U.S. Forces seen withdrawing from Dayr Hafir in Northern Syria earlier tonight, shortly before the announced withdrawal of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from all positions near Aleppo, to the east of the Euphrates River.

According to the Washington-based non-governmental organization Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRANA), at least 52 prisoners were executed at 42 prisons in Iran between the dates of January 5 and January 14, most on murder and drug-related charges, however, Iranian authorities will regularly accuse and charge political prisoners with these crimes in order to justify their execution to those outside Iran.

Internet connectivity appears to be on the verge of being partially restored in Iran, after over a weeklong nationwide blackout, with Cloudflare reporting a surge in traffic just after 03:30 IRST on Saturday, January 17.

New details obtained by Iran International suggest that the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and several of its international proxy groups were behind the brutal crackdown against anti-regime protesters in Tehran on January 8 and 9, which witnesses on the ground claim killed upwards of 5,000. Allegedly involved in the massacre were fighters from multiple Iranian-backed paramilitary groups, including the Fatemiyoun Brigade in Afghanistan, Zainabiyoun Brigade in Pakistan, and Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

The National Guard Mission in Washington, D.C. which began last August and currently consists of 2,429 Soldiers and Airmen from the District of Columbia National Guard and eleven other states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and West Virginia, has been extended through the end of 2026, two officials familiar with the matter tell CNN.

U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is planning a multipronged military operation, backed by the Turkish Armed Forces, against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the eastern part of the Aleppo Governorate of Northern Syria and potentially across the Euphrates River, according to two U.S. officials who spoke to the Wall Street Journal.

Elements of the Chasseurs Alpins, an elite mountain infantry unit of the French Army, arrived yesterday at Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk, Greenland, in order to coordinate the arrival of additional air, ground, and naval forces in the coming days from Denmark, France, and several other allied nations in Europe.

President Donald J. Trump has announced that he will impose a 10% tariff on all goods entering the United States from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom on February 1, until Denmark agrees to sell Greenland, also citing recent deployment of European military forces to Greenland and the Northern Atlantic, adding that the tariffs will increased to 25% on June 1, 2026 unless a deal is made regarding the purchase of Greenland.

I thought acquiring Greenland was because Denmark and the Europeans weren’t doing enough to protect it from China and Russia, why is he upset that they are now taking its defense seriously? Or was it never actually about that?

Following the withdraw of the SDF and allied tribal militias from defensive positions to the east of Aleppo earlier today, the Syrian Army and allied militias have launched a rapid offensive against remaining areas held by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on the west bank of the Euphrates River in Northern Syria, making massive gains, with clashes now being reported on the outskirts of Al-Tabqah.

Elements of the Syrian Army have reportedly captured Al-Tabqa Military Airbase in the Raqqa Governorate, following the withdraw of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Adm. Brad Cooper, has released a statement calling on the Syrian Army to halt its ongoing offensive against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in areas between Aleppo and al-Tabqa in Northern Syria.

Significant defections by tribal militias allied with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are being reported in the Raqqa Governorate, as the Syrian Army and its allies continue to advance on the cities of al-Tabqah and Raqqa.

Things are looking very bad for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Northern Syria, with us possibly witnessing the collapse of defense lines on the west bank of the Euphrates River.

U.S. Forces have now completed their withdrawal from Al-Asad Airbase in the Anbar Governorate of Western Iraq, with the base being handed over to the Iraqi Armed Forces as agreed upon in the September 2024 Agreement between Washington and Baghdad, according to Al-Arabiya.

Column of tanks with the Syrian Army spotted on the move earlier today in the Raqqa Governorate of Northern Syria.

Statement by French President Emmanuel Macron in response to today’s threat by President Donald J. Trump of tariffs against France and other countries in Europe, over the ongoing Danish-led military exercise in the Northern Atlantic and Denmark’s refusal to sell Greenland:

“France is committed to the sovereignty and independence of Nations, in Europe as elsewhere. This guides our choices. It underpins our attachment to the United Nations and to our Charter.

It is on this basis that we support and will continue to support Ukraine, and that we have built a coalition of the willing for a robust and lasting peace, to defend these principles and our security.

It is also on this basis that we have decided to join the exercise decided by Denmark in Greenland. We stand by this decision. Especially because it concerns security in the Arctic and at the frontiers of our Europe.

No intimidation nor threat will influence us, neither in Ukraine, nor in Greenland, nor anywhere else in the world when we are confronted with such situations.

Tariff threats are unacceptable and have no place in this context. Europeans will respond to them in a united and coordinated manner if they were to be confirmed. We will know how to uphold European sovereignty.

It is in this spirit that I will speak with our European partners.”

Senior U.S. officials tells Channel 12 in Israel: “The attack [against Iran] will happen, it's only a matter of time. The United States is preparing for action.”

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s response to today’s threats of tariffs by President Donald J. Trump over Greenland:

“We will not let ourselves be blackmailed. Only Denmark and Greenland decide on issues concerning Denmark and Greenland. I will always stand up for my country, and for our allied neighbors. This is an EU issue that affects many more countries than those now being singled out. Sweden is now having intensive discussions with other EU countries, Norway, and the United Kingdom for a coordinated response.”