On Monday, September 19, government forces resumed military actions and announced an end to a week-old ceasefire. Syrian air force bombed Aleppo, killing at least 32 people and destroying an aid convoy, while the army started an offensive in and around Damascus. The ceasefire began to broke down after severe tensions during the weekend, when anti-ISIS coalition air force accidentally bombed a Syrian army base in Deir az Zor in Eastern Syria, killing 62 soldiers.

On the sidelines of the 71^st UN General Assembly, Egyptian president Abdel Fatah al-Sisi met with several world leaders, including both major US presidential candidates, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Although both candidates stressed US-Egypt strategic partnership, there were considerable difference in their messages. Clinton reiterated Egypt’s importance in the fight against terrorism, but criticised human rights violations and demanded the release of social activist Aya Hegazy. Trump, on the other hand, failed to mention human rights, praised Sisi’s policies and expressed hopes that Egypt and the US together would eradicate ‘radical Islamic terrorism’.

A package of military aid for Israel worth $38 billion over 10 years was signed on Wednesday, September 14. Though the value of the aid is lower that what Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu expected, it represents a 10% increase compared to the previous agreement. In order to secure increased aid, Israel had to make significant concessions and agreed to phase out a provision that allowed it to finance its native arms industry with US monies as well as to stop lobbying the US Congress for additional funds.

Turkish Justice Ministry formally requested the US to arrest and extradite Fetullah Güllen, state news agency Anadolu has reported on Tuesday. Güllen, an influential Islamic preacher and religious thinker who emigrated in 1999 and settled in Pennsylvania, is accused by the Turkish government of masterminding a failed coup attempt in July. Since then Turkey has tried to have him tried, but the US has avoided any commitments on the issue. US President Barack Obama said any decision would have to be legal one, not political. This stance was reiterated by Vice-president Joe Biden.

On Monday a Syrian army mortar shell hit Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) reacted by striking artillery position on the Syrian side of the border. Syrian air defences attempted to shoot down Israeli planes and the Syrian Defence Ministry even announced that a jet and a drone were destroyed. However, Israelis vehemently rejected these claims, saying that although two S-200 surface-air missiles had been launched, neither posed a real threat to IAF jets.

A ceasefire between government and opposition forces in Syria, excluding ISIS and Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra), came into effect on Monday at sundown. According to initial reports fighting indeed stopped, small violations notwithstanding. AFP correspondents in Aleppo and Damascus, as well as the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that the night passed without significant exchanges of fire. Despite a successful start, opposition groups express scepticism whether the cease will last more that the initial 48 hours, while humanitarian wait for further proof of its durability before resuming aid deliveries.