Trump:

I heard that number today, half of Gaza would leave. I've always said it. I said if they were given the opportunity to live in a better climate, they would move.

They are there because they sort of have to be.

SOUTHCOM:

On Dec. 29, at the direction of Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters.

Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.

Two male narco-terrorists were killed. No U.S. military forces were harmed.

NEW: Pentagon awarded Boeing an $8.6 billion contract to produce 25 F-15IA fighter jets for Israel, with an option for 25 more.

The deal formalizes production of Israel’s customized F-15EX variant.

China's PLA fired 16 long-range rockets from PCL-191 launchers in Fujian, using a CH-4 drone for targeting during Justice Mission–2025 drills.

The impacts landed north of Taiwan, hitting ocean waters.

CIA carried out a drone strike on a drug-trafficking port on Venezuela’s coast, believed to be used by the Tren de Aragua gang.

The strike destroyed the facility with no casualties and marked the first known U.S. strike inside Venezuelan territory.

Source: CNN

Syrian security forces formed a human shield between Sunni pro-government and Alawite anti-government protesters after knife fights broke out.

Turkish prosecutors announced a major counterterrorism operation in Istanbul targeting ISIS-linked networks.

Police detained over 110 suspects across multiple provinces for alleged recruitment, propaganda, and funding through illegal religious activities.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif:

Pakistan condemns the reported targeting of the residence of His Excellency Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation.

Such a heinous act constitutes a grave threat to peace, security, and stability, particularly at a time when efforts aimed at peace are underway.

NEW: The head of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC, aligned with Saudi Arabia) announces the cancellation of the joint defense agreement with the UAE and the imposition of an air blockade over Yemen.

Head of Yemen’s Presidential Council, al-Alimi, says ALL UAE forces must leave Yemen within 24 hours.

BREAKING: Saudi Arabia accuses the UAE of dangerous actions in eastern Yemen, says they threaten Saudi national security, and warns it will respond to any red-line violations.

Riyadh calls on the UAE to withdraw ALL forces from Yemen within 24 hours and halt military and financial support to Yemeni factions, while reaffirming support for Yemen’s unity and a political solution.

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Zelensky to Fox News:

We have to understand — the number of their soldiers is decreasing.

This year, 2025, is the first time when the number of their army stopped increasing.

So we think 2026 [will] stop the war. Otherwise, Putin will decide to mobilize people.

Zelensky on the Ukrainian drone industry:

What we have now is hundreds of companies, really hundreds of companies.

The United States is now interested in this industry, and of course we want to share knowledge with our strategic partners and have cooperation with the American military.

Zelensky on corruption allegations:

Anti-corruption agencies do what they have to do. They have all the independence—nobody is stopping them.

They are taking the actions they have to take, and they are not stopping, and it doesn’t matter whether a person is close or not.

Bret Baier: What will you be doing after the war ends?

Zelensky: Have a rest. I want to have a rest.

Zelensky to Fox News:

I don’t trust Putin, and he doesn’t want success for Ukraine.

He can say such words to Trump, but they are not true.

An Alawite child, Hamza Hassan, was assaulted in rural Damascus in a sectarian attack recently.

Damascus security chief Ahmad al-Dallati personally intervened, visited the family, and ordered the arrest of those responsible.

Authorities say such incidents will not be tolerated.