Morning Brief: US Conducts 30th Strike on Alleged Drug Boat, Saudi Arabia Strikes Yemen Port, China Condemns US Arms Sale to Taiwan

US Coast Guard Orders Six Arctic Icebreakers in Deal With Finnish, US Shipyards The US Coast Guard on Monday awarded contracts to shipyards in Louisiana and Finland to build six new Arctic Security Cutter icebreakers as part of a Trump administration–negotiated international agreement. Bollinger Shipyards of Louisiana will build up to four cutters for delivery in 2029, while Finland’s Rauma Marine Constructions will build two cutters to be delivered in 2028. The program aims to expand US icebreaking capacity and address a growing gap with Russia and China in the Arctic. The Coast Guard said the ships will strengthen US security, sovereignty, and operational reach in the polar region, where the United States currently operates only one aging heavy icebreaker. @USCG awarded contracts to build up to 6 Arctic Security Cutters – strengthening U.S. leadership, security, and capabilities in the Arctic. Built by the U.S. and Finland, these cutters will advance U.S. national security and maritime dominance in this critical region, made… — U.S. Coast Guard (@USCG) December 29, 2025 Officials cited rising military and economic activity by rival powers as the driving force behind the expanded fleet.   Saudi Arabia Strikes Yemen Port, Escalating Rift With UAE-Backed Separatists Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes Tuesday on the port city of Mukalla in eastern Yemen, saying it targeted weapons and military vehicles delivered to separatist forces backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Riyadh said the strike followed the arrival of ships from Fujairah, UAE, that allegedly unloaded arms for the Southern Transitional Council, which has recently seized territory in Yemen’s Hadramout governorate. The Saudi-led coalition said the operation aimed to neutralize an imminent threat while avoiding civilian casualties, though it did not report casualty figures. The attack underscores rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, longtime partners backing rival factions in Yemen’s war against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen launched a limited air strike targeting “foreign military support” at Mukalla port, days after it warned the main southern separatist group against making military moves in the eastern province of Hadramout. pic.twitter.com/0uDepQmQkD — Open Source Intel (@Osint613) December 30, 2025 Analysts said the strike signals a calibrated escalation as separatist advances and regional rivalries strain relations across the Red Sea region.   Turkey Detains Hundreds in Nationwide Islamic State Raids After Deadly Clash Turkish police on Tuesday detained 357 suspects in nationwide raids targeting the Islamic State (IS) group, a day after a deadly shootout with militants in northwestern Yalova province. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said officers carried out simultaneous operations in 21 provinces, including Istanbul and Ankara, as authorities moved to disrupt suspected IS cells. The crackdown follows intelligence indicating militants were planning attacks on Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. “21 ilde bu sabah eş zamanlı olarak Polisimiz tarafından düzenlenen operasyonlarımızda; 357 DEAŞ şüphelisini yakaladık.” Cumhuriyet Başsavcılıklarımız ile EGM TEM Daire Başkanlığımız ve İstihbarat Başkanlığımız koordinesinde İl Emniyet Müdürlüklerince; Adana, Ağrı, Ankara,… pic.twitter.com/oLLtCTp8tZ — Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) December 30, 2025 On Monday, three police officers and six IS militants were killed during a raid on a suspected hideout in Yalova. Authorities said some detainees are linked to that clash, while others are suspected of financing or planning attacks, as Turkey intensifies security measures ahead of the New Year.   Russia Accuses Ukraine of Targeting Putin’s Residence Russia on Monday accused Ukraine of attempting a drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence and warned of retaliation, a claim Kyiv denied and called fabricated as peace negotiations remain fragile. Russian officials said Ukraine launched dozens of long-range drones toward the Novgorod region in late December, but offered no evidence and reported no damage or casualties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the allegation, accusing Moscow of using it to justify future strikes and undermine talks. Residents of Valdai, where an attack allegedly took place on Putin’s residence, heard neither drones, nor explosions, nor any activity from air defenses. It’s impossible to conceal a massive attack in a small town, Russian media report. “Putin is a shameless liar,” said U.S.… pic.twitter.com/4gOjIKSd4e — Jürgen Nauditt 🇩🇪🇺🇦 (@jurgen_nauditt) December 30, 2025 The dispute emerged as US President Donald Trump pressed both sides toward a settlement, following his recent meetings and calls with Putin and Zelenskyy. Despite renewed diplomatic efforts, key issues remain unresolved, including territorial control, security guarantees, and Russia’s continued military push in eastern and southern Ukraine.   UN Command Reasserts Control of Korean DMZ After North Korean Crossings The United Nations Command said Monday it is reaffirming its authority over the military demarcation line between North and South Korea following multiple recent incursions by North Korean troops. The statement comes amid heightened tensions at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), where South Korean forces fired warning shots in August and October after groups of North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the border. The UN Command said it remains committed to enforcing the 1953 Armistice Agreement and preventing escalation along the 160-mile frontier. South Korea’s military said it has relied on physical markers and UN Command coordinates to respond to violations, though critics argue Seoul’s approach effectively shifts the border south and creates security gaps. As tensions remain high at the Demilitarized Zone, the United Nations Command is reasserting its authority over the border between North and South Korea amid a series of recent border crossings from the North. (from @sethrobson1 & @YoojinLee00) https://t.co/qOPTAyilzw — Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) December 30, 2025 The US-led UN Command said the official boundary remains the line established at the end of the Korean War and that any DMZ-related actions require coordination with the command.   China Condemns US Arms Sale to Taiwan as Military Drills Enter Second Day China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday criticized a record US arms sale to Taiwan as Beijing continued large-scale military drills around the self-ruled island it claims as its own. Speaking in Beijing at a year-end diplomatic event, Wang denounced the more than $11 billion US weapons package and warned against what he called Taiwanese pro-independence forces and external interference, including remarks by Japan’s new prime minister. The drills, launched Monday, serve as China’s response to the arms sale and rising regional tensions. The PLA’s military exercises serve as severe punishment for the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces’ attempts to seek “independence” through military means, and is a necessary action to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Chinese Foreign Ministry… pic.twitter.com/AhfSO5DUWv — Global Times (@globaltimesnews) December 30, 2025 The United States says the sale fulfills its legal obligation to help Taiwan defend itself, while Taiwan rejects China’s sovereignty claims. The dispute highlights escalating friction between Beijing, Washington, Taipei, and Tokyo over Taiwan’s future and regional security.   Police Find ‘No Terror Cell’ Ties in Sydney Hanukkah Festival Mass Shooting Australian police said Tuesday that an international investigation found no evidence linking two men accused of killing 15 people at a Sydney Hanukkah festival to a broader terrorist network. Authorities said Sydney residents Sajid Akram and his son, Naveed Akram, traveled to the Philippines in November but did not receive training or logistical support while there. The pair are accused of carrying out the December 14 attack at Bondi Beach, which wounded 40 others, before police killed the father and arrested the son. Investigators believe the suspects acted alone and were inspired by the Islamic State group. #Breaking: AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett says the two #BondiBeach gunmen acted alone. They did not receive training or directed by the local #ISIS affiliate in the Philippines, where they spent a month. They returned to Syd on 29 Nov two weeks before the horrific attack #auspol pic.twitter.com/IprFLKW5gU — Farid Y. Farid (@FaridYFarid) December 29, 2025 In response, New South Wales authorities announced heightened security for New Year’s Eve events in Sydney, citing the attack as the deadliest terrorism incident in Australia’s history.   Sources: News Agencies