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SDF Launches Counteroffensive Against Turkish-Backed Forces in Northern Syria

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched a counteroffensive on Tuesday against the Ankara-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) to retake areas near Syria's northern border with Turkey. Since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's totalitarian regime earlier this month, clashes have escalated between the SDF and the SNA, which seized control of the strategic city of Manbij and its surrounding areas. (Read More)​

North Korea's ‘Unusual’ Type 73 Machine Gun In the Hands of Russian Soldiers

Recent photographs and reports suggest that Russian forces have begun deploying North Korean Type 73 machine guns, a Cold War-era weapon, as part of their ongoing war efforts in Ukraine. The Type 73 machine gun, first adopted by North Korea in 1973, combines design features from Soviet and Czech firearms. (Read More)​

Palestinian Authority Clashes with Militants in Jenin Refugee Camp

For more than a week, the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank has been the site of intense fighting between Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces and militant groups aligned with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). The PA has sealed off the entrances to the camp, trapping thousands of residents inside. Blocked streets have prevented paramedics from entering, and water and electricity have been cut off. (Read More)​

UK Tests New Radio Frequency Weapon to Counter Drone Swarms

The U.K. Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced the successful live trial of its Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon (RFDEW), a groundbreaking system designed to disable drone swarms using radio waves. The trial, conducted by the Royal Artillery Trials and Development Unit and 7 Air Defence Group in West Wales, showcased the RFDEW’s ability to target and neutralize Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS). (Read More)​

US Coast Guard Begins Construction of First Heavy Polar Icebreaker in Over 50 Years

The U.S. Coast Guard has received approval to commence full-scale construction of the first heavy Polar Security Cutter (PSC) in more than five decades. The PSC, a 460-foot-long vessel with a beam of 88 feet and a displacement of 23,200 tons, will be powered by diesel-electric engines. Designed to accommodate 186 personnel, the icebreaker features a large flight deck capable of hosting helicopters like the CH-53 King Stallion or Sikorsky H-60. (Read More)​

Inside A Secret Ukrainian Drone Command Post, Where Russian Soldiers Are Seen As Prey | NPR

In eastern Ukraine’s embattled city of Pokrovsk, drones are a critical tool for Ukrainian forces defending against Russian attacks. Technicians from the 68th Separate Jaeger Brigade work in secret workshops to build and repair drones capable of dropping improvised bombs on enemy positions. Using 3-D printers and resourceful engineering, the team—led by specialists like Yurii, a former video game programmer—ensures the drones remain operational despite the harsh conditions. (Read More)​​

Second US Navy Fighter Jet Narrowly Avoided Being Shot Down In 'Friendly Fire' Incident | Fox News

The U.S. Navy is investigating a "friendly fire" incident in the Red Sea on December 21, when the USS Gettysburg mistakenly shot down an F/A-18 Super Hornet and narrowly missed a second jet returning to the USS Harry S. Truman after airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. The first missile forced the jet’s crew to eject, while the second came within 100 feet of another aircraft. (Read More)​

Russian Cargo Ship Ursa Major Sinks in Mediterranean Sea After Explosion

The Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sank in the Mediterranean Sea on Monday following an explosion in its engine room, according to Russia’s Foreign Ministry. The incident occurred 57 nautical miles off the southern Spanish coast near Almeria. Fourteen crew members were rescued without injury from a lifeboat and transferred to Spain, according to the Ministry. Two crew members remain missing. (Read More)​​​

Christian Protests Continue in Syria After Christmas Tree Burning

Demonstrations continued in Syria following the burning of a Christmas tree in Suqaylabiyah, a Christian-majority town near Hama, by members of the Islamist group Ansar al-Tawhid. On Tuesday, hundreds of Christians marched through Damascus, chanting demands for their rights and religious freedoms. The protesters, carrying crosses, walked to the Orthodox Patriarchate in the Bab Sharqi neighborhood, calling attention to the targeted acts of violence against their community. (Read More)​