An unrelated update from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has said that that Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), in concert with CENTCOM forces, conducted a strike in the area around Rawa, Iraq that killed five ISIS operatives.

Per the release:
“An initial post-strike clearance confirmed the dead ISIS operatives, various medium and small caliber weapons, grenades, suicide explosive belts, and ammunition.”

According to the release, Coalition Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve (CTF-OIR) did provide intelligence and technical support to the ISF.

According to reports, the U.S. and Russia are set to send top advisors and diplomats to Saudi Arabia next week for a summit on the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War that will prepare for an eventual leader summit.

Rather notably, after reports of a Russo-U.S. summit in Saudi Arabia next week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said to reporters that Ukrainian officials have yet to receive an invitation to such an event.

According to Russian state-owned media outlet RIA Novosti, the Russian Foreign Ministry has told them that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. As we understand it, this is the first time the U.S and Russian heads of foreign affairs have publicly spoken since December 5, 2024.

In a notable update, the U.S. Department of State has again made changes to the wording on the official page detailing the U.S.-Taiwan bilateral relationship. The portion that said “we do not support Taiwan independence” has now been taken out. It’s important to remember that the overarching U.S. policy on Taiwan and the U.S. acknowledgment of China as the legal government in China while not recognizing their sovereignty over Taiwan has yet to change.

After reports from Lebanese media that Israeli aircraft carried out three airstrikes in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) has confirmed that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) carried out strikes on Hezbollah facilities that contained rocket launchers and other weapons. The Intelligence Branch had viewed activity at the sites that were struck.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump in his armored limousine “The Beast” on the track at Daytona 500.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that the prime minister has given the green light to send a negotiation team to Cairo, Egypt tomorrow to begin the next round of talks on the continuation of the first stage of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal. Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, is coordinating these efforts.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem today to discuss Iran, the hostage/ceasefire deal with Hamas, and the implementation and continuation of the ongoing ceasefire in Lebanon.