Russian attacks kill 26 civilians in Ukraine as Zelenskyy seeks more Western help

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Officials say Russian drones, missiles and artillery have killed at least 26 civilians and injured more than 200 others in Ukraine. The attacks coincided with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s push for guarantees of further Western military aid for his country. Zelenskyy met Tuesday with Western leaders attending a NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands. He is keen to lock in additional military support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia, as direct peace talks have delivered no progress on a possible settlement. Analysts say key U.S. military commitments to Ukraine left over from the Biden administration are expected to run out within months, and there is uncertainty over whether President Donald Trump will provide more.

Gaza health authorities say Israel kills 44 waiting for aid as war’s death toll passes 56,000

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli forces and drones opened fire toward hundreds of Palestinians waiting for aid in separate incidents in southern and central Gaza early Tuesday, killing at least 44, witnesses and hospitals said, as health authorities announced the number of Palestinians killed in the war has risen above 56,000. The new food distribution sites run by an American contractor, with U.S. and Israeli government support, have been plagued by scenes of violence and chaos since opening last month. Palestinian witnesses and health officials say Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire on crowds heading to the sites for desperately needed food, killing hundreds in recent weeks. The military says it has fired warning shots at people it said approached its forces in a suspicious manner while going to the sites.

Syria says the Islamic State group was behind the deadly attack on a Damascus church

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — The sleeper cell behind a deadly church bombing near Damascus belonged to the Islamic State group, which had plans to target a Shiite shrine in a similar attack, Syria ‘s Interior Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday. Sunday’s attack on the Mar Elias church killed at least 25 people. The attack was the first of its kind in Syria in years, and comes as Damascus under de facto Islamist rule is trying to win the support of the country’s minorities. Noureddine Al-Baba told journalists a second attacker was caught Monday on his way to target a Shiite shrine in the Sayyida Zeinab suburb in Damascus, where many sites of the Islamic sect are located.

NATO chief praises Trump for making Europe ‘pay in a BIG way’ on defense

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is praising U.S. President Donald Trump for making Europe “pay in a BIG way” on defense. Rutte’s message came as leaders gathered in the Netherlands on Tuesday for a two-day summit. It could unite them around a new defense spending pledge or widen divisions. The allies are expected to endorse a goal of spending 5% of their gross domestic product on their security. The aim is to fulfil the alliance’s plans for defending against outside attack. Spain has said it won’t reach the target, and others are doubtful. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but won’t officially sit with NATO’s leaders.