First public appearance of Ukraine’s Air Force (UAF) F-16BM two-seat “Fighting Falcon” jet.

🔗 t.iss.one/avofnrt

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today that Ukraine launched a massive drone attack targeting President Putin’s official residence in the Novgorod region on the night of December 29, but the Russian air defenses intercepted 91 UAVs during the operation, noting that while Russia will not withdraw from the peace negotiation process, its position will be “reviewed”, and adds that Moscow has determined targets and timing for a retaliatory strike.

Ukrainian President Vlodomyer Zelensky quickly denies the statements made by Russian FM Sergey Lavrov and says that Russia is preparing the ground for a large attack against government buildings in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

Spanish publication La Verdad, citing a national investigation, reported that the Russian vessel Ursa Major (Oboronlogistika), which sank on December 23, 2024, following an underwater explosion 60 miles south of Cartagena, was covertly transporting two VM-4SG naval nuclear reactor hulls to North Korea under the guise of carrying empty containers and port equipment.

Footage released by the Russian Elite “Rubicon” drone unit show one of the unit’s FPV drones hitting a Ukrainian Antonov An-26 transport aircraft stationed since 2022 at Mykolaiv International Airport in southern Ukraine.

After meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio along with Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu met with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Florida, before meeting soon with President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach. The Israeli visit to the US is expected to discuss Iran’s ballistic missiles program, disarmament of Hezbollah, and the second phase of the Gaza Peace Plan.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump have just met at Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach, Florida.

During the press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amidst his arrival at Mar-a-Lago, US President Donald Trump says he will "absolutely" support another attack by Israel against Iran if the later continues its ballistic missiles or nuclear programs.

The Arabian Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, led by Saudi Arabia, targeted with airstrikes a cluster of military armoured vehicles and equipment in al-Muklah port of Hadramot, which arrived in Saturday through Sunday on two ships from al-Fujairah port in UAE to support the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in southern Yemen.

Some of the APCs were reportedly seen leaving the port before the attack, including STREIT Spartan SUT vehicles, white-painted STREIT Cougar LAMV armored vehicles, and Nissan NP300 pickup trucks.

The United Arab Emirates said in a statement earlier today that it's pulling out its remaining forces in Yemen after Saudi Arabia backed a call for UAE forces to leave the country within 24 hours, and following a Saudi-led coalition airstrike on the southern Yemeni port of Mukalla, officially ending the mission of its "counterterrorism" units in Yemen, the only remaining forces it has in the country after ending its military presence in 2019, according to a statement by the country's ministry of defense.

🔗 WAM

CONTEXT: "Saudi Arabia believes the UAE urged the STC to mobilize in Hadhramaut and al-Mahra in response to MbS's visit to Washington last month.

The Saudi view is this:
- Emirati leadership got the impression that MbS asked for sanctions on the UAE related to Sudan
- the Saudis say this is untrue
- the UAE subsequently encouraged the STC offensive in Yemen as a riposte

The UAE didn't respond to a request for comment on the Saudi claims."

🔗 The Economist

Latvia has completed the construction of a 280 km-long fence along its border with Russia aimed at strengthening protection of the country's eastern frontier and the EU’s external border, forming a continuous physical barrier in areas where construction was technically feasible.

Yet another flight by the MQ-4C "Triton" maritime ISR aircraft, now flying over the entire Arabian Gulf stretching to the west of the Gulf of Oman.

Meanwhile, a Emirati Air Force (UAEAF) Airbus A330-243MRTT Multirole Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft (WABEL05) is active over the Arabian Gulf after departing al-Ain Intl. Airport.