The Syrian defense ministry said it was aware of reports of "shocking violations" by people wearing military fatigues in the country's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, and said it would launch an investigation. That came after fighting between Druze militia and government forces sent to the city to quell the unrest has led to hundreds of people killed.

As Suwayda

Israel and Iran have agreed a ceasefire after a twelve day conflict. Meanwhile, Israel strikes in Gaza continue with the humanitarian crisis deepening.

Middle East Conflict

Syria's defense ministry has pledged to investigate reports of 'shocking violations' in the city of Suwayda after days of intense sectarian violence between Druze and Bedouin communities led to hundreds of deaths. Eyewitnesses and rights monitors reported attacks on civilians, including women, children, and medical personnel, with both sides accused of field executions and close-range killings.

The violence escalated after the arrival of government forces, with some residents alleging Syrian troops were responsible for some of the killings. In response, the ministry stated it would not tolerate human rights abuses, even if committed by its own forces. A ceasefire, supported by neighboring countries and Israel, was reached following Israeli airstrikes targeting Syrian government positions, with Israel citing the protection of the Druze community as its objective. The unrest presents a significant challenge for Syria's interim leadership amid ongoing instability.

Syria to probe 'shocking violations' in Sweida after hundreds killed

Armed men were seen firing gunshots towards buses evacuating civilians from the Syrian city of Suwayda on Tuesday. While it's not immediately clear who the gunmen were, it marked another escalation in the country's mounting sectarian violence. Local Bedouin people have been evacuating the predominantly Druze city of Suwayda under a U.S.-backed truce that was meant to end fighting that has killed hundreds. It's the latest turn after days of bloodshed between the Druze, a religious minority native to the area, and Syrian Bedouin tribes. Speaking to Reuters at a school sheltering displaced Bedouin in Daraa province, Alia Hussain Alali, a Bedouin woman from Suwayda, described attacks by Druze militants. ALIA HUSSAIN ALALI, Bedouin Woman, Suwayda, Syria They slaughtered our youth. Their bodies were left thrown on the ground. They started sniping us from over 100 meters away. They stormed our houses, and in the end, we fled out of fear. Some people were attacked on their own land. A rights monitor said Friday victims included medical personnel, women and children, and both sides had conducted field executions. The violence worsened sharply after the arrival of government forces. Reports to Reuters by a dozen residents of Suwayda described friends and neighbors being shot at close range in their homes or in the streets. They said the killings were carried out by Syrian troops, identified by their fatigues and insignia. Syria's defense ministry said on Tuesday it would investigate shocking violations by people wearing military clothing. In a statement, it said there would be no tolerance for those who violated human rights in Suwayda, even if the acts were committed by ministry forces. On Friday, Israel and Syria agreed to a ceasefire supported by Turkey, Jordan and neighbors. That's after Israeli airstrikes last week struck Syrian government forces in the south and the defense ministry in Damascus. Israel said its goal was to protect the Druze and keep southern Syria demilitarized. The violence, some of the worst to hit Syria since the downfall of President Bashar al-Assad last year, has posed a major test for interim President Ahmed al-Sharar, deepening fault lines in a country fractured by 14 years of war. Sharar blamed the violence on outlaw groups and promised to protect the rights of Druze, whose faith is deemed heretical by some hardline Muslims.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is sending lawmakers home early for their August recess amid a continued push to release all files related to Jeffrey Epstein. CBS News' Taurean Small has the latest.

Washington

Speaker Johnson sends House lawmakers home early

Venezuela Attorney General Tarek Saab's office will investigate El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele and two other officials for the alleged abuse of Venezuelans who were detained in the Central American country.

Caracas

Venezuela to investigate Bukele for alleged detainee abuse

U.S. President Donald Trump touted new trade agreements with Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines ahead of his looming August 1 global tariff deadline. CBS News' Natalie Brand has the latest from the White House.

Global Tariffs

Trump touts new trade deals with Japan, Indonesia, Philippines

Newly released video shows Jacksonville deputies pulling William McNeil Jr. from his car during a February traffic stop, leaving him with a concussion and chipped tooth. Warning: This report contains disturbing images.

Jacksonville

Jacksonville police under scrutiny after violent arrest

As Bryan Kohberger faces sentencing for the University of Idaho murders, families and investigators are breaking their silence. The gag order has been lifted, prompting emotional impact statements and new revelations from officials involved in the case.

Boise

Officials, families break silence as Bryan Kohberger sentencing begins

U.S. President Donald Trump accused former President Barack Obama of "treason" on Tuesday, accusing him, without providing evidence, of leading an effort to falsely tie him to Russia and undermine his 2016 presidential campaign.

Trump accuses Obama of treason in attacks over 2016 Russia probe

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is facing backlash over a bill he signed Tuesday night, which activists say weakens the country's anti-corruption watchdog agencies. Protests broke out in Kyiv on Wednesday over the legislation.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Ukrainians react after Zelenskyy signs controversial bill

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Trump announces U.S.-Japan trade deal

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee changed its eligibility rules on Monday, effectively barring transgender women from competing in Olympic women's sports. CBS News correspondent Elise Preston has more.

USOPC effectively bars transgender women from women’s sports

President Donald Trump says he's reached a trade deal with Japan that will set tariffs on Japanese imports at 15% and see Japan invest $550 billion into the U.S.

Trump says he's reached trade deal with Japan

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New York

Photos show Jeffrey Epstein attended Trump’s wedding in 1993

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Trump says U.S. will charge 19% tariff on goods from Philippines

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Deputy attorney general seeks interview with Ghislaine Maxwell

Ozzy Osbourne, the hellraising frontman of Black Sabbath and reality TV star, has died aged 76. CNN’s Stephanie Elam looks back at the legendary career as the Godfather of Heavy Metal.

Los Angeles

Legendary singer Ozzy Osbourne dies at 76

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Minot

Investigation underway after jet narrowly avoids Air Force bomber

A judge on Monday sentenced ex-Louisville police officer Brett Hankison to 33 months in prison and three years of subsequent supervised release, following the 2020 shooting death of Breonna Taylor.

Louisville

Judge sentences ex-officer in Breonna Taylor raid to nearly 3 years

A six-week-old infant and three other children have died of starvation in Gaza in the past 24 hours, local health officials said, with malnutrition and starvation now killing Palestinians faster than at any point in the 21-month war. This video includes images some may find distressing.

Jerusalem

Medics say four Gaza children starve to death in hunger crisis

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine and Russia will hold a new round of peace talks on Wednesday. The announcement comes as Russian drones hit parts of Ukraine, officials said.

Zelenskyy says Russia, Ukraine to hold new round of peace talks

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Trump admin releases Martin Luther King Jr. assassination records

Students gather to protest in Bangladesh outside the school where a military jet crashed Monday, killing at least 30 people, including dozens of children.

Dhaka

Protests break out as death toll passes 30 in Bangladesh jet crash

CBS News has learned that a new assessment of the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June finds that only one of three facilities was possibly destroyed. CBS News senior national security correspondent Charlie D'Agata has the details.

Tehran

U.S. strikes may have destroyed one Iranian nuclear facility

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Taipei

Taiwan holds unprecedented military drills

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Zelenskyy says new peace talks planned for Wednesday

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A sweeping cyber espionage operation targeting Microsoft server software 'SharePoint' compromised about 100 different organizations as of the weekend, two of the organizations that helped uncover the campaign said on Monday (July 21).

Redmond

Microsoft server hack hit about 100 organizations, experts say

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Boston

Protestors gather outside courthouse amid Harvard-Trump hearing

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Syria to probe 'shocking violations' in Sweida after hundreds killed

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