20 January 2026
Syria
Imprisoned ISIS fighters have escaped a jail in the city of al-Shaddadi in the country’s northeast amid clashes between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish SDF. Syrian officials state that 81 of the 120 ISIS inmates have been recaptured. This has caused alarms in neighbouring countries, including Iraq.
The truce between Syrian government forces and the SDF has also completely collapsed, with renewed fighting. Map of the offensive below in the Social Media Wires.
North-South Korea
The number of North Korea defectors decreased slightly in 2025. 224 North Korean defectors, including 198 female defectors and 26 male counterparts. In 2023, there were 196 defectors, and in 2024, 236.
Afghan-Tajikistan
China has issued a security alert for Chinese nationals along the Afghan-Tajik border due to a recent border clash. The alert was not issued because of the recent bombing of a Chinese restaurant in Kabul. Chinese nationals are to leave the border area due to the “extremely dire and complex” conditions.
Russia-Ukraine
Russia carried out an aerial attack on Kyiv overnight, severing power, heating and water supplies for thousands of residential buildings in the Ukrainian capital amid a temperature of -14 degrees Celsius (6.8 degrees Fahrenheit), the city’s mayor said. The attack by Russian forces has left a total of 5,635 residential buildings in Kyiv without heating, while energy company DTEK said over 335,000 Kyiv residents were left without electricity after the overnight Russian strikes.
Israel
Israeli authorities began tearing down structures on a United Nations Relief and Works Agency, or UNRWA, compound in Jerusalem on Tuesday. The compound has been largely vacant for a year, when laws limiting its operations went into effect. The new laws barred the agency from Israeli territory, severed its ties with Israeli officials and effectively revoked Israel’s recognition of its diplomatic status in the country.
Denmark
Denmark has sent additional troops to Greenland. According to Danish media, the chief of the Royal Danish Army, Peter Boysen, and a “substantial contribution” of soldiers landed in Kangerlussuaq in western Greenland. 58 soldiers arrived to join the 60 Danish troops, who are conducting multinational military exercises called Operation Arctic Endurance.
Trump on Greenland
President Trump said he had agreed to a meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos over Greenland after a “very good” call with the head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Trump didn’t specify who he would be meeting with at Davos.
Trump continues to take aim at European leaders for not capitulating to his demands on annexing Greenland. Trump has even shared private messages of European leaders to the press, including French President Macron, who said, “I don’t know what you are doing on Greenland.”
Nigeria
Gunmen have abducted at least 163 church worshippers after storming two churches in Nigeria’s northern Kaduna State. Recently, Nigerianecurity forces went on the offensive against groups of these kidnappers, which are commonly known as “bandits” in Nigeria.
Social media wires
Iraqi forces are securing the border from fleeing ISIS prisoners
Map of the Syrian offensive
Featured Photo: “Kurdish YPJ fighters on hilltop, c. 2017” – Wikimedia Commons, 2026
The Wires Brief is a daily breaking news report incorporating wire service news and social media updates. DefRep cannot verify the authenticity of social media reporters nor the accuracy of social media updates. Feature photos are altered with grayscale.