Former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad quashed rumors about his decisions during the armed overthrow of the Syrian Arab Republic this month.

▫️Assad clarified in a statement that he never planned to resign or seek asylum, even as armed opposition forces gained ground.

▫️He stressed that staying in the country after "terrorists" seized power would have been pointless.

▫️Assad revealed that he learnt of the fall of Damascus after he had relocated to Hmeymim Airbase, used by Russian forces.

▫️Following instructions from Russian officials, he was evacuated from Hmeymim to a Russian base.

▫️Assad explained that he left his country after the collapse of the Syrian Arab Army and the paralysis of state institutions, but insisted that he did not abandon his people or the armed forces.

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🤿 Diving into marriage: underwater wedding in Moscow

The Moscow oceanarium made history by hosting its first underwater wedding.

Their love is so deep, it literally needs scuba gear!

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📹Breaking records at Helicopter Pilot Day

Two Mi-8MTV-1 “Killer Whale” helicopters, named for their black-and-white livery and built by Rostec’s Kazan Helicopter Plant, are flying across Siberia to their service base.

On Helicopter Pilot Day, celebrated in Russia on the second Saturday of December, they set a 1,900 km distance record.

Video by Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation

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❗️Ukrainian Foreign Minister, in the presence of EU ministers, rejected Hungary's proposal for a Christmas ceasefire, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.

He added that no one at the EU Foreign Affairs Council supported Hungary's initiative for a Christmas truce in Ukraine.

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Israel’s Golan Heights settlement plan: build-up to backlash?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government approved a plan to develop the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, aiming to double the Israeli population in the area, currently home to 30 settlements and 31,000 residents.

What’s in the plan?

🔸 An allocation of over 40 million shekels (approximately $11 million) to promote "demographic growth."

🔸A focus on expanding Israeli settlements, which currently total 30 and are home to 31,000 residents.

🔸 Initiatives planned include educational programs, renewable energy projects, and the establishment of a student village.

🔸 A development strategy aimed at facilitating additional settlements under the Golan Regional Council.

International reactions

🗣UAE: Warned that the plan could lead to "further escalation and tensions."

🗣Egypt: Decried it as a "violation of international law" and an impediment to peace.

🗣Saudi Arabia: Condemned the initiative as "sabotage" of Syria's stability.

🗣Qatar: Characterized it as a "blatant violation of international law."

🗣Turkiye: Accused Israel of expanding its borders through occupation.

🗣Germany: Urged Israel to abandon the plan, emphasizing that the Golan Heights is Syrian territory under international law.

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📐Sizing up America’s military footprint around the Asia Pacific

The United States has started its partial transfer of US Marines from Okinawa in Japan to Guam under a 2012 deal to reduce the burden of American troop presence on the island.

Here’s a look at the expanded American military footprint across the Asia-Pacific region, as part of its efforts to counter China’s growing influence (based on open sources):

🪖Japan: Approximately 53,700 US military personnel are stationed at around 85 air and naval facilities on Honshu, Kyushu, and Okinawa. Roughly 70% of the bases (32) are in the Okinawa Prefecture.

🪖South Korea: Around 25,400 US troops are stationed across over 70 Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine bases, with the largest being Camp Humphreys.

🪖Guam: Home to Joint Region Marianas, which combines Naval Base Guam and Andersen Air Force Base. The Aegis Guam System, integrated with the new AN/TPY-6 radar and Vertical Launching System, is part of an advanced air and missile defense system under construction.

🪖The Philippines: The 2023 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement granted US forces rotational access to four new bases, in addition to the existing five.

🪖Taiwan: Joint training programs have brought more US forces to Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province.

🪖Australia: Darwin hosts an annual rotation of up to 2,500 American Marines. Additionally, Virginia-class attack submarines will form part of a rotational force at HMAS Stirling under the Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) agreement.

🪖Papua New Guinea (PNG): A 2023 US-PNG security deal grants American forces access to PNG’s airfields and ports.

🪖Fiji: The US and Fiji are negotiating agreements to allow the Pentagon to station troops and store military equipment in the South Pacific island nation.

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❗️The Bundestag has passed a vote of no confidence in Scholz's government.

This paves the way for early parliamentary elections in Germany.

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⛏What are Ukraine's top 10 minerals?

The Kiev regime is trying to curry favor with the incoming Trump administration by offering concessions on Ukraine's critical mineral deposits – valued up to $11.5 trillion, according to the New York Times.

What are the top 10 natural resources and why are they so important?

🔸 Lithium: Ukraine has an estimated 500,000 tons of lithium reserves. The mineral is key to making batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). Two of Ukraine's major lithium deposits are now under Russian control in the Donetsk and Zaporozhye regions.

🔸 Titanium: The US Geological Survey estimates Ukraine's titanium reserves at 8.4 million tons, primarily in the central regions. Titanium is crucial to the military, aerospace, medical, automotive and marine industries.

🔸 Gallium: Ukraine was the world's third-largest producer, generating around 4 tonnes of gallium annually. Gallium, found in small concentrations in other metal ores, is vital for semiconductors and LEDs.

🔸 Manganese: Estimated reserves of about 140 million tonnes of manganese are concentrated in the Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye regions – the second now part of Russia. Manganese improves the strength and workability of steel and other alloys.

🔸 Beryllium: Ukraine has proven reserves of 5,515 tons, primarily in the northwestern Zhitomir region. Beryllium is essential for the nuclear power, military, aerospace, acoustic and electronic industries.

🔸 Graphite: Ukraine holds 17.9 million tons of graphite, concentrated in the Zhitomir, Kirovograd and Dnepropetrovsk regions. The Priazovsky site is now in Russia's Zaporozhye. Graphite is critical for producing telecommunications, medical and military equipment.

🔸 Uranium: According to the 2022 IAEA estimate, Ukraine's uranium deposits amount to around 185,400 tonnes, found in the Kirovograd and Dnepropetrovsk regions. Uranium is vital for nuclear energy production.

🔸 Nickel: With deposits estimated at 215,000 tons, nickel is found in the Kirovograd and Dnepropetrovsk regions. It is a key component in lithium-ion batteries used in EVs.

🔸 Cobalt: Ukraine's cobalt deposits are estimated at 8,800 tons, mostly in the Kirovograd and Dnepropetrovsk regions. Cobalt is essential for lithium-ion battery cathodes and the petrochemical industry.

🔸 Iron Ore: Ukraine has around 30 billion tonnes of iron ore reserves, primarily in the Dnepropetrovsk region, which accounts for 90% of the country's iron ore production. Iron ore is the primary material for steel production.

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🗣Trump claims progress on ending Ukraine conflict

US President-elect Donald Trump said on Monday that he is working to end the conflict in Ukraine and has achieved "a little progress," though he acknowledged the challenges.

"It's a tough one. It's a nasty one," Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago.

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📈 The value of bitcoin broke the historical record, exceeding $107,000

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💥Houthis claim to have struck military target in Tel Aviv with hypersonic missile - spokesman

Yemeni Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, said on Monday that it has struck a military target in the Tel Aviv suburb of Jaffa with a Palestine 2 hypersonic ballistic missile.

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💬 Relocating marines from Okinawa to Guam: Part of US strategy to contain China?

Some US Marines will be relocated from their base in Okinawa, Japan, to Guam. Brian Berletic, a geopolitical analyst and former US Marine, told Sputnik that the relocation of US Marines from Okinawa to Guam stems from a 2012 agreement between the US and Japan. He suggested that the move was likely designed to address public pressure to reduce the US military presence in Japan, particularly in Okinawa.

While some Marines are being relocated, Berletic pointed out that a substantial number of personnel and equipment will remain on Okinawa.

"Significant numbers of US Marines will still remain on Okinawa along with large amounts of equipment all meant to contribute toward Washington’s decades-spanning policy of encircling and containing China, Japan’s largest and most important trading partner," he said.

By dispersing US forces across a wider area, including Guam, the United States enhances the resilience of its military assets in the region, Berletic said.

“If anything, it could enhance the resilience of US military assets across the region forcing China to divide its missile forces across a larger number of US installations spread out across a wider geographical area in any sort of retaliatory strike amid hostilities provoked by Washington,” he noted.

Additionally, he warned of economic consequences for Japan due to its role in supporting US policies aimed at China. “The continued US military presence in the region and its use of Japan as a proxy against China will continue to cost Japan in economic and development opportunities it would otherwise enjoy by cooperating closer with China,” Berletic concluded.

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🔸 Putin: West continue their attempts to retain their global dominance

🔸 Israel’s Golan Heights settlement plan: build-up to backlash?

🔸 Relocating marines from Okinawa to Guam: Part of US strategy to contain China?

🔸 Bashar al-Assad quashed rumors about his decisions

🔸 What are Ukraine's top 10 minerals?

🔸 America’s military footprint around the Asia Pacific

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💬 What drones will new Russia's Unmanned Systems Troops operate?

The creation of the 'Unmanned Systems Forces,' announced by Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov on December 16, follows the formation of several units armed with drones. Those units require support of the ministry, including training, supply and staffing, Dmitry Kornev, founder of the Military Russia analytical portal, told Sputnik.

"One of the effective ways to solve this problem is to create a separate branch of the military, which will ensure the solution of the tasks that the armed forces face in providing and using drones and unmanned aerial vehicles anywhere," Kornev explained, suggesting that the branch will be part of the Russian ground forces.

What combat and surveillance drones would the new unit operate?

The pundit noted that First-Person View (FPV) UAVs have been increasingly used on the front line in Ukraine. These include the Ovod (Gadfly) and Upyr, which can carry munitions such as RPG-7 anti-tank grenade launcher warheads and fragmentation grenades.

Kornev also highlighted the operational-tactical Lancet loitering munition with an X-wing design, which functions like a guided air-to-surface missile, destroying itself upon impact.

Depending on the model, it can reach speeds of 80 to 110 km/h, strike at distances of 40 to 70 km, and carry up to 5 kg of explosives.

"Drones that belong to the traditional long-range aviation drones that operate from the air are the Orion and the Inokhodets," the pundit pointed out.

While the Orion is designed for aerial reconnaissance, the Inokhodets is an armed UAV capable of carrying 200 kg of payload including reconnaissance equipment and weapons.

Other systems that have gained prominence on the Ukrainian battlefield include:

🔹 The Orlan-10: A multi-purpose UAV for reconnaissance, artillery adjustment and integration with the RB-341V Leer-3 electronic warfare system. It has a range of 600 km and stay airborne for 18 hours.

🔹 The Geran: A long-range kamikaze drone targeting military infrastructure. With a jet engine, it reaches 800 km/h, has a 2,500 km range and carries up to 50 kg of explosives.

🔹 The Kub: A drone for reconnaissance and kamikaze missions. Earlier versions carried a 3 kg payload at up to 130 km/h for 30 minutes. Updated models strike over 50 km and enable simultaneous group attacks.

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At least 3 dead in school shooting in Madison, Wisconsin

Police and the FBI are investigating the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School that left 3 people dead, including a teacher and two students, one of whom is a suspected shooter. Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said the alleged shooter is a teenager.

At least two other students are in critical condition and four others are recovering from non-life-threatening injuries.

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Russian envoy to UN: Zelensky refused to take back 600 Ukrainian POWs

The exchange of prisoners was part of Hungary's proposal for a Christmas ceasefire, which Zelensky rejected in his "boorish manner," Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said at a UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.

"It is no secret that the Kiev regime is not interested in ordinary Ukrainians who found themselves at the front because of forced mobilization. They are ready to exchange only fighters of nationalist battalions and foreign mercenaries who took part in hostilities against Russia," he added.

Nebenzia also noted that Russia will not agree to the freezing of the Ukrainian conflict.

"We would like to remind you that no freezing of the conflict ... is agreeable to us," he said.

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❗️ US strikes Houthi defense ministry building in Sanaa

US warplanes have carried out an airstrike on the Defense Ministry building in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, a government established in the north of the country by the Ansar Allah movement, a source in the local government told Sputnik.

The airstrike came a day after Ansar Allah claimed to have carried out a Palestine-2 hypersonic missile attack on an Israeli army facility in Tel Aviv.

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