Toplines Russian forces are reportedly preparing to conduct long-range strikes against substations powering Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. Ukraine’s Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on January 17 that Russia is considering strikes on electricity transmission substations on which Ukrainian nuclear power plants depend to operate.[1] …

Toplines Syrian President Ahmed al Shara likely decided to temporarily halt the Syrian government offensive on Syrian Democratic Forces-held (SDF) territory in northeastern Syria after a phone call with US President Donald Trump on January 19.[1] Shara and SDF Commander Mazloum Abdi failed on January 19 to finalize a ceasefire …

Syria’s Ministry of Interior said an escape incident at al-Shaddadi Prison in the countryside of al-Hasakah Governorate (northeastern Syria) resulted in the escape of about 120 Islamic State (IS) members, adding that it had arrested 81 of them. Special Tasks units affiliated with the ministry began, immediately after entering al-Shaddadi …