26 December 2025
Turkey
Before Christmas, a Turkish senior member of ISIS was captured on the Afghan-Pakistan border. Details are fuzzy, but it appears that Mehmet Gören was transferred to the Turkish authorities. Turkish authorities hailed the capture and stated that it was a New Year’s Eve suicide bombing plot. On Christmas, Turkish security officials detained 115 people across the country due to suspicions of carrying out Christmas and New Year’s Eve attacks.
Nigeria
The United States launched airstrikes in northwestern Nigeria against Islamic State targets on Christmas Day. Initial assessments conclude that there were multiple fatalities at the camps hit in Sokoto state. This operation is part of President Trump’s fixation that Christians are being killed in Africa by Islamists. Nigeria has been fighting Boko Haram, IS-linked factions for years.
Iran
A former Afghan National Army General, Ikramuddin Sari, was shot dead near his home in Tehran, marking the second anti-Taliban commander killed in Iran in less than four months. Iranian authorities claim that the Taliban were responsible for the killings. Iran gave refuge to hundreds of Afghan soldiers and officers.
Ukraine
President Zelensky gave an upbeat assessment of peace drafting talks with US officials. He was optimistic about the new deal and stated that the agreement had been brought forward to Russian officials. President Zelensky plans to meet Trump on 28 December to discuss ending the Russian War.
South Korea
South Korea is formalizing preparations to create a specialized task force to discuss military talks with North Korea in the future, despite the silence on the North Korean side. These potential talks will also cover the Military Demarcation Line. This is the first formal request for military talks with North Korea in seven years.
The Unification Ministry will take administrative steps to allow easy public access to Rodong Sinmum, the leading newspaper of North Korea’s Workers Party.
Tajikistan
Two Tajik border guards were killed in an armed clash with militants who crossed from Afghanistan. The militants were ordered to surrender, but opened fire instead; all three militants were killed. Tajik authorities want the Afghan Taliban to apologize for letting this occur, as they have established a religious edict that bans Afghans from violent attacks abroad.
Social media wires
Chinese-made MLRS malfunctions as Cambodian soldiers fire on Thai positions
New line of Ukrainian “battle droids” coming online
Russian drones are being launched from Belarus, following Trump’s easing of sanctions
Featured Photo: “Reaper Drone”, DefenceImagery, Flickr, 2025
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.