Israeli warplanes pound Syria as troops reportedly advance deeper into the country

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Israel carried out a wave of heavy airstrikes across Syria as its troops advanced deeper into the country. That’s according to a Syrian opposition war monitor. Elsewhere on Tuesday, the Israeli defense minister announced that his forces had destroyed Syria’s navy. Israel acknowledged pushing into a buffer zone inside Syria following the overthrow of President Bashar Assad. But it remained unclear if its soldiers had gone beyond that area, which was established more than 50 years ago. Israel denied it is advancing on the Syrian capital of Damascus. Israeli officials have said they are striking military assets to prevent them from falling into the hands of extremists.

Israel’s Netanyahu vows to challenge ‘absurd’ corruption charges

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to knock down the corruption charges against him as he took the stand in his long-running trial. The testimony Tuesday set off what’s expected to be a weekslong spectacle that will draw unwelcome attention to Netanyahu’s legal woes as he faces an international arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and the fighting in Gaza continues. Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases. He is accused of accepting tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of cigars and champagne and exchanging favors with wealthy associates. Netanyahu denies wrongdoing, saying the charges are a witch hunt.

South Korea’s ex-defense minister is formally arrested

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s previous defense minister has been formally arrested over his alleged collusion with President Yoon Suk Yeol and others in imposing martial law last week. Kim Yong Hyun resigned last week and has been detained since Sunday. He is the first person arrested in the case. Prosecutors have up to 20 days to determine whether to indict him. A conviction on the charge of playing a key role in rebellion carries the maximum death sentence. Kim is accused of recommending martial law to Yoon and sending troops to the National Assembly to block lawmakers from voting on it.

Venezuela’s opposition signals flexible timeline toward government transition

MADRID (AP) — Venezuela’s political opposition is signaling a shift toward a flexible timeline for a government transition that it had long insisted would come next month when the new presidential term is set to begin. The change comes as the faction’s candidate in the July presidential election remains in exile in Spain and its leader continues to hide in Venezuela, both efforts meant to avoid arrest. Opposition leaders hosted an event in Madrid Tuesday, 30 days before Venezuela’s constitutionally mandated swearing-in ceremony. Opposition candidate Edmundo González and President Nicolás Maduro both claim to have won the July 28 election.