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Is ‘war inevitable’? Chaos on the Golan during visit of US envoy Waltz highlights tensions between Israel & US over SyriaAll Israel News StaffThe already-tense relations between Israel and Syria were further tested on Tuesday, as U.S. Envoy Mike Waltz nearly became an eyewitness to clashes between Israeli soldiers and civilians on Syrian territory.In addition, Israeli Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli made waves online with a controversial statement saying that war with Syria is “inevitable.”Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, was touring Israel’s northern border region on Tuesday, accompanied by Israel’s UN envoy, Danny Danon.As they returned to their vehicles after receiving security briefings within the ruins of Old Quneitra on the Syrian border, a riot broke out several hundred feet from their location. They were immediately informed but didn’t witness the clashes, according to Ynet News.Army Radio reported that IDF troops were on a routine operation to question terror suspects in the nearby village of Khan Arnabeh, which is around 5 km (3 miles) from the Israeli border.The troops were violently confronted and encircled by a crowd at the outskirts of the village. Soldiers fired warning shots and two Syrians were reportedly hit in the lower body.In another incident in the area on Tuesday, footage showed armed forces of the Syrian government in pickup trucks driving by Israeli soldiers. Media reports suggested that the area where the footage was filmed is outside the Israeli-held buffer zone.Footage from another incident also drew strong reactions in Israel, as videos from a military parade in Syria showed soldiers chanting anti-Israel slogans.“Gaza, Gaza, this is the slogan – victory and steadfastness. I am coming for you, my enemy; from your blood I will make ammunition, and from your blood I will fill rivers,” was one slogan, and another, “Gaza, Gaza, Gaza is a symbol of conquest and destruction, day and night.”Army Radio reported that Israeli security officials are discussing the significance of the footage, and that Israel is expected to convey strong messages of protest to the regime in Damascus.“We deal with the Syrian regime with a ‘suspect and suspect again’ approach – we regard them with absolute suspicion. The nature of the regime is extremist and jihadist, and we have no illusions about them,” officials told Army Radio.Chikli, who is known for his no-holds-barred online presence, commented on the footage of the Syrian soldiers’ chants, saying, “War is inevitable.”The United States has been pressuring Israel to reach a security arrangement with the new regime in Damascus, which the Trump administration has sought to legitimize while pulling it into its regional alliance system.Israel’s policy and statements expressing strong suspicions about the motivations of the Syrian regime – primarily composed of former Islamists who now ostensibly present themselves as having moderated – have been subject to controversial discussions between Jerusalem and Washington, as well as among regional experts.Hussain Abdul-Hussain, Research fellow at the Foundation for Freedom of Democracies (FDD), wrote on 𝕏: “Islamists hate Israel anyway, and territory is not the issue.”“The extra territory that Israel controlled behind the armistice line in the Golan doesn’t matter to anyone. It’s an excuse that Syria’s Islamists are now using to blame Israel for the build up in Syrian animosity toward Israel. That’s a lie.”On the other hand, Seth Frantzman, an FDD adjunct fellow, wrote in The Jerusalem Post that Israel’s Syria policy “lacks a clear goal,” arguing it would provoke the threats it tries to prevent.“Jerusalem has demanded that southern Syria be demilitarized. This means that those areas are a power vacuum of low-level chaos, which can lead to threats,” he wrote. “The more the IDF ends up chafing against civilians, the more likely it is that clashes will break out, unless some kind of entity can assist in deconflicting.”Despite initial optimism, no agreement with Israel has been reached and al-Sharaa sharpened his tone toward Israel in recent weeks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently said he wants to reach an agreement but vowed that Israel would stand firm on its security demands.This includes the complete demilitarization of southern Syria, which has been strongly rejected by Syria, and was called into question by the footage showing heavily armed Syrian regime forces near Israeli soldiers.

Trump Announces Seizure of Massive Oil Tanker Off the Coast of Venezuela as Military Confrontation LoomsTerresa Monroe-HamiltonIn a clear signal to dictator Nicolas Maduro that his time is growing short, President Trump announced at a press conference on Wednesday the seizure of a massive oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. The incident is currently short on detail, but you can bet things will continue to escalate over the coming days. This tanker had previously been sanctioned for conducting illicit Iranian oil trades, and as part of a reimplementation of the Monroe Doctrine, it became fair game.In a clear signal to dictator Nicolas Maduro that his time is growing short, President Trump announced at a press conference on Wednesday the seizure of a massive oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. The incident is currently short on detail, but you can bet things will continue to escalate over the coming days. This tanker had previously been sanctioned for conducting illicit Iranian oil trades, and as part of a reimplementation of the Monroe Doctrine, it became fair game.Oil prices immediately jumped after the seizure. The Trump administration is indicating that it is prepping to tighten its control of Venezuela’s energy sector. A great deal of the country’s oil goes to our enemies, such as Iran, Russia, and China.During a roundtable discussion, Trump nonchalantly stated, “An interesting day from the standpoint of news. As you probably know, we’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large — largest one ever seized, actually, and other things are happening.”Trump commented that the tanker was taken by the United States “for very good reasons,” and that information about who owns the tanker will be provided later.When he was questioned about what would happen to the oil on the ship, Trump responded, “We keep it, I guess.”Trump stated that he would discuss the situation further in the future.Reuters is reporting that US officials have confirmed the seizure but spoke anonymously to reporters because the interdiction has not been publicly outlined yet. It was carried out by the US Coast Guard, and the vessel was not identified. The flag it was sailing under was also not disclosed.“British maritime risk management group Vanguard said the tanker Skipper was believed to have been seized off Venezuela early on Wednesday. The US has imposed sanctions on the tanker for what Washington said was involvement in Iranian oil trading when it was called the Adisa,” the media outlet reported.“The Skipper left Venezuela’s main oil port of Jose between December 4 and 5 after loading Venezuela’s Merey heavy crude, according to satellite info analyzed by TankerTrackers.com and PDVSA’s internal shipping data,” Reuters added.From the Associated Press:The seizure was led by the U.S. Coast Guard and supported by the Navy, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The official added that the seizure was conducted under U.S. law enforcement authority.The Coast Guard members were taken to that ship by helicopter from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the official said. The Ford is in the Caribbean Sea after arriving last month in a major show of force, joining a fleet of other warships that have been increasing pressure on Maduro.Video posted online by Attorney General Pam Bondi shows people fast-roping from one of the helicopters involved in the operation as it hovers just feet from the deck.The Coast Guard members can be seen in later shots of the video moving throughout the superstructure of the ship with their weapons drawn.Bondi wrote that “for multiple years, the oil tanker has been sanctioned by the United States due to its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations.”Escalation of confrontation between the US and VenezuelaThis is a significant escalation following a sizable American military deployment to the Caribbean, which includes the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, and the deployment of 10 F-35 jets to Puerto Rico to support Southern Command operations, as well as additional air and naval assets. The US now has over 15,000 troops in the area and 11 ships. We have also just landed troops in Puerto Rico.More….

Pope appeals to Trump not to break with EuropeSweden Herald”The comments about Europe, which were also made in recent interviews, are, in my opinion, an attempt to break apart what I believe should continue to be a very important relationship today and in the future,” the pope told reporters after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky outside Rome on Tuesday, Politico reports.The Pope also believes that the Trump administration’s peace plan for Ukraine “unfortunately” points towards a “major change for what for many, many years was a true alliance between Europe and the United States.”Seeking a peace agreement without including Europe in the talks is not realistic.The statement came after Trump, in an interview with Politico on Monday, dismissed Europe as a group of countries in decline led by weak leaders.

EU actively preparing for direct WAR with Russia by 2030, Hungarian PM Orban warnsAva GraceIn a dramatic and sobering address, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has declared that the European Union is actively preparing for a direct military confrontation with Russia, with a target date for full readiness set for 2030.Speaking at an anti-war rally in the central Hungarian city of Kecskemet on Saturday, Dec. 6, the long-serving leader framed current EU policies not as defensive measures but as deliberate steps down a well-trodden path to open warfare. He positioned Budapest as a lonely voice for peace on a continent he believes is sleepwalking into catastrophe.Central to Orban’s argument is a historical template for escalation – first, severing diplomatic ties; second, imposing sanctions; third, terminating economic cooperation; and finally, armed conflict. He asserts that Europe’s stance toward Moscow has completed the first three stages, leaving it perilously close to the final step.Orban pointed to an official EU objective to achieve full military preparedness by 2030. He interpreted public discussions on bolstering defense capabilities as evidence of a conscious political choice for war, citing internal strategic documents that aim for complete combat readiness by 2029. This framing shifts the narrative from deterrence to imminent confrontation.Orban warned of tangible shifts, accusing EU nations of transitioning to a “war economy” by reorienting industrial capacity toward weapons production. This claim finds echoes in real-world announcements, such as Germany’s plan to double its defense budget and initiatives in Poland and France to expand military training – suggesting a continent-wide mobilization.Orban’s alarm is not isolated. It resonates with statements from figures like Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who have spoken of a realistic possibility of conflict within years. Meanwhile, Russian officials accuse Europe of “maniacally” preparing for war, while the Kremlin maintains it has no intention of attacking NATO.The gravity of Orban’s warning is amplified by Europe’s tragic history. The continent understands how militarization and hardened political positions can spiral out of control. Orban’s rhetoric deliberately invokes this memory, suggesting that by setting a readiness deadline and methodically escalating, Europe is constructing a similar, automated path to disaster.Underpinning the drive for readiness is a monumental financial commitment. Orban criticized the use of the “Russian threat” to justify massive spending hikes, such as the proposed €800 billion “ReArm Europe” plan. For critics, this represents a dangerous, self-fulfilling cycle of escalation – while proponents argue it is a necessary correction after decades of underinvestment.Europe stands at a critical juncture shaped by the war in Ukraine. One path involves intensified support for Kyiv and a rapid military buildup to deter future Russian aggression – while the other, championed by Orban, calls for an immediate ceasefire and a diplomatic settlement to re-establish dialogue with Moscow.Orban’s stark proclamation is a reflection of the profound fractures emerging within Europe. As the continent re-arms at a pace unseen in generations, the greatest danger may lie in the gradual acceptance of conflict as a foregone conclusion, thereby unraveling the peace that has defined the European project for decades.

Is Israel preparing for a new war with Iran?RTAt a recent closed-door session of Israel’s parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and defense, senior IDF officials delivered a detailed briefing on the country’s readiness for a potential new round of conflict with Iran. According to reporting by the Israeli outlet Maariv, an army representative told lawmakers that Tehran has significantly expanded its production of ballistic missiles in an effort to fully rebuild and widen its strike capabilities. Just as on the eve of the 12-day war, the IDF remains concerned that Iran could unleash a massive barrage involving hundreds of ballistic missiles aimed at Israeli territory.Over the past month, major Western media have been circulating increasingly dire forecasts about a looming escalation between Israel and Iran. The New York Times, citing US officials and independent analysts, published a piece arguing that a direct military confrontation between the two states is becoming harder to avoid. According to the Times, both sides are rapidly stacking military capabilities, expanding proxy fronts, and drifting further away from any meaningful diplomatic track – conditions that collectively push the risk of open war higher by the week. The paper links the current tensions to the expiration of the 2015 nuclear accord, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which formally ceased to exist this October. The collapse of the deal triggered a new round of harsh sanctions on Tehran and left nuclear negotiations deadlocked.The Times also reports that while Tehran insists it has destroyed all stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, Israeli officials remain convinced that portions of the material were quietly moved to secure locations. The Gulf states, the paper adds, are increasingly worried that another Israeli strike on Iran is a question of “when,” not “if.” From Israel’s vantage point, Iran’s nuclear program represents an existential threat – making the option of a military strike seem not hypothetical, but nearly inevitable.Meanwhile, Ali Vaez, the Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, said that according to his Iranian sources, missile factories in Iran are operating 24 hours a day and in case of another conflict “hope to fire 2,000 [missiles] at once to overwhelm Israeli defenses, not 500 over 12 days” as they did in June.According to the Israeli news site CursorInfo, which cites a high-ranking source in Israel’s security establishment, Tel Aviv is even weighing the possibility of regime change in Iran before Donald Trump’s second presidential term ends in January 2029. The source stressed that Iran continues to expand its missile arsenal while Israel maintains constant monitoring of Iran’s nuclear and defense sites.Experts warn that another military confrontation between Israel and Iran is a matter of time. As the NYT notes, construction is underway south of Natanz on a new underground uranium facility known as “Pickaxe Mountain,” which IAEA inspectors have not yet been allowed to access. Satellite images show the aftermath of US airstrikes on Natanz targets carried out in June 2025 – evidence of ongoing efforts to degrade Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.Against this backdrop, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian insists Tehran seeks peace and dialogue but will not bow to external pressure or abandon its nuclear and missile programs, which it views as inseparable from national sovereignty. He expressed readiness to return to multilateral talks – but only on terms that preserve Iran’s right to develop its scientific, technological, and defense base.More…..