INTERNACIONAL
In warning to Turkey, Israel hits strategic targets in Syria amid rising tensions
Israel launched a wave of airstrikes on Syrian military airfields this week, in what officials confirmed to Fox News Digital was «intended to send a clear message to Turkey not to interfere with Israeli aerial operations in Syrian airspace.»
The escalation marks a turning point in Jerusalem’s stance toward Ankara, as Turkey attempts to expand its military presence in Syria amid regional instability.
The Israeli Defense Forces struck strategic assets at both the Hama military airport and the T-4 airbase, including runways, fuel storage sites, radar systems and weapons caches. The strikes follow weeks of intelligence gathering by the Israeli air force, which tracked military assets in the targeted bases.
The airbases, which had been under the control of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, are now reportedly being eyed by Turkey for expanded use and the deployment of air defense systems.
ECHOING HAMAS, ERDOGAN REPORTEDLY CALLS FOR ISRAEL’S DESTRUCTION AMID PUSH TO REKINDLE TIES WITH TRUMP
Chief of the General Staff LTG Eyal Zamir visited and conducted a situational assessment in the Area of Separation in Syria. (IDF)
Turkey has signaled growing ambitions in Syria. Reports from Middle East Eye indicate that Turkish forces have begun moves to take control of the T-4 base and are planning to install air defense systems there. Since the fall of Assad in December, Ankara has accelerated negotiations with Syria’s interim government over a potential defense pact.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry reacted sharply to the Israeli strikes, labeling Israel’s government as «racist and fundamentalist,» accusing it of expansionist ambitions. «Israel’s attacks in Syria, without any provocation, are inconceivable and indicate a policy that thrives on conflict,» a ministry spokesperson said. The statement further condemned Israel’s military operations as a threat to regional security.
Fox News Digital requests for comment to the Turkish embassy spokesman in Washington, D.C., were not returned.
Dr. Sinan Ciddi, a Turkey expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is attempting to capitalize on the regional vacuum left by Russia and Iran.
TURKEY’S ERDOGAN CONTINUES CRACKDOWN ON PROTESTERS FOLLOWING ARREST OF MAIN RIVAL ON CORRUPTION CHARGES
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan observes a military exercise in Izmir, Turkey, on June 9, 2022. (Photo by Xinhua via Getty Images)
«Erdogan is trying to reignite Turkey’s influence in the region as a sort of neo-Ottoman power,» said Ciddi. «He sees Iran’s proxies weakened, Russia overstretched, and is positioning Turkey to dominate the region — particularly through military footholds like the airbases.»
Ciddi said Erdogan’s long game includes projecting power in Syria, currying favor with the new government in Damascus and convincing the U.S. to grant Turkey access to F-35 fighter jets in exchange for «managing» Syria.
«Erdogan wants to go to Trump and say, ‘I’m the big guy here. Leave Syria to me, just give me the F-35s,’» Ciddi said. «But Israel sees this as a direct threat. Bombing the T-4 runway was a clear message: you’re not welcome here.»
The Turkish leader’s recent inflammatory rhetoric — including prayers for the destruction of Israel during a Ramadan service — has further alarmed Israeli and American observers.
During a recent webinar hosted by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman called for urgent diplomatic intervention.
Security forces loyal to the interim Syrian government ride in the back of a vehicle moving along a road in Syria’s western city of Latakia on March 9, 2025. (OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images)
«There ought to be some quiet discussions with Turkey about toning down the rhetoric about Israel — threats to destroy it, whether coming from the president or his son at rallies,» said Edelman. «There needs to be some kind of effort to deconflict over Syrian airspace.»
Edelman also warned that renewed F-35 sales to Turkey must come with conditions: «If Turkey is actually going to possess the F-35, there has to be some very clear understandings about where they can use it.»
TRUMP EYES LIFTING SANCTIONS, POTENTIAL SALE OF PRIZED FIGHTER JET TO TURKEY
Alan Makovsky, JINSA Eastern Mediterranean Policy Project member said, «We can never assume statements like this are just rhetoric,» adding, «Erdogan has alluded in the past to being able to ‘come suddenly one night’ — we have to take that seriously.»
Inside Israel, officials are closely watching Turkey’s moves in Syria. Avner Golov, vice president of Mind Israel, emphasized that the current crisis reflects a deeper ideological threat.
«Iran is clearly the head of the radical camp, but Erdogan is trying to position himself as the second head — and he’s no less dangerous in terms of potential,» he said. «He doesn’t use proxies the same way Iran does. He intervenes directly, including inside Israel through Palestinian citizens and political activism.»
An Israeli Air Force F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft during an air show in Tel Aviv on April 26, 2023. (JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)
«Israel has diplomatic ties with Turkey, but Erdogan keeps blocking meaningful security cooperation in NATO» Golov added. «Now that Turkey is moving south into Syria, we [Israel] need to escalate the rules of engagement. We can’t allow Turkey to create a long-range air defense umbrella on our border.»
Golov said the current administration needs to understand that Erdogan’s ambitions go beyond Syria. «He wants to become a patron state, to control the skies, and to prevent Israeli operations by claiming we’re violating Syrian sovereignty. But it’s not about sovereignty — it’s about power and shaping the new Middle East in Muslim Brotherhood colors.»
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
On the recent protests against the jailing of the mayor of Istanbul, Ciddi said, «We’ve seen a great challenge to Erdogan with these rising public protests — probably the biggest since the 2013 Gezi protests … jailing an opposition candidate before they even run is a clear sign of weakness. Erdogan doesn’t care about international criticism or economic fallout — all he cares about is maintaining his regime. That’s not strength, it’s desperation.»
INTERNACIONAL
China y Rusia escalan la presión militar en Asia con ejercicios conjuntos cerca de Japón
Las armadas de China y Rusia comenzaron recientemente una nueva ronda de ejercicios navales conjuntos en el Mar del Japón, una muestra explícita de su creciente alianza estratégica en un contexto global cada vez más tenso. Bajo la denominación Joint Sea‑2025, los ejercicios arrancaron cerca de Vladivostok el domingo y se extenderán durante al menos cinco días, según informó la agencia Interfax citando a la Flota del Pacífico rusa.
Las maniobras incluyen ejercicios de artillería y antisubmarinos, rescate de submarinos, operaciones conjuntas antisubmarinas, defensa aérea, antimisiles y combates marítimos simulados. Participan dos destructores chinos —entre ellos el Shaoxing y el Urumqi— junto con un gran buque antisubmarino ruso, submarinos diésel‑eléctricos y un buque de rescate submarino chino.
El Ministerio de Defensa chino explicó que el ejercicio busca la “profundización de la asociación estratégica integral” entre ambos países, y subrayó que no está dirigido contra ningún país tercero. Asimismo, recalcó que forma parte de su cooperación bilateral regular.
La elección del Mar del Japón (o mar del Este) como escenario no es casual. En su último informe anual, el Ministerio de Defensa de Japón advirtió que la creciente cooperación militar entre Beijing y Moscú representa una “seria preocupación de seguridad” para la región.
Este ejercicio naval se inscribe en una tradición iniciada en 2012 con los primeros Joint Sea, reforzada tras la firma del acuerdo bilateral poco antes de la invasión rusa a Ucrania en febrero de 2022. China se negó a condenar el ataque y rehusó acompañar las sanciones occidentales contra Rusia.
Aunque Beijing afirma actuar como un tercero neutral en el conflicto ucraniano, tanto Ucrania como sus aliados occidentales acusan a China de facilitar apoyo militar indirecto a Moscú, incluidas transferencias tecnológicas sensibles.
En otras ocasiones, estos ejercicios se llevaron a cabo en zonas cercanas a la costa sur de China. El traslado de los ejercicios al noroeste del Pacífico, en aguas del Mar del Japón (mar del Este), refleja una intención geopolítica más ambiciosa, elevando la visibilidad estratégica de la cooperación militar entre ambos países.
Según un análisis del Financial Times, el principal efecto de los ejercicios conjuntos reside en su valor simbólico: un mensaje de cohesión táctica entre dos potencias que, aunque no poseen una alianza militar formal, buscan proyectar coordinación frente a Occidente. No obstante, expertos como Alexander Gabuev, del Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, advierten que estas maniobras “no deben interpretarse como señales de una alianza estructural”, sino como movimientos pragmáticos basados en intereses compartidos y desconfianza común hacia Washington
Este despliegue responde también a un contexto en el que EEUU fortaleció su presencia militar en Asia. Según Reuters, Washington posicionó dos submarinos nucleares en la región tras declaraciones provocadoras de Dmitri Medvédev, lo que generó escalada verbal entre Washington y Moscú.
La ausencia de una alianza formal entre China y Rusia no impide una colaboración frecuente en ejercicios militares, intercambio de inteligencia y cooperación tecnológica. Aun sin interoperabilidad completa, las maniobras sugieren que comparten intereses estratégicos puntuales.
(EPA/BIANCA DE MARCHI)
En la práctica, ambos gobiernos se apoyan mutuamente: Rusia obtiene respaldo económico y político frente al aislamiento europeo, mientras China proyecta un equilibrio de poder ante EEUU en el Indo‑Pacífico.
Mientras tanto, Japón y sus vecinos han fortalecido su defensa. Tokio realizó en junio de 2025 su primera prueba de misiles en territorio nacional desde la Segunda Guerra Mundial, como parte de una estrategia de disuasión frente a lo que su Ministerio de Defensa ha calificado como un deterioro del entorno de seguridad regional.
Además del ejercicio en el Mar del Japón, China y Rusia han realizado patrullajes aéreos conjuntos en zonas cercanas a Taiwán, operaciones en el Ártico y ejercicios en alta mar frente a Alaska en 2023, contrarrestando la presencia estadounidense.
Algunos expertos apuntan que lo relevante no es un pacto defensivo formal, sino la claridad de propósito. “No hay una estructura de mando conjunta”, afirma Alexander Gabuev al Financial Times, “pero existe una voluntad compartida de desafiar el orden global liderado por EEUU”.
Las repercusiones regionales son palpables. Gobiernos como Japón, Corea del Sur, Taiwán y Filipinas han intensificado la coordinación con Washington ante lo que consideran una nueva fase de competencia geoestratégica en el Indo‑Pacífico.
Las maniobras Joint Sea‑2025 no alteran por sí solas el equilibrio de poder en la región, pero refuerzan una tendencia preocupante para las democracias occidentales: la consolidación táctica entre dos regímenes autoritarios que buscan erosionar las normas internacionales vigentes y ampliar su margen de maniobra en zonas estratégicas. Para Estados Unidos y sus aliados, este tipo de ejercicios representa un desafío directo a la arquitectura de seguridad regional basada en reglas, cooperación multilateral y disuasión defensiva.
Defense,Middle East,GULF OF OMAN
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Welcome to the Fox News Politics newsletter, with the latest updates on the Trump administration, Capitol Hill and more Fox News politics content. Here’s what’s happening…
-Justice Department weighing release of Ghislaine Maxwell interview
–Hunter Biden says he’s started new job with California nonprofit
-Fifth Cincinnati brawl suspect’s mugshot released after FBI arrest
California Dem Subject of US Attorney Probe Involving Maryland Mortgage
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., is under criminal investigation for mortgage fraud, a Trump administration source told Fox News.
Fox News host Laura Ingraham broke the news on Tuesday night on «The Ingraham Angle,» saying the source said a criminal investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland on possible charges involving mortgage fraud…. READ MORE
U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), joined by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), speaks at a press conference introducing the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 on April 30, 2025 in Washington, DC.
White House
‘COOLEST GUY’: Michelle Obama celebrates Barack as ‘coolest guy’ on his birthday after the pair joked off divorce rumors
UP TOP: Trump appears on White House roof amid talks of historic renovations
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures from the roof of the West Wing of the White House as he takes a tour on August 05, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump has undertaken several renovation projects at the White House to include the construction of a concrete patio at the Rose Garden. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
THE BIG HYPOTHETICAL: Trump answers question on whether he’ll try to run again
Zohran Mamdani
BENCHING THE BLUE: Replace cops with social workers, ‘transit ambassadors’ on some 911 calls
MISSING IN ACTION: Mamdani’s attempted police pivot continues after Adams asks ‘Where was he?’
‘DARK MOMENT’: Mamdani preaches from pulpit of radical pastor pushing reparations, abolishing police: ‘Brother and friend’
SNUBBING THE BLUE: Adams asks ‘where was’ Mamdani at previous NYPD funerals
The presumptive Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani will challenge incumbent Mayor Adams, who is running as an independent, in November’s mayoral election. (Getty Images)
SOCIALIST SURGE: Will progressive challenger top incumbent mayor in Seattle’s primary?
LEFTIES UNITE: Zohran Mamdani in position to help socialist party ‘seize state power,’ DSA leader admits
World Stage
DUTCH DOLLARS: Netherlands becomes first NATO ally to buy US weapons for Ukraine
PUTIN’S PAYDAY: Witkoff scrambles for peace deal with Russia as sanctions loom targeting India, China
URGENT EFFORT: Fox News gets inside look at Gaza humanitarian situation as Israel weighs next steps
Palestinians return with bags from a food distribution point run by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) group, near the Netsarim corridor in the central Gaza Strip on Aug. 2, 2025. (YAD BABA/AFP via Getty Images)
NUCLEAR SHOWDOWN: Russia drops missile deployment moratorium amid tensions with Trump admin
Capitol Hill
PRIMARY CHALLENGE: Iowa Republican targets GOP Sen. Joni Ernst for ouster, saying ‘she doesn’t vote like’ Republicans
GOP SHOWDOWN: South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson accuses Rep. Nancy Mace of ‘ranting and raving’
INNER CIRCLE SECRETS: 9th ex-Biden aide appears before House Oversight investigators in autopen probe
BILL ON THE HILL: Comer subpoenas the Clintons, Trump’s DOJ in House Oversight’s Epstein probe
Using the Fifth Amendment, which gives Americans the right to not self-incriminate themselves, Epstein refused to answer at least three questions related to former President Bill Clinton and at least one related to the Clinton Foundation. (Getty Images)
Across America
NAMED AND SHAMED: DOJ names and shames 35 sanctuary cities that ‘put American citizens at risk’
TAXPAYER WATCHDOGS: Florida dispatches DOGE agents to Fort Lauderdale, Gainesville to analyze tax hikes, ‘reckless’ trends
SHELTERS SHUT DOWN: Left-wing governor scraps migrant shelter plan after $1B blowup
POWER LINES: Supreme Court orders new arguments in pivotal elections case
The United States Supreme Court is seen on November 8, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty)
TRANSCRIPT RELEASE: Ghislaine Maxwell opposes release of grand jury transcripts
DEBT DIAGNOSIS: Parental rights group on new healthcare price transparency tool for families to Make America Healthy Again
STAMP OF APPROVAL: Voter ID law in Texas wins at appeals court after Biden admin lawsuit
ARNOLD’S NEW ROLE: Schwarzenegger pushing back back against Newsom redistricting bid in California
Get the latest updates on the Trump administration and Congress, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
elections newsletter
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
On Monday, Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to be placed under house arrest amid ongoing legal proceedings over his alleged attempt to overturn the 2022 presidential election results.
The case has gripped the nation since its inception in 2023 and has intensified international scrutiny, especially as it unfolds under the authority of a Supreme Court justice recently sanctioned by the Trump administration in the United States.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the case, accused Bolsonaro, 70, of violating court-imposed restrictions.
According to the ruling, first reported by the Associated Press, Bolsonaro used a Sunday protest in Rio de Janeiro to publicly address supporters using a cellphone owned by one of his three sons, all of whom are lawmakers.
TRUMP ADMIN SANCTIONS BRAZILIAN JUDGE OVERSEEING BOLSONARO COUP-PLOT PROBE
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro gestures during the inauguration ceremony of new ministers at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, on March 31, 2022. – Bolsonaro on Thursday fired key ministers who will contest the October elections, including his possible running mate for defence, in a ceremony in which he praised the last military dictatorship. (Evaristo Sa/AFP via Getty Images)
Bolsonaro’s brief message, «Good afternoon, Copacabana, good afternoon my Brazil, a hug to everyone, this is for our freedom,» was deemed a violation of his release conditions.
Bolsonaro’s legal team announced plans to appeal, arguing that the statement was symbolic, not criminal, and did not justify additional restrictions.
Mounting International Fallout
The political stakes have now extended well beyond Brazil. The case triggered backlash from President Trump, a longtime Bolsonaro ally, who tied newly imposed U.S. tariffs on Brazilian imports to what he called an ongoing «witch hunt.» His remarks have further strained the already delicate diplomatic relationship between the two nations.
In a pointed statement on X, the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs condemned the Brazilian court’s actions, writing: «Putting even more restrictions on Jair Bolsonaro’s ability to defend himself in public is not a public service. Let Bolsonaro speak!»
APPEALS COURT GRANTS TRUMP SHORT-TERM WIN OVER BOASBERG IN IMMIGRATION RULING
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. President Donald Trump. (Getty Images)
The bureau also warned that individuals involved in what it described as «sanctioned behavior» would be held accountable.
The statement marked a sharp escalation, particularly as it followed closely on the heels of sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department, under Trump’s administration, against Justice de Moraes. He was designated a «U.S.-sanctioned human rights abuser» and accused of weaponizing the judiciary to silence political opponents.
The Basis for Sanctions
Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent accused de Moraes of leading an unlawful crackdown:
«Alexandre de Moraes has taken it upon himself to be judge and jury in an unlawful witch hunt against U.S. and Brazilian citizens and companies. He is responsible for an oppressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions, and politicized prosecutions—including those against former President Jair Bolsonaro,» Bessent said.
TRUMP FOE JUDGE BOASBERG RULES DEPORTED MIGRANTS CAN CHALLENGE REMOVALS, IN BLOW TO ADMIN
Former President Jair Bolsonaro addresses supporters during a rally in Sao Paulo., Brazil, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024. Bolsonaro and some of his former top aides are under investigation into allegations they attempted plotted a coup to remove his successor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
These sanctions were imposed under Executive Order 13818, issued during Trump’s first term in 2017. The order declared a national emergency concerning global human rights abuses and corruption and expanded upon the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act passed in 2016. The law empowers the U.S. government to impose financial and travel sanctions on foreign officials accused of human rights violations.
Despite growing international pressure, the Brazilian government has yet to issue a formal response.
Details of the Case
Brazilian prosecutors allege that Bolsonaro led a coordinated effort to delegitimize, and ultimately overturn, the results of the 2022 election, including planning violent acts and even an alleged assassination plot targeting President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Justice de Moraes. Bolsonaro lost the election by a narrow margin.
A panel of Supreme Court justices accepted the charges in March, ultimately ordering Bolsonaro to stand trial. Monday’s house arrest ruling builds on earlier restrictions: an ankle monitor, a nighttime curfew, and a travel ban keeping the former president confined to Brasília despite his deep political roots in Rio de Janeiro.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
A former army captain and deeply polarizing figure, Bolsonaro now joins a short but consequential list of former Brazilian presidents arrested since the country’s return to democracy in 1985, a system he has frequently criticized and linked to the military dictatorship he once praised.
Justice de Moraes, defending the court’s decision, wrote: «The judiciary will not allow itself to be mocked. Justice applies equally to everyone. A defendant who knowingly violates precautionary measures—especially for the second time—must face legal consequences.»
Fox News’ Alec Schemmel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
sanctions,jair bolsonaro,brazil,world
China y Rusia escalan la presión militar en Asia con ejercicios conjuntos cerca de Japón
Luciano Acosta se va para Fluminense
Juan Carlos Romero anunció que no será candidato y se irá del Senado después de 18 años
La FURP cumple 55 años y consolida su apuesta por la formación política con el programa “País Federal”
Totaralejos, el pueblo fantasma de Córdoba donde solo queda un hombre que se niega a irse
El dólar afloja e inversores ya identificaron uno de los grandes factores que evitó otro récord
El mensaje que compartió Milei luego de la fuerte suba del dólar, que lo acercó al techo de la banda
Cristina Kirchner cruzó a Milei por la corrida cambiaria: “Lo único que se te ocurre es echarles la culpa a los ‘kukas’”
Candidaturas testimoniales | Piden que los postulantes de la provincia declaren formalmente que se comprometen a asumir
Milei interrumpió la nota con Fantino para firmar un decreto: avaló contrarreloj una suba a estatales y residentes del Garrahan
La desgarradora despedida de la familia de Mila Yankelevich luego de su trágica muerte: «Fue una ceremonia íntima»
Mauro Szeta reveló la información más dura de la muerte de Mila Yankelevich: «Eso causó el deceso»
Sebastián Pareja justificó el armado de listas de LLA en la Provincia: “El desafío era dar una opción diferencial”
Sobre la recta final frente a las elecciones legislativas bonaerenses, Sebastián Pareja, mano derecha de Karina Milei y armador de...
El Como de Fàbregas, el nuevo rico de Italia
En Italia ha nacido un nuevo rico: el Como 1907. El club lombardo, impulsado por los hermanos multimillonarios indonesios Robert...
Boban Babunski: ‘Esa Yugoslavia nos estábamos preparando para ganar algo grande, pero todos sabemos lo que sucedió después…’
Estaban destinados a brillar, pero la guerra se llevó todas sus esperanzas por delante. Esa es la historia de la...
SOCIEDAD2 días agoHay alerta amarilla por tormentas y frío extremo para este lunes 4 de agosto: las provincias afectadas
- POLITICA1 día ago
Martín Menem se refirió al escándalo de Tech Security que involucra a su familia: “Nos quieren meter a todos en la misma bolsa”
- POLITICA1 día ago
Milei afirmó que la elección en la provincia de Buenos Aires “podría significar el fin del kirchnerismo”
