Good Morning, folks! It’s January 10, 2025, and we’re here with the latest updates in defense and global affairs to close out your week. Let’s dive into today’s top stories.
Ukraine Targets Russian Supply Lines, Russia Responds with Deadly Strikes
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia took another intense turn this week. A Ukrainian drone strike ignited a massive fire at an oil depot in Engels, a Russian city about 500 kilometers (311 miles) from the border.
The fire, which has been raging for two days, tragically claimed the lives of two firefighters.
Images shared online show thick smoke billowing over Engels, a city of 220,000 people, though officials assured residents that there’s no immediate threat to their homes.
Ukraine claims the attack will cause “serious logistical problems” for Russia’s air force, which relies heavily on the depot.
Hours after the strike, Russia retaliated by bombing Zaporizhzhia, a southern Ukrainian city, killing at least 13 people and wounding over 100 in a devastating assault.
The violence didn’t stop there. Russia launched further attacks on Ukraine’s Kherson region, killing two civilians.
As the war approaches its third year, tensions are escalating, with both sides ramping up their efforts amid shifting political landscapes.
Ukraine Seeks More Drones and NATO Troops to Counter Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thrown his support behind the idea of deploying Western troops to Ukraine, calling it one of the “best instruments” to push Russia toward peace.
Speaking Thursday at a meeting of Ukraine’s defense allies in Germany, Zelenskyy emphasized the need for practical steps to make this deployment a reality, though he left it unclear whether he was referring to combat troops or peacekeepers.
Zelenskyy also sees the upcoming return of President-elect Donald Trump to the White House as a “new chapter” for Europe, offering fresh opportunities for cooperation.
With Trump questioning the $65 billion in US aid sent to Ukraine since the war began, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced an additional $500 million package just days before Trump’s inauguration.
Beyond troops, Zelenskyy urged Ukraine’s allies to help Kyiv build an “arsenal of drones,” which he called game-changers in modern warfare.
This push comes after Ukraine’s recent drone strike on a Russian oil depot and its offensive in Russia’s western Kursk region, which Zelensky described as one of the war’s “biggest wins.”
Both sides appear to be gearing up for a decisive phase in the conflict as Trump’s presidency looms, raising the stakes for future negotiations and military strategies.
UK and Allies Send 30,000 High-Tech Drones to Ukraine
Ukraine is about to get a massive boost in its fight against Russian aggression, thanks to a new shipment of 30,000 drones ordered by an international coalition co-led by the United Kingdom and Latvia.
The 45 million pounds ($55 million) order, funded by the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands, Latvia, and Sweden, is part of the “drone capability coalition” formed last year to supply Ukraine with cutting-edge UAVs.
The new drones, described as “state-of-the-art, first-person view” models, are designed to evade Russian air defenses and target enemy positions and armored vehicles.
The coalition’s fund has already raised nearly $90 million, with Britain contributing a significant chunk, alongside allies like Portugal and Germany, who joined in for the first time.
British Defence Secretary John Healey announced the move during a meeting at Germany’s Ramstein Air Base, reaffirming international support for Ukraine.
Healey praised the resilience of the Ukrainian people and emphasized the coalition’s commitment to providing advanced military equipment.
The UK’s new Labour government, in office since July, has pledged to continue its robust military aid program, committing 3 billion pounds ($3.6 billion) annually to Ukraine until at least 2030.
The latest drone order is another clear signal of the international community’s determination to stand with Ukraine.
Civilian Deaths Mount as Gaza Ceasefire Remains Elusive
The violence in Gaza continues to claim lives as Israeli airstrikes killed at least 12 people on Thursday, including three young girls and their father.
The strikes targeted residential areas like the Nuseirat refugee camp, where rescuers pulled the victims from the rubble. Another strike hit a house in Jabalia, killing eight more people and wounding several others.
Meanwhile, negotiations are underway in Doha, with Qatar, Egypt, and the US mediating talks between Israel and Hamas to end the 15-month-long war and secure the release of hostages held in Gaza.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a ceasefire deal is “very close,” but whether it can be finalized before Trump’s inauguration in January remains uncertain.
The violence underscores the urgency of these talks, which are rooted in a three-phase plan proposed by President Joe Biden earlier this year.
For now, however, the suffering in Gaza persists, as both sides remain locked in a deadly conflict.
US Lawmakers Pass Bill to Counter International Criminal Court’s Actions Against Israeli Officials
The US House of Representatives voted Thursday to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to its issuing of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The “Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act” passed with a 243-140 vote, with strong Republican support and backing from 45 Democrats.
The act would sanction any foreigner who investigates or prosecutes US citizens or those of allied countries like Israel who are not members of the ICC.
Republican Representative Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, described the ICC as a “kangaroo court” targeting a key US ally.
The legislation reflects a broader show of Republican support for Israel as the GOP takes control of Congress ahead of President-elect Trump’s second term.
The ICC issued the arrest warrants over alleged war crimes in Gaza, a move Israel strongly rejects. The court stated its decision was based on evidence and aimed at preventing ongoing crimes.
However, Republicans have fiercely opposed the court’s actions, calling them biased and illegitimate.
With Republicans now controlling both chambers of Congress, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has pledged to move the act forward swiftly, allowing Trump to sign it into law soon after taking office. This move highlights the renewed GOP focus on shielding Israel and other allies from international prosecution.
Rwanda Criticizes DR Congo Peace Talks as Empty Photo Ops
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame didn’t hold back on Thursday, calling out recent peace talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as little more than “photo opportunities” for leaders.
The talks, part of the Luanda process, have failed to bring any real progress in resolving the deadly conflict in eastern DR Congo.
Kagame said the focus has been on appearances rather than tackling the root causes of the problem.
The region remains in chaos, with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seizing large areas, displacing thousands, and worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.
Rwanda claims its involvement is to target the FDLR, a group of Hutu militants formed after the 1994 Rwandan genocide. However, the DRC accuses Rwanda of exploiting the region’s mineral wealth under the guise of intervention.
Despite a ceasefire in August, fighting has continued, and peace talks between Kagame and DRC President Felix Tshisekedi in December ended in a deadlock.
Rwanda denies direct military support for the M23, but Kagame insists that no lasting peace can be achieved until the FDLR is neutralized.
Meanwhile, DRC Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner stated that the country is open to returning to peace talks if a credible path forward is offered.
Both sides agree that the solution needs to be diplomatic, but real progress remains elusive as tensions escalate.
Myanmar’s Bloody Conflict Intensifies with Deadly Air Strike
The violence in Myanmar took a deadly turn this week as a junta air strike hit a village in western Rakhine state, killing at least 40 people and wounding over 50.
The attack, which happened in Kyauk Ni Maw on Ramree Island, destroyed more than 500 homes, leaving the area in ruins.
Photos show shocked residents walking through the rubble, surrounded by charred remains of what used to be their homes.
The Rakhine region has become a hotspot in Myanmar’s ongoing chaos since the military coup in 2021. The Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic minority armed group, has seized large parts of the territory and is fiercely resisting the junta’s control.
The military has been accused of frequently targeting civilians in its air and artillery strikes, with the recent attack adding to the growing toll.
The conflict has displaced more than 3.5 million people, with 19.9 million — over a third of Myanmar’s population — expected to need humanitarian aid in 2025.
Adding to the stakes, Ramree Island is the site of a planned China-backed deep-sea port, though construction has stalled due to the unrest.
As the junta struggles to maintain control across the country, the UN warns of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Rakhine, where famine looms and millions face a grim future.
Legal Battle Over 9/11 Guilty Plea Reaches Federal Appeals Court
The legal saga surrounding Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, took another twist this week as his lawyers urged a federal appeals court to let his plea deal move forward.
Mohammed, along with two co-defendants, had agreed to plead guilty in exchange for life sentences, avoiding the death penalty. However, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin unexpectedly scrapped the deal earlier this year, throwing the case into further turmoil.
The plea agreement, initially approved by military prosecutors and Pentagon officials, was billed as the “best path to finality and justice.” It would have marked a conclusion to a case that has dragged on for 17 years without a trial date.
But Austin argued that decisions about the death penalty in a case as monumental as 9/11 should rest solely with the defense secretary.
The Biden administration has now asked the federal appeals court to block Mohammed’s guilty plea, arguing that accepting it would deny the government a chance for a public trial and the possibility of pursuing capital punishment.
Mohammed’s lawyers, however, slammed the government’s handling of the case as “negligent” and accused Austin of overstepping his authority.
The case has been mired in delays, partly due to legal battles over whether statements made by Mohammed and others under CIA torture are admissible in court.
As families of 9/11 victims gather in Guantanamo for the scheduled plea, the world watches to see if this decades-long legal process can finally move toward resolution.
Sources: News Agencies, Reuters
