Two soldiers killed in an ISIS-affiliated attack on Saturday in central Syria have been identified as Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown. Both were serving with the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division of the Iowa National Guard, which is currently deployed to the Middle East.

Turkey’s Ministry of Defense announced that an unidentified drone approaching Turkish airspace over the Black Sea was shot down earlier tonight by a Turkish Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Newly released footage from Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) shows a first-of-its-kind underwater drone strike on the Russian port of Novorossiysk in the Black Sea. The video captures “Sea Baby” unmanned surface vessels penetrating the harbor and at least one making direct impact on a Kilo-class diesel-electric submarine of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, inflicting significant damage.

The FBI announced it has disrupted a credible New Year’s Eve terror plot, arresting four suspected members of a radical pro-Palestinian extremist group.

The White House sent a sharply worded message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the weekend following Saturday’s airstrike in Gaza that killed Ra’ad Sa’ad, a senior commander in Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades. According to Israeli officials speaking to Axios, the U.S. accused Israel of violating the ceasefire and failing to notify Washington in advance through the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC).

Four members of the Syrian Interior Ministry’s Road Safety Patrol were killed earlier tonight and several others wounded in an ambush near Maarat al-Numan, south of Idlib in northwestern Syria. The attack is believed to have been carried out by ISIS. This marks at least the third ISIS attack targeting U.S. and Syrian forces in the past day, amid growing instability across the Middle East that is likely contributing to a resurgence of the Islamic State.

First Lady Melania Trump: "My thoughts and prayers go to the families of people who lost their loved ones around the world. In this difficult time, we are celebrating here Christmas, and I'm thinking about them — what they're going through. My heart is with them."

NYC mayor-elect Mamdani, who previously declined to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” responded to today’s attack in Sydney: “The attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney today was a vile act of antisemitic terror. I mourn those who were murdered and will keep their families, the Jewish community, and the Chabad movement in my prayers. May the memories of all those killed be a blessing.”

A Jewish man in Australia confronted an Islamist gunman in full view, locking eyes with the shooter and refusing to back down. As rifle fire continued, he remained exposed, repeatedly pointing at the attacker rather than taking cover.

President Trump praised the civilian who confronted the attacker at Bondi Beach, calling him a hero who saved lives. “I have great respect for that man,” Trump said, adding that he “went in, confronted one of the shooters head-on, and saved a lot of lives.”

A U.S. Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II “Warthog” close air support aircraft is currently flying low over the city of Palmyra in central Syria and deploying flares, following today’s ISIS ambush that killed three Americans.

Large numbers of U.S. and Syrian forces are deploying to and around the central Syrian city of Palmyra, where an ISIS attacker ambushed and killed three Americans earlier today. Reports indicate an imminent counterterrorism operation targeting Islamic State–affiliated sites in the Homs Governorate. In addition to ground movements, heavy activity by fighter jets and other military aircraft has been reported over Palmyra.

Syrian Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani strongly condemned the terrorist attack on a joint Syrian–U.S. patrol near Palmyra, carried out as part of counterterrorism operations. He offered condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the American people and the U.S. government, and wished a swift recovery to those injured.

President Trump stands on the field as the National Anthem is played ahead of kickoff at the Army–Navy Game in Baltimore.

According to sources within Syria’s Interior Ministry, the ISIS-linked attacker who ambushed U.S. and Syrian forces today in Palmyra was a member of the Syrian Security Forces from Aleppo. He had recently been placed under investigation and was set to be dismissed after authorities discovered he held extremist views, including sympathies toward the Islamic State. The attacker opened fire on soldiers and other members of both delegations as they stood outside their vehicles after exiting the Desert Security Headquarters. He was swiftly killed by Syrian security forces following the attack.

Trump on attack on U.S. Forces in Syria: “We mourn the loss of 3 great patriots in Syria… we pray for them, and their parents, and their loved ones… We will retaliate.”

U.S. President Donald Trump warned of “very serious retaliation” against ISIS following an attack in Syria that killed two U.S. soldiers and a civilian.

Hours after a phone call on Friday between Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian forces launched a large-scale ballistic missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s Odesa Oblast. The strikes hit two ports and damaged at least three commercial vessels, all owned by Turkish-based companies. One of the ships, the Panamanian-flagged and Turkish-owned CENK T roll-on/roll-off passenger ferry, was struck by at least one drone, sparking a major fire that caused extensive damage, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.

U.S. President Donald Trump said that land strikes in Venezuela are starting. "It’s going to start happening".

Satellite imagery from Vantor shows the oil tanker Skipper in the southern Caribbean Sea, two days after U.S. forces seized the vessel off the coast of Venezuela.