Morning Briefing: Jan. 12, 2025

ISTANBUL

Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Sunday, including Syria thwarting a Daesh/ISIS plot to bomb near Damascus; Israel killing eight Palestinians in a strike on a school sheltering displaced people in northern Gaza and the Turkish president’s remarks on Syria.

TOP STORIES

Syrian authorities thwart Daesh/ISIS plot to bomb near Damascus

The Syrian Interior Ministry announced it successfully foiled an attempt by the Daesh/ISIS terror group to bomb the Sayyida Zaynab shrine near Damascus.

It confirmed the arrests of those involved in the plot, describing the operation as part of "ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of religious sites and the public."

The shrine, a prominent pilgrimage site, has been targeted in attacks by extremist groups.

8 Palestinians killed in Israeli strike on school sheltering displaced people in northern Gaza

At least eight Palestinians, including two women and two children, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school sheltering displaced civilians in the northern Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian medics.

The attack targeted the Halawa School in Jabalia, leaving 30 injured. Witnesses reported that an Israeli drone struck a room inside the school, causing extensive casualties.

The Israeli army claimed it targeted Hamas members operating from the school, a justification it has frequently used in similar incidents.

End of Baath regime in Syria also Türkiye's victory: President Erdogan

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the end of the Baath regime in Syria is also Türkiye's victory.

"The end of the Baath regime's tyranny is the victory of our Syrian brothers, and it is also our victory as their neighbors," he said.

Touching on the terrorism in the region, Erdogan said the era of exploiting the region by using terror organizations has come to an end and the period of using terrorism as a weapon and tool is over.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• At least 32 more Palestinians were killed in relentless Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, bringing the death toll since October 2023 to 46,537, the Health Ministry in the enclave said.
• The leader of Syria’s new administration Ahmad Al-Sharaa received Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Hinai, special envoy of the Sultan of Oman who led a delegation, state news agency SANA reported.
• Turkish security forces “neutralized” 11 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq near the Turkish border, the country's National Defense Ministry said.
• The Taliban interim administration asked Pakistan to stop cross-border attacks inside Afghanistan, according to media reports.
• At least six people were killed and seven injured when a building collapsed in an explosion in a firework warehouse in northeastern Punjab province in Pakistan, according to police.
• The Taliban confirmed negotiations with the US on a prisoner swap deal but said it yielded no result yet, according to media reports.
• Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Ethiopia on his first visit since Türkiye-mediated talks resolved long-standing disputes between the two nations.
• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed Ukraine captured two North Korean soldiers during battles in the Russian Kursk region.
• The Israeli army committed five violations of a cease-fire agreement with Lebanon bringing the number of breaches to 455 since the deal took effect Nov. 27.
• The Sudanese army announced entering and recapturing Wad Madani in Al Jazirah state in central Sudan.
• Denmark proposed that US President-elect Donald Trump boost security in Greenland, including increasing US military presence on the island, in private messages to his team, American news website Axios reported.

SPORTS

Bayern Munich seal narrow win against Monchengladbach in Bundesliga

Bayern Munich secured a narrow victory against Monchengladbach on matchday 16 of the German Bundesliga.

Bundesliga top scorer Harry Kane netted a penalty in the 68th minute to give Bayern the 1 - 0 road win at Borussia Park.

Kane, 31, has converted his 26th penalty in a row.

The result gave the Bavarians 39 points in 16 matches, four clear of Bayer Leverkusen.

Atalanta, Udinese share points in goalless draw

​​​​​​​Atalanta were held to a goalless draw against Udinese in the Italian Serie A week 20.

Neither team was able to produce a goal in the 90 minutes at Bluenergy Stadium.

And Juventus took the lead when Kenan Yildiz scored on a long-range effort in the eighth minute at Olimpico Grande Torino. Torino equalized with Nikola Vlasic in first-half stoppage time.

Atalanta are second with 42 points while Juventus are fifth with 33 points.