Iran is facing a severe winter energy crisis which prompted President Pezeshkian to order widespread closures of schools, universities, and government offices.

Despite possessing vast natural gas reserves, Iran faces a critical energy shortage at home while having diverted tens of billions to support the Assad regime in Syria in the past.

HTS rejects the dividing of Syria and the principle of federalism and areas under Kurdish forces control will be added to new administration, Al Arabiya reported.

Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg will visit Kyiv and key European capitals like Paris and Rome in early January.

The meetings are expected to focus on "fact-finding", rather than on active negotiations.

Source: Reuters

The ceasefire between Türkiye and the US-backed PKK/YPG forces in Northern Syria has been extended to the end of this week, US State Department announced.

Netanyahu on Israeli occupied Syria’s Mount Hermon:

“We will remain in this important position until an alternative arrangement ensures Israel’s security.”

Putin reportedly paid Kim Jong Un up to $6 billion for weapons and North Korean soldiers, according to The New York Times.

The Hankuk Institute in Seoul estimates Pyongyang’s arms shipments were worth $1.72–$5.5 billion, partially paid in cash and the rest in oil and food.

For deploying 5,000–20,000 troops, North Korea could have earned $143–$572 million.

With 11,000 soldiers reportedly in Russia’s Kursk region, Pyongyang may have received about $315 million.

The name of the Khomeini Mosque in Sayyida Zaynab, Damascus, has been changed to Sayyida Aisha Mosque.

Sudan’s Army advances against RSF, capturing Al-Sharif Mukhtar village and moving within 35 km of Wad Madani, while RSF pushes through Gezira.

Türkiye Secures Historic Naval Contract with Portugal

STM, Türkiye’s leading naval defense company, has won a contract to build two Auxiliary Oiler Replenisher and Logistics Ships (AOR+) for the Portuguese Navy, marking Türkiye’s first naval export to an EU and NATO member state.

The project will see the ships designed and built in Türkiye, with construction starting in 2025.

The 137-meter-long vessels, with a displacement of 11,000 tonnes, are designed for multi-role operations, including:

• Replenishment at sea, transporting armored vehicles, and joint amphibious missions.
• Supporting humanitarian aid, search and rescue, and medical missions.
• Equipped with advanced systems like close-in weapon systems, UAV capabilities, and sensors for air defense.

Russia FSB announce the arrest of a 29-year-old Uzbek citizen accused of assassinating Head of Russia’s Radiation, Chemical, and Biological Defense Forces Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillo, and his aide Ilya Polikarpov.

The suspect admitted during questioning that he was recruited by Ukrainian intelligence.

He received a homemade explosive device, which he planted on an e-scooter near Kirillov’s residence.

Using a rented car with a surveillance camera, he streamed live footage to the attack organizers in Dnipro. Once Kirillov exited the building, the device was detonated remotely.

The suspect was promised $100,000 and relocation to a European country for carrying out the attack.

NEW: Türkiye has begun building a space rocket-launching facility in Somalia to advance its rocket testing program and boost Somalia’s economy.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud highlighted Somalia’s strategic location on the Indian Ocean, ideal for minimizing debris risks.

“The project will help generate jobs and revenue for the nation. Hosting a launchpad for Turkish satellites is even more significant than the billions of dollars and opportunities it will generate.”

Source: Bloomberg

The first civilian plane has departed from Damascus International Airport to Aleppo Airport after the fall of the Assad regime.

Source: Levant 24

“I came to Moscow on a mission from Ukrainian intelligence,” states the Uzbek citizen during an interrogation, as shown by Russian media.

He is accused of orchestrating the attack that killed General Kirillov.

Pure chaos: Russian soldier, holding a holy icon and draped in a white sheet, surrenders to Ukrainian drone, but is then targeted by Russian artillery.

Ukrainian forces use Polish-supplied KTO Rosomak IFV to fire airburst munitions from its 30mm Mk44 Bushmaster II gun on Russian positions.