Overview
- Following a high-level visit to Moscow, Damascus pursued Russian affirmation of Syria’s territorial integrity, including over the Golan, and technical help to repair and reactivate Russian‑origin air defenses, with no major new arms deals reported.
- Experts say Russia is focused on sustaining leverage through its Hmeimim and Tartus bases, with possible functional adaptation to broader security and commercial roles, though specifics remain limited.
- Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has escalated threats toward Iran, Hezbollah and the Houthis, a stance read as aimed at shoring up domestic support while seeking U.S. backing during a planned Washington visit, with some analysts even suggesting he wants direct U.S. participation in strikes.
- Morocco’s AFCON 2025 security operation includes an INTERPOL-linked African Police Cooperation Centre, a centralized video system with thousands of cameras, drones and 16 intervention teams, as airports recorded more than 868,000 arrivals in ten days.
- CAF’s disciplinary committee sanctioned Morocco’s Army Royal with two home matches behind closed doors and $100,000 in fines for crowd offenses during its match against Al Ahly, with specific penalties for lasers, bottle throwing and a dangerous metal object.