⚡️ Syria's interim government is formed, will last until March 2025 — Acting prime minister Mohammed al-Bashir

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🛢 How could the Syrian crisis change Middle East energy map?

While Syria's oil reserves are small, its strategic location makes it a key logistical hub for Middle Eastern oil and gas producers. What energy routes are proposed to run through Syria?

🌊 "Four Seas Strategy": Then-Syrian president Bashar Assad aimed to link the Mediterranean, Caspian, Black Sea and Persian Gulf into an energy network, positioning Syria as a key energy hub.


Existing routes

🇪🇬🇮🇱🇯🇴 Arab Gas Pipeline (AGP): Designed to export Egyptian gas to Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Turkiye and Europe, the AGP has faced repeated setbacks, particularly the Syrian leg from Aleppo to Kilis in Turkiye, which was disrupted by the 2011 civil war.

🇮🇶🇸🇾 Iraq-Syria Oil Pipeline: Previously a transit hub for Iraqi oil to the Mediterranean, this pipeline was damaged during the 2003 Iraq war and further impacted by the 2011 Syrian civil war.


Potential routes

🇶🇦🇸🇾🇹🇷 Qatar-Syria-Turkiye Pipeline: A proposed 1,500-kilometer pipeline from Qatar to Turkiye and Europe via Syria was reportedly rejected by Syria in 2009.

🇮🇷🇮🇶🇸🇾 Iran-Iraq-Syria Pipeline: A preliminary agreement was signed in 2011 to transfer Iranian gas to Europe through Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and the Mediterranean. However, the project is presumed to be shelved.


Impact of the Syrian crisis on energy routes

🔹 The fall of the Syrian government could potentially restructure gas and oil pipeline routes to Turkiye and Europe, according to some observers

🔹 Qatar-Syria-Turkiye Pipeline Revival: Some Turkish publications suggest this project could be reconsidered

🔹 Iraq's Interest in Reconstruction: Iraq reportedly showed interest in 2023 in reconstructing the old oil pipeline to Syria to import oil to Europe

🔹 Market Reactions: Oil markets did not react strongly to the fall of the Syrian government on December 9, but natural gas prices rose by about 10%

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👹 Biden: I'm not going away, 'bad news for you all'

Speaking about his economic policies, President Biden warned that although he is leaving the presidency, he is "not going away". He did not elaborate on what he meant.

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Hezbollah: We hope the new Syria will fight Israeli occupation

Syria's new leadership should oppose Israel's aggressive actions against Syria, Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah said on Tuesday.

"We hope Syria will stabilize through the choices of its people, achieve its revival, and remain firmly in the position of rejecting Israeli occupation and preventing foreign interventions in its affairs," the statement said.

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⚡️ Syrian armed opposition takes control over Deir ez-Zor city in Eastern Syria

The city was previously seized by Syrian Kurds of the the Syrian Democratic Forces.

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❗️ US authorizes $266.4M sale of F-16 services and equipment to Ukraine

The US State Department has approved a potential sale of F-16 maintenance services and related equipment estimated to be worth $266.4 million.

Ukraine has already lost one F-16 without a single Russian missile being fired, and even US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan admits that this weapon won't do much good in Ukraine.

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2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣ I pray to god Trump will throw Project 2025 — Biden

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday warned his successor Donald Trump to not embrace Project 2025.

"I think it'd be an economic disaster for us and the region," Biden said.

The president-elect has denied on multiple occasions any connection to the concept.

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Congress urges the Secret Service to stop guarding foreign leaders in the US

A US House committee has recommended that the Secret Service review how it protects foreign leaders coming to the country after analyzing an assassination attempt on President-elect Donald Trump.

"The Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service should jointly evaluate the role of the service in protecting foreign leaders and the possibility of transferring or eliminating such functions in order to focus on the core mission: protecting the president of the United States," the report said.

A report says a shortage of Secret Service personnel due to the UN General Assembly in New York was a reason for the attempted assassination of Trump in September.

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🇷🇸 Vucic: 'If you think I am Assad, I am not'

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic recorded a video accusing foreign intelligence of trying to overthrow him through protests. He said he would reveal how much was spent on the attempts to overthrow the Serbian government.

"I will fight and serve only Serbia and the Serbian people. I will never serve foreigners and those who want to defeat, humiliate and destroy Serbia," Aleksandar Vucic stressed.

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📈🇨🇳 Chinese car exports to the US hit historic high - statistics

Exports of passenger cars from China to the US reached a historic high of $2.9 billion in the first 10 months of this year, Sputnik has calculated. This is the highest value for such a period since 1992. Previously, such statistics were not kept.

Golf cars, snowmobiles, hybrid cars, electric buses and tractors - the US buys all this from China in addition to ordinary passenger cars.

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⚡️ South Korean police search president's office, police stations

The Special Investigation Group for the Dec. 3-4 declaration of martial law in South Korea is searching the presidential office, the police, and a parliamentary security unit, Yonhap News Agency reported.

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Ex-South Korean defense minister attempts suicide

Former South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, currently under arrest after last week's attempt to impose martial law in the country, has attempted suicide, Shin Yong-hae, the head of the correctional center where the minister is held, said on Wednesday.

A guard on duty reported that Kim attempted suicide in a toilet at an order awaiting room, Yonhap cited Shin as telling the South Korean Parliament.

The center's staff immediately interfered and prevented the attempt by the ex-minister, the penitentiary official said, adding that Kim is currently under guard and his health does not cause alarm.

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❗️Russian FM spokeswoman Maria Zakharova comments on the situation in Syria:

"The most important thing now is the safety of our citizens, and everything necessary is being done to ensure it," she said.

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