OT subject but worth a main-stream read- OT News Feeds...

lousubcap

Saturday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine unveiled a new domestically produced “rocket drone” called Peklo (Hell in Ukrainian) saying it can fly 700km (430 miles) – more than twice the longest range attributed to missiles supplied by Western allies.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a broadcast interview that his country’s recent use of a hypersonic missile in the Ukraine war sought to make the West understand that Moscow was ready to use “any means” to stave off defeat.

Zelenskyy is set to travel to Paris this weekend for the reopening of the Notre Dame cathedral, where he hopes to meet with the US president-elect Donald Trump.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in an interview published on Saturday that he believed he and Trump would be able to develop a “joint strategy” for Ukraine."

lousubcap

Sunday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Ukraine’s air force said its air defence units shot down 28 of 74 drones launched by Russia overnight targeting Ukraine. In a statement on Telegram, it also said 46 of the Russian drones were “lost”, likely neutralised by electronic warfare.

Russia’s Ministry of Defence said on Telegram that its air defence destroyed 46 Ukrainian drones overnight over five Russian regions.

United States President-elect Donald Trump said Zelenskyy was keen for a deal to end the war with Russia after the pair met in Paris in a meeting hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that there should be an immediate ceasefire to be followed by negotiations.

Zelenskyy said he had “a good and productive” meeting with Trump and  Macron in Paris, and added, “We all want this war to end as soon as possible and in a just way. We spoke about our people, the situation on the ground, and a just peace.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced that the Biden administration will provide $988m in additional military aid to Ukraine. The package is separate from the $725m in military assistance announced on December 2. "

lousubcap

Sunday and good bye to Assad-From Syria:

"Syria’s ousted President Bashar al-Assad and his family have arrived in Russia after being granted asylum by Russian authorities, Russian news agencies reported, citing a Kremlin source.

Russia has granted the family asylum on “humanitarian grounds”, the Interfax, TASS and Ria Novosti news agencies reported on Sunday, quoting the unnamed source.

Al-Assad’s whereabouts were unknown after armed opposition fighters captured Damascus in the early hours of Sunday morning, declaring that his government had been toppled. The advance came less than two weeks into the opposition’s lightning offensive.

“Right now we see that a number of sources, including the BBC’s Russian service, for instance, have reported that al-Assad could possibly have been evacuated by a Russian plane from a Russian air base in Latakia, Syria that took off several hours ago with its transponders turned off,” Al Jazeera’s Yulia Shapovalova said from Russia’s capital Moscow.

Speaking at the White House, US President Joe Biden stated that he was not sure where al-Assad was, but that “there is word he is in Moscow”.

“The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice. It’s a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria to build a better future for their proud country,” Biden also said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry had said earlier on Sunday that al-Assad had resigned and left Syria.

Crowds ransacked the deposed leader’s opulent home after the opposition forces declared he had fled.

Residents in the capital were seen cheering in the streets shortly after rebel factions declared “the city of Damascus free”.

Meanwhile, Russian news agencies also reported that Syrian opposition leaders have guaranteed the safety of Russian military bases and diplomatic missions inside Syria.

“Russian officials are in contact with representatives of the armed Syrian opposition, whose leaders have guaranteed the safety of Russian military bases and diplomatic institutions on the territory of Syria,” TASS reported, citing a Kremlin source.

That is despite Russia having been an active participant in Syria’s war, supporting al-Assad and carrying out repeated bombing raids on opposition areas, resulting in the deaths of civilians. Russian support reversed the tide of the war in 2015, when opposition fighters were threatening Damascus. Instead, al-Assad was able to push the opposition to enclaves in the north of the country, until the rapid rebel advance that began in late November.

The events of Sunday came after 13 years of war, which also put an end to more than half a century of the al-Assad family’s rule."

lousubcap

Monday Syria update:

The head of the Syrian opposition abroad yesterday said that the country should have an 18-month transition period to establish “a safe, neutral, and quiet environment” for free elections. Andrew Mills reports for Reuters.

Syrian rebel leaders “have guaranteed security to the Russian military bases and diplomatic establishments in Syria,” Russian state media said yesterday. BBC News reports.

Israeli ground forces overtly crossed into Syria over the weekend and advanced beyond the demilitarized zone, two Israeli officials said, adding that the deployment was temporary. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday said he ordered troops to “take over the buffer zone” to ensure “no hostile force embeds itself” next to Israel. Ronen Bergman, Aaron Boxerman, Matthew Mpoke Bigg, and Ephrat Livni report for the New York Times; Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

Israel conducted three airstrikes targeting a security complex and a government research center in Damascus yesterday, according to regional sources. Suleiman Al-Khalidi reports for Reuters.

President Biden yesterday called the collapse of Assad’s government a “fundamental act of justice,” crediting the United States and its allies for “shifting the balance of power in the Middle East” by weakening Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah. Will Weissert reports for AP News.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken yesterday said the United States “strongly supports a peaceful transition of power to an accountable Syrian government” as well as “international efforts to hold the Assad regime and its backers accountable.” Edward Wong reports for the New York Times.

The United States is working with several Middle Eastern countries to secure chemical weapons possessed by the Assad regime and is in contact “with all Syrian groups,” a U.S. official said yesterday. Barak Ravid reports for Axios. 

The United States struck dozens of self-styled Islamic State group camps and leaders in central Syria yesterday and “will not allow ISIS to reconstitute,” U.S. Central Command said in a statement. Eve Sampson reports for the New York Times.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian yesterday said the Syrian people must decide “the future of their country and its political and governmental system,” according to state media reports. Farnaz Fassihi reports for the New York Times.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz today said Israel will “destroy heavy strategic weapons throughout Syria,” with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar adding Israel has no interest in interfering with internal Syrian affairs and will maintain a “very limited and temporary” troop presence on the ground. Maayan Lubell reports for Reuters. 

Iran has opened a direct line of communication with the Syrian rebels to prevent a “hostile trajectory” between the countries, a senior Iranian official said today. Parisa Hafezi reports for Reuters."

lousubcap

Monday Israel-Hamas update:

"At least 24 Hamas operatives were employed at schools run by the U.N. aid agency for Palestinians (UNRWA), according to internal Hamas documents Israel shared with the New York Times. UNRWA said it was acting on the information but lacked the resources to independently investigate. Jo Becker and Adam Rasgon report for the New York Times.

Qatar is considering asking senior U.S., Israeli, and Egyptian intelligence figures to travel to Doha to negotiate the final stages of a Gaza ceasefire deal, according to Qatar’s foreign ministry. Patrick Wintour reports for the Guardian."

lousubcap

Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

"France’s Macron, President-elect Trump, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Paris for three-way talks on Saturday. Following the meeting, Trump called for an “immediate ceasefire” in Ukraine, claiming Kyiv “would like to make a deal” to end the war. Sylvie Corbet, Adriana Gomez Licon, and Jill Colvin report for AP News; Shaun Walker reports for the Guardian. 

The United States will provide nearly an additional  $1 billion in long-term weapons support to Ukraine, Secretary Austin has said. Tara Copp reports for AP News.

Russian air defence units destroyed 13 Ukrainian drones over three western Russia regions, the Russian Defence Ministry said on the Telegram messaging app.

Ukraine’s air force said the country’s air defence shot down two missiles and 18 drones launched by Russia overnight.

United States President-elect Donald Trump has called for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to end “the madness”, prompting Zelenskyy and the Kremlin to list their conditions.

The Kremlin said Russia was open to talks on Ukraine after Trump’s call for a ceasefire. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said negotiations had to be based on agreements reached in Istanbul in 2022 and on the current battlefield realities.

Zelenskyy said the war with Russia cannot be ended with a piece of paper and a few signatures, adding that a ceasefire without guarantees can be broken at any time.

Zelenskyy said he told Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron during their talks in Paris that Kyiv needs an “enduring peace” that Moscow would not “destroy in a few years”.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry says the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad underscores Russia’s weakness and inability to fight on two fronts."

lousubcap

Tuesday Syria update:

"Israel said it has destroyed chemical and other weapons caches in Syria and seized areas along the countries’ shared border, including a demilitarized buffer zone. The U.N. said yesterday that Israel’s presence in the buffer zone violates the 1974 Agreement. Meanwhile, a Syrian security source says the Israeli military has reached about 16 miles southwest of Damascus, though Israel denies its forces are advancing beyond the buffer zone. Anat Peled, Carrie Keller-Lynn, and Dov Lieber report for the Wall Street Journal; Richard Roth reports; Maya Gebeily and Michelle Nichols report. 

Iran urged the U.N. Security Council to respond to Israeli attacks in Syria and the expansion of its occupation in the Golan Heights. Irene Nasser reports for CNN.

Qatari diplomats yesterday spoke with the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel faction and will today speak with its leader, a day after he was appointed to lead Syria’s transitional administration, a source told Reuters. Andrew Mills reports. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday said his country had “reshaped the Middle East,” claiming the “blows” Israel dealt to Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iran had triggered the events that led to the Assad regime’s downfall. The Washington Post reports.

Meanwhile, Israel has confirmed it has attacked Syria's naval fleet and hastroops operating within Syria, beyond the demilitarized buffer zone around the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The UN's envoy has called for an end to the action, which Tel Aviv says aims to prevent any future threat to Israel."

lousubcap

Tuesday Israel -Hamas update: (pretty quiet)

"Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks are quietly advancing behind the scenes following the Israel-Hezbollah truce and pressure from Trump, sources say. Meanwhile, Israel’s foreign minister said his country is more optimistic about a possible hostage deal, amid reports that Hamas had requested lists of all hostages still held by militant groups in Gaza. Adam Rasgon, Aaron Boxerman, and Ronen Bergman report for the New York Times; James Mackenzie and Nidal Al-Mughrabi report for Reuters."

lousubcap

Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"At a joint news conference with German opposition leader Friedrich Merz, President Zelenskyy made the case for a diplomatic settlement to the war and raised the idea of foreign troops being deployed in Ukraine until it could join the NATO military alliance.

Merz, a frontrunner in the race to become Germany’s next chancellor, condemned his country’s policy on arming Ukraine as akin to making it fight with one arm tied behind its back.

Ukraine aims to hold a meeting of its key European allies in December to coordinate a joint position and ensure Kyiv is in a strong position for any potential talks and on the battlefield, a presidential spokesman said.

Ukraine will soon get another 4.2 billion euros ($4.4bn) in funds after the European Union’s member states approved the planned payment of the money, the EU Council announced."

lousubcap

Wednesday Syria update:

"The prime minister of Syria’s new transitional government said yesterday it is time for people to “enjoy stability and calm” following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Mohammed al-Bashir chaired a meeting in Damascus yesterday attended by members of his new government and Assad’s former cabinet to discuss the transfer of power. David Gritten reports for BBC News.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today said that the overthrow of Assad was “mainly planned in the command rooms of America and Israel.” Reuters reports.

Israel yesterday said it had conducted around 480 strikes across Syria over the past two days, hitting most of Syria’s strategic weapons stockpiles, and attacking Syria’s naval fleet. Mick Krever reports for CNN; Jacqueline Howard reports for BBC News.

Israel’s ambassador to the U.N. said Israel does not intend to stay in Syria permanently, but “will not allow the Iranians” to return to their borders. Andrea Mitchell reports for NBC News.

The United States would “recognize and fully support” a future Syrian government that results from “an inclusive and transparent [transition] process,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said yesterday. 

The United States is working with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a key partner in the ongoing fight against the self-styled Islamic State, as the group faces attacks from Turkey-backed fighters, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. An SDF commander yesterday said the troops had agreed to withdraw from a Kurdish-controlled city in northern Syria after reaching a U.S.-mediated ceasefire. Jessie Yeung reports for CNN."

Edit to add the following regarding the Russian Navy and its base in Tartus:

Satellite Photos Show Russian Navy Exodus From Syria, Syrian Missile 

December 10, 2024 5:44 PM

Russian Navy warships off the coast of Syria on Dec. 10, 2024. Satellite image ©2024 Maxar Technologies used with permission

New satellite photos from the Tartus naval base on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea show Russian Navy ships anchored off the coast of Syria after abandoning Moscow’s only overseas naval base. Photos also show the destruction of Syrian Navy missile boats at the in Latakia.

According to photos from satellite provider Maxar, three Russian Navy guided-missile frigates and at least two support ships were in port in Tartus on Dec. 5. On Tuesday, those ships had left port and at least two of the Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates were operating off the coat of Syria. The base had been home to two Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates, an Admiral Grigorivich-class frigate and an improved Kilo-class attack boat, according to Naval News.

The departure of the ships is part of an overall Russian withdrawal from Syria following the toppling of the Bashar al-Assad regime by Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham – a group that evolved from al Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate."

lousubcap

Wednesday Middle East (- Syria) update:

Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least 29 people overnight and into today, including one that hit a home sheltering displaced people in the north, Palestinian medical officials say. Samy Magdy and Wafaa Shurafa report for AP News.

Dozens of wounded patients in hospitals in north Gaza are at risk of dying because of a lack of food and water, local health authorities say. Ephrat Livni reports for the New York Times. 

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is expected to travel to Israel, Egypt, and Qatar this week in a final attempt to reach a hostage-release and ceasefire deal before President-elect Trump’s inauguration, sources told Axios. Barak Ravid reports.

"And the Houthis:

U.S. destroyers USS Stockdale (DDG-106) and USS O’Kane (DDG-77) shot down a number of Houthi weapons in the Gulf of Aden between Monday and Tuesday, according to US Central Command.

The two destroyers, part of the four destroyers the U.S. currently has in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, were escorting three U.S.-owned, operated and flagged merchant vessels when the Houthis launched weapons at the ship. The Central Command post on social media site X did not name the merchant ships."

lousubcap

Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said a kamikaze drone severely damaged one of its vehicles while it was being driven by officials monitoring Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said no staff were injured but that the attack on teams working to prevent a nuclear accident during the military conflict was “unacceptable”.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, arrived in Beijing on a two-day visit for talks with Chinese leaders, Russian news agencies reported.

The United States Treasury said it disbursed a $20bn loan for Ukraine backed by the proceeds of frozen Russian assets, as part of a $50bn G7 support package announced in October.

The US State Department approved the potential sale to Ukraine of F-16 sustainment services and related equipment for $266.4m, the Pentagon said. The principal contractors will be Sabena, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Pratt and Whitney, according to the Pentagon."

lousubcap

Thursday Syria update:

"The leader of Syria’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group yesterday told Reuters he would dissolve the Assad regime’s security forces and close its prisons, adding that the rebel forces are working with international organizations to secure chemical weapons sites. Maya Gebeily and Timour Azhari report.

Syria’s former ruling party yesterday said it is suspending its work and activities until further notice and that all of its property, funds, and weapons will be handed to Syrian government bodies. Kareem El Damanhoury reports for CNN.

HTS fighters yesterday claimed they took control of Deir al-Zour, an eastern Syrian city previously controlled by the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Separately, SDF and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) said they reached an agreement for the SDF to withdraw from the city of Manbij following a U.S.-brokered ceasefire effort. Leo Sands reports for the Washington Post.

Russian naval and commercial activity in the Syrian port of Tartarus has ceased since the fall of the Assad regime, satellite imagery and ship tracking data shows. Christiaan Triebert and Riley Mellen report for the New York Times.

Recent Israeli strikes have targeted more than 15 military aircraft at Syria’s Marj Ruhayyil Airbase, satellite imagery shows. The IDF also said it has confiscated several Syrian tanks along the buffer zone and seized a weapons cache at a Syrian observation post. Avery Schmitz reports for CNN. 

HTS received 150 drones and other support from Ukrainian intelligence operatives to help with its assault against Assad, according to sources familiar with Ukrainian military activities. David Ignatius reports for the Washington Post.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken yesterday travelled to Jordan and Turkey to promote a “Syrian-led transition” in Damascus, the State Department said. Separately, Blinken said he is “not confident” the HTS will keep their word about protecting minorities in Syria. Michael Birnbaum reports for the Washington Post; Michael Conte reports for CNN."

lousubcap

Thursday Israel-Hamas update:

"Hamas has for the first time agreed to a temporary Israeli presence in Gaza after a ceasefire and handed over a list of hostages it would release, Arab mediators said. Summer Said reports for the Wall Street Journal. 

Israeli overnight strikes killed at least 15 people trying to guard convoys travelling through southern Gaza, the territory’s civil defense service said. Israeli bombings killed at least 35 Palestinians in total today, according to the Palestinian news agency WAFA. Hajar Harb and Claire Parker report for the Washington Post; Nidal Al-Mughrabi reports for Reuters."

lousubcap

Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia could launch its new Oreshnik ballistic missile against Ukraine again soon, the Pentagon said yesterday. Separately, Russia yesterday claimed Ukraine struck a military airfield with U.S.-made ATACMS missiles and said the attack “will not go unanswered.” Aamer Madgani, Lolita C. Baldor, and Tara Copp report for AP News; Reuters reports.

Russian forces are less than two miles from the key eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk after making advances yesterday, according to the Ukrainian mapping service DeepState. Sophie Tanno, Kostyantyn Hak, and Darya Tarasova-Markina report for CNN.

Ukraine’s military general staff says it hit an oil depot in western Russia that fuels a key pipeline for Russian military supplies in an overnight attack that caused a “massive fire” at the facility in the Bryansk region.

Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz acknowledged a production facility had caught fire after a drone attack, but said there were no casualties and that the fire was extinguished.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said a $20bn loan from the US to Ukraine, backed by frozen Russian assets, was “banal theft” that “will not go unanswered”. The loan is part of a $50bn G7 support package announced in October."

lousubcap

More on Russia-Ukraine:

“Analysts say the Kremlin is racing to secure as many territorial gains as possible before President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office next month and starts to push for peace talks with terms that are likely to be shaped by each side’s status on the battlefield,” the Times writes. 

Developing: Hungary’s autocratic leader is trying to sell Russia on a Christmas ceasefire for Ukraine, Reuters reported Thursday from Moscow and Budapest. 

Ukraine’s president was not at all happy with Viktor Orban’s plan, writingWednesday on social media, “There can be no discussions about the war that Russia wages against Ukraine without Ukraine…I am grateful to [Donald Trump] and many European leaders with whom we are already working to find the right and strong solutions for real peace,” he added. "

lousubcap

Any news updates from me today will be much later as I am traveling.  

lousubcap

Friday Syria update:

"Russia is in direct contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) political committee and aims to maintain two military bases in Syria, the Interfax news agency quoted Moscow’s deputy foreign minister as saying yesterday. Maxim Rodionov reports for Reuters.

HTS yesterday offered to “cooperate directly” with the United States in searching for American journalist Austin Tice, who has been missing since 2012. Ellen Nakashima reports for the Washington Post.

Israel will stay in Syria until an “effective force” that meets Israel’s security demands is established, the government said yesterday. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Israel Katz has instructed Israeli troops to be prepared to stay in the buffer zone through the winter. Aaron Boxerman reports for the New York Times; BBC News reports.

The Iranian government is facing fierce – and extraordinary – public backlash over the resources it spent on propping up the Assad regime. Farnaz Fassihi reports for the New York Times.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken yesterday said his Jordan and Turkey trip aims to unite the region behind a peaceful transition to a new Syrian government. Michael Crowley reports for the New York Times."

lousubcap

Friday Israel-Hamas update:
"Jake Sullivan yesterday said he aims to close a hostage release and ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas “this month.” Isabel Kershner reports for the New York Times. 

An Israeli strike on a post office-turned-shelter in Gaza killed at least 33 people and wounded 50, medics said, bringing yesterday's total death toll to 66. Israel said it targeted a senior Islamic Jihad member. Nidal Al-Mughrabi reports for Reuters.

President-elect Trump did not re-commit to pursuing a two-state solution in the Israel-Palestine conflict in an interview published yesterday, saying there are “numerous ways [peace] can be done.” Barak Ravid reports for Axios."

lousubcap

Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

"The Biden administration yesterday announced another package of weapons aid for Ukraine valued at $500 million. Separately, a senior official said the administration is undertaking a “historic” effort to surge weapons deliveries to Kyiv ahead of Trump’s inauguration. Andrea Shalal and Mike Stone report for Reuters; Jennifer Hansler and Haley Britzky report for CNN.

Russia launched its latest massive aerial attack against Ukraine early today, using missiles to target the country’s energy infrastructure, a day after the U.N. nuclear watchdog's board of governors condemned attacks on Ukraine's energy sector. The Guardian reports; Francois Murphy reports for Reuters.   

Russian President Vladimir Putin backed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s efforts to achieve a Christmas ceasefire in Ukraine and a significant exchange of prisoners of war, the Kremlin said, even though Kyiv scoffed at the idea.

US President-elect Donald Trump said he disagreed “very vehemently” with Ukraine firing US-supplied missiles deep into Russia, but that US support for Kyiv would be key leverage in efforts to bring the war to a close.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he discussed with French President Emmanuel Macron the possibility of stationing foreign troops in Ukraine in case of a ceasefire, but that Warsaw was not currently “planning any such actions”.

Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, said Kyiv was not yet ready to start talks with Russia as it lacked the weapons, security guarantees and international status that it sought.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to “wipe Ukraine off the map” and could come after other parts of Europe next, as he urged Europeans to press their governments to ramp up defence spending.

Ukraine’s path to NATO membership is “irreversible”, seven European foreign policy chiefs said at a meeting in Berlin."

lousubcap

Saturday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia hammered Ukrainian energy facilities in an aerial attack that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as one of the largest yet on the ailing grid and evidence of why Kyiv needed more Western support before any peace with Russia.

Moscow reportedly fired at least 93 missiles that “severely damaged” Ukrainian power plants, the DTEK energy company said.

Ukrainian drones attacked an infrastructure facility storing fuel in central Russia’s Oryol region, sparking a fire and smashing windows in homes, regional governor Andrei Klychkov said.

The Kremlin praised US President-elect Donald Trump for criticising Ukrainian missile strikes into Russian territory. Still, it said discussions about deploying European troops to keep peace in Ukraine were premature.

The United States announced a new $500m package of military aid for Ukraine, as Washington races to bolster Kyiv before Trump takes office.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he discussed with French President Emmanuel Macron the possibility of foreign troops in Ukraine in case of a ceasefire, but that Warsaw was not “planning any such actions”."

lousubcap

Sunday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia has begun using North Korean troops in significant numbers for the first time to conduct assaults on Ukrainian forces battling to hold an enclave in the country’s Kursk region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine’s air defences shot down 58 of 132 Russian drones, the Ukrainian air force said. It said 72 Russian drones were “lost” due to the use of electronic warfare interference tactics. There were no immediate reports of damage.

Russia’s air defence systems destroyed 15 Ukrainian drones overnight, the Ministry of Defence announced. Thirteen of the drones were downed over the Black Sea and one each over the Russian border regions of Kursk and Belgorod, it added."

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Monday Syria update:

'Israel’s government yesterday approved a plan to double the country’s population in the occupied Golan Heights to “thwart potential threats,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, adding that Israel “has no interest in a conflict with Syria.” Emily Atkinson and Jack Burgess report for BBC News.

Israel struck Syria 75 times overnight on Saturday, targeting weapons depots and air defenses, according to a UK-based war monitor, and began striking again this morning. Vivian Yee reports for the New York Times; AP News reports.

Although Israel has “clearly crossed the lines of engagement,” Syria is not interested in opening a new conflict, the head of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel group said on Saturday. Abbie Cheeseman reports for the Washington Post.

The Kremlin today said that no final decisions have been made on Russia’s military bases in Syria. Syrian sources say that Russia is pulling back its military from the Syrian front lines but at present is not leaving its two main bases in the country. The Guardian reports; Tuvan Gumrukcu, Suleiman Al-Khalidi, and Guy Faulconbridge report for Reuters.

Satellite images show Russia moving military equipment at its Syria bases, with Syrian sources reporting Moscow’s military cargo planes are departing toward Libya. Tuvan Gumrukcu reports for Reuters.

Unexploded mines scattered around Syria pose a severe threat to civilians, the HALO Trust nonprofit warned on Saturday. Andrew Jeong and Bryan Pietsch report for the Washington Post.

Several Arab countries today denounced Israel’s plan to double its Golan Heights population, with Turkey describing it as a bid to “expand its borders through occupation.” Howard Goller reports for Reuters; the Guardian reports via AFP. 

Israel and Jordan held secret talks on Friday to coordinate their Syria response, Israeli officials said. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

Hezbollah has lost its supply route through Syria, the group’s head said in his first remarks since the fall of the Assad regime. Maya Gebeily reports for Reuters."

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Monday Israel-Hamas update:

"Israel yesterday announced it will close its embassy in Ireland, citing the Irish government’s support for South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Sophie Tanno and Michael Schwartz report for CNN.

The Biden administration asked Israel to approve U.S. assistance to Palestinian Authority security forces’ operation targeting militants affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and Hamas, Palestinian, U.S., and Israeli officials said. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

Netanyahu yesterday said he discussed “the need to complete Israel’s victory” in a “friendly” Saturday conversation with President-elect Trump. Eugenia Yosef, Sophie Tanno, Nadeen Ebrahim, and Michael Rios report for CNN."

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Monday Russia-Ukraine update:

'Russia has launched 49 drones to attack Ukraine overnight, the Ukrainian military said, adding that its air force shot down 27 of the drones and lost track of 19 others.

Ukraine’s SBU security service said it had launched an operation to destroy 40 railcars carrying fuel to Russian troops in an area of the Zaporizhzhia region, which is now about 70 percent under Russian control.

Ukraine has claimed there are no more Russian vessels patrolling the Black Sea, after Moscow’s naval force in the area has been degraded by Kyiv, said Al Jazeera’s Alex Gatopoulous, who is reporting from Kyiv.

President Vladimir Putin said Russia’s army seized 189 Ukrainian settlements this year and called 2024 a “landmark year in the achievement of the goals of the special military operation”. He was speaking at a meeting of defence officials in Moscow.

At the same meeting on Monday, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov said Russian troops have pushed Ukrainian forces out of almost 4,500 sq km (1,737 sq miles) of territory this year and are advancing 30 sq km (11.5 sq miles) per day. Some 427,000 servicemen signed contracts with the army in 2024, he said."

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Tuesday Syria update:

"The Syrian Presidency’s Telegram account released a statement purportedly from former President Bashar al-Assad yesterday claiming his departure was unplanned and occurred at Moscow’s request. Nadeen Ebrahim and Lauren Kent report for CNN.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) leader Ahmed al-Shara yesterday said that Syria’s rebel factions will be “disbanded,” with “the fighters trained to join the ranks of the defence ministry.” Separately, the northeastern Kurdish-led administration called for unity with the rebel-led government and an end to all military operations. France24 reports; Euan Ward reports for the New York Times.

Turkey and allied militias are building up forces along the Syrian border, raising concerns about a potential incursion into SDF-held territory, senior U.S. officials said. Lara Seligman and Alexander Ward report for the Wall Street Journal.

Russia has begun a large-scale withdrawal of military equipment and troops from Syria moving them to Libya, according to U.S. and western officials. Natasha Bertrand and Avery Schmitz report for CNN.

The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) say U.S.-led mediation efforts have failed to secure a permanent truce with the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army. AP News reports.

U.S. airstrikes targeting the self-styled Islamic State’s camps in areas formerly controlled by the Assad regime and Russia killed 12 IS operatives, CENTCOM said yesterday. Eve Sampson reports for the New York Times."

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Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"President-elect Trump yesterday suggested he may reverse President Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to use U.S. weapons to strike deep into Russia. Colleen Long and Aamer Madhani report for AP News.

Pentagon spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder told reporters that a United States assessment found “North Korean soldiers have engaged in combat in Kursk” and the US has “indications that they have suffered casualties, both killed and wounded”.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov referred questions about North Korean casualties to the Russian Ministry of Defence, which did not immediately comment, the Associated Press news agency reported.

Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, told the UN Security Council that a plan to audit US funding for Kyiv by US President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the FBI, Kash Patel, “spells trouble for the Ukrainian leadership”."

lousubcap

Tuesday Israel-Hamas update:

"An Israeli negotiating team is in Doha to discuss the “remaining issues” on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal, an official said. Defense Minister Israel Katz yesterday said Israel and Hamas are the “closest” they have been to a deal since November 2023. Andrew Mills reports for Reuters; Peter Beaumont reports for the Guardian.

Israel will maintain “security control” over Gaza with “full freedom of action” after the end of the war, Katz said in a X post today. Reuters reports."

lousubcap

Wednesday Syria update:

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday said that Israeli troops will remain in Syria “until another arrangement is found that guarantees Israel’s security” while visiting the area over which Israel recently took control. Matthew Mpoke Bigg reports for the New York Times.

A ceasefire between Turkey and the U.S.-backed Syrian Defense Forces (SDF) around the city of Manbij has been extended until the end of this week, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said yesterday. Reuters reports.

The U.N. Special Envoy for Syria yesterday warned that the conflict “has not ended” with Assad’s ouster, highlighting clashes between Turkish-backed and Kurdish groups in the north. France24 reports."

lousubcap

Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Russia today said it detained an Uzbek national over the killing of a senior Russian general and his assistant in Moscow, claiming the suspect was acting on the instructions of Ukraine’s security service. Separately, the Russian foreign ministry today said it will raise the killing during the next U.N. Security Council meeting. Anna Chernova, Christian Edwards, and Edward Szekeres report for CNN; the Guardian reports.

The possible deployment of foreign peacekeeping troops in Ukraine could be raised today during a meeting of European leaders, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Andriy Perun, Yuliia Dysa, Barbara Erling, and Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk report for Reuters.

The Biden administration is unlikely to spend all of the remaining Ukraine military aid funds before the Trump administration begins, a senior Defense Department official said yesterday. Helene Cooper reports for the New York Times.

President-elect Trump’s incoming Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, will travel to Kyiv and several other European capitals in early January, sources say. Gram Slattery reports for Reuters.

NATO has taken over coordinating Western military aid to Ukraine from the United States, a source said yesterday. Sabine Siebold reports for Reuters."