Day: December 3, 2025

NEW: Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba head Akram al Kaabi threatened on December 3 to attack US Special Envoy to Iraq Mark Savaya in response to Savaya’s “blatant interference in Iraqi affairs.” Iraqi media reported on December 2 that Savaya is pressuring the Shia Coordination Framework to exclude Iranian-backed candidates from the premiership and key ministerial positions. Iranian-backed Iraqi militias are unlikely to attack Savaya due to the potential repercussions that such an action would have on the militias’ domestic political efforts, particularly the ongoing Iraqi government formation process.

More Key Takeaways:
The Institute for Science and International Security assessed on December 2 that Iran likely sought Russian assistance in 2024 to develop laser based conventional military systems rather than laser technology for nuclear weapons testing. The Institute assessed that the Iranian delegation was likely seeking Russian assistance to advance Iran’s anti-drone and anti-ballistic missile systems. Iran may have sought to develop laser based anti-drone systems in response to Israeli drone attacks on Iran in recent years.

Iraqi Joint Operations Command Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Qais al Muhammadawi announced on November 26 that all forces under the US-led International Coalition in Iraq are now in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region as part of the US withdrawal from Iraq. 250 to 350 “military advisors and support personnel” remain at Ain al Asad Airbase in Anbar Province to support US operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (ISIS) in Syria.

Israel and Lebanon sent diplomatic representatives to hold direct talks at a ceasefire monitoring committee meeting on December 3. The Israeli-Lebanese talks mark a positive step for dialogue between the two countries, which have not directly engaged in talks since 1983, particularly amid recent Israeli warnings that Israel is preparing to potentially increase its operations in Lebanon due to frustration with the Lebanese Armed Forces’ (LAF) limited progress in disarming Hezbollah. (1/2)

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) Dec 4, 2025

Trump launches immigration crackdown in New Orleans  reut.rs/48u2LBR  reut.rs/48u2LBR

— Reuters (@Reuters) Dec 4, 2025