levels, to a total of US$189 billion. It also allows for an increase of 3.8% in basic pay for military personnel, to take effect in January.

It calls for US$174 billion for procurement, up US$6.5 billion from current levels, and would provide US$283 billion for operation and maintenance, a roughly US$7 billion decrease below 2025 levels.

The bill also includes about US$148 billion for research, development, test and evaluation, as well as boosts for Defense Department health programs and overseas humanitarian, disaster, and civic aid programs.

The bill comes after Republicans greenlit additional defense dollars as part of Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” earlier this month. 

That plan called for US$25 billion to fund Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense system, with billions more aimed at items such as shipbuilding and the maritime industrial base, munitions and nuclear deterrence. 

Democrats have risen in sharp opposition to the overall defense appropriations plan, which also seeks to codify Trump’s actions targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, advance prohibitions for funding for abortion-related travel, and block funds for gender-affirming surgeries.

PSX benchmark index closes at 138,597 points

Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) sustained its bullish momentum throughout the week in anticipation of strong earnings ahead of the start of the result season.

The benchmark index touched its all-time high closing of 138,665 points on Thursday, but closed the week at 138,597 points on Friday July 18, 2025.

The market participation declined, with average daily traded volumes falling by 19.5%WoW to 763 million shares, down from 948 million shares a week ago.

On the macroeconomic front, for the first time in 14 years, Pakistan posted a current account surplus, of US$2.1 billion as against a deficit of US$2.1 billion during the same period last year.

IT exports for FY25 increased by 18%YoY to US$3.8 billion, from US$3.2 billion in FY24.

The LSM index witnessed an increase of 2.3%YoY in May 2025.

As regards sectoral developments, fertilizer offtakes witnessed an improvement for second consecutive month, with urea sales rising by 21%YoY during June 2025.

Auto financing for June 2025 was reported at PKR277 billion, up 1.98%MoM, marking an increase for the seventh consecutive month.

Foreign exchange reserves held by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) rose by US$23 million to US$14.5 billion as of July 17, 2025. Despite this increase PKR depreciated against the greenback closing the week at PKR284.87/US$.

Other major news flow during the week included: 1) Telecom sector welcomed ADB’s call for lower taxes, 2) Pakistan-Afghanistan trade hit US$1.0 billion in 1HCY25, 3) Banking sector deposits rose to PKR35.498 trillion at end June 2025, 4) China expressed it readiness to deepen ties with Pakistan in agriculture, industry and mining, and 5) Cabinet okayed 15% hike in EOBI pensions.

Vanaspati & Allied Industries, Property, Miscellaneous, Fertilizer, and Inv.Banks/ Inv. Cos/ Securities.Cos were amongst the top performing sectors, while Jute, Woollen, Textile Spinning, Engineering, and Leather & Tanneries were among the laggards.

Major selling was recorded by Banks/ DFI with a net sell of US$34.0 million. Individuals absorbed most of the selling with a net buy of US$22.3 million.

The top performing scrips of the week were: PSEL, ABL, JVDC, FFC, and PIBTL, while laggards included: SEARL, KOHC, BNWM, NATF, and INIL.

According to AKD Securities, Pakistan Stock Exchange is anticipated to maintain a positive trend in the coming weeks, driven by expectations of strong corporate earnings.

The benchmark index is anticipated to sustain its upward trajectory, with a target of 165,215 points by end December 2025.

The market will be primarily driven by strong earnings in Fertilizers, sustained ROEs in Banks, and improving cash flow of E&Ps and OMCs, benefiting from falling interest rates and economic stability.

The top picks of the brokerage house include: OGDC, PPL, PSO, FFC, ENGROH, MCB, HBL, FCCL, KOHC, INDU, and SYS.

Israel levels thousands of buildings in Gaza

According to the Saudi Gazette, Israel has demolished thousands of buildings across Gaza since it withdrew from a ceasefire with Hamas in March, with entire towns and suburbs — once home to tens of thousands of people — levelled in the past few weeks.

Satellite images show massive amounts of destruction in several areas which Israel's military command claims to have under "operational control".

Large swathes of it has been caused by planned demolitions, both to already damaged buildings and ones that appeared largely intact.

Verified footage shows large explosions unleashing plumes of dust and debris, as Israeli forces carry out controlled demolitions on tower blocks, schools and other infrastructure.

Multiple legal experts told BBC Verify that Israel may have committed war crimes under the Geneva Convention, which largely prohibits the destruction of infrastructure by an occupying power.

An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson said it operated in accordance with international law; that Hamas concealed "military assets" in civilian areas, and that the "destruction of property is only performed when an imperative military necessity is demanded".

The scale of destruction can be clearly seen in the city of Rafah, near the border with Egypt.

In recent weeks, Israeli forces and contractors have levelled large swathes of Rafah.

An analysis of damage by academics Corey Scher and Jamon Van Den Hoek found the destruction in Gaza since April has been most concentrated in the region.

Controlled explosions, excavators and bulldozers have obliterated whole areas.

In July, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz outlined plans to establish what he called a "humanitarian city" over the ruins of Rafah, with an initial 600,000 Palestinians being confined there.

The plan has been widely condemned. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the BBC that the proposal would be "interpreted as being akin to a concentration camp".

Israel claims its military has "operational control" over large areas of the Gaza Strip which are now militarized zones or have been under evacuation orders.

BBC Verify has identified footage of infrastructure being demolished in 40 locations since the ceasefire ended in March.

Tel al-Sultan was one of Rafah city's most vibrant neighbourhoods. Its densely packed streets were home to Rafah's only specialized maternity hospital and a centre caring for orphaned and abandoned children.

Satellite images showed that much of the area had already been heavily damaged by Israeli bombing and artillery fire, but dozens of buildings had withstood the barrage.

By July 13 the destruction had escalated, with even the shells of damaged buildings swept away and entire blocks torn to the ground. The hospital is one of a handful of buildings left standing.

Similarly, demolitions are now under way in the adjacent Saudi neighbourhood — once home to the city's largest mosque and several schools.

One verified clip showed a tank moving along a street in Rafah while a digger works by the side of the roadIsraeli demolitions are also visible in other parts of the strip which appear to have avoided heavy damage during earlier bombardments.

The farming town of Khuza'a is located about 1.5km (0.9 miles) from the Israeli border.

Before the war the town had a population of 11,000 people and was known for its fertile farmlands and crops such as tomatoes, wheat and olives.

By mid-June, Khuza'a was largely razed by the Israeli forces.

The IDF says it demolished 1,200 buildings in Khuza'a, which it alleged were part of "terror infrastructures" run by Hamas.

A similar story emerges in the nearby town of Abasan al-Kabira, where about 27,000 people lived before the war. Photos taken on May 31 and July 08 indicate that an extensive area was swept away in just 38 days.

Israel has created extensive "security zones" and corridors separating parts of Gaza, and has destroyed large numbers of buildings along and near these routes. Its latest corridor separates western from eastern Khan Younis, including Khuza'a and Abasan al-Kabira.

Since early in the war analysts have suggested that Israel has been attempting to create deep "buffer zones" by destroying buildings near to the border, but some of the areas flattened recently are deep into Gaza.

Trump issues ultimatum to Putin

According to The Hill, US President Donald Trump is seeking to pressure Russia's leader to the negotiating table through a combination of arming Ukraine and threatening 100 percent tariffs on countries that trade with Russia. 

Trump made the announcement during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office Monday morning. 

It marks a potential turning point for a president who had wanted to pull US support from Ukraine and has repeatedly demonstrated favorable treatment to Putin despite Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor.

“We’re very, very unhappy with Russia, and we’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in about 50 days,” Trump said, after teasing a major announcement. 

Trump and Rutte also officially announced a weapons deal in which NATO countries would foot the bill for US arms shipments to Ukraine, though details on the provisions remain vague. 

“It’s everything. It’s Patriots. It’s all of them. It’s a full complement with the batteries,” Trump said, adding that the batteries could arrive in Ukraine within days.

Ukraine is desperate for increased air defenses as Putin has ramped up aerial attacks on its cities in recent months.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky met with Trump's envoy retired Lt.  Gen. Keith Kellogg earlier in the day and said he spoke with Trump and Rutte later on.

"Agreed to call more often and coordinate our steps further. Thank you, Mr. President! Thank you America!" Zelensky wrote on Facebook. 

There's no sign that Trump is seeking to send offensive weapons that would allow Ukraine to strike further into Russia, which Ukraine hawks say may be necessary to move Putin off his maximalist war demands.

Former NATO chief and retired Navy Adm. James Stavridis told CNN on Monday he would like to see Ukraine given harpoon missiles, surface-to-surface weapons and F-16 aircraft. 

"I think that is what could move Putin to the negotiating table, which is what we want on our side,” he said. 

Saudi energy minister urges action to address energy poverty

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, emphasized the urgent need to tackle global energy poverty during his address at the OPEC International Seminar in Vienna on Monday, reports Saudi Gazette.

Highlighting one of the most pressing global energy challenges, the minister cited United Nations estimates that 1.2 billion people suffer from energy poverty — a figure he believes could be nearly three times higher in reality.

He noted that over two billion people still rely on traditional, unsafe cooking fuels, which contribute to pollution and health hazards.

Prince Abdulaziz revealed that a dedicated Saudi team is actively working across Africa and Southeast Asia to address energy poverty, engaging directly with governments to implement practical solutions.

The minister underscored the Kingdom’s consistent energy policies and its commitment to translating them into real-world outcomes.

He cautioned that the global energy transition should not come at the expense of economic development, urging that each country’s economic context be considered in crafting energy strategies.

He further stressed the need for a balanced global energy mix, where oil and gas remain essential components alongside the expansion of renewable energy sources.

With global population projections reaching nearly 10 billion by 2050 and energy demand expected to rise by 50%, he said a diverse approach is crucial to ensuring sustainable energy access.