Clashes broke out in southern Syria between armed groups from the Druze minority and Sunni Muslim Bedouin clans, reportedly stemming from incidents like kidnapping and robbery.

Syrian government forces intervened in the Sweida province to restore order but were observed effectively siding with the Bedouins, leading to clashes with Druze groups and reports of civilian targeting.

Israel launched bombing raids against Syrian government forces in southern Syria and struck military sites in central Damascus, including the Ministry of Defense and areas near the presidential palace.

Israel stated its intervention was aimed at preventing harm to the Druze minority in Syria and weakening Damascus's new administration to maintain its military dominance in the region.

Syria's foreign ministry condemned the Israeli strikes as "treacherous aggression" and a "dangerous escalation," accusing Israel of a deliberate policy to inflame tensions and undermine security.

The intense violence in Sweida led to hundreds of deaths, with the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reporting at least 203 fatalities, including members of the Druze minority, security personnel, and Bedouins.

The conflict also caused significant humanitarian impact, displacing over 87,000 people in Sweida province and severely damaging infrastructure, leading to shortages of electricity, water, and telecommunications.

Multiple ceasefires were announced, including one by the Syrian defense minister and another later brokered under the sponsorship of guarantor states, involving the U.S., Israel, Jordan, and Turkey.

Despite these calls for calm, clashes continued in Sweida, prompting Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa to urge Sunni Muslim Bedouin tribes to "fully commit" to the ceasefire.

The Syrian interior ministry spokesperson maintains the clashes are not sectarian but rather a conflict between the state and "bandits and criminals," viewing the Druze community as a partner in national unity.

In February, Pam Bondi released "declassified" Epstein records that were mostly previously leaked, sparking backlash from observers who realized they contained no new names or revelations.

Bondi subsequently claimed the FBI failed to disclose "thousands of pages of documents" and publicly stated an Epstein client list was "sitting on my desk".

On July 7, the Justice Department released a memo affirming Epstein's suicide and stating no "client list" existed, which infuriated Trump's base and led to scrutiny over missing footage from Epstein’s jail cell.

This memo caused a "major clash" between Attorney General Bondi and FBI officials Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, with reports suggesting Bongino might resign.

President Trump repeatedly defended Bondi, calling her work a "FANTASTIC JOB" and publicly stating he did not understand interest in the "pretty boring stuff" of the Epstein case.

On July 18, Trump asked Bondi to seek release of "any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony" around the Epstein investigation, referring to the situation as a "SCAM".

Bondi promptly confirmed that her office was "ready to move the court tomorrow to unseal the grand jury transcripts" in response to Trump's request.

Trump's new directive came amidst growing pressure from his own base for more transparency and a Wall Street Journal report detailing a birthday letter to Epstein bearing Trump's name.

Prior to joining the Trump administration, Kash Patel and Dan Bongino had actively pushed for the public release of Epstein files and promoted related conspiracy theories.

In a move seen as currying favor with the far-right, Bondi dropped charges against a plastic surgeon and fired several prosecutors involved in federal criminal cases against Trump.