🟡 The Hay’at Tahrir al Sham (HTS)-led Syrian interim government stated it will discuss mechanisms for disarming and dissolving the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) with SDF leadership. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock previously said “The Kurdish groups must be disarmed and integrated into the national security structure.”

🟡 Armed fighters burned a Christmas tree in the northwestern city of Saraqib in the countryside of Hama. An official of the Department of Military Operations in the town says the act was committed by “non-Syrians” and promised harsh punishment and restoration of the tree. Following the incident, people rallied near Damascus against the attack and in support of Syria’s Christian community.

🟡 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said “Israel will have to withdraw from the territories it occupied in Syria sooner or later,” during a speech in Ankara. He also confirmed that Türkiye will work to prevent the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and People's Defense Units (YPG) from posing “threats” to the region.

🟡 An Iranian government spokeswoman stated “We are negotiating to reopen the embassies in Tehran and Damascus, and both sides are ready for that.”

🟡 SDF forces repelled a reported infiltration and attack by Turkish-backed militants on the village of al-Alia, in northeastern Syria. Meanwhile, the Turkish military allegedly hit SDF targets in Kurdish villages in the area with artillery fire.

🟡 The SDF has begun attacking Turkish mercenaries of the Syrian National Army (SNA) east of Manbij. Clashes took place between SNA and SDF militants on the Tishrin Dam line, capturing a group of SNA fighters in the town of Qamishli, near Tishrin Dam.

🟡 The de facto Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (also known as al-Jolani) said Qatar is ready to invest in Syria’s energy sector and ports following a meeting with a senior Qatari official in Damascus on Monday.

🟡 The US carried out an airstrike in Syria in Deir Ezzor province, claiming it was targeting Islamic State operatives who were moving a truckload of weapons in the area.

🟡 Lebanon announced it will cooperate with an Interpol request to arrest former Syrian intelligence officer Jamil Hassan, accused by the US of committing war crimes under the previous Syrian government.

🟡 Egypt has ordered the deportation of three Syrians who were detained after taking part in street celebrations in Cairo following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad earlier this month.

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