Extremist Groups Carry Out Revenge, Sectarian Killings In HTS-Controlled Syria

Dozens of summary executions have been reported across the country since former Al-Qaeda and ISIS leaders took control of Damascus

Extremist armed factions across Syria are carrying out executions of civilians and soldiers amid the chaos following the fall of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's government.

Al Mayadeen reports on 10 December that a video circulating on social media shows armed militants from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Al-Qaeda offshoot that took control of Damascus on Saturday, carrying out field executions of unarmed men in the village of Al-Rabia in the countryside of Latakia.

The militants referred to the men as ‘Shabiha’, a derogatory term long used to describe pro-government Syrian soldiers and civilians.

The HTS military operations administration reported ongoing clashes in Al-Rabia, including the encirclement of a group of officers inside a fortified farm in the village, Al Mayadeen stated.

https://thecradle.co/articles/extremist-groups-carry-out-revenge-sectarian-killings-in-hts-controlled-syria

Here's What's In The $895 Billion Defense Authorization Bill

The House and Senate Armed Services Committees released the new compromise bill on Dec. 7.

It allocates $849.9 billion for programs under the Department of Defense (DOD), another $33.3 billion for defense programs run through the Department of Energy and its Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, and $512.4 million for defense-related activities.

The NDAA allows for up to $11.5 billion in discretionary spending adjustments, bringing the potential total to $895.2 billion.

Another $26.5 billion is tied to mandatory programs.

The new version includes increased funding to bolster U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific region with $15.6 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, a program focused on bolstering the U.S. military’s China-facing capabilities.

The spending allocation is $5.7 billion higher than the DOD requested.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/heres-whats-895-billion-defense-authorization-bill

Moscow Threatens Retaliation After Ukraine Strikes Russia With 6 US-Made ATACMS Missiles

Moscow has announced a very serious escalation out of Ukraine on Wednesday, with defense ministry officials saying that six US-made ATACMS ballistic missiles were launched against a Russian airfield inside the country's sovereign territory.

Taganrog is a Black Sea port city in southwestern Russia, and was targeted in the heavy attack. The military claimed that all six were able to be intercepted and downed before reaching their target, with two reported intercepts by a Pantsir air defense system, and the others destroyed after electronic warfare systems diverted them.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/ukraine-strikes-russia-six-us-made-atacms-missiles

At Mar-a-Lago, Mel Gibson Calls Out “Those Exposing All These Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing that Prey Upon Our Young”

Mel Gibson: we just went through four years of thinly veiled Marxism. Now, I think what we have is a four-year grace period, but we have to work hard, all of them.

I don’t know. The President’s got a big job on his hands to turn this place around. A lot of damage has done, and they continue to start fires, just like around my house. But I’d like to thank what the General here is doing. He’s no small part of this because the problem here is many faceted. For he and his sister Mary for exposing all these wolves and sheep’s clothing that prey upon our young.

I mean, I got nine kids. I don’t know. If one of them got stolen or trafficked or something, I’d have to kill someone. …Well, we see people here, we won’t tolerate it. That should work. But look, I’m just happy to be here and accept this. Very proud.

I hope in the next four years, we can get back some of that precious commodity that this country has, that commodity called freedom. All right? It’s like, we’ll see how much this administration can claw back from the Philistines. Okay, thank you very much.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1866696985211797540

South Korea’s ex-defense chief attempts suicide ahead of martial law charges

Kim Yong-hyun is accused of plotting an insurrection with President Yoon Suk Yeol last week

Former South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who prosecutors say proposed last week’s martial law declaration, has attempted to end his own life while in custody.

At about the same time, South Korean police raided the presidential office on Wednesday, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The search was part of a widening investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief declaration of martial law, which sparked public anger in the country.

Former Defense Minister Kim, who resigned on Thursday, was the first figure to be detained in the case on Sunday. Prosecutors say he recommended the imposition of martial law. Kim allegedly made the attempt on his life in a bathroom at Dongbu Detention Center in eastern Seoul on Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Emergency responders received a call around 3pm local time, according to Yonhap news agency. The ex-minister had apparently tried to hang himself. He was immediately transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

Officials have not speculated on a motive for his suicide attempt. A spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense stated, “We are monitoring the situation closely and hope for his recovery.”

https://www.rt.com/news/609185-south-koreas-ex-defense-chief-suicide-attempt/

US loan to Ukraine is ‘theft’ of Russian money – deputy FM

The US Treasury Department on Tuesday announced the transfer of a $20 billion loan to Kiev, backed by the interest from Russia’s assets frozen by the West

The US loan is part of a broader $50 billion G7 loan deal, which includes a separate $20 billion commitment by the EU and $10 billion to be split by G7 members Great Britain, Japan, and Canada. On Tuesday, the US Treasury Department announced the money had been transferred to a World Bank fund that will send it on to Kiev.

“I can say that this act falls under the classification of robbery [on the part] of an organized group, I mean [on the part] of the Group of Seven,” Ryabkov told journalists on Wednesday.

The US and its allies froze an estimated $300 billion in assets belonging to the Russian central bank following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. In June, the G7 members pledged a $50 billion loan for Kiev, with the frozen Russian assets to be used as collateral, to help Kiev buy weapons and rebuild its infrastructure. The agreement was finalized in October. Ukraine theoretically is expected to repay the multibillion-dollar G7 loan over 40 years.

According to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the loan transfer will provide Ukraine a “critical infusion of support.” The money covers around half of Kiev’s current deficit. The country’s state budget for next year, signed by Vladimir Zelensky into law last month, anticipates revenues of $49 billion and expenditures of $87 billion, putting the overall deficit at $38 billion.

https://www.rt.com/news/609194-russia-us-loan-ukraine/

Israeli Attacks Kill at Least 34 More Palestinians in Gaza

One attack on a house in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza, killed at least 25

Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip overnight and on Tuesday killed at least 34 Palestinians, medics told Reuters, as the daily US-backed slaughter continues.

One Israeli attack targeted a house in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza, which has been under a total siege since early October as part of an ethnic cleansing campaign. Gaza’s Civil Defense agency said the strikes killed at least 25, including women and children, mostly members of the same family.

In southern Gaza, six Palestinians were killed by various Israeli strikes around the city of Rafah. According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, at least three were killed by a drone strike that targeted a group of civilians.

https://news.antiwar.com/2024/12/10/israeli-attacks-kill-at-least-34-more-palestinians-in-gaza/

After fall of dynasty, tomb of Assad’s father set on fire in Syria hometown

Ordinary citizens wander through home of ousted president, loot luxury goods; Syrian refugees stream back home through Turkish border, hope for better life

https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-fall-of-dynasty-tomb-of-assads-father-set-on-fire-in-syria-hometown/

U.S. Nonprofit Raised $300,000 for Israeli Sniper Unit Associated With Killings of Unarmed Palestinians

“Your support allowed us to get my son and his elite sniper unit the most advanced scopes needed in order to have an advantage over Hamas when they go into Gaza.”

A U.S. nonprofit has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for an Israeli sniper unit for the stated purpose of buying scopes, silencers, and other equipment. The unit, which is nicknamed Rephaim, or “Ghosts,” has since been implicated in possible war crimes and killing over 100 people in Gaza and has been tied to the killing of four unarmed Palestinians in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

On October 9, 2023, the mother of unit member Daniel Raab—an Illinois native—posted on Facebook that the nonprofit, registered as “Friends of Paratrooper Sniper Unit 202,” was in need of “helmets, rain gear, barrels, vests, sniper stands, silencers, camouflage, and the list goes on.”

In its 990 filings, Friends of Paratrooper Sniper Unit 202 is described as “an organization dedicated to catering to the additional requirements and the overall welfare of soldiers serving in a specific military unit.” The description continues to say that the primary focus of the nonprofit is, “to ensure that soldiers have access to the necessary resources, support systems, and amenities that can enhance their comfort, safety, and well-being while they are actively serving their duty.”

The charity has raised significant amounts of money for the sniper unit since its establishment last year. According to its tax filings, Friends of Paratrooper Sniper Unit 202 raised over $304,000 in the year ending December 2023, of which it spent roughly $208,000 in grants—money which its promoters emphasize goes directly to soldiers in the unit.

The nonprofit was registered in Illinois by Benjamin Raab, who appears to be Daniel's father. Melissa Raab, who has identified herself as his mother on Facebook posts, is listed as a director in the 2023 IRS filings. (The 2024 form is not available yet.) As of publication, the links to donate are still active. Drop Site reached out repeatedly to the nonprofit itself, Benjamin Raab, and Melissa Raab in advance of the publication of this story but received no response.

According to social media posts, the non-profit’s funds were used to purchase military equipment. “Your support allowed us to get my son and his elite sniper unit the most advanced scopes needed in order to have an advantage over Hamas when they go into Gaza,” Daniel’s mother Melissa wrote in a note shared by a family friend on Facebook on October 27, 2023.

“There is advance [sic], high tech equipment that only the United States Army, and only the Navy SEALs have. We can get this equipment for the snipers,” she said, also sharing a voice note by Daniel himself.

https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/us-nonprofit-raising-money-israeli-sniper-unit

BBC sparks outrage over 'diverse' Syrian Jewish population claim

As of 2022, there were reported to be only four Jews left in Syria, the Jewish Virtual Library said

. https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-833021

Rep. Brian Mast, Who Wears His IDF Uniform to Congress, to be Next House Foreign Affairs Chair

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Israel First Rep. Brian Mast (R) of Florida, who wears his Israel Defense Forces uniform to Congress, is set to become the next chair of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee thanks to a "push" from President-elect Donald Trump.

From Jewish Insider, "Pro-Israel firebrand Rep. Brian Mast to be next Foreign Affairs chair":

Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), an outspoken supporter of Israel and one of the most ardent opponents of a two-state solution in the House, is set to become the next chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee following a surprise vote on Monday by House Republican leadership.

Mast's upset victory, which now must be ratified by the GOP conference, marks a clear shift from the tenure of outgoing Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) — a more moderate and internationalist dealmaker — to a firebrand conservative.

Mast beat out more establishment-aligned candidates who were believed to be favored — Reps. Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Ann Wagner (R-MO) — as well as Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), for the slot in a surprise victory.

President-elect Donald Trump helped push Mast to victory, personally calling members of the GOP steering committee, which voted for Mast, to pressure them to support the Florida legislator, a source familiar with the situation told Jewish Insider.

Trump pledged on the campaign trail to give the Israel Lobby total power over Congress if reelected and now he's making good on his promise.

https://www.informationliberation.com/?id=64772

NAACP Slapped With Brutal Community Note For Using Daniel Penny Acquittal To Race-Bait

The NAACP attempted to use Marine veteran Daniel Penny’s acquittal to stir racial unrest on X, and immediately got hit with a community note laying out several key points explaining why race had absolutely no bearing on that case.

https://www.domigood.com/2024/12/naacp-slapped-with-brutal-community.html

TD Bank Insider Arrested And Charged With Facilitating Money Laundering

https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/td-bank-insider-arrested-and-charged-facilitating-money-laundering

This is where the FALLEN landed

Video: A Brief History of the War on Syria

https://rumble.com/embed/v5vxidk/?pub=4

>>22147971

But you wrote the guidelines that never existed at QR before you came along

We don't need them or you and your clown team