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Israel and Syria agreed to a ceasefire in southern Syria on July 18 that reportedly returns control of Suwayda Province to the Syrian transitional government. Government forces have deployed to towns in Suwayda Province as part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.
Russian forces conducted a large series of missile and drone strikes against Ukraine overnight on July 18 to 19. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 12 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles from Voronezh, Kursk, and Rostov oblasts and occupied Crimea; eight Iskander-K cruise missiles from Millerovo, Rostov Oblast; and 15 Kh-101 cruise missiles from the airspace over Saratov Oblast.
The European Council of the European Union (EU) approved its 18th sanctions package on July 18, mainly targeting Russian oil revenues and sanctions evasion schemes.
Israel reversed its previous demand that Syrian transitional government forces refrain from intervening in Suwayda Province, southern Syria. An unspecified Israeli official reported on July 18 that Israel will “allow” a limited number of Syrian transitional government forces to enter Suwayda for the next 48 hours to restore stability
A US media outlet reported on July 17 that US strikes in Iran on June 21 caused significant damage to only one of the three Iranian nuclear facilities that the United States struck.[1] CTP-ISW has previously assessed that the strikes caused significant damage to all three facilities and will likely set back Iran's nuclear program.
Russia’s Central Bank continues efforts to maintain the facade of domestic economic stability by pursuing economic policies that will likely exacerbate Russia’s economic instability.
The Kremlin will likely take advantage of recent US cuts to media funding in Africa as Russia continues to expand its media presence on the continent. Russia’s media ecosystem in Africa supports Russia’s strategic effort to supplant the United States and its allies in Africa through anti-Western and pro-Kremlin information operations to strengthen Russian soft power.
Russia continues its systematic persecution of women from occupied Crimea.