China planned to send 92 Wing Loong armed UAVs worth $1 billion to Libya's Haftar via a UK-based shell company, bypassing an international arms ban.

The drones, disguised as COVID-19 aid, were to be exchanged for discounted Libyan crude oil.

Source: The Telegraph

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani:

I received an official invitation from Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to visit the Kingdom.

I am honored to represent my country on this first official visit and look forward to building strategic relations with our Saudi brothers in all fields.

The United States also sent $3.4 billion in additional direct budget assistance to Ukraine, the US Treasury Secretary announced.

Washington is exploring various forms of temporary sanctions relief to provide aid to Syria.

Source: WSJ

The Kuwaiti Foreign Minister accompanied by the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council has arrived in Damascus to meet with the Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa.

Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange, exchanging 150 captives from each side with the mediation of the UAE.

Even if Israel enters into a deal with Hamas, it will return to fighting afterwards to complete the war goals it set in Gaza, Netanyahu won't accept a reality in which Hamas has any presence in Gaza.

Source: Sky News Arabia

The first aid plane from Qatar to Syria has arrived at Damascus International Airport.

Zelensky announced that 189 Ukrainian prisoners returned to Ukraine with the prisoner exchange.

The UN is concerned again.

UN Assistant Secretary-General says that attacks in Israel, Yemen and the Red Sea are a source of great concern.

UN calls both parties to respect international law.

Syrian Journalist Mohammed Al-Faisal has been appointed spokesperson for the Syrian interim government.

Ukrainian flag raised over Ukraine's Consulate in Damascus, Syria today with the attendance of Ukrainian FM Andrii Sybiha.

Artillery shell explodes 100 meters away, with shrapnel narrowly missing Ukrainian soldiers by a meter.

Saudi trucks loaded with cement and steel cross the border into Syria, delivering aid and tools for reconstruction.

Russian FPV drone with autopilot & target guidance hits Ukrainian BvS 10 Viking all-terrain vehicle.

Russian hackers hacked Ukrainian TV, publishing a warning about Oreshnik missile launches on Ukrainian cities.

Ukrainian USV carrying FPV drones and equipped with electronic warfare (EW) systems was destroyed near Tarkhankut Cape in western Crimea.

Recent footage showed these boats being used to strike Russian gas platforms in the Black Sea.

Iranian President Pezeshkian:

After discussing energy issues with the Leader (Khamenei) I noticed half the lights in his office were turned off during our next meeting.

Energy savings can improve people’s livelihoods.

Iran’s state TV insults Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Erdogan, calling them “bastard” and “dishonorable” during an official ceremony in Ardabil, attended by Iranian government officials.

The event, honoring “Resistance Front” martyrs, aired on Iran’s national Khabar network.

China hacked U.S. Treasury Department.

The breach, first flagged on December 8 by software provider BeyondTrust, involved Chinese state-sponsored hackers accessing federal employees’ workstations and unclassified documents using a stolen security key.

This incident follows a major breach by Chinese group Salt Typhoon, which reportedly infiltrated U.S. telecom networks, compromising communications of high-profile figures.

Source: NYT