Oil prices fall after Saudi Arabia proposes naval coalition to protect ships from attack

"Oil prices fell Thursday after Saudi Arabia proposed a naval coalition to protect key trade

routes as ships come under attack from Iran and its allies in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz.
The Saudi Defense Ministry said more than 40 countries attended a meeting to discuss "strengthening maritime defense cooperation and unifying efforts to protect the security of maritime passages."
The effort to forge a naval alliance comes as Iran's Houthi allies in Yemen declared a maritime embargo of Saudi Arabia last week. Iran has repeatedly attacked ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Egypt, meanwhile, said two ships were hit by a drone attack at the Port of Damietta on the Mediterranean. Damietta is the site of a liquefied natural gas hub. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack." cnbc

Hamas sleeper cell terrorist is found working at Crete hotel while preparing cruise ship attack

"A suspected Hamas operative allegedly worked at a luxury hotel on the Greek island of Crete

while preparing for a suspected terror attack targeting an Israeli cruise ship, according to reports.
The 37-year-old Egyptian man of Palestinian origin, identified by the media as Motasem, was arrested by Greek special forces in the tourist resort of Agios Nikolaos during a raid after recently taking a job as an electrician at the hotel." msn

Trump administration declines attempts to begin Iran ceasefire talks

"The Trump administration has declined attempts by several Middle Eastern governments to open ceasefire negotiations with Iran,

according to sources cited in a new Reuters report on Saturday.
Officials from countries in the region, including Oman and Egypt, have explored ways to bring Washington and Tehran to the negotiating table in hopes of pausing the fighting.
U.S. officials have signaled that the White House is not currently interested in pursuing ceasefire talks and instead intends to continue military operations against Iranian targets, the sources in the report said." 

JustTheNews

Russia joins China, Iran for naval drills in South Africa

"South Africa

held on Jan. 10 the opening ceremony for Chinese-led naval exercises taking
place in South African waters until Jan. 16., Bloomberg reported.
Russia, Iran, China and South Africa are participating in the drills, called "Will for Peace 2026," with Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia joining as observers." KI

Mystery Blasts Rock Russia-Linked Oil Tankers Off Turkey’s Coast

"Explosions rocked two tankers sanctioned for carrying Russian oil, the latest in a spate of blasts on such vessels, sparking a rescue operation off Turkey’s Black Sea coast.

The 900-foot Kairos was en route from Egypt to Russia when it suffered a blast and caught fire, according to Turkish authorities. Emergency response vessels managed to evacuate the 25 crew members. Meanwhile, the 820-foot Virat began spewing heavy smoke from its engine room after being hit at a point farther east along the coast. The 20 personnel on board were in good condition, authorities said.
The exact cause of each of the explosions was unclear but Turkey’s transport minister said he had been informed they were the result of “external impact.”
“It can be a mine or a drone or a sea drone. These are all possible,” Abdulkadir Uraloglu said in a television interview." WSJ

Sudan military signals willingness to work with US and Saudi for peace

"Sudan's Sovereign Council, led by army chief Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Al-Burhan, announced its readiness to cooperate with the United States and Saudi Arabia to end the two-year-long conflict devastating the country.

The council expressed gratitude to both nations for their ongoing efforts to halt the violence and affirmed its willingness to participate seriously in peace initiatives for Sudan.

This statement comes after US President Donald Trump signaled his willingness to work with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt to resolve the fighting between Sudan's army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Clashes between the military and this paramilitary group, accused of serious abuses, have plagued Sudan since April 2023.
"We will work with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and other partners in the Middle East to end these atrocities," Trump declared on his Truth Social account. The comment followed a visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Washington, where he urged Trump to take action to end the conflict.
Recently, Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for an end to foreign military support for the RSF, highlighting concerns about escalating violence.
Recent RSF offensives, including the capture of North Darfur's capital el-Fasher, have resulted in hundreds of deaths and forced tens of thousands to flee amid reports of atrocities. The International Organization for Migration reported that nearly 90,000 people have left el-Fasher and nearby villages, facing hazardous conditions without necessities like food or medical care.
Saudi officials caution that worsening instability in Sudan could threaten the Red Sea region and Africa, possibly enabling extremist groups to expand.
Regional divisions have emerged: Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia support the Sudanese Armed Forces, while the UAE reportedly supplies arms to the RSF.
Trump further pledged on social media that the US would work with Middle Eastern partners to end the violence and stabilize Sudan." 

AfricaNews

Trump, Middle Eastern Leaders Sign Peace Agreement in Historic Egypt Summit Flanked by World Leaders

"President Donald Trump and about two dozen world leaders

displayed robust unity at the Middle East Peace signing ceremony regarding the first phase of a historic peace agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Trump, along with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, signed the documents in Sharm el-Sheik hours after Trump gave a powerful speech to the Knesset in Tel Aviv." 

Breitbart

World leaders throw their weight behind the Gaza ceasefire deal

"The U.S. and Egyptian presidents are chairing a gathering of world leaders dubbed “the Summit for Peace” to support ending the two-year

war in Gaza after a breakthrough ceasefire deal.
Leaders from Turkey, Jordan, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, the United Nations and European Union also have all said they will attend.
The summit in the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh comes on the same day that Hamas is to release its 20 remaining living Israeli hostages and Israel is to free hundreds of Palestinians from its prisons, crucial steps after a ceasefire began." 

AP

Hamas Agrees to Ceasefire in Gaza -- Trump: ’Historic and Unprecedented Event’

"The terrorist organization Hamas has reportedly agreed to the ceasefire in Gaza and the peace plan set by the Trump administration.

“Sources in ‘the Palestinian resistance’ tell the Hezbollah-affiliated outlet al-Mayadeen that Hamas has agreed to a Gaza ceasefire deal, adding that it will be signed Thursday in Egypt,” the outlet reported.
During a press conference on Wednesday, President Trump said he may visit Egypt sometime later this week for a possible peace agreement.
“I may go there sometime toward the end of the week. Maybe on Sunday, actually. But there’s a very good chance that negotiations are going along very well,” the president said. “We’re dealing with Hamas and many of the countries, as you know, we have all of the Muslim countries included, all of the Arab countries are included, and very rich countries, and some that are not so rich … Our final negotiation is with Hamas and it seems to be going well.” Breitbart

Hamas denies agreeing to disarm

"The Palestinian militant group Hamas on Sunday denied media reports suggesting it was ready to disarm immediately to implement US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan.
Earlier in the day, several media outlets reported, citing anonymous sources, that the group had agreed to hand over its arsenal to a Palestinian-Egyptian body under international supervision and has informed the US of its decision.
However, Hamas was quick to deny the “fabricated claims.” RT

Israel Attack Yemen Presidential Palace - Egypt Deploy Troops To Gaza

"The initial reports suggested that the Israeli missiles and the Israeli air force massively

slammed into the presidential palace compound in Sana. The Houthis have been launching drones at Israel. 

Another one was last night and over the last couple of days they decided to hit the palace to send a message.

There's fuel shortages and everything is falling apart in Yemen And meanwhile, the Egyptians are making a move which is also escalating things massively in Egypt.
he Egyptian army have now uh deployed their forces and their troops along the border with Egypt ahead of Israel's expected operation to take over the Gaza city..... the the Egyptians fear that the Israeli operation will be pushing some of the gardens about 1 million Gans towards the Egyptian border.
And of course, the Iranian regime and the supreme leader has also now threatened once again directly President Donald J. Trump." TT

Trump Says Israel Agrees To 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire, Urges Hamas To Accept

"President Trump said Tuesday that Israel has agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and warned Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen.

Trump announced the development as he prepares to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House on Monday. The US leader has been increasing pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war in Gaza.
“My Representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza. Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War,” Trump wrote, saying the Qataris and Egyptians would deliver the final proposal.
“I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better – IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,” he said." ZeroHedge

March for Gaza descends into farce as fed-up Egyptians clash with woke mob of activists

"Anti-Israel activists clashed with Egyptian authorities and fed-up locals during a doomed

attempted march to the border of the Gaza Strip by a disorderly rabble of protesters.
Naive demonstrators taking part in a sit-in at a checkpoint outside the city of Ismailia, some 130 miles from the Rafah border crossing into the Palestinian territories, fought with both cops and Egyptian locals on Friday and Saturday, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Footage over the weekend showed activists wearing keffiyehs — the checkered calling-card of the pro-Palestinian cause — clashing with fed-up Egyptian locals, some of whom could be seen hurling clubs and water bottles at the hapless protesters.
Frustrated Egyptians, some little more than children, could be seen pulling the activists off the road as they staged a sit-down at the checkpoint.
One clip showed “free Palestine”-chanting activists — who were waving several different countries’ flags — being attacked by what they claimed were plain-clothes officers." NYP

Hamas accepts new hostage deal, which Israel counters with demand for additional captives

"At least five hostages held by Hamas, including New Jersey native Edan Alexander, could be freed under new cease-fire proposals, officials said Saturday as tens of thousands of protestors flooded Israeli streets demanding the release of all captives.
The terror group agreed to release the five hostages, who were kidnapped in its Oct. 7, 2023 massacre in Israel, in exchange for a 50-day cease-fire over the Eid al-Fitr holiday and continuing through Passover.
The proposal, put forward by Egypt after continued pressure from the US over the impasse, also calls for the release of Palestinian prisoners." ms

King of Jordan Tells Trump He Will Take In 2,000 Sick Gaza Children

"King Abdullah II of Jordan told President Trump at the White House

on Tuesday that his country would give refuge to 2,000 children from Gaza who are sick with cancer or other illnesses.
During a meeting with Trump on Tuesday, the king said to “keep in mind that there is a plan from Egypt” and other Arab countries, and that they had to look out for the best interests of the people of the United States, Jordan, and the Middle East." 

Breitbart

Relatives of Bashar al-Assad arrested at Beirut airport using fake passports

"Authorities arrested the wife and daughter of a cousin of former Syrian dictator Bashar Assad

at Beirut’s airport on Dec. 27 as they attempted to leave using fake passports. Rasha Hazem, wife of Duraid Assad, and their daughter Shams entered Lebanon illegally and attempted to board a flight to Egypt. Duraid is the son of Rifaat Assad, the uncle of Bashar Assad and a former vice president of Syria." NV

Finland Boards Russian 'Shadow Fleet' Tanker in Connection With Damage of Undersea Electric Cables

"Finnish commandos boarded and seized an oil

tanker Thursday that is believed to have
temporarily disabled the Estlink-2 power line connecting Finland and Estonia. The vessel in question, the Cook Islands-registered Eagle S, was traveling from St. Petersburg to Port Said, Egypt. The Eagle S is thought to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet" that smuggles Russian crude oil to market." RedState

NATO warships surround Chinese ship suspected of sabotaging undersea internet cables — ship allegedly dragged anchor 100 miles

"Two undersea internet cables connecting Finland and Sweden to Central Europe were cut last week, with authorities suspecting sabotage. According to the Wall Street Journal, investigators suspect that the Yi Peng 3, a Chinese bulk carrier traveling to Egypt from Russia and loaded with fertilizer, deliberately dropped its anchor in Swedish waters to sever the BCS East-West Interlink cable connecting it to Lithuania and then did it again the following day to damage the C-Lion1 cable between Finland and Germany. In total, they suspect the ship dragged its anchor for over 100 miles.

“It’s extremely unlikely that the captain would not have noticed that his ship dropped and dragged its anchor, losing speed for hours and cutting cables on the way,” said one of the investigators handling the probe. What’s more concerning is that the crew allegedly turned off the ship’s transponder during this time, making it impossible for the Automatic Identification System to track its movement. After the ship hit the second undersea cable, the investigators said that it zigzagged, raised its anchor, and continued underway.
Open maritime tracking sources put the Yi Peng 3 in international waters between Denmark and Sweden. However, it’s currently stopped and surrounded by NATO ships as the investigation is underway. According to one source, the ship’s anchor and hull have damage consistent with dragging and cable damage.
At the moment, Reuters said that Swedish authorities are talking with Ningbo Yipeng Shipping, the ship's owners, to sail it back into Swedish waters. However, since the Yi Peng 3 is anchored in international waters, NATO cannot force it to sail into any port under international maritime law for further investigation." MS

Russian forces deploy Egyptian mercenaries in Vovchansk

"Russia has deployed Egyptian mercenaries for combat operations in Vovchansk, Kharkiv Oblast....Russian forces continue their attempts to breach Ukrainian defenses in the Kharkiv operational area. The Ukrainian military also observed the transfer of positions from the 4th Volunteer Assault Brigade to the 153rd Tank Regiment of the 47th Tank Division in the city's northern part. "The enemy is engaging foreign volunteers, in particular, Egyptian citizens, in combat operations," noted the military." NV

Arab League Suddenly Revokes Hezbollah's Terrorist Designation

"While some Western countries have ramped up sanctions against Hezbollah amid daily missile fire on northern Israel, the Arab League has issued a surprise reversal of its terror designation.

The influential regional organization, which is akin to an 'Arab UN' will no longer classify the Tehran-backed group as a terrorist organization, Egypt’s Al-Qahera news channel first reported." ZH