Khamenei’s late November and mid-December speeches deny any outreach to Washington, cast recent conflicts as failed US-Israeli aggression, and redefine the main threat to Iran as a Western-led media and identity war rather than direct military attack.

Hamas and the PFLP publicly rejected disarmament and external guardianship proposals for Gaza as phase two ceasefire planning advances alongside continued Israeli strikes on Hamas leadership targets.

Khamenei used his Basij Week address to cast Iran as the winner of the 12-Day War, portray the U.S. as globally reviled for its interventions, and link Iran’s Basij model to growing international support for resistance movements.

AQAP has claimed a targeted sniper attack against a senior UAE-backed commander in Shabwa after a month of surveillance, framing the operation as part of its newly escalated campaign against Emirati interests.

Iran-aligned militant groups across the region issued coordinated statements mourning Hezbollah commander Haitham Ali Tabatabai, using his death to reinforce unity, resistance messaging, and readiness for further confrontation with Israel.

Israel’s strike in Beirut that killed Hezbollah Chief of Staff Haytham Ali Tabatabai removes a key architect of the group’s rebuilt military apparatus but heightens pressure and risk around an already fragile Israel–Lebanon ceasefire.