Despite the US designating Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as a leader of a terrorist organization, US officials revealed that President Donald Trump told his advisors he plans to speak directly with Maduro, signaling that immediate direct military intervention might not be imminent. However, a significant development, according to observers, has brought matters back to the starting point. 1. The Arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford Location:  The US aircraft carrier "USS Ge

French President Emmanuel Macron told «RTL» radio on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine "is heading in the right direction: towards peace," but it "needs improvements" to be acceptable to both Kyiv and Europe. 1. Macron's Reservations on the US Plan Surrender Concerns:  Macron stressed that Europe wants peace but "does not want a peace that amounts to a real surrender." Controversial Aspects:  He noted that certain aspects of the plan deserve "dis

Russia and Ukraine exchanged "massive" attacks on Tuesday morning, targeting energy infrastructure and resulting in civilian casualties and damage to homes and infrastructure. 1. Russian Attack on Ukrainian Energy Facilities Attack Target:  The Ukrainian Ministry of Energy announced that energy facilities were subjected to a "massive" attack by the "enemy." Repair work will begin once the security situation permits. Attack Type:  Powerful explosions shook the capital Kyiv . T

Israel Hayom reported on Tuesday that Israeli security agencies are treating the likelihood of Iranian intervention in the upcoming election as "almost certain." Tehran reportedly plans to exploit the domestic tension to undermine political stability. 1. Anticipated Iranian Intervention Mechanisms According to the security report published by Danny Citrinowicz, Iran operates a vast network of fake accounts  on social media platforms aimed at: Spreading misinformation . Inciti

The Financial Times reported that the United States and Ukraine are drafting a new 19-point peace plan, replacing the previous 28-point framework, to end the war in Ukraine. This follows "marathon" and "intensive" talks held in Geneva on Monday. 1. The New Framework and Negotiation Path Revised Plan:  The Geneva talks, which included Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya , resulted in the drafting of a completely revised document framework  that left both p

Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the President of the UAE, stated on Tuesday that "Violent extremist groups linked to or clearly associated with the Muslim Brotherhood cannot determine Sudan's future." 1. The UAE's Position on the Sudanese Crisis Rejection of the Brotherhood:  Gargash stressed his rejection of allowing groups linked to the Muslim Brotherhood to interfere in determining Sudan's future. Diplomatic Action:  He affirmed that "false claims and disinformati

Masad Boulos, Senior Advisor to the US President for African and Arab Affairs, affirmed that Donald Trump has made achieving peace in Sudan a priority. 1. Washington's Peace Plan and Truce Strong Plan:  Boulos explained that Washington presented a peace plan with a "strong formulation," but it was not accepted by either the Sudanese Army (SAF)  or the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) . Hope for Acceptance:  Boulos expressed hope that the two conflicting parties would accept the "co

Following the assassination of Haitham Al-Taba’tabai, referred to in Israeli circles as "Hezbollah's Chief of Staff," in an Israeli raid on the southern suburbs of Beirut on Sunday, the party is expected to choose a new prominent figure to assume the position. The newspaper Israel Hayom  reviewed the most prominent candidates based on Israeli assessments: 1. Frontrunners and Most Influential Candidates Candidate and Nickname Current Position/Description Additional Notes Moham

US President Donald Trump hinted via his Truth Social platform at the possibility of achieving "significant progress" in the peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, stating: "Something good may be happening," but emphasized the need to await tangible results on the ground. Trump's post coincides with information published by The New York Times  regarding actual progress in negotiations between the United States and Ukraine, following meetings in Geneva on Sunday between a Ukr

The office of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on Monday that he informed his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that Ankara would contribute to any diplomatic effort to facilitate direct communication between Russia and Ukraine and achieve a "just and lasting" peace. Separately, the Kremlin  stated that the Russian and Turkish presidents discussed an American proposal to end the war in Ukraine. 1. Russian Stance on the US Proposal Conceptual Alignment:  Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sought on Sunday to appease his US counterpart Donald Trump, following criticism leveled by the latter against Kyiv amidst pivotal talks in Geneva aimed at ending the war with Russia. 1. The Criticism and Zelensky's Reply Trump's Criticism:  Trump, known for his volatile stance on Ukraine, had previously criticized the Ukrainian leadership on his Truth Social platform, saying they "have not expressed any gratitude for our efforts,"  refe

The Homs Governorate announced on Monday the extension of the curfew in several neighborhoods to maintain stability and public safety, following the crime that occurred in the town of Zeidal on Sunday. According to the Governorate, 40 homes and shops and 29 cars were initially damaged in the subsequent events. 1. Security Measures and Initial Damages Curfew Extension:  The curfew was extended in the tense neighborhoods to control the situation and prevent crowds from reaching

Syrian media reported that the Internal Security Command decided to extend the curfew until 5:00 PM on Monday in several neighborhoods of Homs. This follows an announcement by the spokesperson for the Syrian Ministry of Interior, Nour al-Din al-Baba, that there is no material evidence yet to prove that the crime that occurred in the town of Zeidal, rural Homs, on Sunday, is of a "sectarian nature." 1. The "Zeidal Crime": Misdirection and Incitement Denial of Sectarian Motive:

The Israeli military is undergoing a series of high-level leadership decisions and actions related to the investigation into the events of October 7, 2023. 1. Defense Minister's Decisions Channel 12 reported on Monday that Defense Minister Yisrael Katz  issued two key decisions: Appointment Freeze:  He froze all appointments in the Israeli military for 30 days . Committee Review:  He ordered a review of the committee that handled the military's internal investigations into th

The Israeli military announced on Monday the launch of the "Defense and Force" drill over the next two days, aimed at testing and improving its readiness for various scenarios. The drill coincided with raising the alert level on the northern border, anticipating a potential response from Hezbollah following the assassination of its commander Haitham Ali Tabtabaei in Beirut. 1. Details of the Military Drill Objective:  To test and improve the IDF's readiness for various scenar

The southern suburb of Beirut was targeted again on Sunday by an Israeli airstrike that killed Haitham Ali Tabtabaei, the Iranian-born "Second-in-Command" of Hezbollah. The strike resulted in 5 fatalities and 28 injuries, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. 1. The Targeted Leader and Hezbollah's Response The Target:  Israeli PM Netanyahu's office announced he ordered the strike targeting Hezbollah's "Chief of Staff," stating Tabtabaei was leading the group's "rebuil

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remarks regarding Taiwan have crossed the "red line," stressing that Beijing must "respond firmly" to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Core of the Crisis and Chinese Escalation "Shocking" Comments:  Wang Yi described Takaichi's statements as "shocking," referring to her November 7 comments suggesting that any Chinese attack on Taiwan could lead to a military resp

Lebanese President General Joseph Aoun stated that Israel's targeting of the Southern Suburb of Beirut on Sunday, coinciding with Lebanon's Independence Day, serves as "additional proof" that it disregards repeated calls to cease its aggression and refuses to implement international resolutions. Aoun's Call to the International Community Lebanon's Commitment:  Aoun emphasized that Lebanon has been committed to a cessation of hostilities for about a year and has repeatedly off

Following the Israeli military's announcement that it targeted a building believed to house the prominent Hezbollah commander Haitham Ali Tabtabaei in Haret Hreik, his name resurfaced. Tabtabaei, known as "Abu Ali Tabtabaei," is described as the "Second-in-Command" in the group's military hierarchy and one of the last influential leaders in its command structure. Military Significance and US Pursuit Regional Role:  Tabtabaei is one of the most prominent military leaders who p

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that the Israeli military launched a "strike in the heart of Beirut targeting Hezbollah's chief of staff." The strike hit the Haret Hreik neighborhood in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Attack Details and Israeli Statements The Target and His Role:  Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the target was Abu Ali Tabtabaei , the second-in-command of Hezbollah, who "led the reinforcement and armament of the terrorist organi