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American man from Oklahoma ‘brutally executed’ by Syrian-backed jihadis

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Syrian jihadists reportedly executed a 35-year-old Syrian American – a member of the religious minority Druze community – last week as government-backed forces viciously attacked members of the Druze community in the country.

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The State Department confirmed on Tuesday to Fox News Digital that an American, who has been identified as Hosam Saraya from Oklahoma, was killed in Syria. A State Department spokesperson said, «Time and time again, Secretary Rubio has emphasized the importance of prioritizing the safety and security of U.S. citizens. We can confirm the death of a U.S. citizen in the Sweida region of Syria last week. We offer condolences to the family on their loss and are providing consular assistance to them.»

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla, wrote on X, «Hosam was an Oklahoman and member of the Druze community who was tragically executed alongside other members of his family in Syria. We are praying for his family, friends, and the entire community as they grieve this senseless loss.»

WHY SYRIA PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN TRUMP’S PLANS FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE

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Hosam Saraya was visiting family in Syria when he was killed by suspected jihadists due to his being a member of the Druze community. (Instagram/Hosam Saraya)

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla, wrote on X that an «American citizen from Oklahoma» was «brutally executed alongside his family members in Syria,» adding, «I’m working with partners in the region to learn more, and we’re in touch with @GovStitt on this devastating situation. Our prayers are with the family at this time.»

President Ahmed Al-Sharaa had reportedly taken the side of the jihadi-influenced Bedouin tribes who executed Druze residents in southern Syria, declaring they carried out «heroic actions.»

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Al-Sharaa, who used a nom de guerre «Abu Mohammed al-Golani,» was on the FBI’s Most Wanted List from 2013 through 2024 for his role in terrorism. Critics accuse al-Sharaa of seeking to violently repress the struggling ethnic and religious minority populations in Syria – Christians, Druze, and Kruds. 

Last week Israel launched military strikes against the jihadi forces on their way to the southern city of Sweida, where there is a large Druze population, to stop the massacre. Israel also attacked the Syrian Defense headquarters in Damascus to halt the bloodshed in Sweida. 

Syrian security forces

Syrian security forces walk together along a street after clashes between government troops and local Druze fighters in Sweida, July 16, 2025. (Reuters/Karam al-Masri)

An Israel Defense Force spokesman told Fox News Digital during a Zoom call that it «learned its lesson» from the Hamas invasion of the Jewish state in 2023 and has two goals in southern Syria: border security and the rescue of Syrian Druze.

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The bulk of the world’s Druze community lives in Syria. There are also sizable Druze populations in Israel and Lebanon.

WHO ARE THE DRUZE? RELIGIOUS GROUP AIDS SYRIAN MEMBERS UNDER ISLAMIST ATTACK, ISRAELI MEMBERS OFFER SUPPORT

Arizona GOP Congressman Abe Hamadeh, who is of Druze background, told Fox News Digital, «The barbaric violence against the Druze community in Syria must end immediately. Under the bold leadership of President Donald J. Trump, Secretary Rubio, and Ambassador Barrack, the United States took bold steps to ease sanctions and extend goodwill to the Syrian government and its people in the hope of seeing real reforms.»

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Hamadeh, whose mother is from Sweida, added, «Now is the time for the Syrian government to turn their words into real actions, if they want to maintain legitimacy: restore order, protect all of its citizens, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to peace and long-term stability. The only way is to build a new Syria that is reflective of its ethnic and religious mosaic. The United States wants Syria to succeed, but bloodshed, senseless violence, and division is not the path forward.»

Druze civilians cross Israeli border following clashes in Syria.

Israeli Druze cross the border near Majdal Shams in a show of support for the Druze community in Hader on the Syrian side on July 16, 2025. (Ilia Yefimovich/picture alliance via Getty Images)

The Arizona congressman said, «My staff and I are engaged in interagency efforts to ascertain what is, and is not, happening on the ground in Syria amid the fog of this conflict. We will not rest until all American remains and victims are returned. Justice and accountability must be served. We are praying for the victims and for peace.»

Al-Sharaa’s rule since he toppled the pro-Iran regime of Bashar al-Assad in December has experienced massacres of Alawites, Christian and Druze. Critics argue that Al-Sharaa refuses to rope in the jihadi forces who seek to impose a Taliban-style rule on Syria.

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After Al-Sharaa’s forces executed Syrian Christians in March, Rev. Johnnie Moore, the president of the Congress of Christian Leaders, told Fox News Digital: «This is a warning that the Syrian government is not ready for prime time if it can’t protect a handful of vulnerable Christians who had absolutely nothing to do with this violence except being its victims,» 

The death toll involving the clashes between Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters, which includes government forces and Israel, topped 1,000, according to the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

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Washington helped implement a fragile ceasefire. SOHR noted, «Reaching an agreement including ceasefire and sponsored by Washington coincided with threats to keep Syria on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, in case that the agreement’s terms were violated.»


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Hezbollah, Iran unleash coordinated cluster bomb strikes on Israel in major escalation

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Hezbollah and Iran launched a coordinated strike strategy Tuesday, a national security expert claimed, as reports emerged that deadly cluster munitions were hitting Israel in synchronized attacks.

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The developments unfolded on day 11 of Operations Epic Fury and Roaring Lion, the joint U.S.-Israeli campaign targeting Iran, marking a potential escalation in the widening regional conflict.

«Hezbollah has fully joined the war, and it looks like they are now very well coordinated with Iran,» Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies and the Misgav Institute, told Fox News Digital while speaking from his bomb shelter near Tel Aviv.

«Most of Hezbollah’s rockets and drones are launched simultaneously with the Iranian missiles,» he said.

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IRAN’S SENIOR CLERICS ‘EXPOSED’ AFTER BUILDING STRIKE IN QOM, SUCCESSION CHOICE LOOMS

Explosions from projectile interceptions by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system over Tel Aviv. (JACK GUEZ / AFP via Getty Images)

Israel confirmed Tuesday that Iran had been firing cluster munitions — adding a complicated and deadly challenge to Israel’s stretched air defenses, The Associated Press reported.

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The warheads burst open at high altitudes, scattering dozens of smaller bomblets across a wide area. The smaller bombs, which at night can resemble orange fireballs, are difficult to intercept and have proven lethal.

Fox News correspondent Nate Foy also said despite Israel’s strong air defense, half of the missiles are hard to defend against because half of the missiles are cluster munitions.

«The Iranian use of cluster missiles and the idea that they deliberately target civilians and civil facilities must be considered as a use of non-conventional weapons, and the American-Israeli response must be appropriate,» Michael urged.

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Banned by more than 120 nations under the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions, the weapons are widely condemned for their broad-area, indiscriminate effects that often result in catastrophic civilian harm.

IRAN PROXIES WAGE WAR ON ISRAEL, THREATEN US INTERESTS AS IRAQ SLAMMED FOR NOT DISARMING THEM

Beirut

Smoke and dust rise after an Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, Lebanon. ( REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir)

Michael spoke as Reuters reported Hezbollah was applying lessons from its last war with Israel as it prepares for a possible full-scale Israeli invasion and protracted conflict. 

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It said sources claimed the group was returning to its roots in guerrilla warfare in south Lebanon.

«Operating in small units, fighters from the Iran-backed group are avoiding the use of communication devices that could be at risk of Israeli tapping and are rationing the use of key anti-tank rockets as they engage Israeli troops,» said the sources, familiar with Hezbollah military activities.

Michael also said that the «north of the country, toward the Haifa area, is under heavy bombing.»

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IRAN’S ‘STUNNING STRATEGIC MISCALCULATION’ COULD ACCELERATE GULF TIES TO ISRAEL, EX-CENTCOM DIRECTOR PREDICTS

Hezbollah terrorists

Hezbollah terrorists are taking part in cross-border raids, part of a large-scale military exercise, in Aaramta, bordering Israel, on May 21, 2023 ahead of the anniversary of Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000. (Fadel Itani/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

«Israeli citizens have to spend most of the time in the shelter rooms as Hezbollah and Iran deliberately target civilians and civilian facilities,» he said.

«Tel Aviv is still under an emergency routine, with sirens continuing and many people spending a lot of time in the bomb shelter rooms,» he added before highlighting that «Israel is a small country and will not be able to continue containing such asymmetry and this type of attrition war.»

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As of Tuesday night local time, the IDF said it had launched a wave of airstrikes against Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut’s southern suburbs. 

This came after the military reiterated its warning to evacuate the area, a Hezbollah stronghold known as the Dahiyeh.

HEGSETH BLASTS BRITS, SAYS IRAN’S CHAOTIC RETALIATION HAS DRIVEN ITS OWN ALLIES ‘INTO THE AMERICAN ORBIT’

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In a post shared on X, the IDF said: «This is what we’re operating against.»

Reuters sources also claimed much of Hezbollah’s fighting on the ground had been focused so far near the town of Khiyam, near the intersection of Lebanon’s border with Israel and Syria.

This is one area where Hezbollah believes any Israeli land invasion could begin. Hezbollah’s elite Radwan fighters, who withdrew from the south following the 2024 ceasefire, had also returned to the area, it said.

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TRUMP SAYS IRAN IS ‘RUNNING OUT OF LAUNCHERS’ AS REGIME IS ‘BEING DECIMATED’

A man carrying shoes while standing in the ruins of a destroyed house.

A man carries shoes from his destroyed house that was hit by Israeli airstrikes hit several houses in Sir al-Gharbiyeh village south Lebanon, Sunday, March, 8, 2026. (Mohammed Zaatari/AP Photo)

«Israel will no doubt take control over a wide territory in south Lebanon, from the international border to the Litani River, in order to establish a security buffer zone,» Michael said.

«This will prevent Hezbollah from attacking the Israeli villages and towns in the north of the country and will intensify the attacks against Hezbollah all over Lebanon,» Michael added.

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«We hope that President Trump will not stop or use the formula he used with the Houthis, declaring victory and leaving the wounded lion incapable of revenge and/or reconstituting itself.»

Meanwhile, an Israeli military official, speaking anonymously under army briefing rules, said Tuesday that roughly half of the projectiles Iran was launching toward Israel were now cluster bombs, The Associated Press said.

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Trump urges Congress to pass SAVE America Act, fully fund DHS as TSA workers go without pay

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President Donald Trump is urging Congress to pass the SAVE America Act (SAA) as well as restore funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as more than 100,000 federal employees go without pay during a prolonged funding lapse, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday. 

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Leavitt outlined the president’s dual push for sweeping election legislation and immediate action to reopen DHS, where employees have missed paychecks and travelers are facing long airport lines.

The SAA would move through Congress as election legislation, while DHS funding requires a separate vote to reopen the department and resume full operations.

Leavitt described the SAA as «one of the most critical pieces of legislation in our nation’s history.»

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«The Save America Act is overwhelmingly popular with all Americans because each provision is rooted in common sense,» she said.

DHS FUNDING STALEMATE THAWS AS WHITE HOUSE SENDS DEMOCRATS ‘SERIOUS’ COUNTEROFFER

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt takes questions during a news briefing, Tuesday, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

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According to Leavitt, the legislation includes five core provisions: requiring voters to show identification to cast a ballot, requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote, ending universal mail-in ballots while maintaining exceptions for illness, disability, military service and travel, permanently banning biological males from competing in women’s sports, and banning transgender surgery for minors.

On voter ID requirements, Leavitt said the proposal reflects broad public support.

«Voters have to show ID to cast a ballot in an American election. Very simple,» she said. «Ninety percent of Americans, including more than 80% of Democrat voters, agree with this.»

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SCHUMER, DEMS HOLD FIRM ON DHS FUNDING DESPITE NOEM’S BOMBSHELL OUSTING

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt takes questions

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt takes questions during Tuesday’s press briefing. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

The legislation would also require proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

«The Save America Act will require all voters to show proof of citizenship in order to register to vote in American elections,» Leavitt said. «Again, this is popular and rooted in common sense. Only American citizens have the right to vote in American elections.»

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Leavitt said Trump is urging Congress to «get the job done and send this historic piece of legislation to his desk immediately for signature.»

TRUMP VOWS BLOCK ON SIGNING NEW LAWS UNTIL SAVE AMERICA ACT PASSES SENATE

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a news briefing

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a news briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

She also pushed back on claims that the legislation could prevent married women who changed their last names from voting.

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«There is zero validity to these claims,» Leavitt said. «The Save America Act does not prohibit anyone from voting, with the exception of illegal aliens.

«As far as married women who have changed their name, if they’re already registered to vote, they’re entirely unaffected by the Save Act,» she added.

Leavitt also turned to the ongoing funding lapse at the DHS, saying the president wants Congress to move quickly to restore pay for affected workers and fully reopen the department.

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«President Trump wants the Department of Homeland Security — he wants TSA, he wants FEMA. He wants the brave men and women of our United States Coast Guard to receive their paychecks,» she said.

Street view of the Homeland Security sign.

Leavitt says President Trump wants Congress to move quickly to restore pay for affected workers during the partial shutdown of DHS. (Heather Diehl/Getty Images)

More than 100,000 employees across the country have been impacted, she noted, acknowledging the strain on families.

«To any American out there who is struggling without a paycheck, we know there’s more than 100,000 of you across the country,» Leavitt said.

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She added that the lapse is also affecting travelers nationwide.

«To any American out there who is showing up to an airport and facing incredibly long wait times in lines,» she said, Trump is calling on Congress to restore funding and reopen the department.

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The president wants DHS «fully funded and fully reopened,» Leavitt said.

DHS oversees agencies including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Coast Guard, all of which have personnel affected by the funding lapse.

Trump is pressing lawmakers to act on both fronts, with Leavitt saying the president is calling on Congress to move swiftly to deliver both measures.

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Argentina le dio refugio a un brasileño condenado por el intento de golpe de Estado a Lula da Silva en 2023

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Por primera vez, Argentina concedió el estatus de refugiado a un brasileño que escapó de su país a mediados de 2024 después de ser condenado por el ataque a las sedes de los tres poderes en Brasilia el 8 de enero de 2023.

La decisión fue adoptada por la Comisión Nacional para los Refugiados (Conare), citada por la agencia de noticias EFE.

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El diario Folha de Sao Paulo y el portal G1 destacaron que se trata de la primera vez que Argentina da refugio a un brasileño condenado por la intentona golpista de seguidores de Jair Bolsonaro contra el presidente Luiz Lula da Silva.

Quién es el brasileño beneficiado con estatus de refugiado

La Conare concedió el estatus de refugiado a Joel Borges Correa, condenado en su país a una pena de 13 años y medio de cárcel por su participación en los hechos de enero de 2023. Se encuentra detenido en Argentina desde noviembre de 2024 tras un pedido de extradición en su contra por parte de la justicia de Brasil.

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“Se han evaluado los hechos y circunstancias alegados y la prueba aportada, los que fueron confrontados con la situación objetiva del país de origen, todo lo cual permite encuadrar la solicitud formulada en las previsiones de los mencionados instrumentos legales, considerándose por tanto al peticionante necesitado de protección internacional como refugiado”, señaló la Conare.

Simpatizantes del expresidente Jair Bolsonaro, irrumpieron en el Congreso Nacional, en Brasilia, el 8 de enero de 2023. (AP Foto/Eraldo Peres)

La resolución fue notificada este martes a los abogados de Borges Correa.

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La Conare, organismo que funciona bajo la órbita de la Dirección Nacional de Migraciones, perteneciente al Ministerio de Seguridad Nacional, destacó que el reconocimiento de la condición de refugiado “no implica un juicio de valor sobre la situación imperante en su país de origen y es un acto declarativo e imparcial”.

Hay 300 pedidos de refugio

Borges Correa fue detenido en noviembre de 2024 en un control vehicular tras haber ingresado de forma irregular a Argentina en abril de ese año y tras recibirse un pedido de extradición en su contra, que fue procesado en paralelo con su solicitud de asilo.

El brasileño, de 47 años, estuvo un año detenido en la cárcel de la localidad de Ezeiza. En diciembre pasado se le otorgó la prisión domiciliaria, mientras la Corte Suprema analiza su apelación a la resolución en primera instancia en favor de su extradición.

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Según explicó Pedro Gradín, integrante de la defensa de Borges Correa en representación de Hourbeigt Abogados, tras la resolución de la Conare la Justicia argentina debe ahora proceder de inmediato a suspender la causa de extradición contra su cliente.

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“Consideramos que es una resolución ejemplar desde el punto de vista técnico”, añadió. Además, destacó que Borges Correa fue condenado injustamente en un caso de persecución política y en el que se violaron sus garantías.

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“Ojalá esto siente un precedente para los otros solicitantes de asilo”, subrayó, aunque aclaró que la Conare debe analizar individualmente cada una de las más de 300 solicitudes presentadas por simpatizantes del expresidente Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022) que se fugaron a Argentina tras ser apuntados por la Justicia de su país por su participación en el asalto del 8 de enero de 2023 a las sedes de la Presidencia, el Congreso y el Supremo.

En octubre de 2024 el Tribunal Supremo de Brasil pidió la extradición de 63 implicados en el ataque de 2023 que se fugaron a Argentina para evitar ser procesados o, en los casos de los que ya han sido condenados, cumplir condenas de cárcel por cargos como intento de golpe de Estado.

La Corte Suprema de Brasil condenó a más de 800 personas por el asalto en Brasilia para incentivar una intervención militar contra el Gobierno de Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, que había asumido el poder una semana antes.

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Según la investigación, aquel ataque fue el colofón de una serie de acciones golpistas que buscaron mantener en el poder a Bolsonaro, tras perder las elecciones presidenciales de 2022 frente a Lula.

El pasado 11 de septiembre, el Supremo condenó a Bolsonaro a 27 años y 3 meses de prisión por “liderar” ese complot golpista.

(Con información de EFE)

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