★ISRAEL

1. Israel Kills Hezbollah’s Number Two in an Airstrike in Beirut

Israel killed Ali Tabtabai, Hezbollah’s acting military chief, in an airstrike targeting a multi-story building in a Beirut suburb, leaving five dead and 28 wounded, despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. Israel said Tabtabai oversaw most of Hezbollah’s units and was working to reorganize them, while the Lebanese government condemned the attack, heightening regional tensions during ongoing Israeli pressure on Lebanon to disarm the group.

2. EU Boosts Funding to PA During Reform-Linked Governance Push

EU members pledged €80 million to the Palestinian Authority, tying aid to reforms such as ending terror-linked payments and removing antisemitism from textbooks, while urging Israel to release withheld revenues. Brussels aims to prepare a reformed PA to govern Gaza under the U.N.-backed Trump plan, train new police forces, and support transitional governance despite Israeli rejection of PA control.

3. Hamas Used Soldiers’ Social Media to Map IDF Bases and Disable Tanks

Military probes found Hamas spent years mining Israeli soldiers’ social media to build detailed intelligence on IDF bases and Merkava Mark 4 tanks, enabling operatives to disable vehicles and overrun posts like Nahal Oz on October 7, 2023. A vast tunnel “Pentagon” complex held data, models, simulators, and reports gathered from tracking about 100,000 soldiers online.

4. Hamas Threatens Ceasefire During Deadly Gaza Strikes and Clashes

Hamas warned the Gaza ceasefire could collapse after a gunman attacked Israeli troops, prompting Israeli strikes that killed five senior Hamas officials and, per Gaza authorities, 21 people. Israel accused Hamas of repeated violations, while Hamas denied ending the truce. The U.S. backed Israel as the IDF killed or captured 17 Rafah tunnel operatives.

5. US Cuts Gaza Troops, Hands Control to Peace Council

The US is reducing its troop presence at Gaza’s Civil-Military Coordination Centre in Kiryat Gat to advance President Trump’s ceasefire plan, transferring control to a foreign-led “peace council” to manage humanitarian aid and Gaza’s civil administration. Plans for “safe communities” in Israeli-controlled areas raise ethical concerns, while Hamas rejects disarmament, and an International Stabilisation Force is under discussion.

6. Israel Launches Surprise Golan Drills to Test Emergency Readiness

Israel began a two-day surprise military exercise in the Golan Heights, dubbed “Shield and Strength,” to assess emergency readiness, Israeli media reported. The IDF said the drill, led by the General Staff, tests Division 210’s preparedness, with increased troop movement, explosions, and aircraft activity expected across the area.

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★IRAN

7. Iran Advances Secret Nuclear Weapons Program with Russian Support

Israeli and UK reports say Iran is covertly advancing a nuclear weapons program with hidden Russian assistance, including visits to sanctioned tech firms and use of laser and modeling technologies to validate designs. The IAEA recently demanded urgent transparency, while Iran denies weaponization and claims lawful cooperation with Moscow.

8. Iran’s Export Boom Masks Deepening Economic Collapse

Despite near-record exports and a projected $114 billion in 2025, Iran’s economy is sinking into stagflation as investment collapses, the rial plummets, and inflation—especially food prices—surges. Mismanagement, corruption, and regime spending on regional militias drain resources from failing infrastructure, leaving citizens facing shortages and hardship while Tehran prioritizes ideology over national welfare.

9. China Surges Indonesian Oil Imports During Suspected Iranian Shipments

China’s crude imports from Indonesia have soared to 9.81 million tons through October, far surpassing Indonesia’s reported exports, as traders relabel Iranian barrels to bypass sanctions. Ship-to-ship transfers in Malaysian waters continue despite tighter enforcement. Analysts say Indonesia is used as a declared origin due to scrutiny on Malaysian cargoes, while over 51 million tons of suspected Iranian oil reached China via STS this year.

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★SYRIA

10. Mosque Imam’s Murder Sparks Sectarian Violence in Homs

Tensions flared in Homs after a mosque imam and his wife were brutally killed in the Zaidal area, in a crime initially staged to appear sectarian. The killings triggered armed attacks by Bedouin groups on Alawite-majority neighborhoods, including Al-Muhajireen and Al-Basel, resulting in burned cars, shops, and casualties. Security forces later restored order and imposed a curfew, while tribal leaders urged restraint. Investigations continue during ongoing sectarian sensitivities in the city and surrounding regions.

11. Syria Seizes 90,000 Captagon Pills in Damascus Countryside

Syria’s Interior Ministry said its anti-narcotics branch arrested two traffickers in Rif Damascus and seized 90,000 Captagon pills prepared for distribution. The operation, carried out in conjunction with internal security forces in al-Tall, resulted in the detention of suspects “A.L.” and “J.R.” for further legal investigation. Post-Assad authorities have reported multiple major Captagon busts across the country.

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★IRAQ

12. Iraqi Sunni Leaders Form Unified Council to Coordinate Post-Election Positions

Iraq’s leading Sunni parties formed the National Political Council in Baghdad to unify decisions after running separately in recent elections. Led by Mohammed al-Halbousi and Khamis al-Khanjar, the council aims to coordinate major national stances and engage other political blocs. The move comes as the Iran-aligned Coordination Framework formed the largest parliamentary bloc, exceeding 175 seats.

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★AFRICA

13. Tunisians Rally Against Repression During Deepening Political and Economic Crisis

Thousands protested in Tunis against jailed government critics, shrinking freedoms, and worsening economic conditions, echoing Arab Spring chants. Demonstrators demanded the release of opposition figures, journalists, and activists detained under President Kais Saied, accused of authoritarian abuses since his 2021 power grab. Protesters cited rising poverty, inflation, and curtailed expression as they called for Saied’s departure and new elections.

14. Chinese LNG Tanker Linked to Russia’s Shadow Fleet Heads for Suez

Bloomberg data shows the Chinese vessel Konping—suspected of operating within Russia’s “shadow fleet”—sailing toward the Suez Canal, a rare move for LNG carriers since Red Sea attacks halted most traffic in early 2024. The ship recently shifted ownership to obscure firms in China and the Marshall Islands, mirroring tactics used to conceal Russian energy shipments and bypass Western price caps.

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★THE GULF

15. Qatar Allegedly Invested $20 Billion in U.S. Schools, Promoting Islamist Ideologies

A report by ISGAP claims Qatar has invested around $20 billion in American schools and universities to advance Islamist ideologies aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood. Much of the funding flows through the Qatar Foundation to institutions like Cornell University and campus groups such as the Muslim Students Association and Students for Justice in Palestine, raising concerns about ideological influence on U.S. campuses.

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★ Disclaimer: This publication is a digest of various news sources compiled by the Early Phoenix team and edited by Rania Kisar. The items are curated, concise summaries of news items hyperlinked within each story. The items and summaries presented do not necessarily represent the views of the American Center for Levant Studies.