Since December 15th four of the world’s five largest container-shipping companies, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk and MSC, have paused or suspended their services in the Red Sea.

Together these four companies account for 53% of the global container trade.

Smaller container operators, as well as dry-bulk carriers and oil tanker firms, may now follow their lead.

This is the route through which traffic from the Suez Canal must pass.

Revenue from the Suez Canal is a major source of income for Egypt, which is already in the midst of a financial crisis.

Russian Army shot down their own Su-25 aircraft today in another friendly fire incident with Buk-M3 air defence system.

Position of Ukrainian 122mm self-propelled howitzer 2S1 Gvozdika has been fully flooded along with the vehicle itself.

David Azoulai, head of Israel's Metula Council, proposed "sending all Gazans to refugee camps in Lebanon and flattening the whole Strip so it becomes an empty museum like Auschwitz."

France calls for 'immediate and durable' truce in Israel-Gaza war.

France’s foreign minister, Catherine Colonna, arrived in Israel where she pressed for an “immediate and durable” truce in the war with Hamas.

“Too many civilians are being killed,” Colonna said.

Flight footage of Ukrainian long-range kamikaze UAV AQ 400 Scythe.

The cost per unit of UAVs is claimed to be only $15,000.

Reported range: 750 km
Warhead: 32 kg, can be increased up to 70 kg
Speed: 144 km/h

Currently, production is about fifty UAVs per month, but by the end of the second quarter of 2024 it is planned to increase to 500.

4 more IDF soldiers declared killed in Gaza.

Leaders of the European Union are considering the possibility of depriving Hungary of its voting rights in order to conclude an agreement on the allocation of funds to Ukraine, FT reports.

Some officials have considered reactivating the so-called Article 7 punishment procedure for rule of law breaches, which can result in the suspension of voting rights.

It can be blocked by another member state, but a change of government in Poland means Hungary no longer has a guaranteed protector.

Still, multiple countries are nervous about using what is essentially the EU’s biggest weapon against a member state.

“Maybe Hungary can create more trouble,” said a third EU senior official present at the summit.

“Maybe Hungary can force us to use a few different tools. But ultimately Hungary cannot stop us providing money to Ukraine.”

“He’s not Putin’s puppet, as some may think,” the official added.

“And many do.”

Meanwhile on Israeli TV...

Israeli Journalist Shimon Riklin:

I am for war crimes, I don't care if I'm criticised, I am unable to sleep without watching homes in Gaza being destroyed, more houses, more buildings, I don't want them to have anything to go back to.

Israeli hackers reportedly carried out a cyber attack on a number of gas stations in Iran.

Over the past hour, there have been reports of problems with fuel supplies in Tehran, as well as damage to the entire payment system at gas stations.

Approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Dec. 11, 2023.

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar asked Russian President Putin to consider the issue of direct relations between Russia and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

“I would like to express my heartfelt feelings to the Russians who live in Northern Cyprus. We want our relations with Russia to develop and expand, so I express my gratitude to all Russians, and also ask the Russian authorities and President Putin personally to consider the issue of relations with Northern Cyprus.”

Very rare footage of the combat use of Israeli Maoz (Spike Firefly) kamikaze UAV, specially designed for urban combat used during an operation in the occupied West Bank.

Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Güler to Greece:

Only having F-35s does not pose any threat to Türkiye’s 85 million people. The main thing is to have a deterrent force. We really want to establish good neighborly relations with Greece.

The terrorist organization PKK, which has run out of mobility in the field with successive Turkish Army operations, claims Turkish Armed Forces attacked them with a “nuclear bomb”.

Israel plans new ground war against Hezbollah, The Times reports.

Israel’s military has drawn up plans to invade southern Lebanon, risking a further escalation in the war in the Middle East and in the face of calls for restraint from its western allies.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) says it wants to drive Hezbollah forces in the southern Lebanon north to the Litani River, a line of symbolic importance for both sides.

Hamas to IDF:

You arrived late.
The mission had been completed.

EU opens case against Twitter/X for “failing to counter illegal content and misinformation, breaching transparency obligations and deceptive design.”

#BREAKING British Petroleum (BP) pause all oil tanker shipments through Red Sea following Houthi attacks.

Israeli UCAV strike targeted Hezbollah funeral in Aita Al-Shaab, hitting the roof of a nearby house.

Hamas released footage of their ATGM strike on an IDF vehicle in Beit Lahia, Gaza.