The first of December ALREADY? Where has the year gone?
In the past, I’ve tried to summarize some of the key events of the year. This year the task would be too large for the available time I have! I’ll be posting some snippets in key categories so as not to lose everything.
Globalism / Great Reset –
CY2024 - Great concern by the globalists over the inability to stop ‘misinformation’ and to try to develop ways to censor sources in order to promote its ‘truth’.
The election of Trump was one of its major fears as well.
CW2 / Domestic violence - Moderate THREAT - up dated Nov 12, 2024
CY 2024 - Apart from short lived college pro-hamas protests, the level of protesting / rioting were way down, especially facing the election. Many reports of the left having trouble getting turnout and passions raised for larger and more violent actions.
Economy- HIGH Threat - as of AUG 5, 2024
Black Friday numbers are still being crunched.
CY 2024 - Economy crushing high fed rates continued to the last couple of months where the fed did begin to lower them. Great deal of mixed messaging on the strength the economy - especially as an election year. Reality is and continues to be the economy is on shaky legs.
POLITICAL FRONT –
Judge Merchan Postpones Trump’s Hush Money Sentencing Indefinitely
***
Now that the major cabinet positions have been identified, the swamp dwellers in DC are getting very nervous and threatening to resign in mass. Particularly those in DoJ realms and bureaucratic wonks in all other agencies.
Russia -
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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warns: Those escalating the situation around Ukraine to the limit will face “deserved punishment.”
Economic Impact –
Russian President Vladimir Putin approved budget plans, raising 2025 military spending to record levels as Moscow seeks to prevail in the war in Ukraine.
Around 32.5% of the budget posted on a government website Sunday has been allocated for national defense, amounting to 13.5 trillion rubles (over $145 billion), up from a reported 28.3% this year.
Lawmakers in both houses of the Russian parliament, the State Duma and Federation Council, had already approved the plans in the past 10 days.
Ukraine –
WEATHER FORECAST – Temperatures cooling to the 20-30s and scattered snow/rain
24 HOUR ROUND UP –
The Ukrainian Air Force reports on a drone attack overnight. Out of 78 Shahed drones launched, 32 were shot down and 45 were supressed by electronic warfare. One more drone remains in the air.
Russian losses per 01/12/24 reported by the Ukrainian General Staff.
+1730 men
+6 tanks
+14 AFVs
+14 artillery systems
Russia continues to launch major attacks all across there Donbas front region. Managing to make gains, in spite of continued high personnel and equipment losses.
Summary —
Russia continues to make gains in the Donbas, suffering continued high losses of personnel and equipment. These losses are anticipated to remain high as Russia continues to press the attack, and worsening soil conditions (Ukraine mud) significantly limits off road maneuvering, making Russian attack columns far more vulnerable to interdiction.
Ukraine seems to be in a pause over using western long range weapon systems. Russia for its part continues to throw large numbers of shahed drones into Ukraine every day.
No substantial reports from Kursk, what I do hear indicates a status quo, with little to no Russian gains.
More rumors of a Russian offensive in the south towards Zaporizhzhia. This would seem possible only if the Russian counter offensive to retake Kursk is a ruse and forces are actually massing in the south, with just enough in Kursk to pin Ukraine in place and mask the offensive plans.
Europe / NATO General –
GEORGIA - EU-protestors and Georgian security forces are clashing for the third night in a row.
Thousands of Pro-EU Protesters gathered outside the Parliament Building in Tbilisi, Georgia, with some storming the building, setting fires, and launching fireworks at Police.
Georgian security forces tried to disperse the crowds away from the Parliament building but could not prevent them from erecting barricades around the building. They are now actively moving around Tblisi University and blocking roads.
The demonstrations are ongoing in opposition to the ruling Georgian Dream Party’s decision to suspend EU Accession Talks until 2028.
OBSERVATION - That the poilce were unable to disperse the crowds overnight suggest that the protestors have the initiative in this uprising. About the only munition the police have yet to use are rubber bullets and perhaps even live bullets. Success of the protestors is also helping to grow support against the ‘dream party’ and sustain the riots.
SERBIA / KOSOVO -
Kosovo’s Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla announced the arrest of eight individuals after an explosion damaged a canal supplying water to Kosovo’s two main power plants. Police raided 10 locations, seizing a large weapons cache that included military uniforms, rocket launchers, and firearms. The arrested individuals are linked to the Serb group Civilna Zastita (Civil Protection), which Kosovo has designated a terrorist organization. The attack, involving 15-20 kg of explosives, is believed to have been organized and executed by those detained.
OBSERVATION - The quick work by Kosovan police may help to head off another crisis with Serbia.
ISRAEL –
Key overnight developments -
- Ceasefire continues to essentially hold
——— GENERAL ——————————-
World Central Kitchen announces suspension of operations in Gaza after employees killed in Israeli airstrike. What World Central Kitchen fails to say is that the ‘employees’ involved were partakers in the Oct 7 attack on Israel.
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Hamas released of the American-Israeli citizen Edan Alexander, 20, whom the terror group is holding hostage in Gaza, is “cruel psychological warfare,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Saturday night.
——— GAZA FRONT / HAMAS ———————————-
More Hamas cells flushed out in N Gaza.
——— LEBANON / HEZBOLLAH——————————-
Israel struck Hezbollah elements in S Lebanon, mostly those engaging in trying to get rocket launch equipment and sites set up to fire. Israel warnings for Lebanese citizens to remain away from Israeli controlled areas seems to be pretty much working. No reports of the Lebanese army actually attempting to disarm any Hezbollah elements in the south.
——— SYRIA / HEZBOLLAH / IRAN———————————-
Channel 12 Hebrew: The Israeli army is preparing for the possibility of having to carry out air strikes in Syria for fear of strategic weapons falling into the hands of the rebels. Some of these ‘strategic weapons’ are believed to be chemical munitions.
Additional talk of a limited invasion into Syria in order to have a protective belt to prevent the rebels from directing their attacks towards Israel.
———WEST BANK——————————-
Israeli security forces continue to make anti terrorist sweeps of key areas in the West Bank.
———“ISLAMIC RESISTANCE” ———————————
The Houthis launched a ballistic missile at Israel this morning. It was intercepted, no Injuries reported. Minor damage from intercept debris.
——— ASSESSMENT AND FUTURE OPERATIONS ————————-
Here’ s the rundown today.
Iran has its hands full now trying to assist Assad’s regime counter the lightening offensive of the Turkish backed rebel forces. This is the third crisis the mullah’s are facing, the other two being the decimation of Hezbollah and the Israeli Damocles sword over their nuclear and oil facilities. Threat of another missile attack towards Israel is declining.
Hezbollah, though claiming ‘victory’ have announced significant causality numbers from the current conflict - and they are pretty bad even though they are understated. Israeli vigilance is for now stopping Hezbollah attempts to get at Israel forces.
So far I’ve not seen any proactive actions by the Lebanese army to disarm and remove Hezbollah from their remaining positions south of the Litiani River. Only photo ops showing columns of vehicles reportedly headed south.
In Gaza, Israel continues to mop up Hamas elements. The recently released hostage video struck a nerve in Israel and being it was a dual citizen American - Israeli a poke at the US as well. Though still high on Israel’s priority list, hostage releases still depend on finding them, as Hamas is still attempting to leverage them to force an Israeli ‘surrender’.
Houthi still trying to be a member of the game, but some OSINT observers are seeing signs of Yemen opposition groups possibly attempting a Syrian style assault on the Houthi junta - seeing Iran unable to provide substantial support as in the past due to hezbollah and syria.
Finally, on an international level, the drum beat of a ‘two state’ solution continues to be sounded. Very little pressure on Hamas to release hostages.
Iran –
Iran’s Foreign Minister: “I am heading to Damascus today to deliver Iran’s message to the Syrian government. We stand firmly with Syria and see no distinction between Israel and Takfiri terrorists. Following the Israeli regime’s failures, the enemy is now attempting to destabilize the region using these very terrorists.”
Iraq -
Iraq announced the closure of the border between Iraq and Syria.
Syria -
The situation on the ground in Syria is chaotic and changing minute by minute. So the postings here may already be out of date as well as uncertain.
Continued rumors of a coup attempt in Damascus with reports of gunshots heard at presidential palace. Syria’s president Bashar Assad is in Moscow right now. Coup leader reported to be led by Hussam Luka, an intelligence officer in the Assad Regime.
In the north, Aleppo International Airport, the one used by Hezbollah and the IRGC to smuggle weapons - in now in the hands of the rebels.
Syrian Kurds are throwing their hands into the mess, moving westward to confront Turkish supported rebels. The Kurdish-led SDF forces have managed to form a corridor (in yellow) overnight that stretches all the way from the Euphrates river to Aleppo.
They are now pouring thousands of soldiers toward Aleppo ahead of battles against the Turkish-backed Idlib and SNA rebels.
The main rebel force has pushed southward to the city of Hama, just north of Homs. Syrian rebels are reportedly on the move to Homs from Hama. Rebels did reportedly capture most of Hama in the process.
Tanks, BMPs, and other Military Equipment of the Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and its Allies continue to gather tonight in and around the City of Hama in after rebel forces who had captured the City earlier today, decided to withdraw towards the North, where they are now amassing for an assault and large battle which will likely take place soon within the City of Hama.
In eastern Syria, according to opposition channels, armored vehicles and fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are massing in the Raqqa Governorate and near the City of Deir ez-Zor to the east; with some believing that they are preparing to launch an offensive against Pro-Assad Regime and Iranian-Backed Forces along the Euphrates River. U.S-Backed Coalition Forces may have engaged Iranian sites with artillery fire. The SDF is already claiming to have captured the town of Khasham.
In southern Syria, pro rebels protests have erupted in Daraa, southwestern Syria, with gunfire reported. Warned about the potential for this to be a new front against Syrian forces yesterday.
Reports are coming in that Syria will officially request military assistance from Iran due to “terrorist attacks.”
The commander of the Russian forces in Syria, Lieutenant General Sergey Kisel, was reportedly removed from his post.
OBSERVATION - If rebels capture Homs, they will have cut off the Russian land supply from the Russian naval bases in the Tartus area. This would put a lot of additional pressure on the Assad alliance.
Misc of Note –
Seems like chaos across the world is ramping further up as we enter December. This reminds me of the year that the Soviet Union collapsed. Starting with Poland, and spreading through other countries of the eastern bloc, the fall of the Berlin wall and ending with the capture and exception of Caeucescu in Romania.
This year, we saw the war in Ukraine sway back and forth and now to the point of even a potential use of nukes by Russia becoming a greater reality.
Israel was locked in combat with Hamas and Hezbollah when they did what was thought to be unthinkable - decimated Hamas leadership and forces in Gaza. Decimated Hezbollah leadership and forces in Lebanon. Then put Iran on notice with their surgical strike opening their strategic nuclear and oil programs wide open to follow-on attacks.
The US presidential election action this year followed similar intensity. Biden being pushed out of the campaign and ‘anointing’ harris; the assassination attempts and media blitz by the democrats and finally an astounding win at the polls.
2025 is likely to continue the trend. I personally will be assessing the extent of the trends over the course of this month.
Thank you very much.
It would be wonderful - but about as likely as half of Hollywood leaving the country.