Good morning! We’re kicking off the week with the latest insights on defense and global affairs. Here’s what you need to know as of Monday, December 9.

South Korea’s Martial Law Fiasco Forces Interior Minister to Resign

South Korea’s interior minister, Lee Sang-min, stepped down on Sunday after a chaotic week marked by martial law and political turmoil.

He acknowledged his responsibility for the unrest, stating he had failed both the public and the president.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, who recently dodged impeachment by a narrow margin, accepted Lee’s resignation.

Both Lee and Yoon are now under investigation for alleged insurrection tied to the controversial declaration of martial law.

Adding to the tension, former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun was arrested earlier on Sunday and had already been barred from leaving the country. Yoon has also been barred, according to local media on Monday.

Israel Deploys Troops to Buffer Zone After Syrian Rebels Seize Territory

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Sunday that it had deployed troops to a demilitarized buffer zone in southwest Syria near the Golan Heights after Syrian rebels, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), seized control of Damascus.