News in brief

By The Associated Press

Hakeem Jeffries rejects GOP spending bill

WASHINGTON | Calling it “unserious and unacceptable,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries rejected on Monday a proposal from Speaker Mike Johnson that links continued government funding for six months with a measure to require proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

The response frames the spending battle to come over the next weeks as lawmakers work to reach consensus on a short-term spending bill that would prevent a partial government shutdown when the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1. Lawmakers hope to avoid a shutdown just weeks before voters go to the polls.

Syria: Israeli strikes kill 18 in large-scale attack

MASYAF, Syria | Syria’s health minister says the number of people killed in overnight Israeli strikes has risen to 18, with dozens more wounded. It’s the largest death toll in such an attack since the beginning of the war in Gaza 11 months ago.

Israel regularly targets military sites in Syria linked to Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. But the intensity and death toll of Sunday night’s strikes were unusual.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Israel has vowed to stop Iranian entrenchment in Syria, particularly since Syria is a key route for Iran to send weapons to Hezbollah.

—From AP reports