Evening Brief: US Airstrikes in Nigeria Shock Villagers, Zelenskyy to Meet Trump in Florida, Iran Seizes Foreign Oil Tanker in Strait of Hormuz

Nigeria Signals Openness to More US Strikes After Christmas Day Attack Nigerian officials said on Friday they are coordinating with the United States and are open to continued US military strikes following a surprise Christmas Day attack on suspected Islamic State-linked targets in northwestern Nigeria. The strike, carried out by the US military in the Sokoto region, followed intelligence sharing and consultations between officials in Abuja and Washington, including discussions with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. While the Pentagon offered few details, officials on both sides indicated more attacks could follow as part of a broader counterterrorism effort. .@POTUS “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and… pic.twitter.com/ct7rUW128t — Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) December 26, 2025 The operation comes amid long-running violence in Nigeria, with the government stressing that the conflict is a regional security threat rather than a religious one.   Zelenskyy to Meet Trump in Florida as Fighting Continues in Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that he will meet US President Donald Trump in Florida over the weekend to discuss security guarantees, territorial issues, and a nearly completed 20-point framework aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war. The talks, scheduled for Sunday, come as Washington leads renewed diplomatic efforts nearly four years after Russia launched its invasion in February 2022. Zelenskyy said Ukraine will also seek European involvement in future negotiations, while rejecting Moscow’s demand that Kyiv surrender remaining territory in the Donbas. 🚨 BREAKING: President Trump confirms peace meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky SUNDAY at Mar-a-Lago, as his all-star diplomatic team even worked CHRISTMAS DAY to bring this deal to a close Trump also hopes to speak to PUTIN soon. PRAY FOR PEACE! Trump isn’t letting up! pic.twitter.com/VvYqvCmaqX — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 26, 2025 Despite ongoing diplomacy, fighting continues across Ukraine, with Russian air, missile, and drone strikes killing civilians and damaging infrastructure, while Ukraine reported striking a major Russian oil refinery with British-supplied missiles as part of its effort to weaken Russia’s war funding.   Deadly Car-Ramming and Stabbing in Northern Israel Triggers West Bank Military Response A Palestinian attacker killed two people in northern Israel on Friday by ramming his car into pedestrians and then stabbing a young woman, prompting Israeli military action in the attacker’s West Bank hometown. The assault began in Beit Shean, where the attacker killed a 68-year-old man and wounded a teenage boy, before driving to a highway near Afula and fatally stabbing a teenager. Israeli police shot the attacker at the scene. Israeli officials identified the victims as Shimshon Mordechai, 68, and Aviv Maor, a teenager. A terror attack near Beit Shean in northern Israel, involved a vehicle-ramming and stabbing that killed at least two people, a 68-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman, before the terrorist was eliminated by security forces near Afula. pic.twitter.com/pIo7bYs189 — Open Source Intel (@Osint613) December 26, 2025 In response, Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered troops to act against what he called terrorist infrastructure in Qabatiya, the attacker’s hometown in the northern West Bank, where forces launched raids and began preparations to demolish the attacker’s residence. The attack occurred amid heightened violence linked to the Israel-Hamas war, which has fueled ongoing clashes and military operations across Israel and the occupied West Bank.   Mosque Bombing in Homs Kills at Least Eight as Sectarian Tensions Persist in Syria A bombing during Friday prayers at the Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in Homs, Syria, killed at least eight people and wounded 18 others, Syrian authorities said. The attack occurred in the Wadi al-Dhahab neighborhood, an area largely populated by the Alawite minority, as worshippers gathered inside the mosque. Officials said explosive devices were planted inside the building and security forces launched a search for the perpetrators. A little-known group, Saraya Ansar al-Sunna, claimed responsibility, linking the attack to a pattern of sectarian violence following the fall of former President Bashar Assad last year. 💥 Three people were killed and five others wounded after explosive device detonated inside mosque in central Syrian city of Homs 🕌 Blast occurred inside Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in Wadi al-Dhahab neighborhood 🚨 Syrian authorities said investigation has been launched to… pic.twitter.com/kvR3jvIn2g — Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) December 26, 2025 The bombing drew condemnation from the United Nations, neighboring countries, and Syrian officials, who said the attack aimed to destabilize the country as it confronts militant threats and ongoing internal tensions.   Iran Seizes Foreign Oil Tanker in Strait of Hormuz Over Smuggling Claims Iran seized a foreign oil tanker Friday in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, accusing it of carrying millions of liters of smuggled fuel. Iranian state media said Revolutionary Guard naval forces detained the vessel while it was transiting the strait and arrested 16 foreign crew members, though officials did not identify the ship’s flag or the crew’s nationality. The seizure, announced by a provincial justice official, comes as Iran continues to enforce fuel-smuggling laws in regional waters and amid longstanding tensions with Western nations. IRAN SEIZE 2ND US-LINKED TANKER Day after SNATCH 16 crew with 4M liters of ‘smuggled fuel’ on 1st tanker & FILM BOOTY pic.twitter.com/zC6YxLjEN9 — RT (@RT_com) December 26, 2025 The incident underscores the strategic sensitivity of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil flows, and highlights ongoing security risks in the waterway following years of regional conflict and maritime confrontations.   China Sanctions US Defense Firms and Executives Over Taiwan Arms Sales China on Friday imposed sanctions on 20 US defense-related companies and 10 executives in response to a US plan to sell more than $10 billion in weapons to Taiwan. The measures freeze the companies’ assets in China and bar the sanctioned individuals from entering the country or doing business there. China announced largely symbolic sanctions against 20 US defense companies and 10 executives, signaling its anger over Washington’s latest arms sales to Taiwan while stopping short of a broader escalation https://t.co/hlO1iqmbjg — Bloomberg (@business) December 26, 2025 Beijing said the move targets firms and leaders involved in arms sales that it claims violate China’s sovereignty over Taiwan. The sanctions come as tensions between China and the United States deepen over Taiwan, where Washington is legally obligated to support the island’s self-defense while Beijing continues to increase military pressure through regular air and naval activity near the territory.   Thailand and Cambodia Trade Airstrikes as Border Talks Continue Thailand and Cambodia clashed along their disputed border on Friday as both sides continued talks aimed at ending renewed fighting that broke a ceasefire reached earlier this year. Cambodia said Thailand deployed F-16 fighter jets to drop about 40 bombs on a village in Banteay Meanchey province, damaging homes and infrastructure, while Thailand said the strikes were necessary to defend its Sa Kaeo province. The fighting stems from long-standing territorial disputes and has displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians since early December. BREAKING: Intense clashes break out between Thai and Cambodian forces on the border with the Sa Kaeo province of Thailand. At least 8 Thai soldiers were injured in the clashes. Thai F-16 fighter jets are now conducting airstrikes on Cambodian military positions while heavy… pic.twitter.com/g1V1ET29Uv — Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) December 26, 2025 As combat continued, military officials from both countries met at a border checkpoint for a third day of negotiations, with defense ministers expected to join talks and possibly formalize a new ceasefire, even as each side accused the other of violating previous agreements.   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