Good morning! It’s Sunday, February 16, 2025, and we’re here with your weekend briefing on defense and global affairs. Here’s what’s making headlines today.
Israeli Drone Strikes Lebanon Ahead of Ceasefire Deadline
An Israeli drone strike hit southern Lebanon on Saturday, just days before a key deadline in the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that the attack targeted the outskirts of Ainata but caused no casualties.
Israeli surveillance aircraft were still active in the area following the strike.
The ceasefire, brokered by the United States and France, initially took effect on November 27 and was later extended to February 18.
Under its terms, Israel was to withdraw from Lebanese territory while Lebanon’s military and UN peacekeepers assumed control, and Hezbollah was to vacate its positions near the border.
However, both sides have accused each other of ceasefire violations, with Israel continuing airstrikes on Hezbollah targets.
Previously, on February 13, a senior Israeli security official confirmed that the military was prepared to withdraw as planned but reiterated concerns about security.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s parliamentary speaker, Nabih Berri, claimed the US informed him that Israel intends to maintain a presence in five locations beyond the February 18 deadline—a demand Beirut has firmly rejected.
IS Targets Taliban Ministry, Detonates Suicide Vest in Kabul
The Islamic State (IS) group has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at Afghanistan’s Ministry of Urban Development and Housing in Kabul, which killed one person and wounded at least three more this week.
The attacker was shot by Taliban guards before detonating his explosive vest, according to a Taliban government spokesperson.
However, Kabul’s Emergency Hospital reported a higher casualty count, stating that five people were wounded, four critically.
IS described the attack as targeting Taliban officials and guards, referring to them as the “apostate Taliban militia.” The group also claimed responsibility for a recent bank attack in northern Afghanistan that killed eight people, targeting Taliban employees collecting their salaries.
Despite the Taliban’s crackdown on IS operatives, the extremist group remains a persistent threat, targeting Taliban officials, foreign diplomats, and visitors. IS has previously carried out high-profile assassinations, including a December suicide bombing that killed the Taliban’s minister for refugees, Khalil Ur-Rahman Haqqani.
A recent UN Security Council report highlighted IS as the most serious threat to the Taliban government, ethnic and religious minorities, and international representatives in Afghanistan.
Hamas Prepares to Resume Truce Talks with Israel
Hamas expects indirect negotiations with Israel for the second phase of the ongoing Gaza truce to begin early next week, according to Hamas official Taher al-Nunu Friday.
Mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the US are reportedly continuing discussions to facilitate the talks, which are expected to take place in Doha.
The second phase, initially scheduled to start on February 3, follows the terms of the first-phase ceasefire agreement that saw 33 Israeli hostages exchanged for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.
This next round of negotiations is set to focus on securing the release of the remaining hostages and discussing a potential permanent end to the conflict.
While Hamas has expressed readiness to engage in talks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a negotiating team to Doha on February 8 only to handle technical aspects of the existing agreement, without a mandate to discuss phase two.
Russia Captures Ukrainian Village, Presses Toward Key Supply Route
Russia’s military announced on Saturday that it has captured the village of Berezivka in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region, a strategic location near a key road connecting the vital towns of Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka.
This marks another incremental gain in Moscow’s slow but steady territorial push.
Despite suffering significant losses, Russian forces have been advancing in eastern Ukraine for over a year, gradually encroaching on critical supply routes.
The DeepState website, which tracks battlefield movements, reported that Russian troops have reached a key junction on the T0504 road, further complicating Ukraine’s ability to resupply its forces in the area.
Moscow’s forces are now pressing closer to Kostiantynivka, a crucial logistics hub that housed 67,000 residents before the war.
The Russian advance has intensified logistical struggles for Ukraine, with supply convoys increasingly targeted by drone strikes.
Taiwan Scrambles to Review Training Jets After Engine Failure Crash
Taiwan’s Air Force grounded all Brave Eagle training jets after one of the aircraft crashed due to dual engine failure on Saturday.
The pilot, Major Lin, safely ejected and was reported to be in good health.
The crash occurred shortly after takeoff from Chih Hang Air Base in Taitung County, prompting a full safety review of the fleet.
Taiwan’s Aerospace Industrial Development Corp developed the Brave Eagle, which had its first test flight in 2020.
The incident follows a September grounding of Taiwan’s Mirage 2000 fighters after a crash into the sea.
Taiwan continues to rely heavily on US arms sales while upgrading its homegrown defense capabilities to counter Chinese military pressure.
The crash comes amid escalating Chinese military activity around Taiwan, with 19 Chinese aircraft, eight naval vessels, one official ship, and one balloon detected near the island in the past 24 hours.
President Lai Ching-te called for restoring defense budget cuts, emphasizing the need for full military support against China’s persistent threats.
Sources: News Agencies
