Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-05 at 20:09 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-05 at 20:09

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-05 at 20:09

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 HEADLINESGhassan Al-Duhaini to lead Gaza Popular ForcesExiled figures mobilize Alawites to reshape SyriaNetflix buys Warner Bros Discovery for $72BThe time is now 3:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Good afternoon. Here is the latest news update.In Gaza, Ghassan Al-Duhaini is set to replace Yasser Abu Shabab as leader of the Popular Forces, the militia operating in the coastal enclave. Duhaini, identified as Abu Shabab’s deputy, has been seen among fighters and boosting morale after his predecessor’s death, a change that underscores ongoing tensions and security concerns in the territory.In Syria, a detailed Reuters investigation portrays a renewed power struggle among former Assad loyalists and their networks. Exiled figures Kamal Hassan and Rami Makhlouf are financing and directing efforts to mobilize tens of thousands of Alawites in and around coastal Syria and Lebanon, pursuing influence as the new government under Ahmed al-Sharāʿa consolidates control. The report details subterranean command rooms and weapons caches, and notes that while Moscow has provided sanctuary, Russia has shown caution about backing the exiles and prioritizes access to its bases in the region. Analysts say the plots reflect a deeper contest to shape Syria’s postwar order rather than a return to open conflict, even as the new regime seeks to reduce the reach of haunting remnants of the Assad era. US and regional partners view the Sharaa government as the current center of gravity for stability in the country, though the prospects for a durable settlement remain uncertain.The United Nations on the Syria file pressed the regime to pursue justice for Druze, Alawites, and other minority communities, condemning continued abuse, killings, kidnappings, and the destruction of homes. The UN urged accountability and protection for civilians amid ongoing violence and displacement as various factions seek advantage in a fragile landscape.On the security front, Syrian authorities say they are aware of the outlined schemes and are prepared to counter them. Local officials in Tartous say the network of underground command rooms remains weakened but real, with authorities signaling readiness to confront any renewed efforts that threaten the country’s fragile stability. International actors continue to watch how internal power struggles may affect regional stability and, by extension, Israel’s security environment on its northern front.In Washington, the Supreme Court is poised to decide the legality of efforts to limit birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment, a long-standing interpretation that has granted citizenship to people born in the United States. The decision could shape the contours of immigration policy and the political debate around birthright protections in the United States.In Jerusalem, two teenagers from Ramot were arrested after allegedly assaulting two Arab public workers in the city’s northern outskirts. Police said a bus driver and a sanitation worker were injured in the incident, with video showing the assailants on an electric bike. Investigators described the attacks as severe violence, and security services have pledged heightened efforts to protect transit workers and public staff amid ongoing friction and a broader pattern of violence in parts of the capital.In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul stated that the city’s next mayor cannot physically arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the course of a visit, and she distanced herself from some anti-Israel positions associated with the incoming administration. The comments come as national and local leaders weigh Israel’s security needs and diplomatic engagement in a volatile regional context.Across the Atlantic, Netflix announced a deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s film and streaming businesses for seventy-two billion dollars, a move that would reshape Hollywood’s studio landscape. The agreement is expected to attract intense antitrust scrutiny in the United States and Europe, given the potential to concentrate substantial content rights under a single platform. Netflix says the arrangement would expand subscriber choices and bolster long-term investment in original content, while analysts caution regulators will assess the impact on competition, pricing, and access to cinema releases. The deal values Warner’s portfolio highly and contemplates a large-scale integration that would influence how audiences access major franchises and high-profile films in the coming years.Damascus, meanwhile, faces a year marked by questions about governance and reconciliation. As the old regime’s fall gave way to a new leadership, residents describe a city balancing renewal with fatigue, and observers note that security concerns persist as Syria navigates rebuilding, accountability, and the complexities of a fractured political landscape.Looking ahead, the region’s security environment ...
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