German Chancellor Scholz expressed confidence that EU countries will agree in January on 50 billion euros of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine.

However, when he spoke about confidence, he hesitated.

"I'm quite... confident that we will actually reach an agreement in January. It's well prepared."

#BREAKING Israel admits it killed three Israeli hostages in Gaza.

IDF Spokesman Hagari says during battles in Shejaiya, Israeli troops identified three Israeli hostages as a threat and opened fire at them, killing them.

New Hamas clash footage from Khan Yunis, southern Gaza.

Hamas forces seized IDF military equipment in Gaza.

Al Jazeera says its cameraman Samer Abu Dakka was killed during the recent coverage in Gaza in an Israeli airstrike.

New Hamas clash footage from northern Gaza.

Yemen's Houthis hit a vessel with a ballistic missile in a first

In a first, Houthis hit Liberian flagged MV PALATIUM 3 container ship with a ballistic missile while it was transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

This is reportedly “the first operational instance of a vessel being struck by a ballistic missile at sea” and “potentially the first successful anti-ship ballistic raid.”

Houthis actually fired two ballistic missile towards another vessel, but it missed.

MV PALATIUM 3 broadcasted a mayday call and reported that the vessel was on fire. U.S. Navy’s USS MASON has responded to that request.

IDF use attack dogs in Gaza tunnels, one was killed by Hamas forces.

Iranian Navy footage of what it claims is the "expulsion" of a US Navy carrier strike group led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower from the Persian Gulf.

Houthis in Yemen enjoy the smoke rising from the cargo ship they attacked.

Western officials warn Ukraine is ‘certain to fail’ against Russia if US doesn’t provide more aid, CNN reports.

“There is no guarantee of success with us, but they are certain to fail without us,” a senior US military official said.

The most immediate concern is the impact on Ukraine’s ongoing counteroffensive in the east and south, where Ukrainian forces have struggled to make significant forward progress even when US support was still coming.

“If looking at taking and holding further territory,” said one European diplomat, “it is hard to see how that could succeed without continued US support.”

A Russian victory would not only be terrible news for Ukraine, but also a disaster for European security as a whole, as well as a serious blow for the United States, CNN notes.

Ukrainian forces are already rationing ammunition, US and Ukrainian officials told CNN, as Russian forces fire back at a ratio of five to seven times greater than Ukrainian forces are able to.

A senior Ukrainian military official told CNN that Ukrainian commanders believe the impact on their firepower has led to additional Ukrainian casualties.

“I don’t think people fully realize what Ukraine’s fall would actually mean,” said a European diplomat.

“We would see horrible things: ethnic cleansing and total destruction of Ukraine. Remember what they did in Bucha. So, it is already success if we can prevent that from happening. And that is why we must carry on.”

French President Emmanuel Macron says he is ready to resume dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin:

If President Putin has serious proposals and is ready to resume dialogue that will achieve a peaceful settlement in compliance with international law, France will always be a power that will provide support and will not spare its efforts to achieve a result.

My phone number has not changed.

Ukraine plans a new counteroffensive in 2024, Germany's Welt reports.

- The U.S. received a wish list from Ukraine, which includes Black Hawk and Apache attack helicopters, F-16 and F-18 fighter jets, missile complexes, Abrams tanks, UAVs and ammunition.

- Ukraine can count on 95% of all weapons systems supplied from the West, as they have not yet been used at the front.

- In the south, the Armed Forces hold a bridgehead on the Left Bank of the Dnieper and continue to expand it. From here it is only 60 km to Crimea. Crimea is a weak point of the Russians.

- The bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnieper can become a starting point. Having fighter jets, helicopters and drones, Ukraine could support the offensive, especially since there are practically no Russian fortifications here.

- Zaluzhny was not a supporter of the start of the summer offensive. A quick breakthrough was impossible and a change of strategy was a smart move, important time was gained.

Taliban announce the training of 22 army aviation pilots and flight engineers who will fly refurbished Soviet- and Russian-made Mi-24/35P and Mi-8/17 helicopters.

Meanwhile in Sudan.

The pilot of this Sudanese Air Force attack helicopter has nerves of steel to circle so low over multiple enemy targets.

You can hear anti-aircraft fire from the Rapid Support Forces militia.

DRDO (India) successfully demonstrated flight testing of the SWiFT (Stealth Wing Flying Testbed) high-speed, tail-less UAV in a flying wing configuration.

Argentina to transfer two of its Mi-171E helicopters to Ukraine after Zelensky's visit.

Iran says an agent of Israel's Mossad intelligence service was executed in Iran's southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province.

“Hungary opposes Ukraine”: Belgian De Standaard and a version of the new EU flag with "Z".

Extensive footage Burkina Faso Air Force Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs hunting large groups of terrorist and insurgent targets.