Overview
- IDF chief Eyal Zamir called 2026 a decisive year, pressed for a political decision on who would run Gaza after any new operation, and signaled doubts about a proposed international stabilization force as Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades rejected disarmament.
- An Israeli–U.S. timeframe for Hezbollah’s disarmament expired, with Israeli sources saying President Trump indicated conditional support for Israeli measures if the Lebanese army fails, while analysts caution this falls short of a clear green light.
- Israeli media reported the military raising readiness for potential action in Lebanon, as Hezbollah leaders dismissed disarmament demands and framed them as an external pressure campaign.
- Saudi Arabia’s ambassador said the Southern Transitional Council blocked a Saudi delegation’s landing in Aden and flights were halted, while Yemen’s transport ministry protested new Saudi screening rules and southern forces threatened to crush Brotherhood-linked militias.
- Russia said it handed the U.S. data alleging a planned Ukrainian drone attack on President Putin’s residence, a claim denied by Kyiv and treated skeptically by U.S. media citing a CIA assessment, as U.S. Southern Command reported eight killed in fresh strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats, raising the campaign’s toll to at least 115.