Morning Brief: US Launches Christmas-Day Strikes on Islamic State Targets in Nigeria, Yemen Separatists Accuse Saudi Arabia of Airstrikes

Yemen Separatists Accuse Saudi Arabia of Airstrikes in Hadramout Southern Yemeni separatists on Friday accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out airstrikes against their forces in Hadramout governorate, escalating tensions within the Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s long-running war. The Southern Transitional Council, which is backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), said the strikes followed clashes in which its fighters were ambushed, leaving two dead and 12 wounded. The alleged airstrikes occurred after Saudi Arabia warned the separatists to withdraw from Hadramout and neighboring Mahra, areas the group recently took control of. DEVELOPING: 🔴 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Yemen separatists accuse Saudi Arabia of launching airstrikes against their forces; kingdom does not acknowledge attack. pic.twitter.com/ZuVRtd5mMa — Open Source Intel (@Osint613) December 26, 2025 Saudi officials did not immediately comment on the accusation. The incident highlights growing strains between Saudi Arabia and the UAE as separatists push for an independent South Yemen, complicating efforts to maintain unity against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.   Zelenskyy Says Trump Meeting Near as Fighting Continues in Ukraine War Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that he and US President Donald Trump have agreed to meet in the near future, signaling momentum in diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s nearly four-year war against Ukraine. Zelenskyy announced the planned meeting after discussions with US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump adviser Jared Kushner, as Washington pushes for a negotiated settlement. He said Ukraine is open to withdrawing troops from parts of eastern Ukraine if Russia also pulls back and accepts international monitoring, though Moscow continues to demand that Kyiv surrender remaining territory in the Donbas. Zelensky on his telegram channel: Rustem Umerov reported on his latest contacts with the American side. We’re not wasting a single day. We’ve agreed on a meeting with President Trump at the highest level in the near future. A lot could be resolved before the new year. Glory to… pic.twitter.com/D6qgOoE0hk — Open Source Intel (@Osint613) December 26, 2025 As talks continue, fighting persists, with Russian drone attacks knocking out power in Mykolaiv and Ukraine striking a major Russian oil refinery, underscoring the ongoing military pressure on both sides.   Japan Approves Record $58 Billion Defense Budget to Accelerate Military Buildup Japan’s Cabinet on Friday approved a record-high defense budget of 9.04 trillion yen (about $58 billion) for fiscal year 2026 as the government seeks to strengthen its military amid growing regional security concerns. The proposal, which still requires parliamentary approval, marks the 14th straight annual increase in defense spending and advances Japan’s plan to reach 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) for defense. The budget prioritizes standoff strike capabilities, unmanned systems, and cross-domain operations, with funding for upgraded missiles, hypersonic weapons, and multi-domain drones. It also supports restructuring Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, enhancing personnel benefits, and advancing US Forces Japan realignment projects, reflecting Tokyo’s focus on deterrence, particularly in response to China and North Korea. Japan has approved a record defense budget of more than $58 billion, boosting spending on missiles, drones and counterstrike capabilities as it seeks to deter China and overhaul its postwar security stance. pic.twitter.com/CL6Z4RAhPM — Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) December 26, 2025   South Korea to End Foreign Adoptions as UN Flags Past Human Rights Abuses South Korea announced on Friday that it will phase out foreign adoptions of Korean children by 2029, as United Nations investigators raised serious concerns over Seoul’s handling of widespread human rights violations linked to decades of overseas adoptions. The decision, outlined by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, comes as UN experts criticized the government for failing to ensure truth-finding, reparations, and accountability for adoptees sent abroad with falsified records or subjected to abuse. The South Korean government is preparing to end overseas adoptions by 2029, shifting responsibility for adoption from private agencies to the state in a move officials say is aimed at strengthening child protection.https://t.co/YcsPZlDXZg pic.twitter.com/EkXTPy4bM5 — The Korea Herald 코리아헤럴드 (@TheKoreaHerald) December 26, 2025 Once the world’s largest source of international adoptions, South Korea now approves only a few dozen such cases annually and says it will focus on domestic care and a public adoption system. Investigators and advocates say the move addresses future policy but leaves unresolved the grievances of thousands affected by fraud and abuses that peaked during mass adoptions in the 1970s and 1980s.   Sources: News Agencies — ** Editor’s Note: Thinking about subscribing to SOFREP? You can support Veteran Journalism & do it now for only $1 for your first year. Pull the trigger on this amazing offer HERE. – GDM