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.”

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that its forces conducted a strike in Northwest Syria on Friday, January 16, that resulted in the death of Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, a terrorist leader affiliated with Al-Qaeda who had direct ties to the ISIS terrorist responsible for an ambush that killed two U.S. Soldiers and an American interpreter last month near Palmyra in Central Syria.

Last Wednesday morning, as it appears U.S. strikes against Iran were imminent, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sent a text message to White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, which was relayed to President Donald J. Trump and reportedly stated that Iran would stop the killing and cancel the execution of some 800 demonstrators that had been arrested during the recent round of anti-government protests, officials tell the Washington Post.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country’s de facto leader, spoke to President Donald J. Trump by phone early last week to plead the case of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and other Arab allies, who were concerned strikes against Iran would harm regional security and the economy, ultimately impacting the United States, according to a Saudi diplomat and a U.S. official who spoke to the WaPo.

In addition to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other Gulf Nations, Israel also wasn’t ready for strikes against Iran, particularly without a large supporting naval presence from the United States. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had launched a massive military and intelligence operation against Iran’s nuclear and long-range missiles facilities last June, called President Donald J. Trump twice on Wednesday and asked him not to strike because Israel was not fully prepared to defend itself, a source close to the White House told the WaPo.

At the Pentagon on Wednesday, aides to senior leaders were prepared to stay late into the night in anticipation of U.S. strikes against Iran, however, at around 3:30 P.M., they got word they could go home as normal. The President will have another opportunity to sign off on strikes against Iran in the next two to three weeks, when U.S. military assets headed toward the region will be in place, helping allay Israel’s concerns about its own protection, officials tell the WaPo.

The Threat Level in the Middle East is not expected to subside soon, with U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) having been directed to plan staffing for 24/7 high-level support “for the next month,” a person monitoring the situation told The Washington Post.