Turkey Masses Troops On Syria Border For Bigger, 'Imminent' Invasion

"The Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) announced the start of an operation against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the northern Syrian town of Kobani (Ayn al-Arab) on December 17.

The announcement came in the midst of a build-up of Turkish troops on the Syrian border in preparation for a possible invasion alongside its proxies in the SNA.
The Turkish military has built a concrete barrier between Kobani and the Turkey border, while Turkish warplanes can be seen flying above the city.
US media has also reported that Turkey is building up its forces along the border in preparation for a possible invasion. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that according to one US official, "A Turkish cross-border operation could be imminent." ZH

Jolani disbands Syrian rebels and orders creation of new army

"Syria’s rebel groups will be disbanded and absorbed into the national army, the head of the

faction which ousted Bashar al-Assad has said.
Meeting the country’s religious minority Druze community, Mohammed al-Jolani – who has started using his real name, Ahmed al-Sharaa – said rebels would be trained to “join the ranks of the defence ministry”.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – the Islamist group led by Sharaa as Jolani which is now leading Syria – was once affiliated with al-Qaeda and is still classed as a terrorist organization by the UK, US and much of Europe." MS

Russia detains suspect over murder of General Igor Kirillov

"Authorities in Russia have arrested a suspect over the killing of a top general and his aide in a

bomb blast in Moscow.
The Investigative Committee said in a statement on Wednesday that a national of Uzbekistan had been arrested on suspicion of having committed the attack that killed Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov and his assistant Ilya Polikarpov. It added the 29-year-old suspect said he had been “recruited by Ukrainian special forces”." NV

Russian forces seize Sontsivka amid escalation in Donetsk Oblast

"Russian forces have seized control of Sontsivka and advanced near nine other settlements in Donetsk Oblast. The analyst data indicate the Russian troops have also made gains near Novotroitske, Berestky, Zelenivka, Novyi Komar, Storozheve, Kurakhove, Pushkyne, Dachenske, and Vidrodzhennia." NV

88 clashes on front

"Since the beginning of the day, a total of 88 combat clashes have occurred on the frontline, with the heaviest fighting concentrated in the Pokrovsk, Siversk, and Kurakhove directions.
In the Kharkiv sector of the font, the Russian forces launched strikes using unguided rockets near Vovchanski Khutory.

In the Kupiansk sector, the Ukrainian defenses were attacked near Lozova.
In the Lyman sector, the Russian troops attempted seven attacks near Vyshneve, Tverdokhlibove, Zelenyi Hai, Terny, and the Serebriansky Forest. Five clashes are currently ongoing.
In the Siversk sector, the Russian forces are attacking the areas of Bilohorivka, Siversk, and Verkhniokamianske. The Ukrainian troops have repelled two out of eight attacks so far; battles are ongoing.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the Russian forces attempted attacks near Chasiv Yar and Stupochky, all of which were unsuccessful. Additionally, six guided aerial bombs were dropped near Pazeno and Vasiukivka.
In the Toretsk sector, the Russian troops are attempting to penetrate the Ukrainian defenses near Toretsk. Out of four enemy assaults, one has already been repelled, while three others continue.
In the Pokrovsk sector, the Russian forces conducted 13 attempts to dislodge the Ukrainian troops from their positions near Myroliubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Dachenske, Novyi Trud, Novooleksiivka, Pishchane, Novoolenivka, and Novoyelyzavetivka. The Ukrainian forces have repelled six attacks so far; seven clashes are ongoing.
In the Kurakhove sector, the Russian troops launched 15 assaults near Sontsivka, Stari Terny, Kurakhove, and Yantarne. Nine assaults have already been repelled.
In the Vremivka sector, the Russian forces attacked five times near Kostiantynopilske, Sukhi Yaly, Storozhove, Novosilka, and Novodarivka, with one engagement still ongoing.
In the Huliaipole sector, no active Russian operations have been reported today.
In the Orikhiv sector, two clashes occurred near Novoandriivka and Novodanylivka.
In the Prydniprovske sector, the Russian forces launched one assault using strike aviation, which was unsuccessful.
The Ukrainian forces continue their operations in Russia’s Kursk region. Russian aircraft have dropped five guided aerial bombs on this area since morning. The Ukrainian Defense Forces have already repelled 29 attacks there, while four engagements are ongoing." 

Ukrin

Hundreds of Vials of Deadly Viruses Missing After Lab Breach

"Hundreds of vials containing live viruses have gone missing from a laboratory in Australia, sparking an investigation.

Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls announced today that 323 samples of live viruses—including Hendra virus, Lyssavirus and Hantavirus—went missing in 2021 in a "serious breach of biosecurity protocols.".....nearly 100 of the missing vials containing Hendra virus, which is deadly. Two of the vials contained hantavirus, while 223 vials contained samples of lyssavirus.Hendra virus has a 57 percent fatality rate in humans and has had a devastating impact on those who have been infected. Hantavirus is carried by rodents and can cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), which has a mortality rate of around 38 percent, while lyssavirus is similar to rabies and also has a very high mortality rate." Newsweek

New Jersey Receives Report Radioactive Medical Device "Lost In Transit"

"While everyone, including local, state, and federal authorities, is desperately searching for answers, there has been a notable lack of disclosure regarding what is actually happening in the skies above New Jersey—some of the most restricted airspace in the world.

One theory points to drones equipped with payload sensors designed to detect radioactive material, given ongoing and heightened Al-Qaeda threats on the East Coast. Others believe this could be part of a large psyop aimed at pushing through new drone legislation in Washington, DC. Additional theories suggest that Iranian or Chinese operators may be deploying drones to spark mass hysteria.
What may seem like a mere coincidence is worth noting: reports of drone sightings began in mid-November, and on December 2, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission disclosed that a medical device containing radioactive material was "lost in transit" in New Jersey." ZeroHedge

Watch: Overnight Israeli Strike In Syria So Large It Caused Earthquake

"This has begun in the overnight hours, with Israeli warplanes pummeling air defense systems and ammunition depots in Damascus and the coastal city of Tartous, near where a Russian naval base is located. The strike on Tartous resulted in the single biggest explosion seen in

Syria in years, unleashing a fireball and mushroom cloud so large it led to quick speculation it could have been a tactical nuke.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) described that Israeli warplanes hit air defense units and "surface-to-surface missile depots" as part of a bid to degrade and disable Syria's military capability. SOHR also called it the "the heaviest strikes" on the region in over a decade.
The Telegraph wrote that "A 3.1 magnitude tremor was reported by the Geographic Survey of Israel’s seismology department at 11.49pm on Sunday night in the region of the bombings."
"The explosions in Tartous were extremely loud," Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar, reporting from inside the country, additionally described. "Some experts are saying that might probably mean it was a chemical weapons production house." ZH

General Igor Kirillov and His Assistant Killed in Moscow Blast

"As a result of the explosion in Moscow, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of the

Troops of Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defense of the Russian armed forces and his assistant were killed, according to the Russian Investigative Committee.
"According to the investigation, on the morning of December 17, an explosive device, planted in a scooter parked next to the entrance of a residential building, was detonated on Ryazansky Prospekt in Moscow. As a result of the incident, the head of the radiation, chemical and biological defense troops of the armed forces of Russia, Igor Kirillov, and his assistant were killed," the committee wrote on Telegram." Sputnik

245 combat clashes on frontlines over past day, most in Pokrovsk sector

"In the past 24 hours, there were 245 combat engagements between the Ukrainian forces and the Russian invaders along the frontline, with the most intense fighting occurring in the Pokrovsk sector.

In the Kharkiv sector, the Russian forces conducted three offensive operations near Hlyboke and Kozacha Lopan.
In the Kupiansk sector, the Ukrainian forces repelled four attacks near Kucherivka, Zahryzove, Lozova, and Petropavlivka.
In the Lyman sector, the Ukrainian troops stopped 16 attacks focused near Kopanky, Vyshneve, Novoyehorivka, Terny, Hryhorivka, Novoplatonivka, Novoserhiivka, Makiivka, the Serebrianskyi Forest, and towards Cherneshchyna.
In the Siversk sector, the Russian forces attacked 16 times near Bilohorivka, Verkhniokamianske, Ivano-Darivka, Spirne, and Siversk. Four engagements are still ongoing.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the Ukrainian defenders repelled eight Russian assaults near Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Chasiv Yar, and Stupochky.
In the Toretsk sector, the Russian forces conducted 12 attacks near Toretsk and Shcherbynivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, the Ukrainian forces repelled 52 attacks, with Russian forces showing high activity near Lysivka, Dachenske, Novyi Trud, Zelene, Novoolenivka, Pishchane, and Ukrainka.
In the Kurakhove sector, the Ukrainian defenders repelled 30 enemy attempts to breach defenses near Sontsivka, Stari Terny, Kurakhove, and Yantarne.
In the Vremivka sector, the Ukrainian forces stopped 22 Russian attacks near Kostiantynopil, Rozdolne, Novyi Komar, Neskuchne, Uspenivka, Sukhi Yaly, Blahodatne, Makarivka, and Novodarivka.
In the Orikhiv sector, the Russian forces conducted five attacks near Novoandriivka.
In the Prydniprovske sector, the Russian troops made four unsuccessful attempts to capture the Ukrainian positions.
In the Volyn and Polissia sectors, there were no significant changes; no signs of enemy offensive group formation spotted.
On the border with Chernihiv and Sumy regions, the Russian forces maintain their presence, conduct reconnaissance, and artillery shelling.
In Russia’s Kursk region, the Ukrainian Defense Forces operations are ongoing. Over the past day, the Russian forces conducted 68 assaults at the Ukrainian positions, conducted six airstrikes (dropping 12 guided aerial bombs) and 341 shelling attacks targeting Ukrainian positions and settlements." Ukrin

228 clashes at front in past day

"228 combat engagements were recorded along the frontlines, with the fiercest battles taking place at the Pokrovsk, Vremivka, Kurakhove, Siversk sectors, and in Russia’s Kursk region.
The aggressor launched a series of air strikes in multiple locations, including Shopyne, Baranykivka, Siversk, Krymske, Druzhba, Katerynivka, Toretsk, Mykolaivka, Oleksandropil, Zelene Pole, Preobrazhenka, Mala Tokmachka, and Velyka Novosilka.
In the Kharkiv sector, the enemy launched 10 assaults on Ukrainian troops' positions near Vysoka Yaruha, Tykhove, and Vovchansk.

In the Kupiansk sector, there were four attacks over the past 24 hours. The defense forces successfully repelled the enemy's assault near Zahryzove and Lozova.
In the Lyman sector, the enemy initiated 20 attacks. The Russian army attempted to breach the Ukrainian defensive line near Novoyehorivka, Hrekivka, Terny, Tverdokhlibove, and Nadiya.
In the Siversk sector, there were 34 combat clashes in the vicinity of Bilohorivka, Verkhniokamianske, Ivan-Daryivka, and Vyimka.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the militants launched four attacks in the areas of Chasiv Yar and Stupochky.
In the Toretsk sector, the enemy, with the support of aviation, conducted 12 attacks in the vicinity of Toretsk and Shcherbynivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders successfully thwarted 32 aggressor assaults and offensive actions near the localities of Myroliubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Dachanske, Zelene, Pishchane, and Novooleynivka.
In the Kurakhove sector, the Defense Forces successfully repelled 32 attacks. The invaders attempted to advance in the areas of Stari Terny, Sontsivka, Zoria, Kurakhove, and Uspenivka.
In the Vremivka sector, the enemy launched 35 attacks on Ukrainian positions in the areas of Sukhi Yaly, Rozlyv, Zelenivka, Kostiantynopolske, Trudove, Novyi Komar, Novosilka, and Makarivka. They employed a variety of aircraft, including attack and bomber aircraft, to target the area.
In the Prydniprovskyi sector, the Russian invaders attempted to dislodge Ukrainian units from their positions five times. They were met with a strong and effective response, resulting in significant losses for the enemy.
There were no indications of enemy offensive groups in the Volyn and Polissia sectors.
On the border with the Chernihiv and Sumy regions, the enemy is using artillery and attack UAVs against Ukrainian settlements from the territory of the Russian Federation.
The operation in the Kursk region continues. Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian defenders have successfully repelled 38 enemy attacks in this sector. The enemy continues to launch guided aerial bomb strikes against its territory. So far, five air strikes have been confirmed, involving five guided aerial bombs." Ukrin

Russian Troops Hoist Russian Flag in Villages South of Kurakhovo

"Russian soldiers have hoisted Russia's tricolor flag in the villages of Uspenovka and Annovka, south of Kurakhovo, in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).

Russian forces are currently conducting clearing operations of scattered Ukrainian army groups, according to Vladimir Rogov, Chairman of the Russian Civic Chamber's Commission on Sovereignty and Co-Chair of the Coordinating Council for the Integration of New Regions." Sputnik

Ukraine replaces commander amid Russian advance on key city

"Ukraine’s military leadership has changed the commander of the Donetsk tactical group amid

Russia’s continued advance toward the city of Pokrovsk in southwestern Donbass. The replacement of General Aleksandr Lutsenko was announced on Friday by Ukrainian MP Mariana Bezuglaya on Telegram.
Pokrovsk (also known as Krasnoarmeysk) is the largest population center under Ukrainian control in the west of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). It has gone from a major supply hub for the frontline forts to being on the front line itself." RT

Magyar’s unit claims dozens of North Korean, Russian troops killed in Kursk Oblast

"Robert Brovdi, commander of the aerial reconnaissance unit known by the call sign “Magyar,” shared a video on his Telegram channel showing what he claims are the bodies of 22 North Korean and Russian soldiers killed during an assault in Kursk Oblast. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that, according to preliminary intelligence, Russia has begun deploying North Korean soldiers in assault operations in Kursk Oblast. He confirmed that some of them have already been killed.
The same day, Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, urged caution regarding conclusions about North Korean involvement.
“There are plenty of rumors about the ‘endless North Koreans.’ They are far from endless, and they meet their end, just like everyone else,” he said." NV

Ukrainian forces shoot down 27 Russian UAVs overnight

"The Defense Forces of Ukraine shot down 27 drones used by the Russian military in attacks against Ukraine. The anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Air Force and Defense Forces successfully repelled the air attack." Ukrin