I - On Defense Podcast

For review:1. The next round of talks between the United States and Iran will be Thursday in Geneva, Oman's foreign minister said.2. American refueler and cargo planes were spotted at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on Monday, amid a massive US buildup of military forces ahead of a potential attack on Iran.There was no comment from Israeli authorities regarding the American military deployment at Israel's main civilian airport.3. Bulgaria's Sofia International Airport briefly suspended civilian air operations twice over the weekend while a fleet of American military aircraft staged at the facility, fueling speculation that Washington is positioning forces ahead of a potential strike on Iran.4. US President Donald Trump hits back amid a series of reports that his top general has been warning him against the consequences of a prolonged military campaign against Iran. 5. Another round of talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine could be held at end of this week, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff told Ukrainian media on Monday."I think at the end of the week, this week," Kyrylo Budanov told reporters when asked about the next round of talks.6. The Air Force today announced a new agreement with Northrop Grumman to “ramp” production of the in-development B-21 Raider, using $4.5 billion in reconciliation funding to help deliver the bomber by 2027.7. The US Army briefly published and then removed new official images of its Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), offering rare updated views of the system as it nears operational fielding.8. The US Marine Corps has confirmed it will not field the Sig Sauer M7 assault rifle, steering away from a potential adoption in partnership with the US Army.This decision leaves the service operating its M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) due to its proven effectiveness in amphibious deployments.

For review:1. Iran and the United States continued to slide rapidly toward military conflict at the weekend, as hopes faded for a diplomatic solution. Israel and Iran's Gulf neighbors now consider a conflict to be more likely than a settlement.2. The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that it struck three Hezbollah command centers belonging to the terror group's missile force in the Baalbek area, in eastern Lebanon's Beqaa Valley.3. Officers from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have effectively taken charge of Hezbollah in anticipation of a war with the US and Israel, Saudi outlet Al-Arabiya reported Saturday, as Lebanese officials were said to assail the possibility of their country getting dragged into battle.The IRGC officers, some of whom recently arrived in Lebanon from Iran, are tasked with rebuilding Hezbollah's military capabilities.4. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said Friday that his terror organization is open to international peacekeeping forces in Gaza, but rejected any interference in the territory's “internal affairs.”5. Estonia has started public procurement of 600 modular bunkers as part of a joint push by the Baltic states to secure their border with Russia and Belarus.6. Germany does not want to pursue nuclear weapons of its own, but is interested in incorporating French and British atomic bombs in a deterrence arrangement reminiscent of NATO's U.S.-based nuclear umbrella, according to Chancellor Friedrich Merz.7. France-Germany-Spain FCAS 6th Generation Fighter Dead.8. Shipbuilder Austal Defence Australia has been selected to build 8 x Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) vessels for the Australian military under an approximately $4 billion Australian dollar ($2.82 billion) contract, the company announced today.

For review:1. Iran on Thursday repeated its assertion that no country can “deprive” it of its “right” to nuclear enrichment, as US President Donald Trump continued to send US military assets into the Middle East in what a report called the biggest build-up of American air power in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.2. WSJ Report: US President Donald Trump is considering launching preliminary limited strikes on Iran with the aim of forcing the Islamic Republic to agree to his demands for a nuclear deal.3. US President Donald Trump warned Iran on Thursday that it must reach a deal over its nuclear program or “bad things” will happen, and appeared to set a 10-15 day deadline before the US might take action.4. Iran tells UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that Tehran will consider bases, facilities and assets of the “hostile force” in the region as legitimate targets if it faces military aggression.5. Satellite images show that Iran has recently built a concrete shield over a new facility at a sensitive military site and covered it in soil.In addition, images show that Iran has buried tunnel entrances at a nuclear site bombed by the US during Israel's 12-day war with Iran last June, fortified tunnel entrances near another, and has repaired missile bases struck in the conflict.6. Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday issued a sharp threat to Tehran's leaders, should they fire missiles at Israel.“We are prepared for any scenario.” “And one thing is certain — if the ayatollahs make a mistake and attack us, they will face a response they can't even imagine.”7. A wave of Israeli airstrikes in several areas of southern Lebanon early Thursday morning targeted Hezbollah weapon depots, missile launchers, and other military sites, the Israel Defense Forces said.8. President Trump Hosts Board of Peace Inaugural Meeting in Washington D.C.

For review:1. US & Iran Talk in Geneva While More US Warplanes Move to Region. The aircraft included F-22, F-35, and F-16 jets. Several refuelers were also spotted on the move, according to social media accounts dedicated to tracking military flights.A US official also confirmed to the Axios news site that more than 50 fighter jets were moved to the region in the past 24 hours.2. Iran says it temporarily closed parts of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf. The move came as semiofficial Iranian news agencies reported live fire exercises in the vital waterway, through which 20% of the world's oil passes.3. Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S. held a new round of trilateral peace talks in Geneva on Feb. 17, as Washington presses for progress toward a deal before summer.A follow-up session is scheduled for Feb. 18. 4. General Atomics' LongShot is aiming to have its first flight test “as early as the end of 2026,” — three years after the company first said tests would begin, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced today.LongShot is an unmanned aircraft system dropped from a bomber or fighter that can launch missiles of its own. It could potentially be useful for both the Air Force and Navy, DARPA says. 5. Australia is one of the pioneers exploring collaborative combat aircraft, or CCAs, as it throws its full weight behind Boeing Defence Australia's MQ-28A Ghost Bat platform.6. The U.S. Air Force said Tuesday it expects its next-generation LGM-35A Sentinel nuclear missile to reach initial capability in the early 2030s, following a revamp of the over-budget program's acquisition plan set to finish this year.

For review:1. The U.S. Air Force on Tuesday awarded Boeing a sole-source contract for newvGBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs , to replace the munitions used in last June's strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.2. Iran launched live-fire naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.The drill, called "Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz," was led by the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) under the supervision of IRGC Commander in Chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour.3.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had told U.S. President Donald Trump to make four key demands of Iran in any deal to avert military strikes against the Islamic regime in Tehran.- All enriched uranium must leave Iran.- Iran to have no enrichment capability.- Limits on the range of Iranian ballistic missiles (Range of 300km and under).- Dismantle support/infrastructure for Iranian militia proxies in the Region.4. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his delegation left for the Swiss city after the first round of indirect talks took place in Oman last week. Oman will mediate the talks in Geneva, the IRNA state-run news agency reported on its Telegram channel.Mr. Araghchi is also expected to meet with his Swiss and Omani counterparts, as well as the director general of the U.N.'s atomic watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.5. A Republican senator seen as close to US President Donald Trump suggested Monday that an American decision on potential military action against Iran was “weeks, not months” away and opined that it would be a “strategic victory” for the Islamic Republic if its supreme leader isn't toppled amid the current standoff.6. Lebanon's government says its army will have a four-month extendable period to implement phase two of the military's plan to disarm Hezbollah in south Lebanon.Phase two covers an area north of the Litani river.7. The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday evening said that it carried out an airstrike targeting members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group in eastern Lebanon, close to the Syrian border.8. A Ukrainian delegation was heading to Geneva on Monday for another round of U.S.-brokered talks with Russian officials, There was no anticipation of any significant progress on ending the war at the Tuesday-Wednesday meeting in Switzerland as both sides appear to be sticking to their negotiating positions on key issues.9. US Secretary of State Rubio sharply criticized the UN for having “virtually no role” in resolving conflicts, and called for global institutions to be reformed.“The United Nations still has tremendous potential to be a tool for good in the world,” he told the Munich conference.“But we cannot ignore that, today, on the most pressing matters before us, it has no answers and has played virtually no role,” he said.10. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has announced his country is in talks with the United States to buy an additional four F-16 fighter jets on top of the 14 copies already ordered.11. Estonia's arms procurement agency has signed a contract with France and KNDS for the acquisition of 12 additional Caesar self-propelled howitzers.The newly ordered systems are scheduled for delivery later this year.12. The Pentagon, along with the Department of Energy, on Sunday airlifted a small nuclear reactor, the first such transportation as the Trump administration looks to quickly deploy nuclear power across the U.S.The Ward 250 is a 5 megawatt nuclear reactor that could potentially power roughly 5,000 homes, according to the Pentagon. 

For review:1. Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), its escorts and embarked Carrier Air Wing 8 have been tasked from their current position in the Caribbean to the Middle East to support a U.S. naval buildup in the region.2. Asked Friday about potential regime change in Iran, US President Donald Trump said, “it seems like that would be the best thing that could happen,” as he confirmed sending a second aircraft carrier to the Middle East “in case we don't make a deal” with the Islamic Republic.3. US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to intensify the “maximum pressure policy” in order to force Iran to give up its nuclear program, including clamping down on the sale of Tehran's oil to China, according to a Saturday report citing two US officials.4. The US military is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if President Donald Trump orders an attack, two US officials told Reuters, in what could become a far more serious conflict than previously seen between the countries.5. The Board of Peace's High Representative for Gaza Nickolay Mladenov said at the Munich Security Conference on Friday that the Palestinian technocratic committee tasked with governing Gaza in place of Hamas cannot enter the Strip if violations of the ceasefire continue.6. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar to represent Israel at the inaugural Board of Peace meeting in Washington, DC next Thursday.7. The leader of an anti-Hamas militia based in IDF-controlled areas of the southern Gaza Strip said recently that it is working on demolishing the terror group's tunnels, a confirmation that further shows Israel's support for the armed gang.8. A wave of Israeli airstrikes in several areas of southern Lebanon this evening targeted Hezbollah weapon depots and rocket launchers, the military says.9. The governments of Russia and Ukraine confirmed Friday that they would participate in a third round of U.S.-mediated peace talks next week, on Feb. 17 and 18 in Geneva. 10. U.S. Secretary of State Rubio offered a reassuring message to America's allies on Saturday, striking a less aggressive but still firm tone about the administration's intent to reshape the trans-Atlantic alliance and push its priorities.11. Co-development of the French-German-Spanish Next-Generation Fighter (NGF) is almost certainly headed for collapse, with negotiations between Airbus and Dassault halted on the next phase of the project amid a long-running industrial dispute over leadership and workshare, an industry source said today. 12. As part of discussions between Belgium and US giant Lockheed Martin for a potential deal covering 11 additional F-35A fifth-generation fighter jets, Brussels is pushing hard for hefty domestic industrial returns, according to the country's defense minister. 

For review:1. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that US President Donald Trump believes the Iranians could be forced to accept “a good deal,” though the premier clarified that he is skeptical of the possibility.2. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday derided a report by the Israel Hayom newspaper that the Islamic Republic had secretly executed thousands of people who participated in protests after telling Washington it would not do so.3. An Iranian state-run TV channel on Thursday broadcast a hit list of seven Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, appearing to threaten their assassination.4. Wall Street Journal Report: President Trump Orders Second Carrier Strike Group to Prepare for Deployment.“The order to deploy could be issued in a matter of hours,” the WSJ posited, citing anonymous officials. However, the order hasn't been given and plans can change, it added.5. Syrian government forces have taken control of a base in the east of the country that was run for years by U.S. troops as part of the war against the Islamic State group, the Syrian Defense Ministry said in a statement Thursday.The al-Tanf base sits on a strategic location close to the borders with Jordan and Iraq. In a statement, the Syrian Defense Ministry said the handover of the base took place in coordination with the U.S. military and Syrian forces are now “securing the base and its perimeters.”6. Ukraine's partners pledged nearly $38 billion in new military aid at the 33rd meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format on Feb. 12, Ukraine Defense Minister Fedorov said.He added that most of the funding will go toward strengthening Ukraine's air defense systems and expanding its drone capabilities.7. Russia may have lost about twice as many soldiers in Ukraine in December 2025 as the Soviet Union lost during the Soviet-Afghan War, a former British intelligence chief Sir Richard Moore (MI6) said on Feb. 10.8. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Feb. 11 that Ukraine has accepted the U.S. invitation to hold a new round of peace talks next week."The American side has proposed a meeting in America, in Miami, next week. And we immediately confirmed it," President Zelenskyy said.President Zelenskyy initially told Bloomberg that the negotiations would be hosted by the U.S. and will occur on Feb. 17 and Feb. 18. He later said there was a chance the meeting could be held in Abu Dhabi, and that Ukraine was willing to attend talks in any location.The talks, however, depend on Russia's agreement to participate, something that Ukraine and the U.S. have not yet received.

For review:1. On the eve of his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump said that the Israeli premier “wants a deal” with Iran, and that the current talks on Tehran's nuclear program show promise.2. Entrances to Iran's Isfahan Nuclear Site Purposely Buried in Preparation of US/Israeli Attack.3. IDF Preparing for Gaza Offensive to Disarm Hamas.Hinting at the military's offensive plans, Defense Minister Israel Katz this month said that Israel was "determined to disarm Hamas, threatening to “dismantle” the terror group if it doesn't agree to lay down its arms.4. Indonesia is preparing for the potential deployment of 5,000 to 8,000 troops to Gaza under US President Donald Trump's peace plan, the country's army chief of staff, Maruli Simanjuntak, said Monday following a security meeting with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta.5. The Israel Defense Forces captured a “senior” member of the al-Jama'a al-Islamiyya terror organization during an overnight raid in southern Lebanon, and separately killed two Hezbollah operatives, the military said Monday.According to the IDF, the al-Jama'a al-Islamiyya operative was nabbed late Sunday from a building in the Mount Dov area near the border by a special forces unit operating under the 210th “Bashan” Regional Division. 6. Russia cannot launch an attack on NATO this year or next but is planning to increase its forces significantly along the alliance's eastern flank, depending on the outcome of the war in Ukraine, a senior European intelligence official said.7. NATO today announced a command restructuring plan that will see the US giving up leadership of two allied operational-level commands to European senior officers.The US will hand over charge of Joint Force Command Norfolk to the United Kingdom and relinquish leadership of Joint Force Command Naples to Italy, a statement from the alliance said. The statement also noted that Joint Force Command Brunssum will now be led by Germany and Poland on a rotational format.  

For review:1. Iran: Dilution of Enriched Uranium for Sanctions Relief.2. Israeli PM Netanyahu to Visit Washington D.C. on Wednesday. 3. Ukraine and Sweden are discussing the prospect of arming Kyiv with Europe's top air-to-air missile- the Meteor.4. Ukraine and France took a step toward joint arms production on Feb. 9, as Ukrainian Defense Minister Fedorov and his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin signed a letter of intent in Kyiv, Ukraine's Defense Ministry announced.During the meeting, the ministers discussed accelerating the delivery of French Mirage 2000 fighter jets, as well as a record shipment of Hammer air-to-ground bombs. Ukraine and France addressed the supply of long-range weapons, including SCALP missiles. 5. US Warship (USS Cincinnati) Visits Cambodian Port.6. Vietnam's Ministry of Defense has reportedly signed a $250-million contract with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to locally produce the Spike Firefly loitering munition.7. Rafael Systems Global Sustainment (RSGS) announced today it was selected for Phase I of the Army's second Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) Increment 2 interceptor program, joining the pack with Lockheed Martin and the Boeing-Anduril team. 

For review:1. Iran rejected calls by the United States to halt uranium enrichment on its territory during talks in Oman on Friday.A regional diplomat briefed by Tehran told Reuters Friday that while the Islamic Republic would not budge on its right to enrich uranium inside Iran, it was willing to discuss the “level and purity” of enrichment or a regional consortium.2. The Israel Defense Forces said it struck a Hamas arms depot in Gaza City on Friday in response to an attack on troops a day earlier, after issuing an evacuation warning for a residential building for the first time since the start of the ceasefire.3. The United Arab Emirates has drafted plans to build a compound to house thousands of displaced Palestinians in a part of south Gaza under Israeli military control, according to a map seen by Reuters and people briefed on the plans.The planning map shows where the “UAE Temporary Emirates Housing Complex” would be constructed near Rafah.4. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Friday that Lebanon's army must be given the means to disarm the terror group Hezbollah and replace a United Nations peacekeeping force after its mandate ends this year.“France's vision for Lebanon is that of a strong, sovereign state holding a monopoly on arms,” Barrot told AFP.5. Russian Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseev has been shot multiple times in Moscow by an unknown assailant, the Kremlin said on Feb 6.In response to the shooting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov blamed Kyiv for the assassination attempt, accusing Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky of "provocations aimed at destabilizing the (peace) negotiation process."Ukraine is yet to comment on the shooting.6. US President Donald Trump inked a new executive order today, calling for national production interests to be taken into greater account when the US sells foreign nations weapons, creating a new list of platforms to push on the market, and prioritizing arms sales for countries who invest more in their own defense spending.  7. Singapore is slated join the F-35 operator club once the first of its Lockheed Martin F-35B fighters enter service later this year, becoming the fourth Asia-Pacific nation to fly the fifth-generation fighter.8. The U.S. Army has stood up a rotational force in the Philippines, according to recently released defense media.While details regarding the rotational force's formation date, capabilities and mission remains unclear, the force is headed by a lieutenant colonel and has assigned a liaison officer with Task Force-Philippines. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment from USNI News.

For review:1. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei “should be very worried” in the wake of reports that suggested that planned nuclear talks set for the end of the week were unravelling.A White House official confirmed to The Times of Israel that nuclear talks with Iran would be held Friday in Muscat.2. Iran's army spokesperson said Thursday that the military is ready for a conflict, if that is what the US wants, Commenting on the addition of 1,000 drones to the Iranian military, Iranian Brig. Gen. Mohammad Akraminia said Thursday: “We have always announced that we are ready to confront any option and any scenario that the enemy considers, and if the enemy chooses the option of war, we are ready for any option in war conditions.”3. Trilateral talks between American, Ukrainian and Russian negotiators concluded in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, with Moscow and Kyiv exchanging hundreds of prisoners of war.4. The ‍US and Russia have agreed to reestablish high level military-to-military ​dialogue, following ‍talks in Abu Dhabi, more than ​four years after suspension, according to the US military.5. The Kremlin said Thursday it regretted the expiration of the last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the United States, while U.S. President Donald Trump declared he was against keeping its limits and wants a better deal.New START restricted each side to no more than 1,550 nuclear warheads on no more than 700 missiles and bombers — deployed and ready for use.6. Boeing's MQ-28 Ghost Bat Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) will gain internal weapons bays along with an increased wingspan, the global program director announced during this week's Singapore Airshow.Boeing is currently developing the Ghost Bat in Australia for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), which has ordered seven aircraft for delivery in 2028.7. Two aviation companies under contract to develop armed, unmanned aircraft and control systems for the U.S. Navy teased what they are working on this week during the Singapore Air Show.Anduril's YFQ-44 Fury, under development for the Air Force's CCA program, is in competition with the General Atomics YFQ-42A.The Navy wants its own version of the “uncrewed, modular, interoperable, interchangeable and versatile platforms” that it can field from an aircraft carrier.8. Aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) is back at HII's Newport News Shipbuilding division after wrapping up builder's trials, the company said Wednesday.John F. Kennedy, the second in the Ford class of aircraft carriers, is slated to deliver to the Navy in March 2027.

For review:1. President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed into law a massive funding package to end the US government shutdown that began Saturday.2.  A Marine F-35C Lighting II fighter shot down an Iranian military drone that approached a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea.The fighter shot down the Iranian Shahed-139 drone on Tuesday after it approached aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), according to a statement from U.S. Central Command.3. Iran and the United States will resume nuclear talks on Friday, Iranian and US officials told Reuters on Monday, and US President Donald Trump warned that with US warships heading to Iran, “bad things” would probably happen if a deal could not be reached.4. After Iran expressed its desire to upend reported US plans for nuclear talks later this week, President Donald Trump declines to share the location of the Friday meeting.Asked where the talks will be held, President Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, “all over… There's more than one” location.5. Israel reacted angrily Monday night after the Palestinian technocratic committee replaced its logo with the one used by the Palestinian Authority.6. Gaza's ‌Rafah crossing ⁠with ‌Egypt reopened on Monday ‍for residents to enter and leave, in what is seen as a key move heralding the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan.7. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Monday rejected calls for a Europe-wide army, warning that it could be “extremely dangerous” as the bloc considers ways to provide its own security.EU Foreign Policy Chief Kallas: "Those who say that we need a European army, maybe those people haven't really thought this through practically. If you are already part of NATO then you can't create a separate army.”8. The Army is aiming to award a contract for its SP Howitzer program by July, a spokesperson from the service's Program Acquisition Executive for Fires confirmed to Breaking Defense today.9.  The US Marine Corps has selected L3Harris as the winner of its Precision Attack Strike Munition (PASM) program, providing a new weapon for use on the AH-1Z helicopter.The contract, worth $86.2 million, will cover delivery of an unspecified number of L3Harris' “Red Wolf” weapons by end of fiscal 2027. 10. Years after announcing a deal, Boeing is ending plans to sell its F-15EX Eagle II fighter jet to Indonesia, the company confirmed today. 

For review:1. According to an Axios report, Turkey, Egypt and Qatar are working to organize a meeting this week between White House special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian officials in Ankara, Turkey's capital.2. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Sunday that if the US attacks Iran, the hostilities will broaden into a regional conflict.3. An Iranian official on Sunday denied that the country had any plans to carry out live-fire exercises in the Strait of Hormuz this week, amid sky-high tensions in the region.On Friday, the US military issued a statement warning Iran against carrying out such exercises and urging it to avoid “unnecessary risk.”4. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir was in Washington, DC, over the weekend for a series of discussions with American defense officials regarding Iran.5. The Rafah Border Crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt opened Sunday for a day of systems checks and tests ahead of its expected opening for pedestrians Monday.6.  The Israel Defense Forces launched wave of airstrikes in southern Lebanon Friday evening that it said destroyed Hezbollah infrastructure and heavy machinery.7. Ukraine President: Tr-Lateral Meeting in U.A.E. from 4-5 Feb. Neither the Kremlin nor the United States has confirmed the new dates.8.  Russia will unveil its newest multiple launch rocket system, the Sarma, at the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh next month.The 300mm Sarma MLRS, mounted on a 8x8 armored chassis, represents Russia's attempt to field a lighter, more mobile alternative to its existing heavy rocket artillery systems.9. Beijing's newest class of surface combatant achieved operational capability, Chinese military media reported last week.The milestone was unveiled Jan. 22 during a state media report covering the first Type 054B guided-missile stealth frigate Luohe (545).10. Japan and South Korea agreed Friday to resume a joint naval search and rescue exercise that was discontinued in 2017.

For review:1. President Volodymyr Zelensky on Jan. 30 rejected the Kremlin's proposal for holding talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow but signaled readiness for a meeting in a more appropriate format.2. It was Vladimir Zelensky who insisted on a personal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, not the other way around, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov recalled at a news briefing, commenting on statements from Kiev about its desire to host a Russia-Ukraine summit.3. Speaking at the White House on Thursday, President Trump said he asked Russian President Putin not to fire on Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, “and the various towns for a week and he agreed to do that.”4. Satellite images show activity at two Iranian nuclear sites bombed last year by Israel and the United States that may be a sign of Tehran trying to obscure efforts to salvage any materials remaining there.5. US President Donald Trump on Friday confirmed he has had dialogue with Iran, as The New York Times reported he was considering potential raids by American troops on facilities within the Islamic Republic.6. US President Donald Trump said Friday he had given Iran a deadline to make a deal, as Washington moved significant military assets to the Middle East ahead of a potential strike on the Islamic Republic.7. New Zealand has decided against accepting US President Donald Trump's invitation to join his Board of Peace, New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says.8. The US State Department has approved more than $6.5 billion in potential military sales to Israel in three separate contracts, the Pentagon says.The US State Department approved a potential sale of Joint Light Tactical Vehicle and related equipment for an estimated cost of $1.98 billion, and another sale of AH-64E Apache Helicopters for $3.8 billion, the Pentagon says in separate statements.A third military contract was also awarded for $740 million to provide Namer armored personnel carrier power packs & integrated logistics support.9. The Syrian government and Kurdish forces declared a ceasefire deal on Friday that sets out a phased integration of Kurdish fighters into the state, averting a potentially bloody battle and drawing US praise for a “historic milestone.”10. Norway selected Hanwha Aerospace's Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system over prominent Western competitors for its ground-based long-range precision fires system. The 19 billion Norwegian kroner (around $2 billion) deal includes 16 launch systems and an unspecified “larger number of missiles” across three range variants, including the 500-kilometer (310-mile) range. 11. The Senate passed the $838.7 billion fiscal 2026 defense spending bill today, after Democrats and the White House reached a deal to largely avert a government shutdown.

For review:1. US President Donald Trump threatened Wednesday that time was running out for Iran, and that the next potential US attack on the Islamic Republic — if Tehran doesn't make a nuclear deal — would be far worse than the June 2025 strikes. 2. The United States announced on Tuesday that it was conducting an aerial military exercise in the Middle East amid ongoing tensions with Iran.3. Iranian officials issued stark warnings Wednesday against any US strike on the country, with a top adviser to Iran's supreme leader threatening that Tehran would attack Israel in any such event with an “unprecedented” retaliation, including “at the heart of Tel Aviv.”4. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated his assertion that Israel will not allow Gaza's reconstruction before terror groups in the Strip disarm, and said Israel would maintain security control over Gaza and the West Bank, in a wide-ranging press conference on Tuesday evening.5.  Israel is preparing for talks with the Trump administration on a new 10-year security deal. In 2016, the US and Israeli governments signed a memorandum of understanding for the 10 years through September 2028.6. Territorial issues over Donetsk are the remaining item that still require a bridging of views at US-mediated talks to end Russia's war in Ukraine, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday, describing the issue as "a very difficult one."7. Sweden has had very early discussions with France and the United Kingdom about possible nuclear weapons cooperation, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has revealed. No concrete proposals or timelines for any cooperation were outlined, and Kristersson emphasized that talks remain preliminary in early stages. 

For review:1. The body of the final hostage held in Gaza was identified and brought back to Israel on Monday, 843 days after Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.Master Sergeant Ran Gvili, 24, a police officer killed fighting the Hamas invaders, had been the last of 251 people kidnapped that day to remain captive, following the return of the rest of the hostages, living and dead, under the current ceasefire. 2. President Trump told Axios in an interview on Monday that the situation with Iran is "in flux" because he sent a "big armada" to the region but thinks Tehran genuinely wants to cut a deal.Sources with knowledge of the situation say Trump hasn't made a final decision. He will likely hold more consultations this week and be presented with additional military options.Those options will be enhanced by the arrival of an aircraft carrier strike group to the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln entered CENTCOM's area of responsibility on Monday.3. U.S. officials leading the talks are convinced that Russian negotiators have taken a more pragmatic tone behind closed doors than Moscow's public hardline rhetoric suggests. The next round of talks is expected on Feb. 1.The most difficult issues — Russian demands for Ukrainian withdrawal from parts of Donbas and control of the nuclear power plant— are set to dominate the agenda.4. NATO chief Mark Rutte warned Monday, January 26, that Europe cannot defend itself without the United States.5. Estonia is gearing up to acquire a missile defense system, participating in broader efforts by the Baltic States to boost investments in expanding their air-defense network.6. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has invited seven domestic firms to present autonomous drone concepts designed to operate alongside the British Army's Apache AH-64E attack helicopters.7. Armor Not Dead: Israeli arms developer Elbit Systems has received a $228-million contract to provide its proprietary Iron Fist active protection system for the US Army's Bradley infantry fighting vehicles.

For review:1. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed on Sunday evening that it was searching for the remains of Master Sergeant Gvili, the last remaining hostage held in the Gaza Strip, on the Israeli side of the ceasefire line in the enclave's north.2. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced on Sunday that Israel will reopen the Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt after it completes a military operation launched Sunday to recover the body of the last deceased hostage, Master Sgt. Ran Gvili.3. Commander of the United States Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper was in Israel on Saturday for meetings with senior officials.Admiral Cooper met with IDF Chief of Staff LTG Eyal Zamir at the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv. Intelligence Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder and Operations Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Itzik Cohen also participated in a meeting with the military chiefs.4. Iran's paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, , is “more ready than ever, finger on the trigger,” its commander said Saturday, as US warships headed toward the Middle East.The IRGC  commander, Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, warned the United States and Israel “to avoid any miscalculation.”5. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has gone into hiding in a Tehran bunker, according to the opposition-affiliated Iran International news site.According to the report, which cites “information received” by the opposition news site, the Supreme Leader went underground after senior officials assessed an “increased risk of a potential US attack,” as the US moves significant military forces into the region.6. IDF Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo said Sunday that the military is preparing for the possibility that a US strike on Iran could trigger Iranian retaliation against Israel.He added that Israel is also closely watching whether Hezbollah could join a wider confrontation, saying, “We are very alert, very prepared, and ready both in strong defense and in preparing offensive responses.”7. Ukraine and Russia ended a second day of U.S.-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi on Saturday without a deal. A UAE government spokesperson said there was face-to-face engagement between Ukraine and Russia - tackled “outstanding elements” of Washington's peace framework.The UAE statement said the talks were conducted in a “constructive and positive atmosphere.8. US Army Common Autonomous Multi-Domain Launcher (CAML) Program.9. Blackbeard Hypersonic Strike Weapon.

For review:1. Commander of the United States Central Command Adm. Brad Cooper is expected to arrive in Israel on Saturday for meetings with senior officials.2. Air France and Dutch airline KLM have canceled flights to Israel, Dubai and Saudi Arabia until at least Sunday, citing “security tensions in the region” amid concern of renewed conflict with Iran.3. Iran's foreign minister launched a furious tirade on Friday against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after the latter commented in Davos that the deadly crackdown on protests in the Islamic Republic showed that if authorities “kill enough people,” they stay in power.4. US - Russia - Ukraine Tri-Lateral Talks in Abu Dhabi.5. Latvia's government has approved the planned purchase of Archer 155 mm self-propelled howitzers for the country's armed forces.6. Pentagon leadership has made “no decision” yet about a potential reorganization that would affect the future of US Africa Command.In December The Washington Post reported that the Defense Department was weighing a significant reorganization of the combatant commands that could see AFRICOM subsumed with US Central Command and US European Command under a new US International Command. 7. The Pentagon's unclassified version of the National Defense Strategy places the homeland as the department's number one priority above the Indo-Pacific.The top four priorities for the Pentagon, as ordered by the NDS, are: Defend the US homeland; Deter China in the Indo-Pacific “through strength, not confrontation”; Increase burden-sharing with US allies and partners; & “Supercharge” the US Defense industrial base8. Armor Not Dead: The Army is rolling out four prototypes of the M1E3 to a platoon this summer — five years earlier than the service initially planned, the Army Chief of Staff said. 

For review:1. Eight prominent Muslim countries jointly announced their decisions to join US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace on WednesdaySaudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates will each appoint a representative to sit on the panel of world leaders, their foreign ministers announced in a joint statement.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted US President Donald Trump's invitation to join the Board of Peace, the premier's office announced Wednesday.2. A meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to take place on Thursday with “land deals” over Ukraine on the table, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff told CNBC.3. President Trump: "Concept of a Deal" on Greenland; No Tariffs.4. Germany will finance the delivery of five Lynx KF41 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine under a contract signed in December 2025, with the first systems expected to arrive in the coming weeks, Rheinmetall announced Monday.5. Trophy active protection systems will be integrated on the Leopard 2 A8 main battle tanks of Lithuania, the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Croatia under a €300 million ($351 million) deal, manufacturer Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announced on Monday.6. The British Army's newly upgraded Challenger 3 Main Battle Tank has undergone and completed crewed live firing, ticking off a key milestone for the £800 million ($1.08 billion) program, expected to eventually deliver 148 vehicles into service.7. House and Senate appropriators have agreed on an $838.7 billion defense topline for fiscal 2026 in a bipartisan deal that would boost defense funds by $8.4 billion over the Pentagon's request.

For review:1. The Syrian government and the Kurdish SDF announced a new four-day truce after a previous ceasefire between government forces broke down. The two sides have been clashing for two weeks, amid a breakdown in negotiations over the implementation of a deal to merge their forces together.2. US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that “we think we know” where the body of the final hostage, slain Israel Police Master Sgt. Ran Gvili, is being held in the Gaza StripMSG Gvili, a member of the Yasam police unit, was killed battling terrorists at Kibbutz Alumim on October 7, 2023, and his body was abducted to Gaza, where it is still being held.3. Several European countries are considering whether to stop sending personnel to a US military-led coordination center for Gaza, saying it has failed to increase aid flows to the war-shattered enclave or achieve political change, diplomats said.The Civil-Military Coordination Center was established in southern Israel in October under US President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza. It was tasked with monitoring the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, facilitating the entry of aid, and developing postwar policies for the Palestinian territory.4. US Plans Signing Ceremony for Board of Peace in Davos.5. Israel on Tuesday began demolishing the East Jerusalem headquarters of UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees and their descendants, with Israeli forces entering the compound with bulldozers and other demolition equipment in the early morning and destroying buildings in what UNRWA called an “unprecedented attack.”6. Iran's foreign minister hit out at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos late Monday for canceling his appearance over a brutal crackdown on recent protests and said the decision was based on “lies and political pressure from Israel.” 7. Wall Street Journal Report: US President Donald Trump is continuing to push his aides to devise what he calls “decisive” military options against Iran, days after he called off strikes against the Islamic Republic.

For review:1. A U.S. military strike in northwest Syria resulted in the death of a leader affiliated with Al-Qaeda who was linked to the ISIS attack that resulted in the death of two U.S. Army soldiers and a U.S. civilian interpreter, the U.S. Central Command announced Saturday.2. President Trump's Board of Peace Invitations Sent: 60 Countries Invited; France Says No.3. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged Monday that Turkish and Qatari forces would not set foot in Gaza, days after the White House announced that officials from the countries would sit on a key committee set to oversee the Strip's postwar management.4. U.S. President Donald Trump is also attending in person for the first time since he addressed the forum during his first term in 2020. Alongside President Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are set to attend in person.5. Ukraine's top negotiator Rustem Umerov said on Sunday that talks with U.S. officials would continue at the World Economic Forum opening this week in the Swiss resort of Davos.6. - U.S. President Donald Trump has linked his drive to control Greenland to his failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize, saying he no longer thought "purely of Peace" as the row over the island threatened to reignite a trade war with Europe.The President declined to tell NBC News in an interview whether he would use force to seize Greenland. He did reiterate his threat to hit European nations with tariffs if a deal is not reached.7. A pair of U.S. naval vessels carried out Washington's first reported Taiwan Strait transit of 2026, according to Chinese and U.S. officials.The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command claimed that Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John Finn (DDG 113 ) and Pathfinder-class oceanographic survey ship USNS Mary Sears (T-AGS 65) transited the strategic strait between Friday and Saturday.8. The U.S. and Japan have pledged to further expand joint training across Japan's southwest region, including the first island chain, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Thursday.In a 50-minute meeting held this week in Washington D.C., the two defense leaders agreed to prioritize several initiatives meant to strengthen the response capabilities of the U.S.-Japan Alliance.  

For review:1. US Announces (Gaza) Board of Peace Executive Committee; Includes Turkey & Qatar.2. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday said authorities “must break the back of the seditionists” and blamed US President Donald Trump for “casualties” after the Islamic Republic's bloody crackdown on a protest wave against the country's clerical authorities.3. US President Donald Trump, for the first time, appeared to call on Saturday for the end of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's rule in Iran.“It's time to look for new leadership in Iran,” the President told Politico.4. Mossad director David Barnea was reported to arrive Friday in the US for consultations on Iran's deadly crackdown on protests and a potential American military response.5. Ukraine Delegation Arrives in US to Discuss Peace Agreement. Ukrainian negotiators will meet with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.6. Troops from several European countries continued to arrive in Greenland on Thursday in a show of support for Denmark as talks among representatives of Denmark, Greenland and the U.S. highlighted “fundamental disagreement” over the future of the Arctic island.7. French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday reaffirmed that "no intimidation or threat" could influence them following US President Donald Trump's announcement to impose new tariffs on eight European countries over the Greenland dispute.8. US Navy Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle: US defense spending needs to be rebaselined to at least 4 percent of the nation's gross domestic product to enable the Navy to meet current readiness demands and to expand its fleet of warships to contend with future threats.9. The first Trump-class Battleship could cost up to about $21 billion if ordered today, with the price inching toward $22 billion if ordered in 2030, according to an estimate put forward by the Congressional Budget Office.

For review:1. US Forces seize 6th sanctioned tanker in Caribbean Sea.2. Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said she presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday.3. US President Donald Trump reportedly informed Iran that he won't be ordering a strike on the country over its deadly crackdown on protesters after the leaders of four Arab countries convinced him to hold off.4. US special envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday announced the launch of phase two of President Donald Trump's plan for ending the war in Gaza, including the establishment of a new technocratic Palestinian administration for the Strip.5. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy responded Thursday to President Trump that Ukraine was stalling a peace deal in the country's ongoing war with Russia, saying his country will “never be a stumbling block for peace.”The President told Reuters this week that he believes Russian President Putin is “ready to make a deal,” but “Ukraine is less ready.” The President specifically named Zelensky as the person holding up the negotiations. 6. Moscow agrees with U.S. President Donald Trump's view that Ukraine is holding up a peace deal to end the almost four years of fighting, a Kremlin official said Thursday.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “Yes, we can agree with it, it's indeed so.”7. Ukrainian military resistance, with France alone providing two-thirds of Ukraine's intelligence capabilities in the war against Russia.This was stated by French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, January 15, in his New Year's address to the army at the Istres airbase near Marseille, according to a Ukrinform correspondent.8. The White House meeting to discuss Greenland lasted about an hour. Participating in the meeting were: U.S. Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenland's Vivian Motzfeldt.Denmark's Rasmussen described the conversation as “frank but constructive,” The U.S., Denmark and Greenland agreed to establish a high-level working group to try to determine a way forward for the self-governing Danish territory.9. Armor Not Dead: US Army Shows M1E3 Tank Prototype at Detroit Auto Show; A Working Platform to Test Ideas. 

For review:1. Latest on Iran Protests.- Iranian Officials: More Than 2000 Killed in Protests: Iran Blames US and Israel.- Appearing to depart from the notion of negotiating with the Iranian government, US President Donald Trump told protesters in Iran on Tuesday that “help is on its way” and urged them to keep protesting and take control of the country's institutions.- Israeli and Arab officials have suggested the Trump administration hold off on striking Iran for now, believing that the Islamic Republic may not be sufficiently weakened in order for an American attack to topple it. - The Israel Defense Forces said Monday that it remained on alert for possible “surprise scenarios” as anti-government unrest in Iran has prompted the United States to threaten intervention over the killing of protesters.- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party warned on Monday that foreign intervention in Iran could spark wider turmoil in the region.2. The United States accused Russia on Monday of a "dangerous and inexplicable escalation" of the war in Ukraine after Moscow launched new attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure in Kyiv, despite ongoing U.S.-led negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.3. Russia and China are increasingly working together in the Arctic, and their presence there will be a growing threat to NATO allies, said Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe.4. Vice President Vance & Secretary of State Rubio to Meet with Foreign Ministers from Greenland & Denmark in Washington D.C..

For review:1. US and Jordan Strike ISIS Targets in Syria.2. Human Rights Group: More Than 500 Killed in Iran Protests; President Trump Weighing Military Options.3. Hamas says it has instructed its government agencies to prepare to hand over their powers to the independent committee of Palestinian technocrats that is supposed to administer Gaza under US President Donald Trump's ceasefire plan.4. Israel on Sunday carried out major airstrikes against seven Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, using more than 30 munitions in two waves of strikes, the military said.5. A group of European countries, led by Britain and Germany, is discussing plans to boost their military presence in Greenland to show U.S. President Donald Trump that the continent is serious about Arctic security, Bloomberg News reported on Sunday.6. EU countries should weigh whether to set up a combined military force that could eventually replace US troops in Europe, the bloc's defense chief said Sunday.EU defense commissioner Andrius Kubilius floated creating a “powerful, standing ‘European military force' of 100,000 troops” as a possible option to better protect the continent.7. The UK Friday earmarked 200 million pounds ($268 million) to prepare British troops to be deployed to Ukraine as part of a “multinational” force if a ceasefire is agreed between Moscow and Kyiv.8.  Armor Not Dead: US Army to Unveil M1E3 Prototype at Detroit Auto Show.

For review:1. Iranian Protests Continue for 13th Day; Spread Across Iran's 31 Provinces.2. During visit to Beirut, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi has said his country is seeking to open a new chapter in relations with Lebanon, at a time when Lebanon is continuing with plans to disarm Tehran's most potent proxy- Hezbollah.3. Iran's supreme leader signaled Friday that security forces would crack down on protesters after they screamed from windows and marched through the streets overnight, directly challenging US President Donald Trump's pledge to support those peacefully demonstrating.4. Report: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will escape to Moscow if his regime collapses- an intelligence report shared with The Times of Israel says.The Supreme Leader Khamenei, 86, will flee Tehran with his aides and family members if his security forces fail to halt the growing demonstrations or desert his side amid the unrest, the report says.5. Russia fired its new Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile at the western Ukrainian city of Lviv overnight on Jan. 9, the Russian Defense Ministry said, calling the attack "retaliation" for an attempted Ukrainian drone strike on one of President Vladimir Putin's residences, a claim Kyiv has denied.6. The US has seized another sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, US Southern Command said on Friday.7. The head of NATO's forces in Europe, US General Alexus Grynkewich, said Friday the military alliance was far from being in “a crisis,” following President Donald Trump‘s threats to bring Greenland under US control.8. Lockheed Martin says it delivered 191 F-35 Stealth Fighters in 2025, a record for the program facilitated by a backlog of jets held in storage.

For review:1. US Seizes Oil Tanker in N. Atlantic Ocean.2. President Trump's advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Wednesday in Paris with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev to discuss the U.S. plan for peace in Ukraine.3. Somaliland in Talks with Israel About Possible Military Base.4. US Ready to Start Phase 2 of Gaza Peace Agreement.5. The Lebanese army announced Thursday that it had completed the first phase of its plan to disarm Hezbollah, covering the area in the country's south between the Israeli border and the Litani River.But Israel, which maintains a troop presence in a number of key locations in southern Lebanon to defend the border, was skeptical about the Lebanese claim.6. President Donald Trump issued a warning to Raytheon on Wednesday, saying he would cut the defense giant's government contracts if it does not accelerate weapons production and act to rein in stock buybacks.7. USMC has selected a team of Northrop Grumman and Kratos to deliver the service's first batch of drone wingmen, the companies announced today. Under the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) program, Northrop will serve as the prime contractor, integrating mission equipment onto Kratos's unmanned XQ-58 Valkyrie 

For review:1. At least seven U.S. service members were injured during Operation Absolute Resolve, according to a Pentagon official and a person familiar with the situation. The Cuban government said this week that 32 of its officers died in the raid.2. France, the United Kingdom and Ukraine signed a “Declaration of Intent” on Tuesday to send their forces to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal with Russia.3. Israel and Syria on Tuesday agreed during the second day of talks in Paris to create a mechanism that will facilitate de-escalation, diplomacy and commercial opportunities between the two countries, according to a joint statement from the two countries and the US that was released by Washington.4. Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met his Syrian counterpart Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani in Paris on Tuesday.5. Israeli military intelligence has warned that Iran is plotting to assassinate Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa. According to the Israeli military's assessment, al-Sharaa is facing threats from Iran alongside other hostile actors.6. Iran Warns of Preemptive Strikes Against Imminent Security Threats.7. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar visited Somaliland on Tuesday for the first official visit since Israel recognized the breakaway state last month, where he met with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi.8. N. Korea launches 2 x hypersonic missiles into the Sea of Japan. 

For review:1. Former Venezuelan Vice-President (Delcy Rodriguez) sworn in as official President.2. President Trump: US Not at War with Venezuela.3. Britain and France on Sunday said they had carried out joint strikes on the Islamic State group in Syria to prevent the Islamist extremists from resurging.4. A fifth round of talks between Israel and Syria started on Monday in Paris, the first meetings in nearly two months, after progress toward a security arrangement between the two countries stalled.5. Israel launched a series of airstrikes deep inside eastern and southern Lebanon on Monday, which the Israel Defense Forces said targeted buildings used by Hamas and Hezbollah.6.  Azerbaijan's President: No Peacekeeping Force Envisaged (in Gaza). Azerbaijan has no intention of sending a contingent of its troops to take part in peacekeeping operations outside its borders, including in the International Stabilization Force in Gaza, President Ilham Aliyev says.7. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. President Donald Trump's adviser Jared Kushner will take part in a leaders' summit on Ukraine's security guarantees in Paris on Jan. 6, a White House official told the Kyiv Independent.NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will also attend the summit, the alliance's press service said. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will co-host the meeting.8. The German military has awarded a 4.2-billion-euro ($4.92-billion) contract to a joint venture between Rheinmetall and KNDS Deutschland for the delivery of 200 Puma infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs).9. USAF Designates Northrup Grumman Talon CCA as YFQ-48A.The Air Force in early 2025 dubbed the first round of CCAs, made by Anduril and General Atomics, the YFQ-44A & the YFQ-42A, respectively.

1. US Raid Captures Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

For review:1. The United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday it was pulling its remaining forces out of Yemen after Saudi Arabia backed a call for UAE forces to leave within 24 hours.2. Somaliland FM: No Resettlement of Palestinians or Military Bases. Somaliland on Thursday officially denied that it had agreed to accept Gazan refugees or allow Israel to establish military bases on its soil in exchange for Israeli recognition.3. The Iranian foreign ministry designated the Royal Canadian Navy a terrorist organization on Tuesday in what it said was retaliation for Canada's 2024 blacklisting of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.4. Reuters Report: In the weeks before the Gaza ceasefire on October 10, Israel widely deployed a new weapon: M113 Armored Personnel Carriers repurposed to carry between 1 and 3 tons of explosives.5. Ukraine's President Zelenskyy New Years Address.6. Russian President Putin New Years Address.7. Russia's Oreshnik Missile Fielded in Belarus.The Belarusian Defense Ministry said Tuesday that the Oreshnik has a range of up to 5,000 kilometers, or 3,100 miles.8.  China Tests YJ-20 Hypersonic Missile from Type 055-class Destroyer.Along with a 1,500-2000 km range, the YJ-20 has the capability to maneuver upon reentry. 

For Review:1. Saudi Arabia bombed Yemen's port city of Mukalla on Tuesday over what it described as a shipment of weapons for a separatist force there, which arrived from the United Arab Emirates. 2. US Drone Strike on Venezuelan Port.The drone strike targeted a remote dock on the Venezuelan coast that the US government believed was being used by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to store drugs and move them onto boats for shipping. There were no casualties, according to the sources.3. The United States is offering Ukraine security guarantees for a period of 15 years as part of a proposed peace plan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday.4. A top Russian official on Monday issued personal threats against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after Russia claimed that Ukraine launched a drone attack on one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's official residences.5. President Trump meets wit Israeli PM Netanyahu; Discusses Gaza Peace Deal; Iran Missile Development; Lebanon; & Syria.  6. The United States defended Israel's right to recognize the breakaway territory of Somaliland as a state at the United Nations on Monday, comparing it to the recognition of a Palestinian state by numerous countries.7. Chinese forces fired more than two dozen rockets and rehearsed port seizures on the second day of ongoing blockade drills around Taiwan.In statements and posters, Beijing cites Washington's recent $11 billion arms sale of artillery systems, short-range ballistic missiles and loitering munitions to Taipei as one of the main reasons for the Justice Mission drills. 

For review:1. The United States hasn't given up its pursuit of the massive, rusted oil tanker it chased into international waters near Venezuela last weekend, Officials no longer expect the Bella 1 to return to the country to load up with oil as the US military and Coast Guard chase it. The ship is currently empty.2.  Busy Week: President Trump to Meet with Ukraine President & Israeli PM.3. Israel on Friday became the first country to recognize Somaliland, a former British protectorate that unilaterally declared independence from formerly Italian-ruled Somalia in 1991.4. The United Nations Security Council will convene an emergency session on Monday to discuss Israel's recognition of Somaliland, with members slated to condemn the move.The European Union joined the chorus of condemnations of Israel's move.5. The Israeli Defense Ministry announced on Sunday the delivery of the first operational high-power laser interception system developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., dubbed “Iron Beam,” to the Israel Defense Forces.6. The Pentagon has claimed that Chinese missile forces are operating a new type of anti-ship ballistic missiles that are capable of reaching the West Coast of the United States, according to the annual report on Beijing's military power.  

For review:1. US Strikes ISIS Militants in Nigeria.2. Venezuela's ambassador to the United Nations on Tuesday accused the United States of committing the “greatest extortion known in our history” at an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council called over Washington's seizures of Venezuelan oil tankers.3. Russia's foreign ministry said on Thursday that the United States was reviving piracy and banditry in the Caribbean Sea by blockading Venezuela and said it hoped that U.S. President Donald Trump's pragmatism would help avoid a disaster.4. US Coast Guard Still Pursuing Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker in Caribbean. 5. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he will meet US President Donald Trump in Florida at the weekend, as talks continue on ending Russia's full-scale war.6. Lebanon's foreign minister on Wednesday criticized Hezbollah and demanded its entire military system be dismantled and disarmed, saying that it was “unacceptable” that a non-state armed organization continues to operate within the country.7. China Sanctions 20 US Companies over Recent Taiwan Arms Package.The recent announcement of the $10 billion U.S. arms-sale package for Taiwan has drawn an angry response from China, which claims Taiwan as its own and says it must come under its control. 

For review:1. US Continues Military Build-Up in Puerto Rico.The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that at least 10 CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, which are used to transport special forces, arrived in the Caribbean theater from Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico.The Journal also reported that C-17 cargo planes from Fort Stewart and Fort Campbell Army bases arrived in Puerto Rico on Monday.2. Israel reportedly started shipping weapons to the Syrian Druze just days after Syria's Iran-backed President Bashar al-Assad was ousted a year ago.3. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met on Wednesday with Hamas officials in Ankara to discuss the ceasefire in Gaza and advancing to the second phase of the agreement, a Turkish foreign ministry source said.4. As President Volodymyr Zelensky unveiled details of a U.S.-Ukraine draft peace plan on Dec. 24, aimed at ending Russia's full-scale war, two key provisions remain unresolved.The disagreements center on provisions 12 and 14 of the 20-point proposal. Both deal with issues Kyiv calls existential: territories and the future of critical infrastructure.5. Senior Russian General Killed by Car Bomb in Moscow.6. Sweden will soon have the capability to conduct deep strikes far behind enemy lines, as the Gripen will be integrated with the German-made Taurus cruise missile earlier than planned (2028).7. China Plans Future Naval Force with Nine Aircraft Carriers.

For review:1. Israel has reportedly warned the Trump administration that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps may be using an ongoing military exercise focusing on missiles as cover to launch an attack on Israel, amid fears that Jerusalem and Tehran are readying for another confrontation.2. Finland's President (Alexander Stubb): Russia - Ukraine Peace Closer than Any Point in the War3. US Coast Guard Pursuing 3d Sanctioned Venezuelan Tanker.4. President Trump Announces New "Trump-Class" Battleship.The U.S. Navy will buy two new “battleships” as part of the “Golden Fleet” effort, President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Navy Secretary John Phelan announced Monday at Mar-a-Lago.5. The U.S. Coast Guard Legend-class will serve as the basis of a new Navy frigate program, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle announced on social media Friday.The new frigate design will focus on American designs and American yards.6. The US Air Force has awarded nine companies contracts for an early stage of the second round of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, selecting a wide array of designs that will be evaluated for potential future prototyping, an Air Force spokesperson told Breaking Defense today. The spokesperson did not say when the awards were made or what companies were picked. The nine successful firms will now compete for a prototyping deal, which the spokesperson said could be offered to more than one company.7. U.S. President Donald Trump signed into law a nearly $1 trillion annual defense policy bill. The fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, authorizes a record $901 billion in annual military spending, $8 billion more than the President requested.

For review:1. US Seizes Second Venezuelan Sanctioned Tanker.2. US Strikes 70 ISIS Targets in Syria.The attack was conducted using F-15 Eagle jets, A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopters, the U.S. officials said. F-16 fighter jets from Jordan and HIMARS rocket artillery also were used.3. NBC Report: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will present plans for a possible fresh attack on Iran to US President Donald Trump during his upcoming visit to Washington. According to the report, Israel is growing increasingly concerned that Iran is rebuilding and even expanding its ballistic missile production in the wake of the nations' 12-day war in June.4. Russia & France Consider Dialogue.5. Chinese Aircraft Carrier Fujian 18 Sails Thru Taiwan Strait.

For review:1. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is leaving the possibility of a war with Venezuela on the table.2. US Secretary of State: We Need to Clarify (ISF) Mandate Before We Can Expect Countries to Contribute Troops.3. Report: Turkey to Return S400 System to Russia to Allow F-35 Purchase.4. European leaders on Dec. 19 approved a $105 billion interest-free loan for Ukraine.5. Potential US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases for Taiwan- estimated $11 billion include:·        82 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), 420 ATACMS systems and other strike weapons, valued at up to $4.05 billion·        60 M109A7 Self-Propelled Howitzers valued at up to $4.030 billion ·        Altius Autonomous Air Vehicles valued at up to $1.1 billion·        Tactical Mission Network Software valued at up to $1.01 billion·        1,050 Javelin Missiles valued at up to $375 million·        1,545 TOW 2B Missiles valued at up to $353 million·        AH-1W Helicopter spare and repair parts valued at up to $96 million.“China firmly opposes and strongly condemns it,” said a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  

For review:1. President Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Oil Tankers.2. Speaking at an annual meeting with top military officers, Russian President Putin said Moscow would prefer to achieve its goals and “eliminate the root causes of the conflict” by diplomatic means, but he added that “if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means.”3. Six Countries Join (Gaza) Board of Peace. The US has secured commitments from Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany to have their leaders join US President Donald Trump on the Board of Peace.4. The United States Central Command hosted a conference in Qatar on Tuesday with dozens of partner nations to discuss plans for an International Stabilization Force for the Gaza Strip.Egypt, Indonesia, Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, Italy, France, the UK, and Azerbaijan were among the attendees. Other countries at the summit included Cyprus, Georgia, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Jordan, Japan, Greece, Singapore, the EU, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Morocco, Bahrain, Bosnia, Finland, Kosovo, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Spain, and Yemen.5. Senators voted 77-20 on a bipartisan basis to send this year's National Defense Authorization Act to the desk of President Donald Trump, who has indicated he will sign the bill. The 2026 NDAA authorizes $900.6 billion in defense funds, or about $8 billion more than the White House's request. 

For review:1. US Agrees to Unspecified Security Guarantees for Ukraine; Talks to Continue.2.  Estonia Begins Installing Concrete Bunkers on Border with Russia. The initial batch represents the first phase of the Estonian 600-bunker network as part of the Baltic Defense Line project- coordinated with Lithuania and Latvia.3. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday met with the US Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria and Lebanon Tom Barrack, amid concerns that Israel could launch a major military offensive against Hezbollah if Beirut does not step up its campaign to disarm the terror group.4. The US is hosting a conference in Doha tomorrow aimed at offering potential donor countries more details on how the ISF will operate in a bid to move ahead with the initiative that has appeared to stall since the UN Security Council backed its formation roughly a month ago.5. Tom Barrack (US Ambassador to Turkey), said there were “ongoing discussions with Türkiye regarding their desire to rejoin the F-35 program and their possession of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system.”6. Trinidad & Tobago Allow US Military Access to Airports. Only 7 miles (11 kilometers) separate Venezuela from the twin-island Caribbean nation at their closest point. It has two main airports: Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and ANR Robinson International Airport in Tobago.

For review:1. Joint US-Syrian Patrol Ambushed; Two US Soldiers Killed; President Trump Vows Serious Retaliation.2. WSJ Report: A US special operations team in the Indian Ocean raided a ship headed to Iran from China last month and seized military-related articles.3.  The Israel Defense Forces on Saturday issued a warning to residents of the southern Lebanon town of Yanouh ahead of planned airstrikes against Hezbollah infrastructure, but postponed the strike after Lebanese troops went to search the site.4. On Friday, Lebanese Officials  received warnings from Arab and international parties that Israel is preparing for a wide-scale military operation against Hezbollah.5. Top Hamas commander Raad Saad was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Saturday afternoon, the Israel Defense Forces said.6. International troops could be deployed in the Gaza Strip as early as next month to form a UN-authorized stabilization force, two US officials told Reuters, but it remains unclear how the Palestinian terror group Hamas will be disarmed.7. US and Ukrainian negotiators are set to meet for high-stakes peace talks in Berlin on December 14 as disagreements persist over territorial control and security guarantees.8. Switzerland has decided to cut an order of 36 Lockheed Martin F-35A fifth-generation fighter jets due to a price increase of roughly $610 million enforced by the US government.

For review:1. US President Donald Trump's administration is reportedly planning to appoint an American two-star general to command the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza.2. Taiwan's high-profile Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu made a previously unpublicized visit to Israel recently, three sources familiar with the trip told Reuters, at a time when Taiwan is looking to Jerusalem for defense cooperation.3. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said on Thursday that he would travel to Beirut for talks after his Lebanese counterpart had declined a day earlier to visit Tehran.4. The United States has suggested creating a “free economic zone” in parts of the eastern Donbas region from which Ukraine would withdraw under a negotiated peace with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday.5. The Croatian Ministry of Defense has placed an order for 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks, a deal valued at almost €1.5 billion ($1.8 billion).6. Russian and Chinese bombers conducted a joint patrol Tuesday, flying over the East China Sea and Western Pacific, prompting Seoul and Tokyo to scramble fighter aircraft to monitor the flights.7. — South Korea's Hanwha is set to invest in a new $1 billion plant in the United States to produce Modular Charge Systems (MCS) for 155mm howitzer ammunition.8. The House passed the fiscal 2026 defense policy authorization bill, setting up passage in the Senate before Congress goes on holiday break.Lawmakers voted 312-112 to advance the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes $900.6 billion in defense funds, or about $8 billion more than the White House's request.

For review:1. Latest in Ukraine/US/European negotiations to end war.2. A Hamas source told The Times of Israel on Sunday that the group will only agree to give up its weapons through negotiations that result in the establishment of a Palestinian state.3. Armor Not Dead: Australian Army's 3d Brigade (Armored) Transformation.The first tranche of the new AS9 Huntsman SP 155mm howitzers is set to reach the 3d Brigade by the end of 2027,.Other new kit heading the brigade's way includes M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks, AS21 Redback infantry fighting vehicles, several types of Abrams-based combat engineering vehicles, and Boxer 8x8 combat reconnaissance vehicles.

For review:1. Ukrainian President to Meet with E3 Leaders in London to discuss last week's US Negotiations (Miami).2. US Envoy Kellogg Says Deal Close; Sticking Points include Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant.3. The Russian and Chinese militaries conducted joint anti-missile drills in on Russian territory in early December as part of scheduled military exercises, China's Defense Ministry said on Dec. 6.These drills followed joint artillery and anti-submarine exercises that were conducted in the Sea of Japan in August.4. Hamas is ready to discuss “freezing or storing” its arsenal of weapons as part of its ceasefire with Israel, a senior official says, offering a possible formula to resolve one of the thorniest issues in the US-brokered agreement.5. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza is “almost” complete, and that he expects to move on to its second phase soon.6. Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Thani suggested Sunday that his country will not foot the bill for rebuilding Gaza, despite speculation that it would be the main backer of reconstruction.“We are not the ones who are going to write the check to rebuild what others destroyed,” Al Thani said during an onstage interview at the Doha Forum, an annual diplomatic conference. 7. During a visit to the Gaza Strip on Sunday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said that the Yellow Line, demarcating where the Israeli military withdrew to under the terms of the ongoing ceasefire, is “a new border line.”“We will not allow Hamas to reestablish itself. We control large parts of the Gaza Strip and stand along [strategic] lines. The Yellow Line is a new border line, a forward defensive line for the communities and an offensive line.”8. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has called for stepped-up military recruitment after the United States deployed a fleet of warships and the world's largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean. 9. President Javier Milei on Saturday hailed the arrival of Argentina's first six F-16 jets purchased from Denmark, describing them as “guardian angels” that will strengthen the South American country's armed forces.The US-built aircraft are among the 24 fighters bought last year from Copenhagen for roughly $300 million. 

For review:1. Remains of Thai Hostage Sudthisak Rinthalak Returned From Gaza Strip.2. Israel has told mediators in Cairo that Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad know how to reach the remains of Master Sergeant Ran Gvili, the last hostage held in the Gaza Strip, Israeli television reported Friday. 3. The Israel Defense Forces carried out a wave of airstrikes against what it said were Hezbollah weapons depots in southern Lebanon on Thursday.4. The head of the US military's Central Command congratulated Syria's security forces on Friday for thwarting several weapons shipments to Lebanon's Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah. 5. Iran Launches Cruise & Ballistic Missiles During Naval Drill Near Strait of Hormuz.6. US & Ukraine to Continue Third Day of Talks in Miami on Saturday.7.  The United States has offered to sell Poland  250 used Stryker vehicles for a single ceremonial dollar, and Warsaw is preparing to accept that deal as soon as the logistics can be worked out, according to Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense.8. UK Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard said today he would order a review into advice he received from top military officials that the Ajax armored vehicle was “demonstrably safe to operate"-  just weeks before many soldiers grew sick from riding in the vehicle that the program had to be paused. 

For review:1. President Trump: US is Preparing for Land Operations Against Narcotics Manufacturers in Venezuela.2. US - Russian Talks in Moscow "Useful & Constructive" -  But No Concrete Deal.3. The Israel Ministry of Defense delivered the first operational Arrow 3 Air Defense System to Germany in a formal ceremony at a German Air Force base near Berlin, Israel's Ministry of Defense said today. 4. The Red Cross transferred the body of a presumed hostage from Hamas to Israeli security forces in Gaza on Wednesday evening.5. The family of Sudthisak Rinthalak, one of the two remaining hostages whose bodies are held in the Gaza Strip, spoke Wednesday about the long wait for the return of their son and brother.Mr. Rinthalak came from the town of Ratnawee in northern Thailand.6. Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives held their first direct talks in decades Wednesday, part of a year-old ceasefire monitoring mechanism in the war with Hezbollah.The meeting was held at the UN peacekeeping force's headquarters in Naqoura in Lebanon, near the border with Israel.7. Australia is launching a new independent acquisition system to better cope with increasingly complex weapons systems, one that will report directly to the defense minister and not pass through the secretary of the Defense Department.“It is the biggest reform to the Defense Organization in 50 years,” Pat Conroy, Minister for the Defense Industry, told reporters on Monday, 

For review:1. President Trump Discusses Venezuela with Key Advisors.2. Pope Leo XIV arrived Sunday in Lebanon from Turkey, where he opened his first trip as Pope. He is set to wrap up his visit on Tuesday with a prayer at the site of the 2020 Beirut port blast and a Mass on the waterfront.3. US Cautions Iraq Against Support to Hezbollah. 4. Negotiations between the U.S. and Ukraine on Sunday focused on where the de facto border with Russia would be drawn under a peace deal.Representing the US were Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner. The Ukrainian side was represented by national security adviser Rustem Umerov, military chief of staff Gen. Andrii Hnatov and deputy head of military intelligence Vadym Skibitskyi.5. Ukraine's former military chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi has called for political change and reform once a peace deal is reached, in an op-ed for the Telegraph published on 29 Nov.6. Taiwan Funds Island-Wide AD System.The Taiwan President outlined his administration's proposal for a $40 billion defense supplemental this week that would fund an island-wide air defense system and the procurement of missiles, drones and other anti-invasion capabilities.

For review:1. President Trump: Airspace Above Venezuela Considered To Be Closed In Its Entirety. “To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY,” President Trump said in a post on Truth Social.2. President Zelensky's Chief of Staff Resigns From Corruption Scandal.Andriy Yermak resigned as chief of staff on Friday after an anti-corruption raid at his home. 3. Ukraine is sending a high-level delegation to the U.S. on Saturday for more talks on the Trump administration's Peace Plan- ahead of White House envoy Steve Witkoff's visit to Moscow expected early next week.The Ukrainian delegation will now be led by the head of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov, after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff was forced to resign on Friday amid a corruption scandal.4. German Chancellor Merz said Friday he is pressing the Belgian government to come to an agreement with the EU to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine.Belgium, which hosts international deposit organization Euroclear, fears such a move could expose it to crippling legal and financial reprisals from Moscow.5. Hezbollah's leader (Naim Qassem) on Friday said the terror group had the right to respond to Israel's killing of its top military chief in a strike on Beirut's southern suburbs.6. The Lebanese army took dozens of journalists from local and and international media outlets Friday on a tour of the rugged border area between Israel and Lebanon. Parts of the zone south of the Litani River and north of the border with Israel were formerly a Hezbollah stronghold, off limits to the Lebanese national army and UN peacekeepers deployed in the area.7. The IDF is considering an expanded operation in southern Syria if it finds that Syrian government forces were involved in gunfire at IDF soldiers during an arrest operation in Syria's south early Friday morning. The IDF could transition to conducting fewer arrest operations against terror operatives active near the border and instead increase airstrikes to eliminate targets.8. The US Navy is cancelling its Constellation frigate program following months of cost overruns and delays but plans to keep two vessels that are already being built in Wisconsin.

For review:1. US Sec of State: Security Guarantees to Ukraine After Ceasefire.2. The body of Mr. Dror Or was returned to Israel from Gaza by Palestinian terror groups on Tuesday evening, Israeli authorities announced Wednesday morning.The bodies of two slain hostages now remain held in Gaza.3. Israel reportedly conveyed a proposal to Hamas last week that would allow the release of dozens of Hamas fighters believed to be trapped in tunnels in an IDF-controlled area of eastern Rafah, as long as they surrender.4. Report: Iran Continuing to Fund Hezbollah in Lebanon. In November, the US undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, John Hurley, stated that Iran had managed to funnel about $1 billion to Hezbollah in 2025.5. The IDF confirmed launching a wave of strikes on southern Lebanon Thursday — the first anniversary of the ceasefire largely ending the cross-border fighting last year — saying it hit rocket-launching sites, weapon depots and military posts belonging to Hezbollah.6. Poland to Procure Saab A26 Submarines.7. BAE Systems has received a $390-million contract to produce additional Bradley A4 Infantry Fighting Vehicles.The vehicle has been a core component of the military's Armored Brigade Combat Teams since the early 1980s, with more than 6,500 currently in service.8. US Army Developing New 155mm Cluster Munition.

For review:1. US Official: Ukraine Agrees with Revised 19-Point Peace Deal; President Trump Dispatches Steve Witkoff to Meet With Russian President.2. European Union lawmakers voted on Tuesday to deepen integration of the bloc's defense industry with Ukraine. European Parliament legislators voted 457-148, with 33 abstentions, to approve a 1.5-billion euro ($1.7 billion) program, with 300 million euros ($345 million) slated for the Ukraine Support Instrument.3.  IDF Military Drill Evaluates Readiness After Strike on Senior Hezbollah Official.4. Gazan terror groups handed over what they said was the body of one of the three remaining deceased hostages on Tuesday evening, with Israel saying the remains were brought to a forensic institute for identification.5. Dozens of Hamas operatives remain trapped in an area of the southern Gaza Strip that is under Israeli control, military commanders told reporters on Sunday, vowing that they would hunt them all down.

For review:1. Europe Preparing Counterproposal to President Trump's 28 Point Russia - Ukraine Peace Plan; Talks Occurring in Switzerland & Angola.2. Estonia still wants to buy six additional M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) from the US, and possibly more, according to Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur.Estonia Minister of Defense statement: “This is why we are looking for additional systems for the deep strikes. It's not only HIMARS and it's not only Chunmoo,” he later added. “It's also the cruise missiles. It's loitering munitions. So different types of systems. What will give us more reach, because we don't have the strategic depth.”3. Israel Eliminates Hezbollah's Second-in-Command in Beirut Missile Strike.Israel said on Sunday it had killed Hezbollah's military chief of staff, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, in a targeted airstrike in the southern suburbs of Lebanon's capital, Beirut. Mr. Tabatabai was considered second only to Secretary-General Naim Qassem, in the Iran-backed terror group's command structure.4. A Hamas delegation was in Cairo on Sunday to meet with Gaza mediators on the recent escalation of hostilities in the Strip, as both Israel and the Palestinian terror group continued to trade accusations of ceasefire violations.