Russian troops and diplomats hurriedly flee Damascus

"Russian troops and diplomats have begun to flee the Syrian capital, Damascus, as the first armed clashes there broke out.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, forces opposing the Russian-backed Assad administration are moving south, with the first urban clashes taking place in Hama, Homs and Suwayda.
The Russian contingent is known to have abandoned Hama and relocated to the Khmeimim airbase. Colonel General Alexander Zhuravlyov, chief of the Russian coordinating headquarters in Khmeimim, has declared that the situation is out of the Assad regime's control." Pravada

Iran-Backed Iraqi Militias Pour Across Border Into Syria To Bolster Assad

"Iran-backed Iraqi militias have been pouring across the border into eastern Syria to assist

Damascus in repelling the Islamist militant advance after Al Qaeda splinter group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham took over Aleppo this weekend.
A Syrian army officer has told Reuters that Iraqi militia forces crossing the border are "fresh reinforcements being sent to aid our comrades on the frontlines in the north."
Many of the fighters have been identified as belonging to the Kataib Hezbollah and Fatemiyoun groups. The US has long been in an internecine conflict with Kataib Hezbollah in Iraq, with over the years periodic rocket fire even targeting the US Embassy in Baghdad, as well as various bases which host remaining American troops." ZH

Mexico Stops 2 Migrant Caravans After Trump Tariff Threat

"Days after Donald Trump announced that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had "agreed to stop Migration through Mexico, and into the United States," or face 25% import duties on Mexican goods, it appears she's done just that.

Mexico has already broken up two migrant caravans consisting of approximately 4,000 people at their peak. Some of the migrants were bused to cities in southern Mexico, while others were offered transit papers, which allow them to travel across Mexico for 20 days." ZeroHedge

Biden Huddles in Corrupt Angola After Outrageous Pardon for Hunter

"President Joe Biden unleashed a firestorm of controversy and further eroded public trust in his already damaged party by giving a shocking blanket pardon to his son, Hunter, on Sunday.
Biden fled from the controversy by jetting to Angola, one of the most corrupt nations in the world.
Biden was wheels-up for Angola within a few hours of pardoning his son for all crimes, both known and yet to be revealed, over a ten-year period. He refused to answer questions about the pardon from reporters during a stopover in Cape Verde." Breitbart

Ternopil’s power grid targeted again in Russian drone attack

"A third Russian drone attack on the administrative center of Ternopil in a week has again targeted an energy infrastructure facility, leaving part of the western Ukrainian city without power." NV

Ukrainian forces shoot down 22 Russian drones

"Ukraine's defense forces shot down 22 Russian drones during an overnight attack on Ukraine. Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 28 Shahed strike drones and UAVs of other types launched from Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Kursk, Oryol, and Millerovo." Ukrin

201 skirmishes on front lines, most attacks recorded in Kurakhove sector

"As many as 201 combat engagements between Ukrainian forces and Russian invaders were recorded on the front lines.
In the Kharkiv sector, the enemy, supported by aircraft, made eight unsuccessful attempts to break through Ukrainian defenses near Vovchansk and Starytsia.

In the Kupiansk sector, seven enemy attacks were recorded, with Ukrainian forces repelling Russian assaults near Dvorichna, Petropavlivka, Zelenyi Hai, Kolisnykivka and Lozova.
In the Lyman sector, Russian forces launched 11 attacks, trying to penetrate Ukrainian defenses near Hrekivka, Cherneshchyna, Kopanka, Yampolivka, and Terny.
One assault was repelled near Bilohorivka in the Siversk sector.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the occupiers launched four attacks on Ukrainian positions near Hryhorivka and Chasiv Yar.
In the Toretsk sector, Russian forces carried out nine attacks near Toretsk, Nelipivka, and Shcherbynivka, with most clashes recorded near Toretsk.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 40 Russian assaults near Myroliubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Krasnyi Yar, Dachenske, Zhovte, Chumatske, and Novyi Trud.
In the Kurakhove sector, Ukrainian forces repelled 67 attacks, with the heaviest fighting recorded near Berestky, Stari Terny, Sontsivka, Novodmytrivka, Zoria, Kurakhove, Dalnie, Katerynivka, Antonivka, and Hannivka.
In the Vremivka sector, Russian troops carried out 30 assaults on Ukrainian positions near Kostiantynopolske, Rozdolne, Velyka Novosilka, Novoandriivka, Novosilka and Novopil.
In the Huliaipole sector, Russian forces launched an airstrike near Huliaipole.
In the Orikhiv sector, the enemy did not conduct active operations in the past day.
In the Dnipro River sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled three Russian attacks near Kozatskyi Island.
In the Volyn and Polissia sectors, no signs of enemy offensive group formations were observed." Ukrin

165 combat clashes on front lines in Ukraine

"165 combat clashes were recorded between the Defense Forces of Ukraine and Russian invaders.
In the Kharkiv sector, the enemy launched 10 assaults near Starytsia, Tykhe, Vovchansk, and towards Kozacha Lopan.

In the Kupiansk sector, there were nine Russian attacks. Ukraine’s Defense Forces repelled assault actions near Lozova, Kruhliakivka, Hlushkivka, and Zelenyi Hai.
In the Lyman sector, Russian forces launched eight attacks, attempting to advance near Druzheliubivka, Hrekivka, Hryhorivka, Terniv, and Torske.
In the Kramatorsk sector, three clashes were reported near Chasiv Yar.
In the Toretsk sector, the enemy conducted eight attacks near Toretsk and towards Shcherbynivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, the Ukrainian defenders halted 33 assault and offensive actions by Russian troops near Myroliubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Dachenske, Zhovte, and Chumatske.
In the Kurakhove sector, the Ukrainian defenders repelled 48 attacks near Berestky, Sontsivka, Zoria, Novodmytrivka, Kurakhove, Dalne, Yelyzavetivka, and Hannivka.
In the Vremivka sector, Russian forces carried out 24 offensive actions near Kostiantynopil, Trudove, Velyka Novosilka, Novosilka, Novyi Komar, and Novodarivka.
In the Prydniprovske sector, Russian invaders attempted to storm the Ukrainian positions four times but were unsuccessful.
In the operational zone in Russia's Kursk region, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 16 attacks by Russian invaders over the past day.
On the Volyn and Polissia sectors, no signs of Russian offensive grouping formation were spotted.
In the border areas of Chernihiv and Sumy regions, Russians are using artillery and aviation from their territory to attack Ukrainian settlements." Ukrin

Russian forces make quick advance to key settlement — British intelligence

"Russian occupation forces, after capturing Vuhledar, quickly advanced to the eastern flank of Velyka Novosilka, a key defensive point in Donetsk Oblast, according to a British Ministry of Defense intelligence report.

British intelligence noted that Russia’s advances threaten Ukrainian defense positions from the rear, targeting key logistical routes." NV

Syrian Airstrikes Destroy Terrorist Convoy on Aleppo-Damascus M5 Highway, disrupting their Offensive

"Planes of the Syrian Air Force carried out a series of strikes on a column of militant armored vehicles on the M5 Aleppo-Damascus Motorway, disrupting their offensive." Sputnik

Fire breaks out at Russian polystyrene plant used for military production

"A fire broke out at a polystyrene production facility in Yekaterinburg, Russia, according to a report by the Russian outlet Baza on Dec. 1.

Preliminary reports indicate that the fire spread over an area of approximately 1,500 square meters. The cause of the fire is currently unknown." NV

Ousted: Russian general replaced amidst Aleppo turmoil

"The commander of Russian forces in Syria

, Gen. Sergey Kisel, has been removed from his position following the capture of the city of Aleppo by militants, reported the Russian defense ministry-affiliated channel "Rybar".
"It is said that the commander of the Kisel troop group was dismissed. This removal probably doesn't change anything for now. What needs to change is the approach: the Syrian sandbox has been a place for rebuilding the reputations of generals who proved incompetent in the special military operation zone for a long time," wrote "Rybar"." MS

Aleppo bombed by Russian and Syrian airstrikes as rebels capture half of city

"Rebel fighters are being bombed by Russian and Syrian jets as the fight to control the city of Aleppo intensifies.

Insurgent forces now claim to control around half of the heavily-populated city after a surprise offensive against President Bashar al-Assad's regime." Mirror

Zelensky dismisses Ukraine's ambassador to Netherlands

"Zelensky has dismissed Oleksandr Karasevych, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Netherlands. "Oleksandr Karasevych shall be dismissed as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and as Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons," the decree says." Pravada

Syria: Insurgents storm Aleppo

 

"The governor of Aleppo, police and security branches have withdrawn from the center of Aleppo and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militants taken control of “the majority of the city,” according to The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights." NBC