Welcome to the weekend! It’s Saturday, February 8, 2025, and we’ve got your latest defense and global affairs updates. Here’s what you need to know.
Netanyahu Gifts Trump a Golden Pager to Mark Hezbollah Operation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gifted US President Donald Trump a golden pager during their White House meeting this week, symbolizing a major turning point in Israel’s fight against Hezbollah.
The unusual gift references a covert Israeli operation last September, where Hezbollah fighters were taken out using exploding pagers and walkie-talkies—an attack that reportedly killed dozens and injured thousands, according to Lebanese officials.
The operation was a show of Israel’s technological prowess, but tensions with Hezbollah remain high.
Despite a ceasefire agreement in November, Israeli forces are still operating in parts of southern Lebanon.
The original January 26 deadline for a full troop withdrawal was missed, with Israel arguing that Lebanon’s military hadn’t met its obligations.
The new deadline is February 18, but in the meantime, Israeli airstrikes in the region continue.
Israel Hits Hezbollah Arms Depots in Lebanon
Despite a ceasefire deal, Israel struck two Hezbollah weapons sites in Lebanon late Thursday, claiming the group was violating the agreement.
The Israeli military called the strike a “precise operation” targeting Hezbollah’s military stockpiles.
The ceasefire, in place since November 27, was meant to ease over a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, including two months of all-out war.
Under the agreement, Hezbollah was supposed to pull back forces north of the Litani River and dismantle its military infrastructure in southern Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces were to withdraw, but that deadline has now been extended to February 18.
Tensions have remained high, with both sides repeatedly accusing each other of breaking the truce.
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah originally escalated on October 8, 2023, the day after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, sparking the ongoing war in Gaza.
Israeli Group Urges Government to Honor Gaza Truce Amid Trump Fallout
An Israeli campaign group is urging the government to stick to the Gaza truce and complete the fifth hostage-prisoner swap, even as US President Donald Trump’s controversial remarks throw uncertainty over the deal’s future.
Trump recently declared that the US would “take over Gaza” and relocate Palestinians elsewhere, sparking outrage across the Middle East.
Despite the uproar, Israeli leaders have signaled support for Trump’s proposal.
Defense Minister Israel Katz has already ordered military preparations for the “voluntary departure” of Gazans, while Prime Minister Netanyahu called Trump’s idea “original.”
Hamas, however, has rejected the plan outright, calling it an “intent to occupy” Gaza.
So far, four swaps have taken place under the fragile ceasefire, leading to the release of 18 hostages in exchange for 600 Palestinian prisoners.
The next swap is set for Saturday, but neither side has confirmed the details. With negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire approaching, there’s still uncertainty about whether the deal will hold.
Canada Backs Trump’s Iron Dome Missile Defense Plan
Canada is on board with President Donald Trump’s plan for a North American “Iron Dome” missile defense system, according to Defense Minister Bill Blair.
Speaking at the end of a Washington trip, Blair emphasized that protecting the continent shouldn’t stop at the US-Canada border and that Canada is ready to contribute.
Trump recently signed an executive order to start planning a next-generation missile shield, inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome.
The system aims to counter ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missile threats, including through space-based interceptors. However, critics argue it may not be suited for long-range missile defense and question the massive costs involved.
Blair’s statement of military cooperation comes at a time when US-Canada relations are under strain, particularly due to Trump’s threats of steep tariffs.
Norway Warns of Russian Sabotage Threat in 2025, Officials Say
Norwegian intelligence is warning that Russia may attempt sabotage operations in Norway in 2025, likely targeting energy infrastructure or aid sent to Ukraine.
While there’s no concrete evidence of sabotage yet, security officials believe it’s only a matter of time, given the pattern of attacks seen across the European Union.
Relations between Norway and Russia have soured since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and as a NATO member, Norway has been a key supplier of aid to Ukraine—something Russia might try to disrupt.
Norwegian authorities are also keeping an eye on potential threats from China, Iran, and North Korea, particularly in espionage.
Since 2022, Norway has overtaken Russia as the EU’s top natural gas supplier, making its energy infrastructure a possible target for Russian interference.
With tensions in the Arctic and Baltic regions already high, security experts say Russia remains Norway’s biggest security concern.
Iran Condemns US Sanctions Over Oil Sales to China
Iran isn’t happy about the latest US sanctions targeting a network accused of secretly shipping Iranian crude oil to China.
On Friday, Tehran slammed the move as “illegal” and “unjustified,” arguing that Washington has no right to interfere with its trade.
The US Treasury Department announced the sanctions on February 6, saying the network funneled hundreds of millions of dollars to Iran’s military.
The penalties are part of President Donald Trump’s renewed “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, a policy he previously used during his first term, which led to the US pulling out of the 2015 nuclear deal.
Iran has dismissed the pressure tactics, warning they will fail.
Meanwhile, Trump has signaled he’s open to a new nuclear agreement—but insists Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon.
Tehran, for its part, maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.
Senior Al-Qaeda Leader Killed in Yemen Bomb Blast
A senior Al-Qaeda figure in Yemen, Abu Yusuf al-Muhammadi al-Hadrami, has been killed in a motorcycle bomb blast in Marib, according to a statement from the extremist group.
The attack took place near his workplace, though it’s unclear who was behind the explosion.
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which the US considers the most dangerous branch of the militant network, has a long history of high-profile attacks.
The group was behind the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole (DDG-67) and claimed responsibility for the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris.
Born from a merger of Saudi and Yemeni Al-Qaeda factions in 2009, AQAP has thrived in Yemen’s ongoing conflict, where multiple armed groups—including Islamic State fighters and UAE-backed separatists—compete for power in areas outside Houthi control.
M23 Rebels Push Toward Key DRC Town as War Fears Grow
The Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group is on the move again, threatening the town of Kavumu in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after capturing Goma last week.
With thousands dead and even more displaced, the UN is sounding the alarm, warning that the risk of regional war has never been higher.
The DRC military is scrambling to hold the line, evacuating troops and equipment from Kavumu to prevent them from falling into M23’s hands.
The town is a critical gateway to Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, just 30 kilometers (19 miles) away.
Meanwhile, in Goma, M23 has already installed its own mayor and held a rally where leaders vowed to “liberate all of the Congo.”
As tensions escalate, regional leaders—including DRC President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame—are meeting in Tanzania to try to defuse the crisis.
But previous peace talks have failed, and with multiple nations already involved in the conflict, fears of a larger war are growing.
Sweden Moves to Restrict Semi-Automatic Guns After Mass Shooting
In response to Sweden’s deadliest mass shooting, the government is pushing to tighten gun laws, specifically targeting semi-automatic weapons like the AR-15.
The proposed legislation comes just days after a gunman killed 10 people at an education center in Örebro before reportedly taking his own life.
Authorities recovered several long-barreled weapons and ten empty magazines at the scene.
The suspect, identified in Swedish media as 35-year-old Rickard Andersson, legally owned four firearms and was described as a reclusive individual with possible psychological issues.
Police are still investigating his motive, but chilling video footage from a hiding student captured the suspect shouting, “You will leave Europe!”
At least two victims were Syrian nationals, and a Bosnian woman was also among the dead.
The attack has reignited debate over Sweden’s firearm regulations, with the government now seeking to roll back a 2023 decision that allowed the AR-15 for hunting.
Sources: News Agencies
