★SYRIA

1. UN Security Council Delegation Visits Syria For High-Level Talks

A UN Security Council delegation comprising permanent and rotating members arrived in Damascus for meetings with senior Syrian officials and civil society representatives. Delegates are scheduled to visit Beit Jinn, where Israeli strikes recently caused thirteen deaths, and receive a briefing from Deputy UN Envoy Najat Rochdi on reported Israeli violations. The visit also includes discussions on Syria’s political transition, security conditions, and UN engagement while the organization prepares to appoint a new envoy. 

2. Trump Team Warns Netanyahu Syria Strikes Risk Wrecking Peace Track

Axios reports senior Trump officials privately warned Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel’s intensifying strikes on Syrian military and government targets risk destabilizing Syria and derailing the U.S.-mediated Israel–Syria security agreement seen as a precursor to eventual Syrian entry into the Abraham Accords. Officials say the White House, which lifted core sanctions and invested political capital in President Ahmed al-Sharaa, fears Netanyahu’s “hyper-aggressive” Syria campaign could turn the new government hostile, squander Trump’s rare leverage in Damascus, and force Washington to choose between Israel’s tactics and its broader regional peace architecture.

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★LEBANON

3. Pope Leads Beirut Port Prayer, Bolsters Justice Demands On Hezbollah Arms

Pope Leo XIV ended his Lebanon trip with a silent prayer at the Beirut port blast site, joined by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and families of victims still denied accountability five years on. More than 120,000–150,000 people registered for his waterfront Mass, bussed from across Lebanon in a tightly secured finale to his first foreign tour. Lebanese commentators say his explicit call for justice and peace strengthens Beirut’s push to advance stalled port investigations and adds moral weight to cabinet plans to contain Hezbollah’s weapons under a nationwide state‑monopoly framework.

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★IRAQ

4. Iraq, Syria Conduct Joint Operation to Seize Drug Traffickers

Iraq said a coordinated mission with Syrian authorities led to the arrest of two international traffickers in Syria and the seizure of 57 kg of hashish bound for Iraq. Baghdad praised the security cooperation and vowed to intensify counter-narcotics efforts, while Iraq’s National Security Service reported 157 arrests in November for terrorism, drugs, and extortion.

5. Israel Warns Iraq of Imminent Lebanon Operation Against Hezbollah

Washington’s envoy Tom Barrack warned Iraq of an impending Israeli operation in Lebanon aimed at disarming Hezbollah, cautioning that involvement of Shiite groups could trigger Israeli action inside Iraq. The alert follows Israeli security discussions after Hezbollah’s ceasefire violations and the assassination of senior commander Tabbatabai in Beirut, during ongoing military mobilization.

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★TURKIYE

6. Erdogan Warns Black Sea Security Threatened by Russia–Ukraine Conflict

Turkish President Erdogan stated that the Russia–Ukraine war has reached Türkiye’s doorstep, citing recent attacks on Russian shadow-fleet tankers near Turkish waters. The Kairos and Virat were reportedly struck by new Ukrainian underwater drones, posing risks to regional security across the entire Black Sea.

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★AFRICA

7. Sudan Offers Russia 25-Year Deal for Red Sea Naval Base

Sudanese authorities offered Russia a 25-year agreement granting deployment of up to 300 troops and four warships, including nuclear-powered vessels, at Port Sudan or another Red Sea facility. Moscow would also receive detailed data on Sudan’s mining concessions and gain a position to monitor traffic to and from the Suez Canal, while Sudan would obtain advanced Russian air-defense systems and other weapons at preferential prices.

8. Egypt Unveils New Home-Built Rocket Launchers and Armored Systems

Egypt announced new domestically produced weapons at EDEX 2025, including the tracked Radaa-300 guided rocket launcher with a 300 km range and the fully Egyptian Sina 806 recovery vehicle. The Defense Ministry also revealed advances in armored steel production, showcased the K9A1EGY 155 mm howitzer program, upgraded the Raad-200 launcher, and introduced a light 4×4 vehicle equipped with a modernized twin 23 mm anti-aircraft gun.

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★THE GULF

9. US Approves $1.4 Billion Arms Deals for Saudi Arabia, Bahrain

Washington approved three arms deals worth over $1.4 billion, including $1 billion in logistics and advanced training for Saudi Arabia’s helicopter fleet and pilots, covering UH-60 Black Hawk, AH-64 Apache, CH-47F Chinook, and other aircraft. A separate $445 million package for Bahrain supports F-16 sustainment with components, missile pods, and operational systems. The Pentagon said the deals strengthen Gulf allies without altering the regional military balance.

10. Saudi Arabia Grants $90 Million to Palestinian Treasury 

Saudi Arabia delivered a $90 million grant to the Palestinian treasury for 2025 during a meeting in Amman, reaffirming support for Palestine’s financial stability, essential services, and political rights. Palestinian officials thanked Riyadh, noting the aid’s role in easing economic hardships during ongoing Israeli policies and highlighting the kingdom’s consistent political, economic, and humanitarian backing.

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★ISRAEL

11. Israel Says It Killed Islamic Jihad Elite Forces Commander in Gaza

The Israeli military announced the killing of Ala al-Din Khudari, commander of Islamic Jihad’s elite forces in Gaza City, saying he took part in the October 7 attack. Despite an October ceasefire, Israel continues strikes across Gaza, including home demolitions in Gaza City and shelling in Rafah, where the army says it has killed 40 Hamas fighters trapped in tunnels.

12. Israel Runs ‘War Drill’ Simulating Emergency Arrival of 45,000 Jews

Israel’s Immigration Ministry conducted a large-scale drill simulating the emergency absorption of 45,000 Jews fleeing a collapsing state, testing plans to receive 800 arrivals daily for up to two months. The exercise, designed to address gaps exposed on October 7, examined evacuation, reception, housing, and long-term integration, with officials stressing preparedness for future mass-migration crises.

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★IRAN

13. Iran Announces Major New Gold Discovery at Shadan Mine

Iran reported a major gold discovery at the private Shadan mine in South Khorasan, confirming new deposits approved by the Industry Ministry. The find includes 7.95 million tons of oxidized ore and 53.1 million tons of sulfide ore. Tehran says rising gold reserves support an economy strained by sanctions, inflation, and a weakened rial.

14. The Iranian Rial Plunges to a Record Low During Escalating Economic Turmoil

Iran’s rial hit a record low Monday, with the dollar surpassing 1.19 million rials During soaring inflation, stalled nuclear talks, and renewed UN sanctions triggered by European powers. The Euro and Pound also reached new highs, while the Emami gold coin set another record, reflecting deepening market volatility and fading confidence in Iran’s economy.

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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.