From what I understand, the majority of Muslim refugees and migrants in the various European countries (among others) originate from Syria. They were understandably escaping a brutal Syrian civil war. Why they went to Western countries for refugee status rather than fellow Muslim countries is another question, but be that as it may, Sweden, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and others are hosting many Syrian and other refugees and their own societies are changing because of it.

Israeli news has been reporting about dozens, or maybe hundreds, of Israeli Druze having breached for the border fence and pouring into Syria to help the Druze there (Israel is urging them to not do this as Israel itself is working to protect the Druze in Syria from the attacks).

I need some help here.

The recovery of the remains of Zvi Feldman from somewhere deep in Syria, who went Missing In Action 43 years ago during the Lebanon War is big news. 

whoa, this is big news if true...

US journalist Austin Tice has been missing for 12 years when he was kidnapped in Syria

Vladimir Putin just agreed to ask deposed head of Syria Bashar Al Assad about Tice and where he might be located.

view near the top of the Syrian Hermon Mt., with the Shaldag special forces unit capturing the mountain.

Remember a short while ago when the IDF was busy taking out Hamas leaders and then went on to take out every single top Hezbollah leader?

Russia: Assad left Syria, giving instructions for a non-violent transfer of power

Crazy situation up on our northern border. I dont think anyone knows how this is going to play out.

The rebels in Syria are suddenly seeing success and doing some serious damage to the Syrian forces. It probably has to do with Iran's recent faltering and Israel knocking it a significant blow in Lebanon and Gaza and even in Iran itself...

That being said, from what I understand, the Syrian rebels are not our friends either so I won't be wishing them luck and success. The most I can wish for them is that both sides are just strong enough to keep killing and hurting the other. This time it won't be like Sabra and Shatila where the two sides killed each other and Israel was blamed for letting it happen - this time they can kill each other and Israel is not involved at all...

Syria and Russia are now denying it but earlier today PM Netanyahu announced that Israel would send humanitarian aid to Syria as well to help with the fallout from the earthquake. The request had supposedly been made by Russia on behalf of Syria, and not by Syria itself.

A group of a dozen Syrian Jews living in Brooklyn traveled to Syria to meet with the small Jewish community there. According to TOI, the visit had the support of the Syrian government, though an expected meeting with government officials did not take place.

I do not know what position, if any, Sheikh Ahmad Shlash holds in the Syrian government or leadership, but he is described as "a senior member of the Syrian Parliament" tweeted the other day a statement taking credit for the presumed crash landing of the Beresheet lunar module on the moon.

According to his tweet, as translated by Google Translate and by various news sources, Shlash claimed that Syrian intelligence was behind the crash landing of the Israeli lunar module. He did not say how, but he says that just as promised, the battlefields of confrontation are unlimited and the Syrian intelligence operations will surprise everyone - implying that they were behind the crashing of the lunar module.

Quick thinking, Shlash. I'll give you that. Almost as good and funny as the fake Mossad twitter account.

I spoke with Bibi. I told Bibi, you know we give Israel 4.5 billion dollars a year. And they are doing very well at defending themselves. We are going to take great care of Israel. Israel is going to be good.

  -- President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, about how the US pullout from Syria will affect Israel

the news today is all about Israel striking and destroying a nuclear reactor in Syria ten years ago. At the time everyone "knew" but now that it has been officially acknowledged, everyone officially knows.

I have been thinking about what I can say about this matter. There are all sorts of angles worth discussing. I have decided to mention just one aspect of the story.

As part of the release, it became known that the politicians (Ehud Olmert, Ehud Barak, Tzippi Livni, and others) making the decisions sent Eli Yishai to Rav Ovadia Yosef to inform him and to give the mission his blessing and prayer. In addition, the IDF Chief of Staff asked Rav Shmuel Rabinovitch to daven for the success of the mission.

All these people, secular politicians and generals, leaders of a secular army and a largely secular state, none of them known for being even somewhat traditional, went to rabbonim for brachas and prayers prior to engaging in such a critical mission.

Maybe they don't talk about God and His part in modern State affairs as often as we might like. Maybe we accuse them often of forgetting God's part and being too focused on "my power and my might" - kochi v'otzem yadi - but at the end of the day, when the going gets tough, when it comes down to anything important, they value and ask for the blessings and prayers of the religious leaders and value their part in affairs and consider them as crucially necessary as any other aspect in preparation for critical missions.

Operation Good Neighbor is a mission of compassion for those in need and of hope for a better, more secure border between Israel and Syria. Over the past six years, we’ve seen war destroy the lives of Syrian civilians. We couldn’t stand by and watch. While carrying out Operation Good Neighbor, we’ve had the honor of meeting our neighbors and hearing their stories.

The Ministry of Defense is not transferring the money for the treatment of the Syrian refugees, despite its commitment to do so.  This is increasing the deficit if the hospitals in the north... if payment will not be arranged, retroactive as well, I will prohibit hospitals from accepting new refugee patients. I'll go crazy. Don't be a bleeding heart on my back.

  -- Minister of Health Yaakov Litzman, commenting on the 300 million nis costs involved until now in treating wounded Syrian refugees.

There is a humanitarian crisis in Syria, and whatever help can be offered should be offered, but someone has to pay for it. While sick/injured Syrians get free and immediate health care in Israel, many Israelis are destitute and sick and for them there is no money available from the government. It is important to help the Syrian victims, but if that much money is being spent on them then there should be more money available to help needy Israelis..

Netanyahu says Israel to offer Aleppo survivors entry and assistance

  -- Ynet

Yes, the Syrians are our enemy. Yes, the Syrians hate us (at least many of them do). But yet, there is a true humanitarian crisis going on there right now, and if we can help - not help the Syrian government, but help the suffering innocent Syrian people, then it is a good thing.

After the release of the video of Eli Cohen's execution, the Syrian rebels are reportedly now saying that they will be returning Eli Cohen's body (bones) to Israel.

A report appeared in Lebanese news saying that the Syrian rebels have access to and will be returning the remains of Eli Cohen to Israel. The report was removed a short while later.
source: Walla News, NRG

I have serious doubts as to the veracity of this report, though I do hope it will come to be true.

While I normally avoid large, mass, events in my old age, this is a funeral I would try to go to.

I hope it happens. Eli Cohen deserves an honorable Jewish burial.