Downing Israeli missiles
Newly-revealed data shows Syria's air defenses shot down seven out of eight missiles launched by Israeli warplanes during a Monday airstrike on Aleppo province. According to the Russian military, four Israeli F-16 fighter jets targeted facilities southeast of Aleppo in the attack. The military said the Syrian anti-air units used Pantsyr-S and Buk-M-2 systems supplied by Russia. One missile damaged the building of a scientific research center in al-Safira region. Earlier, a Syrian military official also confirmed the country’s air defenses shot down most of the missiles shot in the airstrike. Over the past years, Israel has carried out hundreds of attacks on Syria, leaving civilian casualties at times. Damascus has repeatedly protested to the UN, condemning the attacks as a breach of its sovereignty.
UK East Asia deployment
The UK says it will permanently deploy two warships to disputed waters in the South China Sea, amid growing tensions between Beijing and the West. During a joint announcement with his Japanese counterpart, British Defense Minister, Ben Wallace, said the deployment will take place later this year. Wallace added that Britain will also sail a carrier strike group through the Chinese-claimed waters in September. China and a number of other Asian countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines, lay overlapping claims on the strategic waterway. In the past months, tensions have flared between Beijing and the west over the issue.
Trump ally arrested
A close ally of former US president Donald Trump has been arrested and charged with illegal lobbying on behalf of the United Arab Emirates. Federal prosecutors said Thomas Barrack failed to register as lobbyist and used his influence to advance the UAE's foreign policy goals in the United States. Barrack is also alleged to have repeatedly lied during an FBI interview about his dealings with the UAE. Barrack is a longtime Trump ally and was chairman of his 2017 inaugural committee. He is the latest in a long line of Trump associates to face criminal charges, including his former campaign chair, his former chief strategist, and his former personal lawyer.