Middle Eastern Business Headlines at 12:34 a.m. GMT
Likely missile attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels damages a ship in the Red Sea
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Australian Associated PressTrump vows 'hell to pay' if Gaza hostages not released
If Hamas does not release all Israeli hostages before Donald Trump's inauguration, he vows those responsible "will be hit harder than anybody has been hit".
- BBC
Israel strikes Lebanon as Hezbollah targets military post
Lebanon's Health Ministry says nine people were killed in strikes on two southern villages.
- CNN
Former defense minister accuses Israel of ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza
A highly decorated former Israeli defense minister has caused a firestorm by accusing Israel of carrying out ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in northern Gaza.
- CNN
Israel threatens to ‘go deeper’ into Lebanon as strikes strain ceasefire
As tit-for-tat strikes strain a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah less than a week since it went into effect, Israel’s defense minister on Tuesday threatened to directly target the Lebanese state should the agreement fall apart.
- CNN
Georgia is being rocked by growing protests. Here’s what you need to know
Days of protests have rocked Georgia following the government’s controversial decision to delay the former Soviet country’s bid to join the European Union.
- Sky News
Syria says its strikes with Russia have killed at least 400 insurgents over past 24 hours
Syria's military has said its joint airstrikes with Russia have killed at least 400 insurgents over the past 24 hours - as Vladimir Putin reaffirmed his support for Syrian President Bashar al Assad. The strikes are being carried out after insurgents led by jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al Sham and including Turkey-backed fighters launched a two-pronged attack on Aleppo, Syria's second largest city, on Saturday. Syrian and Russian airstrikes have mainly been carried out on rebel positions in those two provinces, Syria's military said.
- The Independent
Israel threatens to go deeper into Lebanon if Hezbollah ceasefire fails – as Syria conflict intensifies
Surge in strikes have strained truce between Israel and Hezbollah. While insurgents in Syria make fresh gains against forces of Assad to fuel spike in tension across the Middle East
- Australian Associated Press
Australia 'abandons' ally after Middle East UN vote
Australia has split with the US in a United Nations resolution vote calling for peace in Palestine, as Labor is accused of abandoning the nation's closest ally.
- The Independent
India promises to beef up security after mob attacks Bangladeshi consulate amid escalating tensions
Dhaka condemns ‘heinous attack’ on diplomatic mission in northeastern state of Tripura
- BBC
Why these Israeli men volunteered to fight - but now refuse to return to Gaza
Why men who reported for duty after October 7 are now refusing to fight
- BBC
Pro-Palestinian protest interrupts cathedral service
Father Barry Mathews urged protesters not to "use the church for a place of political statement".
- CNN
Army general who oversaw Afghanistan withdrawal promoted to four-star officer after GOP senator drops hold
An Army general who oversaw the US withdrawal from Afghanistan was promoted to a four-star officer after a Republican senator dropped a hold on his nomination, according to a Senate aide.
- CNN
US left facing a difficult situation in Syria as rebels make massive advances against Assad regime
The surprise offensive on Aleppo by Syrian rebel groups has left the US in the difficult position of not fully supporting either side while also maintaining a force posture of nearly 1,000 troops in Syria as part of the ongoing mission to fight ISIS.
- Australian Associated Press
Defiant Georgian president seeks Europe's support
As protesters continue to clash with police in Georgia, the president is appealing to Europe to confront her own government and alleged Russian interference.
- CNN
Deadly Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon after Hezbollah attacks, testing shaky ceasefire
Israeli strikes killed at least nine people in southern Lebanon, Lebanese authorities said Monday, the deadliest day since a ceasefire brokered by the United States and France came into effect last week.
- The Independent
UN agency suspends aid deliveries through main crossing into Gaza after convoy attacked
UN agency says most of its attempts to deliver aid to northern Gaza have been denied by Israeli forces even as looting of convoys has continued
- Euronews
Iran FM visits Assad in Damascus, pledges support in countering surprise offensive
Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi makes a visit to the Syrian capital, Damascus, to meet President Bashar Assad. His visit comes as Syria’s army launched counterattacks to repel insurgents who’ve seized control of Aleppo, and areas in Idlib.View on euronews
- France 24
Israeli army says it is striking ‘terror targets’ in Lebanon
Israel's military said on Monday that it was "currently striking terror targets in Lebanon", six days into a fragile US-brokered truce with militant group Hezbollah. The announcement comes after Hezbollah fired into a disputed zone on the Israel-Lebanon border. Read our liveblog to see how the day's events unfolded. This liveblog is no longer being updated. For more coverage on the Israel-Hamas war, click here. Yesterday's key developments: Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi landed in Ankara
- CNN
American-Israeli soldier held hostage in Gaza was ‘killed on October 7,’ Israel says
The Israeli military on Monday confirmed the death of American Israeli soldier Omer Maxim Neutra.
- Reuters
Exclusive-US, UAE discussed lifting Assad sanctions in exchange for break with Iran, sources say
The U.S. and the United Arab Emirates have discussed with each other the possibility of lifting sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad if he peels himself away from Iran and cuts off weapons routes to Lebanon's Hezbollah, five people familiar with the matter said. The conversations intensified in recent months, the sources said, driven by the possible expiry on Dec. 20 of sweeping U.S. sanctions on Syria and by Israel's campaign against Tehran's regional network, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and Iranian assets in Syria.