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Lebanon and Syria resolve border conflict; Russia loses 1000 troops in 1 day

Lebanon and Syria resolve border conflict; Russia loses 1000 troops in 1 day

Tech spotlight: 3M22 Zircon missile

06 Jan • Estimated read time: 5 minutes

THE WAR NEWSLETTER — JAN 6 2025

Today’s email brings you news from Syria and Ukraine.

1 - SYRIA

1 thing to know

Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa and Lebanese Prime Minister Mikati agreed to restore calm after fighting injured five Lebanese soldiers.

The context

The 375-kilometer Lebanon-Syria border is largely unmarked in many areas, with rugged terrain and numerous unofficial crossing points alongside six official border crossings.

The Lebanese Interior Minister has also clarified that the gunmen were not affiliated with Syria's new administration.

More from the region

An Alawite religious organization accused the new HTS-led Syrian government of sectarian violence, giving examples of targeted HTS killings of Alawites. HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has promised to protect minorities but the group claims his words have proven to be empty.
The new Syrian interim government is making significant changes without input or consultation. Recent curriculum changes have notably increased Islamic content and removed references to the former Assad regime. It seems that the new rulers of Syria are preparing to create an Islamic national government.
Israel is expanding its military presence in southern Syria, particularly in Daraa province. Reports indicate they've installed barriers and increased patrols near Mount Hermon on the Syria-Lebanon border. They've also reportedly gained control of six strategic water bodies in southern Syria, including the al-Mantara Dam.

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TECH SPOTLIGHT: 3M22 ZIRCON

Source: raksha-anirveda

The 3M22 Zircon (also known as Tsirkon) is a Russian hypersonic cruise missile capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 9. It is powered by a scramjet engine that accelerates it to hypersonic speeds after a solid-fuel booster stage. The missile has an estimated range of 250 to 500 km at low altitude and up to 740 km in a semi-ballistic trajectory.

It is designed for both sea and land targets, with a high degree of maneuverability and a plasma stealth feature that makes it harder to detect by radar during flight. Zircon's high speed and kinetic energy make it particularly lethal against large naval targets, such as aircraft carriers.

What it’s used for

The 3M22 Zircon is primarily used by the Russian Navy as a precision strike weapon against both naval and land-based targets. It has been deployed on Admiral Gorshkov-class frigates and is being integrated into other platforms, including Yasen-class submarines and modernized destroyers. The missile has also been reported to play a role in Russia's military operations, including its use in the 2024 invasion of Ukraine.

2 - UKRAINE

1 thing to know

Russian forces attacked various Ukrainian positions over 130 times in one day, and reportedly lost over 1,000 troops.

The context

The attacks occurred on January 2, with Russia attacking Kurakhove, Pokrovsk, Lyman, and Vremivka in Ukraine. Preliminary reports indicate that Russia again lost over 1,000 troops during the attacks, as well 14 armored vehicles, and 41 trucks.

Recent Russian attacks have noticeably used less armored vehicles, which correspond with the reported unsustainable losses of tanks by Russia. Makeshift armored vehicles have also been seen from Russia, constructed by welding metal plates to normal vehicles.