Turkish President Erdogan:

Türkiye remains the only country to fully halt trade with Israel.

Just as we were proven right on Syria, history will affirm our stance on the Gaza crisis.

NEW: French and German Foreign Ministers meet Syrian Leader Ahmad al-Sharaa at the People’s Palace in Damascus.

After 13 years of exile, Syrian Sheikh Nabulsi resumes teaching at his mosque in Damascus’s Al-Salihiyah neighborhood.

Israel Hayom reports Yemen's Houthis rejected a U.S. proposal to negotiate and halt attacks on Israel, opting instead to escalate confrontations.

German and French Foreign Ministers visiting Assad’s notorious Sednaya Prison in Syria today.

Former Ukrainian FM Kuleba:

Today Ukraine is in the strongest position ever in its history. For the first time, we are united in our attitude towards Russia.

So in this generation, we have no right to lose this struggle.

Pentagon says U.S. Army has no plans to build a base in Ayn al-Arab, Syria.

NEW: Several Turkish F-16 fighter jets conducted airstrikes near the Tishrin Dam in northeast of Aleppo, targeting PKK/YPG/SDF terror group.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani:

I will represent Syria this week in official visits to brotherly countries of Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan.

These visits aim to promote stability, security, economic recovery, and foster strong partnerships.

Apple finally admits: Apple will pay $95 million to settle a five-year class action lawsuit accusing its Siri virtual assistant of recording users without consent.

The suit claims Siri accidentally activated, capturing private conversations later shared with advertisers.

Eligible users could receive up to $20 for each Siri-enabled device they owned during this period. However, the actual payout may vary based on the total number of claims filed.

Biden administration informs Congress of an $8 billion arms deal with Israel.

The package includes:

— AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM Missiles

— 155mm Artillery Shells

— Hellfire AGM-114 Missiles

— Small Diameter Bombs & JDAM Kits

— 500-lb Warheads & Bomb Fuzes.

To begin the process of integrating the factions into the Ministry of Defence, the Syrian Ministry of Defence began holding organisational meetings with military leaders.

Source: Levant 24

There is a covert alliance between China and Yemen's Houthis, indicating Beijing’s role in supplying advanced weaponry to the Iran-backed group.

According to U.S. intelligence, the Houthis have been using Chinese-made weapons, such as drones, anti-ship missiles, and precision-guided munitions, in their operations along the Red Sea.

In return, the Houthis reportedly grant safe passage to Chinese vessels through these crucial maritime routes.

Source: i24News

European nations are boosting defense spending amid reduced U.S. support.

The EU plans a €500 billion fund backed by sovereign bonds and more defense-focused budget allocations.

NATO is considering raising spending targets from 2% to 3% of GDP, still below the 5% sought by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Europe’s defense sector has grown, with funding favoring state-owned and specialized manufacturers.

Under the EU’s €500 million ammunition production initiative, Germany’s Rheinmetall received 20%, the UK’s Chemring 13%, and Thales 2%.

While Poland leads with 4% of GDP for defense, aiming for 4.7% by 2025, others lag behind—Spain contributes 1.3%, and the UK’s 2025 goal of 2.5% falls short of its internal target of 3.6%.

Source: FT

PKK/YPG/SDF targets hit by Turkish F-16 jets last night in Deyr Hafir, east of Manbij.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock:

Europe will not fund the Islamization of Syria.

During my visit, I saw a deeply divided society. While there’s hope for freedom, it could vanish for women and religious or ethnic minorities.

They assured me of their commitment to women’s participation in governance, but we will judge them by their actions, not words.

The first batch of French Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets will be delivered to Ukraine by January 20, reports Avions Legendaires.

The batch will likely consist of 3 to 6 aircraft, expected to replace Ukraine’s Su-24 fleet.