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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Yemeni forces down US MQ-9 Reaper drone over al-Bayda Press TV 29 Dec 2024 -- The Yemeni Armed Forces says they have successfully shot down another American MQ-9 Reaper drone which was conducting "hostile missions" over the central al-Bayda province.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Aid to Ukraine Slowed Down in 2024, Showed Aim to Build Its Air Defense Sputnik 29 Dec 2024 -- The total value of US military aid to Ukraine decreased on the year to around $19.488 billion by the end of 2024, with Washington adjusting its strategy to build Kiev's defense capacities, especially air defense systems, a Sputnik analysis of official figures from the US Department of Defense (DoD) showed.
• North Koreans kill themselves to avoid capture by Ukraine: US official Radio Free Asia 29 Dec 2024 -- Some North Korean soldiers are taking their own lives rather than surrender to Ukrainian forces in fighting in Russia's Kursk region, said a senior U.S. official, while Ukraine reported instances of the North Korean military "executing" its own troops to prevent their capture.
• China's first Type 076 amphibious assault ship leaves dockyard, soon to enter next phase of outfitting and calibration Global Times 29 Dec 2024 -- China's first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, left the dockyard on Sunday morning. This marks the completion of the construction of the main ship, and the vessel will soon enter the next phase of outfitting and calibration, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News

Operation Iron Swords / Operation Al-Aqsa Flood

• Dec. 28: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation Press TV 29 Dec 2024
• Two Israeli soldiers killed in northern Gaza fighting IRNA 29 Dec 2024 -- Two Israeli soldiers have been killed in fighting with Palestinian resistance forces in northern Gaza.
• Palestinians in Gaza launch fresh rocket attacks on Zionist settlements IRNA 29 Dec 2024 -- The Israeli regime's military has confirmed that five rockets were fired from Gaza into settlements in the southern occupied territories.
• Hamas calls for sending international monitors to Gaza hospitals IRNA 29 Dec 2024 -- Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas has called for the dispatch of international observers to Gaza hospitals to refute the lies of the Zionist regime and its claims about the use of healthcare facilities by resistance fighters.
• 40 Israeli soldiers killed in northern Gaza since Oct.: Israeli Army Radio Press TV 29 Dec 2024 -- Palestinian resistance groups continue their anti-Israel operations, launching more rockets on Israeli targets in the occupied territories.
• Israel issues new displacement order for besieged northern Gaza town Press TV 29 Dec 2024 -- Israeli forces carrying a massive campaign of death and destruction in northern Gaza ordered residents remaining in Beit Hanoun to quit the town on Sunday, causing a new wave of displacement across the besieged Palestinian territory.
• Hamas: Israel lies about military presence in Kamal Adwan Hospital to justify raids Press TV 29 Dec 2024 -- The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has categorically denied any military presence in the Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip, saying the Israeli regime resorts to such "lies" to justify its attacks on the medical facility.
• Israel Refuses to Provide Map for Troop Withdrawal From Gaza Strip - Hamas Official Sputnik 29 Dec 2024 -- Israel has refused to provide a map for troop withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and commitments to end the conflict, Hamas political office member Basem Naim told Sputnik.
• PA security forces target Jenin homes with RPGs IRNA 29 Dec 2024 -- Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces have used rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) to target homes in Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, as the PA continues its crackdown on resistance fighters there.
• Hamas denies Israeli claims about assassination of Ismail Haniyeh IRNA 29 Dec 2024 -- Hamas has rejected claims made by the Israeli regime regarding the method used in the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the former head of the movement's political bureau, in Tehran.
• Hamas rejects false claims by Israeli media about Haniyeh's assassination Press TV 29 Dec 2024 -- The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has rejected "baseless" Israeli media claims regarding the details of the assassination of its former political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital Tehran.

Other Conflicts

• Syria's De Facto Leader Wants To Maintain 'Respectful' Ties With Iran, Russia RFE/RL 29 Dec 2024 -- New Syrian de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa told the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television channel that he wants relations with Iran and Russia, but he insisted any ties must be based on mutual "respect."
• Nearly 300 arrested in HTS crackdown on Assad loyalists in Syria: Report Press TV 29 Dec 2024 -- A UK-based war monitor says the new rulers in Syria have detained nearly 300 people in a large-scale crackdown on loyalists to President Bashar al-Assad following the fall of his government earlier this month.
• Syria situation won't impact Iran-Russia strategic partnership: Russian FM Press TV 29 Dec 2024 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that the leadership transition in Syria does not impact the mutual relationship between Iran and Russia and the two countries are prepared to sign their new strategic agreement.
• Syria's terrorist rulers committing ethnic cleansing in Christian town: Rights group Press TV 29 Dec 2024 -- A rights advocacy organization says Christians have been threatened by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militant group to evacuate the southwestern Syrian town of Maaloula, in what has been decried as an act of ethnic cleansing.
• Chinese military conducts combat readiness patrols over Huangyan Dao, 'a message to provocation-seeking countries' Global Times 29 Dec 2024 -- The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to conduct combat readiness patrols in the territorial waters and airspace around China's Huangyan Dao and its surrounding areas on Sunday, according to the PLA Southern Theater Command's official WeChat account.
• IRGC Ground Force pounds Jaish al-Adl terror group's bases in anti-terror campaign in SE Iran Press TV 29 Dec 2024 -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force has inflicted major losses on the so-called Jaish al-Adl terrorist group in the course of a counter-terrorism military campaign in the southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province, striking the bastions of the militant outfit.
• Sudan conflict: 'There cannot be a military solution to this war' UN News 29 Dec 2024 -- Sudan's civil war, which began in April 2023, continues to inflict misery on the country's population, fuelling a massive humanitarian disaster and driving over 12 million people from their homes.
• UAE-backed forces target civilian shelter in Sudan, killing 21 Press TV 29 Dec 2024 -- A UAE-backed paramilitary group has attacked a civilian shelter in western Sudan, killing 21 displaced people there

News Reports

• Jimmy Carter, Whose Presidency Was Marred By Iran Hostage Crisis, Dies Aged 100 RFE/RL 29 Dec 2024 -- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, whose presidency was marred by the 444-day Iran hostage crisis, has died at age 100.
• Former US President Jimmy Carter dies at 100 VOA 29 Dec 2024 -- VOA Correspondent Kane Farabaugh conducted numerous interviews with Jimmy Carter on issues ranging from his time in the White House to his post-presidential career as a promoter of global health and democracy. Highlights of those interviews are contained in this report.
• Statement by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden on the Passing of Former President Jimmy Carter The White House 29 Dec 2024
• Statement by Vice President Kamala Harris on the Passing of Former President Jimmy Carter The White House 29 Dec 2024
• Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on the Passing of President Jimmy Carter DoD 29 Dec 2024
• U.S. Navy Statements on Passing of President Jimmy Carter US Navy Press Release 29 Dec 2024 -- Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti released statements on the death of President and Navy veteran James Earl 'Jimmy' Carter Jr. who died Dec. 29 at age 100.
• Passing of Former President Jimmy Carter US Dept. of State 29 Dec 2024
• Jimmy Carter played a major role in opening US-China ties Radio Free Asia 29 Dec 2024 -- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who has died aged 100, will be remembered in Asia for establishing diplomatic relations with China, a Cold War strategic move that reflected his lifelong concern for the Chinese people.
• National Bureau of Investigation continues investigation into cable rupture Police of Finland 29 Dec 2024 -- The investigation into the events in the Gulf of Finland is still at an early stage. The police, together with other authorities, continue the investigation into the events.
• New Georgian President Sworn In Amid Political Standoff RFE/RL 29 Dec 2024 -- Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former soccer player and right-wing populist, has been sworn in as Georgia's new president amid a monthslong political crisis, likely further complicating the country's prospects for European Union membership.
• Two Presidents, A Country In Turmoil. What Next For Georgia? RFE/RL 29 Dec 2024 -- There had been some speculation that the incumbent Georgian president, Salome Zurabishvili, would refuse to leave the presidential palace even after her successor was inaugurated.
• Joint Statement by Nordic Baltic Foreign Ministers on situation in Georgia Estonia MFA 29 Dec 2024
• Mikheil Kavelashvili Takes Office as Georgian President After Contested Vote Sputnik 29 Dec 2024 -- Mikheil Kavelashvili took office as president of Georgia on Sunday after an inauguration ceremony in parliament, which was marred by protests staged outside by opposition supporters.
• Azerbaijan's Aliyev says crashed jetliner downed by Russia unintentionally Press TV 29 Dec 2024 -- Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev says the country's jetliner that crashed this week was unintentionally shot down by Russian forces.
• Black Box Sent To Brazil As Baku Accuses Russia Of 'Covering Up' Cause Of Crash RFE/RL 29 Dec 2024 -- Kazakh authorities on December 29 said the cockpit recorders of the Brazilian-made plane involved in a deadly crash are being sent to Brazil for investigation amid accusations by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev that Russia is trying to "cover up" the cause of the tragedy.
• AZAL Plane Was Not Downed on Purpose Over Russian Territory - Aliyev Sputnik 29 Dec 2024 -- Azerbaijan Airlines' (AZAL) Embraer 190 passenger plane was not shot down in Russia's airspace on purpose, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Sunday.
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview with Rossiya Segodnya, December 29, 2024 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 29 Dec 2024
• Russia Ready for Ukraine Talks, But They Must Include Situation on Ground - Lavrov Sputnik 29 Dec 2024 -- In an interview with Sputnik, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the Ukraine crisis, Russian military bases in Syria and missile threats from the West.
• Press release on the telephone conversation between Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Foreign Minister of Jordan Ayman Safadi Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 29 Dec 2024
• Chinese media launch campaign to foster US 'friendship and trust' Radio Free Asia 29 Dec 2024 -- Chinese state media has launched a campaign to highlight friendly cooperation with the United States in an attempt to improve turbulent ties as a new administration under Donald Trump prepares to take office, an analyst said.
• PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC MND 29 Dec 2024
• North Korea launches 'toughest' anti-US policy for security interests Press TV 29 Dec 2024 -- North Korea's leader has announced Pyongyang's plans to launch its "toughest" anti-US policy to counteract Washington for its security and national interests.
• Press Release of Eleventh Plenary Meeting of Eighth C.C., WPK KCNA 29 Dec 2024 -- Members and alternate members of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee, members and alternate members of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK and Presidium member of the Political Bureau of the C.C., WPK by-elected at the Eleventh Plenary Meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the WPK are as follows:
• Report on Enlarged Meeting of Eleventh Plenary Meeting of Eighth Central Committee of WPK KCNA 29 Dec 2024 -- The noble idea and mature leadership ability of the great Workers' Party of Korea, which is determined to bring earlier the final completion of the sacred revolutionary cause of Juche under the uplifted banner of the people-first principle, are bringing a great change and vigorous leap forward in all fields of state building, making each year of this land a brilliant peak of success and victory in the history.
• Lavrov: Iran-Russia partnership deal aims to enhance global peace IRNA 29 Dec 2024 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that his country's strategic partnership agreement with Iran focuses on enhancing regional and global peace and security, adding that there is no need to amend the document following the recent developments in Syria.
• Iran FM meets with SCO secretary general in China IRNA 29 Dec 2024 -- Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who led an official delegation to China, met with Nurlan Yermekbayev, new Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Beijing.