385: Israel - Hamas Potential Hostage Deal in Two Weeks + Japan to Purchase T-6 Texan Trainer Aircraft + Australia Test Fires Tomahawk Cruise Missile from Destroyer + More

I - On Defense Podcast

For review:
1. Israel - Hamas Potential Hostage Deal in Two Weeks.
An unnamed Israeli official told the Israel Hayom daily on Sunday that a ceasefire-hostage deal will likely be completed by Hanukkah, which begins this year on the evening of December 25.
2. Hezbollah leader (Naim Qassem) acknowledges that the supply route from Iran- through Syria- to Lebanon, has been cut. “Yes, Hezbollah has lost the military supply route through Syria at this stage, but this loss is a detail in the resistance’s work,” Qassem said.
3. Kurdish-led forces in Syria (allied with the United States), accidently shot down a US MQ-9 Drone on Monday. Troops from the Syrian Democratic Forces were conducting operations when they downed the MQ-9, a U.S. official familiar with the situation confirmed to Defense News.
4. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to procure more Avante 2200 Corvettes from Spanish-firm Navantia.
5. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warns European countries to prepare for war with a volatile Russia. Rutte listed a series of recent “hostile actions” by Russia against NATO allies, including cyber-attacks, assassinations, an explosion at a Czech ammunition depot, the jamming of radars in the Baltic region to disrupt air traffic, and the “weaponization” of migrants to destabilize Europe.
6. Japan to Purchase T-6 Texan Trainer Aircraft.
The Japanese government has selected the US-built basic trainer aircraft and associated ground equipment for its air force’s pilot training program.
7. Australia Test Fires Tomahawk Cruise Missile from Destroyer.
On Tuesday, Australia announced that destroyer HMAS Brisbane (DDG-41) conducted a successful first firing of an RGM-109E Tomahawk cruise missile off the US West Coast.