• Israeli defense minister Israel Katz says the Israeli military will continue to occupy so-called “security zones” in Syria  “until further notice”.

Syria foreign minister says Syria open to meeting Hezbollah

Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani is in Lebanon and met President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally.

The former rebel fighters that now govern Syria fought against Hezbollah for years as it was deployed there to support former President Bashar al-Assad. It would be the first time the two sides meet.

Al-Shaibani said Syria is open to meeting Hezbollah representatives “if interests require ⁠it”, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported.

His visit comes as Damascus insists it does not want to intervene militarily in Lebanon despite pressure from the United States to do so. President Trump has repeatedly said Syria could “take care of Hezbollah” while criticizing Israel’s failure to destroy the Lebanese armed group.

Lebanon-Syria sign non-interference agreement

Lebanon and Syria have signed an agreement of mutual respect and non-interference in Beirut.

It comes as Prime Minister Nawaf Salam received Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani in Lebanon’s capital in the presence of delegations from both sides.

Lebanon’s National News Agency reported the agreement includes “principles of cooperation, including respect for the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of either state, equality between the two parties, and non-interference”.

The deal was signed as both Lebanon and Syria face ongoing attacks by Israel as it continues to invade and occupy neighboring nations.

Damascus cafe blast kills 5, wounds 16

A bomb blast at a crowded cafe in the Hejaz area in central Damascus ⁠killed at least five people and wounded 16.

Syrian state TV said the explosion was near the Palace of Justice ‌in the center of Syria’s capital.

There were no other immediate details on the apparent attack or claim of responsibility.

State news agency SANA reported the number of dead and injured, citing ⁠the head of Syria’s ⁠emergency health services.

The police, as well as military intelligence, have been on the scene, creating a security zone around the area of the attack.

The explosion happened in a cafe just around 100 meters away from the main entrance of the central courthouse building.

People use this entrance to take care of business here in the courthouse. Many employees, as well as people who come to the courthouse, sit in this cafe.

It is a very famous and well-known cafe here in the central part of Damascus.

Attacker placed bomb under a table in the busy cafe

The powerful explosion took place at the entrance of the cafe located between the Hejaz Railway and the Palace of Justice.

Search dogs are looking for any other possible explosives. What security sources are telling is that a person went into the cafe, placed an improvised explosive device under a table and then left trying actually to reach the courthouse and possibly carry out more attacks.

There is not much known about the identity of the person.

This is the second time since May that this kind of explosion has happened. A building belonging to the Ministry of Defense was targeted at that time.