🇸🇦❌🇾🇪Saudi-backed militias are increasing their deployments in eastern Yemen, particularly in Hadhramaut governorate, in response to growing advances by UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces.

➡️According to regional reports, reinforcements have been observed moving toward Mukalla, Seiyun, and surrounding districts in the Hadhramaut Valley, areas considered strategically vital due to their size, oil infrastructure, and proximity to Saudi Arabia. The build-up is aimed at preventing the STC from expanding its influence beyond southern coastal zones into eastern Yemen.

🇾🇪The STC, which already controls Aden, Lahij, Al-Dhale, and parts of Abyan, has reportedly been attempting to consolidate power along key routes linking the Arabian Sea coast to inland Hadhramaut. Saudi-aligned forces view this as a direct challenge to Riyadh’s influence and to the balance of power within the anti-Houthi camp.

🇸🇦❌🇾🇪 — Local sources to South24: Saudi Arabia warplanes resume flying over Seiyun in Wadi Hadramout

https://x.com/South24E/status/2005404701492482469

🇸🇦❌🇾🇪 — Journalistic sources: Saudi Arabia warplanes drop illumination flares over Khard and Ghayl bin Yamin in Wadi Hadramout

https://fxtwitter.com/South24E/status/2005412568161308909

🇺🇸🇵🇷🪖The United States continues to significantly reinforce its airpower posture in the Caribbean, with a large forward deployment now concentrated in Puerto Rico, reflecting expanded ISR, strike, and special operations capabilities.

➡️At least 10 MQ-9A Reaper drones have been deployed, enhancing long-endurance surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike capacity across the Caribbean basin and northern South America. Alongside them, 11 CV-22B Ospreys provide rapid long-range insertion, extraction, and resupply for special operations forces, while 10 MC-130J Commando II aircraft support covert infiltration, aerial refueling, psychological operations, and precision mobility. In addition, roughly 36 fighter aircraft are now forward positioned to ensure air superiority, rapid strike options, and deterrence.

📌Key deployment locations include:

• Rafael Hernández Airport (BQN), Aguadilla – Operating as a special operations and drone hub, hosting MQ-9A Reapers and SOF aviation assets.

• Roosevelt Roads (RVR), Ceiba – Focused on strike assets and Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concepts under IWOARG, enabling rapid dispersal and sustainment.

• Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), San Juan – Serving as a command, control, ISR, and electronic warfare (C2/ISR/EW) coordination center.

• Mercedita Airport (PSE), Ponce – Supporting U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps logistics, port access, and sustainment operations.

➡️The scale and distribution of these deployments suggest a sustained U.S. effort to improve regional responsiveness, monitor strategic corridors, and project power across the Caribbean and nearby theaters, rather than a short-term or symbolic presence.

🇺🇸🇵🇷⚡️Rafael Hernández Airport, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

➡️Personnel have begun installing visual covers along perimeter fences at Rafael Hernández Airport, restricting line-of-sight from outside areas. The measures are intended to limit observation of ongoing U.S. SOCOM aircraft movements and ground activity at the facility.

🇺🇸🇵🇷⚡️Combined satellite imagery from a Sentinel-2 overpass on 27 December, along with recent photos shared on social media, indicates a notable increase in U.S. Air Force activity at Rafael Hernández International Airport (BQN/TJBQ) in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

➡️The imagery confirms the arrival of at least five additional MC-130J Commando II aircraft over the past few days, significantly expanding the existing presence.

🔗https://x.com/latammilmvmts/status/2005387807267942731?s=46

🇨🇳❌🇹🇼 — Chinese state media is openly framing the PLA’s “Justice Mission 2025” drills as a direct response to the record $11.1B U.S. arms sale to Taiwan.

🇹🇼❌🇨🇳⚡️Taiwan’s Presidential Office issued a firm statement urging China not to misjudge the current situation or act as a destabilizing force that undermines regional peace and stability. Taipei called on Beijing to remain rational, exercise self-restraint, and immediately halt what it described as irresponsible military provocations around the island.

🇹🇼‼️According to Taiwanese authorities, the government and armed forces have maintained a comprehensive, real-time assessment of developments in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas. Military and security units remain on heightened readiness, with air, naval, and surveillance assets actively monitoring Chinese movements to ensure national security and public safety.

🇹🇼🪖‼️Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense announced the establishment of an emergency response center as Chinese military activity continues to intensify around the island. The military confirmed it will immediately conduct combat readiness exercises and maintain a high level of alert across all branches.

🇹🇼🪖⚡️Taiwan Ministry of National Defense on 𝕏

“We strongly condemn the PRC’s reckless provocations and oppose PLA actions that threaten regional stability. Rapid response exercises are underway, with forces on high alert to defend the Republic of China and protect our people.”

🔗國防部 Ministry of National Defense, ROC(Taiwan)

🇨🇳❌🇹🇼⚡️Chinese state media has circulated a second exercise poster noscriptd “Arrow of Justice.”

🇨🇳🇨🇳The poster includes the phrases “Arrow of Justice,” “Draw the Sword” (likely referencing earlier Joint Sword drills), and “Counter External Interference.” It also references Strait Thunder-2025A and depicts several green worm-like figures being destroyed.

➡️During April’s exercises, the PLA released imagery portraying Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te as a green worm.

🔗Taiwan Security Monitor (@TaiwanMonitor)

🇰🇵🚀North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised the launch of long-range strategic cruise missiles on Sunday, according to state media KCNA.

➡️The missiles flew over the sea west of the Korean Peninsula and hit their targets, as Kim expressed satisfaction with the exercises and framed them as demonstrations of the country’s nuclear deterrent and rapid response capabilities amid security threats.

🇰🇷South Korea’s military detected the launches, and analysts suggest the systems could eventually carry conventional or nuclear warheads. The tests come ahead of North Korea’s ninth Workers’ Party Congress planned for early 2026.

🚀State media also reported that two long-range strategic cruise missiles were test-fired into the sea. These tests are part of Pyongyang’s ongoing weapons development efforts, including other recent weapons tests and advanced weapons programs.

🔗Source: Reuters

🇨🇳❌🇹🇼 — Chinese state media has released a new poster for the Justice Mission 2025 exercise noscriptd “Plainly Visible,” featuring satellite imagery of Taiwanese military infrastructure alongside the caption, “How could you ever attempt ‘independence’?”

🔗Taiwan Security Monitor (@TaiwanMonitor)

▶️#BREAKING

🇨🇳❌🇹🇼⚡️Taiwan’s Coast Guard reports that 4x Chinese Coast Guard vessels approached waters off Taiwan’s northern and eastern coasts.

➡️A command center has been established, large patrol ships have been deployed, and authorities say the drills severely affect maritime safety and Taiwan’s fishing rights.

🔗Jaime Ocon 歐海美 (@JaimeOcon1)

🇺🇸🇯🇵The United States has dropped plans to withdraw a Marine Corps regiment from Okinawa, according to Japan Today.

➡️The unit will remain in place due to its role in small-unit operations on nearby islands close to Taiwan in the event of a military conflict.

🔗https://japantoday.com/category/national/u.s.-forces-modify-unit-relocation-from-okinawa-to-guam-with-china-in-mind?

▶️#NOW

🇨🇳❌🇹🇼— Taiwan’s Coast Guard has released an image showing Chinese Coast Guard vessel 1303 in the distance. No additional details were provided regarding the location where the photo was taken.