❗️According to Reuters, the United States, France, and Germany, have expressed serious concerns to Syria's new HTS-led government regarding the appointment of foreign fighters to senior military positions.

US envoy Daniel Rubinstein addressed the issue directly with Syria's de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammad al-Julani), during a meeting at the presidential palace in Damascus. Similarly, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock raised these concerns in discussions with Sharaa on 3 January.

In late 2024, Syria's new administration made nearly 50 military appointments, including at least six foreign fighters from countries such as China, Turkiye, Egypt, and Jordan. Notable appointees include Abdulaziz Dawood Khudaberdi, a Chinese Uyghur militant linked to the Turkestan Islamic Party, and Egyptian Alaa Mohamed Abdel-Baki, previously sentenced to life in prison in absentia in Egypt on "terrorism charges."

Syrian officials defend their decisions, stating that many of these foreign fighters have been in the country for over a decade, contributing significantly to the fight against former President Bashar al-Assad, and cannot be returned to their home countries where they may face persecution.

❗️The Ministry of Health in Gaza reports at least 4,500 cases of amputations, involving both upper and lower limbs, since the start of Israel's war on Gaza.

"We have recorded 4,500 amputation cases by the end of 2024, as a result of the continuous Israeli airstrikes and ground attacks on Gaza," Zaher al-Wahidi, head of the Health Information Unit at the ministry, stated on Friday.

Al-Wahidi adds that around 800 of the amputees were children, representing 18% of the cases, and 540 were women, accounting for 12%.

❗️According to Al-Akhbar, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun received a call from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who gave him the congratulations of King Salman bin Abdulaziz and personally congratulated him on his election as president of Lebanon. MBS also invited Aoun to visit Saudi Arabia, and the president confirmed that Saudi Arabia will be his first destination on his foreign visits.

❗️Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati meets Ahmad al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammad al-Julani), head of the new Syrian HTS-led government, in Damascus, Syria.

This is the first time a Lebanese Prime Minister visits Damascus since 2010.

❗️Gaza Health Ministry - Day 463:

○ "The Israeli occupation committed 5 massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, resulting in 32 martyrs and 193 injuries arriving at hospitals during the past 48 hours."

○ "499 martyrs were added to the cumulative statistics of martyrs, whose data was completed and approved by the judicial committee following up on the file of reports and missing persons."

○ "There are still a number of victims under the rubble and on the roads, and ambulance and civil defense crews cannot reach them."

○ "The death toll from the Israeli aggression has risen to 46,537 martyrs and 109,571 injuries since 7 October, 2023."

❗️A source in the Syrian General Intelligence Service to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA):

○ "The Intelligence Service, in cooperation with the General Security Department in the Damascus countryside, succeeded in thwarting an attempt by ISIS to carry out a bombing inside the Sayyeda Zainab shrine in the vicinity of the capital, Damascus."

○ "The operation resulted in the arrest of the people involved in this attempt to carry out a major criminal act targeting the Syrian people."

❗️Israeli Maariv military correspondent Avi Ashkenazi:

○ "There is not much to the Israeli attack on Yemen yesterday, except for some public relations, removing accounts, and sending messages inside Israel more than externally."

○ "Israel still lacks good intelligence on military targets in Yemen."

○ "Until Israel emerges from its intelligence blindness, the power plant in Sanaa will remain a target for the Air Force."

❗️According to Al-Akhbar, US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein told Lebanese officials that the US guarantees a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon before the 60-day deadline. The news outlet also reported that Hochstein outlined the withdrawal schedule during a meeting with the committee responsible for monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.

A senior Israeli official told Israeli Haaretz that Israel would pull its forces out "if the terms of its cease-fire deal with Hezbollah will be kept."

❗️Al Jazeera correspondent:

○ "4 martyrs and several wounded in an Israeli air strike on a school housing displaced persons in Jabalia al-Balad, north of the Gaza Strip."

○ "2 martyrs and several wounded in an Israeli air strike that targeted a house in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City."

❗️Ahmad al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammad al-Julani):

○ "Syria will stand at the same distance from all Lebanese."

○ "Our priority is to arrange the internal situation, control the security situation, and restrict weapons to the state."

○ "We are discussing many issues with Lebanon, most notably controlling the borders."

○ "Our relations with Lebanon will be strategic and long-term and will be built on sound foundations."

❗️Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati:

○ "We discussed with Sharaa the relations between our two countries and the challenges facing the region."

○ "We support the aspirations of the Syrian people and as long as Syria is fine, Lebanon is fine."

○ "I sensed Sharaa's readiness to address the Syrian refugee file."

○ "It is in the interest of both countries to review the Syrian refugee file in Lebanon because it puts pressure on us and Sharaa may understand the importance of the matter."

○ "The situation on the border with Syria must be controlled to prevent any smuggling operations."

BREAKING | Al Jazeera correspondent:

"8 martyrs in an Israeli bombing targeting Zainab al-Wazir School, which shelters displaced people in Jabalia al-Balad, north of the Gaza Strip."

BREAKING | Scenes from the latest Israeli massacre in the Zainab al-Wazir school in Jabalia al-Balad, northern Gaza.

ISIS plan to attack Syria's Sayyeda Zeinab shrine foiled by security forces

Western intelligence officials have warned of a resurgence of ISIS, without acknowledging their previous support for the extremist group

❗️Palestinian sources in occupied West Bank's Jenin camp to Al Jazeera:

"Palestinian Authority security services threatened journalists to stop coverage and not enter the camp."

❗️Gaza Civil Defense:

"4 martyrs and wounded as a result of Israeli shelling of a group of citizens in Al-Nafaq Street, Gaza City."

❗️An Israeli drone attempted to target a vehicle in the southern Lebanese village of Kounine but failed.

Palestinian journalist killed by Israeli sniper fire during bloody raid in central Gaza

Saed Abu Nabhan was among a group helping evacuate an injured man on a stretcher when an Israeli sniper shot him