Syria says it stopped weapons smuggling to Hezbollah

"For the second time in two weeks, the Syrian government announced it prevented a shipment of arms to Lebanon.

This is a significant development. It highlights how the new leaders are seeking to interdict smuggling and show the region it is serious. There is likely some implicit messaging in this to Israel as well that the Jewish state can trust the new government in Syria to stop the flow of weapons to its enemies.
The statement from the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) is short. It says, “The General Administration of Border Security, following monitoring and surveillance, has seized a shipment of weapons destined for Hezbollah in Lebanon. The weapons were being smuggled through the Syrian-Lebanese border via the city of Serghaya in [the] Damascus countryside.” JerusalemPost

Colombia’s Petro Backs Down: Sending Personal Plane to Pick Up Migrants After Trump Announced Sanctions

"Colombian President Gustavo Petro backed down on his declaration that he would not accept deportation flights from the United States. He now says he will send his presidential plane to personally pick up the deported migrants.

The Colombian president’s backpedaling came after President Donald Trump announced he would impose numerous sanctions—including “emergency 25% tariffs”—on Colombia in response to Petro’s reversal of his promise to accept deportation flights.
On Sunday, Petro — who initially said he would accept deportation flights from the U.S. but then refused to receive two flights containing a total of 160 deportable migrants — suggested he changed his mind about accepting the flights because the U.S. treats “Colombian migrants as criminals.” 

Breitbart

Russians drop "smart bomb" on Belgorod Oblast

"A Russian

plane accidentally dropped a "smart bomb" on Belgorod Oblast. It is noted that the
projectile is equipped with a navigation module integrated with steering, several antennas and a turbojet power unit.
Its warhead is the same as a standard FAB-250 bomb, but the UMPB was designed to be "smart" and "glide"." Pravada

70 killed in attack on hospital as Sudan war escalates

"Around 70 people were killed in an attack on a hospital in Sudan's city of El Fasher. The attack targeted the Saudi Teaching Maternal Hospital, which local officials blame on the rebel group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

This incident comes as the civil war in Sudan intensifies, with the RSF suffering apparent losses to Sudanese military forces. On Saturday, army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan appeared near a burning oil refinery north of Khartoum, which his forces claimed to have seized from the RSF.
Saudi Arabia condemned the attack, calling it a violation of international law.
Meanwhile, neighboring South Sudan has suspended access to social media platforms for at least 30 days due to the circulation of videos showing alleged killings of South Sudanese nationals in Sudan. This decision aims to prevent further violence and unrest within South Sudan." AfricanNews

Russia intercepts 121 drones

 "Moscow said it intercepted 121 Ukrainian drones, including 37 in Russia’s Bryansk, 20 in Ryazan and 17 in the Kursk and Saratov regions of the country." AJ

Velyka Novosilka Falls

"Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that its troops had fought their way into the strategically important eastern Ukrainian town of Velyka Novosilka, after a months-long battle." AJ

Ukrainian forces down 50 Russian drones

"Ukrainian defense forces have shot down 50 drones launched by Russian troops to attack Ukraine, with nine additional UAVs veering off course and failing to reach their targets..... the enemy launched 72 Shahed strike UAVs and simulator drones of various types from multiple directions, including Oryol, Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk." Ukrin

167 clashes on front lines in past day, most in Pokrovsk sector

"Ukrainian and Russian forces engaged in 167 combat clashes, with the fiercest fighting occurring in the Pokrovsk, Kramatorsk, and Lyman sectors.
In the Kupiansk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled nine enemy attacks near Petropavlivka, Pishchane, Hlushkivka, and Lozova.
In the Lyman sector, the invaders launched 26 attacks, trying to breach Ukrainian defenses near Tverdokhlibove, Novoserhiivka, Shyikivka, Nova Kruhliakivka, Druzheliubivka,

Hrekivka, Pershotravneve, Kopanky, Novoliubivka, Makiivka, Zelena Dolyna, and Torske.
In the Siversk sector, the Russian army targeted Ukrainian positions near Verkhniokamianka.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian forces launched 33 attacks near Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Novomarkove, Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Predtechyne, and Bila Hora.
In the Toretsk sector, the invaders carried out ten attacks near Toretsk.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 52 enemy attacks near Vodiane Druhe, Yelyzavetivka, Myroliubivka, Promin, Zelene, Udachne, Novooleksandrivka, Kotlyne, Bohdanivka, Andriivka, Shevchenko, Dachne, Ulakly, Kostiantynopilske, Pokrovsk, Vidrodzhennia, and Uspenivka.
In the Novopavlivka sector, Ukrainian defenders withstood nine Russian assaults near Novosilka, Novodarivka, Kostiantynopol, and Velyka Novosilka.
In the Dnipro River sector, Ukrainian forces are actively preventing Russian troops from advancing deeper into Ukraine, successfully repelling two assaults.
In Russia's Kursk region, Ukrainian forces repelled 16 enemy assaults while Russian troops carried out 292 artillery strikes and 33 airstrikes, dropping 57 guided bombs." Ukrin

Russian drones strike Kharkiv: Multiple districts hit, fires and casualties reported

"Explosions were heard in Kharkiv as Russian forces attacked the city using Molniya drones. The strikes affected the Holodnohirskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, and Kyivskyi districts.
Three individuals were injured in the Holodnohirskyi district strike, including two women and one man who received medical assistance on-site." NV

Trump: Zelensky Passed on Deal, 'Decided To Fight' & Is 'No Angel'

"President Donald Trump appeared on Hannity at the end this week and offered a blunt, critical assessment of Zelensky's decision-making in the Russia-Ukraine war.

He strongly suggested that Ukrainian President Zelensky's policies have only prolonged the war. This includes the unspoken truth that prior Biden administration policies have only served to continue the killing, as billions in arms were pumped to Ukraine's military, despite there long being acknowledgement that the Russian military machine was superior, and Russian forces have continued making significant gains.
"Look, Zelensky was fighting a much bigger entity, much bigger, much more powerful. He shouldn’t have done that because we could have made a deal and it would have been a deal that would have been — it would have been a nothing deal," Trump told Sean Hannity on Thursday. Trump also at one point said Zelensky is "no angel". 

ZeroHedge

US suspends aid to Ukraine

"U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has frozen nearly all new aid grants to Ukraine for 90 days on Friday. The move comes after President Donald Trump ordered a full review of all foreign assistance." RT

159 clashes on front lines, nearly third in Pokrovsk sector

"As many as 159 combat engagements have already been recorded on the front lines.
In the Siversk sector, Ukrainian soldiers successfully repelled one enemy attack in the Verkhnokamianka area.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Ukrainian forces countered 32 enemy attempts to advance near the settlements of Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Novomarkove, Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, Predtechyne and Bila Hora, with seven clashes currently ongoing.
In the Toretsk sector, the enemy made nine attempts to breach Ukrainian defenses near Toretsk.

Russian forces carried out 48 assault and offensive operations in the Pokrovsk sector. They were most active near Vodiane Druhe, Yelyzavetivka, Myroliubivka, Promin, Zelene, Udachne, Novooleksandrivka, Kotlyne, Bohdanivka, Andriivka, Shevchenko, Dachne, Ulakly, Kostiantynopolske and in the direction of Pokrovsk, Vidrodzhennia and Uspenivka. Ukrainian defenders have already repelled 39 attacks in the sector, with nine more clashes still ongoing.
In the Novopavlivka sector, Ukrainian defenders thwarted eight attacks near Novosilka, Novodarivka, Kostiantynopol and Velyka Novosilka.
In the Orikhiv sector, Mala Tokmachka was targeted by enemy guided aerial bombs.
The invaders made two unsuccessful attempts to displace Ukrainian units from their positions in the Dnipro River sector.
Sixteen clashes occurred today in the Kursk sector, two of them still ongoing. The enemy launched 420 artillery attacks, including eight from multiple launch rocket systems, and conducted 25 airstrikes, dropping 42 guided bombs." Ukrin

Cuba Threatens Trump with Military Exercises

"Cuba’s

communist Castro regime on Wednesday launched military exercises to “increase the country’s readiness for defense” following the start of President Donald Trump’s newadministration.
According to the communist regime, the military exercises seek to raise the country’s defense readiness and troop preparation to face the “different actions of the enemy” — namely, the United States.
The military exercises, titled “Bastion 2025,” are being led by nonagenarian communist dictator Raúl Castro and his figurehead president, Miguel Díaz-Canel. The exercises will run through Saturday, January 25, the day the Castro regime celebrates its “National Day of Defense.” Breitbart

Drone attacks reported in 11 Russia’s regions, Ryazan oil refinery hit

"Russia reported drone attacks across 11 regions, including Moscow and occupied Crimea. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that 121 drones were allegedly shot down, one of which was over Moscow.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, 37 drones were reportedly downed in Bryansk region, 20 in Ryazan region, 17 each in Kursk and Saratov regions, seven in Rostov region, six each in Moscow and Belgorod regions, three in Voronezh region, two each in Tula, Oryol, and Lipetsk regions.
Additionally, the ministry claimed one drone was shot down over occupied Crimea and one over Moscow....Russian Ministry of Defense, reported that air defenses destroyed three drones over Leningrad region in the morning.
Local social media reported explosions near an oil depot in Ryazan. ASTRA published a video showing a fire at the Ryazan Oil Refinery (RNPK), part of the Rosneft company." Ukrin

Ukrainian forces down 25 Russian drones

"The Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully shot down 25 Russian attack drones, including Shahed UAVs and others, while 27 additional drones were reported lost from tracking." Ukrin