Yemen Separatists Unveil Constitution for Southern State

 The Southern Transitional Council’s announcement of a provisional constitution marks the clearest institutional step yet toward southern secession in Yemen. Issued on Friday, the 30-article document frames itself as the legal foundation of a new entity, the “State of South Arabia,” reviving the borders of the former People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen that existed from 1967 to 1990. STC leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi said the charter would apply for two years, after which a referendum would be held on “exercising the right to self-determination for the people of the South.” He warned that if rival factions rejected dialogue or resorted to force, “all options remain open.” The declaration comes after STC-linked forces seized two southern provinces last month and took over the presidential palace in Aden, forcing members of the internationally recognised government to relocate to Riyadh.

“This Is Not a Declaration of War”

The political move unfolded alongside fresh military pressure. On Friday, Saudi warplanes struck camps and military positions held by STC forces in Hadramout province as Saudi-backed units attempted to retake the facilities. Ahmed bin Breik, a senior STC official and former Hadramout governor, said Saudi aircraft intervened after separatist forces refused to withdraw. STC spokesperson Mohamed al-Nakib said the strikes caused fatalities, without specifying numbers. Salem al-Khanbashi, the Hadramout governor appointed the same day by the internationally recognised government to command coalition forces in the province, sought to limit escalation. “This is not a declaration of war and is not seeking an escalation,” he said on Yemen TV, describing the operation as a pre-emptive effort to remove weapons and restore order.

Coalition Strains and Gulf Rivalry

The confrontation highlights the widening rift between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, once aligned as the twin pillars of the Saudi-led coalition formed in 2015 to fight Iranian-backed Houthi forces controlling northern Yemen. While Riyadh backs the internationally recognised government, Abu Dhabi has supported the STC as a dominant security actor in the south. The UAE’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday it was handling the crisis with “restraint, coordination, and a deliberate commitment to de-escalation.” Early Saturday, the UAE Defence Ministry announced that its withdrawal of troops from Yemen was complete, citing the conclusion of remaining counterterrorism missions. No figures were given, though multiple Emirati military cargo flights had been observed in recent days. The withdrawal follows weeks of Saudi strikes on STC positions and an earlier Saudi-backed call for UAE forces to leave within 24 hours.

Airspace, Authority, and Escalation Control

The political and military clash has spilled into civilian infrastructure. Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed al-Jaber, said the STC leader had blocked a Saudi delegation’s aircraft from landing in Aden, despite prior coordination. Yemen’s STC-aligned Transport Ministry countered that Riyadh imposed new requirements forcing flights to undergo inspections in Jeddah, effectively disrupting traffic. Aden International Airport, the main gateway for areas outside Houthi control, saw flights halted, including routes to the UAE. As Saudi-backed National Shield Forces advanced on STC-held camps in Hadramout and Mahra, the separatists refused to hand over weapons or facilities. The constitution announcement, military strikes, and airspace dispute together underscore how Yemen’s internal fractures are now directly testing the cohesion and command structure of the broader Gulf-backed coalition.

https://clashreport.com/world/articles/yemen-separatists-unveil-constitution-for-southern-state-18xtrq96irx

Israel, US Align on Gaza Ceasefire Phase Two

 Israeli media reports suggest a coordinated Israeli-American push to advance the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, ending weeks of uncertainty over its implementation. According to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, Israel and the United States reached an understanding after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concluded his visit to Washington. The ceasefire agreement, which entered into force on 10 October 2025, has faced repeated delays and violations, with Israel frequently accused of stalling the transition to the next stage. The reported accord is framed as a political green light rather than a signed document, but it signals a shift after what Israeli media described as a prolonged impasse.

“Agreement Reached” Message

KAN cited unnamed Israeli sources saying the blockage that had slowed progress was overcome following Netanyahu’s talks with US officials, including former president Donald Trump. Israeli media used emphatic language, reporting that a “agreement reached,” or agreement was reached, on moving forward. While no official joint statement was released, the timing is notable: Netanyahu’s US visit ended days before the report aired, reinforcing the perception of close coordination. The ceasefire itself has been in effect for roughly three months, yet its second phase has remained dormant despite being embedded in the original framework.

Operational Elements of Phase Two

The reported outline of the second phase contains concrete operational steps. According to KAN, Israel is preparing to reopen the Rafah Border Crossing in the near term, a key gateway between Gaza and Egypt. The broadcaster also said preparations were continuing for a plan to establish a new city in the Rafah area, one in which neither Hamas nor the Israeli military would be present. This element reflects an attempt to create a security buffer while addressing displacement and administration challenges in southern Gaza. These steps are described as preparatory, not final actions, underscoring the fragile sequencing of the ceasefire.

Governance, Security, and Withdrawal Trade-Offs

Beyond Rafah, the second phase includes a wide set of obligations already written into the ceasefire text. These include forming a temporary technocratic committee to govern Gaza, launching a reconstruction process, and establishing a peace council to oversee implementation. Other provisions call for the deployment of an international force, a broader Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, and the disarmament of Hamas. Each element carries significant political and security trade-offs, particularly the balance between Israeli withdrawal and international oversight. Israeli media stress that implementation would unfold gradually, reflecting sensitivities around security control, governance legitimacy, and enforcement mechanisms.

https://clashreport.com/world/articles/israel-and-us-align-on-gaza-ceasefire-phase-two-xpqbh3pql1j

U.S. - Iran Tensions Rise Amid Widening Street Protest

 The exchange of threats between Washington and Tehran underscores how domestic unrest inside Iran is intersecting with already heightened U.S.–Iran tensions following American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025. What began as protests driven by economic distress has rapidly evolved into a geopolitical flashpoint, with both sides using public rhetoric to signal red lines while stopping short of immediate military escalation.

U.S. President Donald Trump directly addressed the unrest on Friday via his Truth Social account, warning Tehran against the violent suppression of demonstrators. “We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” Trump wrote, adding that the United States would “come to their rescue” if peaceful protesters were killed. The post marked a rare and explicit statement of support for Iranian demonstrators from a sitting U.S. president during active protests, a departure from the caution shown during earlier unrest in 2009 and 2022.

“Any Intervention Will Backfire”

As of Friday, U.S. officials said there had been no significant adjustment to American troop deployments or military readiness across the Middle East in response to President Trump’s social media statements. The assessment was provided by a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of operational planning.

Iran, meanwhile, moved to formally register its objections at the United Nations. Late on Friday, Tehran submitted a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the Security Council, calling on the body to condemn what it described as threatening rhetoric and to reaffirm Iran’s right to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security from external interference.

Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, warned in the letter that Washington would be held accountable for any fallout stemming from what he termed unlawful threats and any subsequent escalation. The diplomatic message was reinforced by sharper language from within Iran’s security establishment. Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a former head of the Supreme National Security Council, cautioned that “any interventionist hand that approaches Iran’s security will be cut.”

Protests Driven by Economic Collapse

The demonstrations, now in their sixth day, are the largest Iran has seen since nationwide protests erupted in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman detained by morality police. While current protests have not yet matched the scale of those earlier demonstrations, they have spread to more than 100 locations across 22 of Iran’s 31 provinces, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency.

At least eight people have been killed, including one demonstrator in Marvdasht, in Fars province. Videos circulating online showed funerals turning into protests, including the burial of 21-year-old Amirhessam Khodayari in Kouhdasht, roughly 400 kilometers southwest of Tehran. Footage showed mourners chasing away security personnel, while Khodayari’s father publicly denied official claims that his son had served in the Basij, the volunteer paramilitary force linked to the Revolutionary Guard.

The protests were initially sparked by the collapse of Iran’s rial, which has depreciated to roughly 1.4 million rials to the U.S. dollar. Demonstrators have increasingly chanted against Iran’s political system, reflecting how economic grievances are converging with broader political anger.

Diplomatic Signals and Strategic Risk

Iran’s response has combined internal messaging with international diplomacy. In a letter to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and the Security Council, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani called for condemnation of U.S. rhetoric and reaffirmation of Iran’s right to defend its sovereignty. “The United States of America bears full responsibility for any consequences arising from these unlawful threats,” he wrote.

President Masoud Pezeshkian’s reformist government has attempted to signal openness to dialogue with protesters but has acknowledged its limited ability to stabilize the economy. Tehran has also said it is no longer enriching uranium at any site, an apparent attempt to reopen the door to negotiations over sanctions relief. Those talks remain stalled, however, as U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continue to warn Iran against rebuilding its nuclear program.

https://clashreport.com/world/articles/us-iran-tensions-rise-amid-widening-street-protest-gjtv2wvxee

Maduro set to be thrown into NYC detention center that houses Luigi Mangione,

 Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife have been captured by the US military and may await trial in a federal prison in New York, where a slew of high-profile criminals have previously been held. 

President Donald Trump announced the military mission in the early hours on Saturday morning, confirming that a 'large scale strike' was carried out in Venezuela. 

'The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country,' he said. 

'This operation was done in conjunction with US Law Enforcement.'

Attorney General Pam Bondi later confirmed that Maduro is facing criminal drug trafficking charges from a 2020 indictment in New York. 

Sources told ABC News that Maduro was being flown to New York, and although it's unclear where he will be held, defendants awaiting trial in federal court are typically held at the Metropolitan Detention Center. 

Luigi Mangione, who is awaiting a murder trial in the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is currently in custody at MDC. 

Sean 'Diddy' Combs also spent time at MDC. He was transferred to a federal prison in New Jersey in October. 

Ghislaine Maxwell was held in the detention center for her arrest on sex-trafficking charges in 2020, while R. Kelly was transferred to MDC in 2021 before he faced trial on sex-trafficking and racketeering charges. 

Maduro's whereabouts remain unknown and in an address, the country's vice president Delcy Rodríguez demanded an 'immediate proof of life'.   

Trump said that more details would be released in a press conference at Mar-a-Lago later this afternoon. 

US Attorney General Pam Bondi said Nicolas Maduro will 'soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts' after he was arrested in Venezuela.

Writing on social media early Saturday morning, Bondi cited the indictment against Maduro charging him with 'Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns and Destructive Devices against the United States.'

Maduro was indicted by the Southern District of New York in 2020, but it wasn’t clear what his exact whereabouts were on Saturday morning.

Bondi thanked Trump and the US military, who she said 'conducted the incredible and highly successful mission to capture these two alleged international narco traffickers.'

Nicolas Maduro is facing criminal drug trafficking charges from a 2020 indictment during Donald Trump's first term.

Maduro was charged with 'narco-terrorism' and conspiracy to import cocaine.

The Trump administration offered a $15 million bounty at the time, which was increased to $25 million last January.

The US president increased the bounty again in August to $50 million. The Trump administration has maintained that Maduro is the leader of a terrorist organization called the Cartel de los Soles.

Trump said during a phone call with Fox News that Maduro wanted to negotiate days before US forces captured him.

'I didn’t want to negotiate,' Trump told the station.

'I said, "Nope, we got to do it."'

The president added that the US will be heavily involved in the next steps for Venezuelan leadership.

Sources familiar with the US military operation told CNN that Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were dragged from their bedroom during the raid.

The pair was reportedly captured in the middle of the night while they slept.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15430801/Venezuela-live-Latest-updates-explosions.html

Russia, Iran, China Outraged At US 'Flagrant Armed Aggression' On Venezuela As EU Shrugs

 The international reaction to America's bombing campaign against Venezuela, during which time US special forces did a grab and nab of longtime President Nicolás Maduro has been predictably mixed.

While Europe has issued statements of placid acceptance - and also generally a 'wait and see' type approach - the reaction from BRICS countries and Washington rivals has been one of horror and swift condemnation.

Getty Images

First Russia: Moscow quickly condemned the blatant "act of armed aggression" against a sitting head of state and Russian ally, ​the Russian ‍Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. "In the current situation, ‍it ⁠is important … to prevent further escalation and to focus on finding a way out ​of ‌the situation through dialogue," the ministry added.

"The pretexts used to justify these actions are untenable," Moscow stressed. "Russia reaffirms its solidarity with the Venezuelan people."

"Venezuela ⁠must ​be ‍guaranteed ‍the ⁠right to ​determine ‌its ‌own ‌destiny ⁠without any destructive, ‌military intervention ‍from ‌outside.

“‍We ⁠reaffirm ​our ‍solidarity with ‍the Venezuelan ⁠people and our ​support ‌for its ‌leadership’s ‌policy ⁠of defending the ‌country’s national ‍interests and ‌sovereignty," it added.

Second Iran: Tehran itself has been in Trump's crosshairs this week against ongoing protests focused on economic hardship in the country, amid crippling US-led sanctions and coming off a recent, brief war with Israel.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wrote on X, "What’s important is when one realizes an enemy wants to force something on one’s govt. or nation with false claims, they must stand firmly against that enemy."

At this moment, however, there have been scant signs of any real fight or resistance on the part of the Venezuelan Army, suggesting this could have had help from the inside, akin to a coup which had the support of the US.

"We won’t give in to them. With reliance on God & confidence in the people’s support, we'll bring the enemy to its knees," Iran's top cleric added.

EU leadership shrugs after long lecturing the world on the so-called "rules-based order"...

Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs separately said it "strongly condemns the American military attack on Venezuela and the flagrant violation of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country."

As for China, we know what they think, given the timing is a hugely symbolic shot across Beijing's bow by Trump:

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro received a Chinese government representative at the presidential palace in Caracas on Friday, hours before US President Donald Trump claimed Maduro had been captured following American military strikes.

Maduro met Qiu Xiaoqi, special representative of the Chinese government on Latin American affairs, at the Miraflores Palace.

"I had a pleasant meeting with Qiu Xiaoqi, Special Envoy of President Xi Jinping," Maduro said on Telegram. "We reaffirmed our commitment to the strategic relationship that is progressing and strengthening in various areas for building a multipolar world of development and peace."

Insane timing...

Mexico's reaction: "The Mexican government strongly condemns and rejects the military actions carried out unilaterally in recent hours by the armed forces of the United States of America against targets in the territory of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in clear violation of Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations," according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"Mexico emphatically reiterates that dialogue and negotiation are the only legitimate and effective means of resolving existing differences, and therefore reaffirms its willingness to support any efforts to facilitate dialogue, mediation, or accompaniment that contribute to preserving regional peace and avoiding confrontation."

UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer shrugs, using an ambiguous and caution statement: "I want to establish the facts first. I want to speak to President Trump. I want to speak to allies. I can be absolutely clear that we were not involved ... and I always say and believe we should all uphold international law," Starmer said.

Brazil's President Lula da Silva on X: "The bombings on Venezuelan territory and the capture of its president cross an unacceptable line. These acts represent a grave affront to Venezuela's sovereignty and yet another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community."

"Attacking countries in flagrant violation of international law is the first step toward a world of violence, chaos, and instability, where the law of the strongest prevails over multilateralism," he added.

* * *

And a note from Bloomberg:

Global Leftist Leaders Denounce US Attack on Venezuela (Summary by Bloomberg AI):

• Global leftist leaders condemned a US attack in Venezuela that led to the capture of Nicolas Maduro in Caracas.
• Brazil, Russia, Colombia, Mexico, and Cuba rejected the US military action, with some calling for a meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
• The capture of Nicolas Maduro is likely to have a significant impact across the region, with some leaders welcoming the intervention and others expressing concern over instability and potential migration.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/russia-iran-china-outraged-us-brazen-armed-aggression-venezuela-eu-shrugs

Venezuela vice president Rodriguez in Russia, four sources say

 Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez is in Russia, four sources familiar with her movements said on Saturday

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/venezuela-vice-president-rodriguez-russia-four-sources-say-2026-01-03/