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Russian General Assassination, Turkey-SDF Tensions, Israel in Syria 

On this episode of the American Prestige news roundup, headlines from around the globe.

Daniel Bessner and Derek Davison

December 20, 2024

Syrian Kurds wave independence-era flags and flash the V for victory sign during a demonstration in support of the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the northeastern city of Qamishli, on December 19, 2024.(Delil Souleiman / AFP via Getty Images)

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Russian General Assassination, Turkey-SDF Tensions, Israel in Syria | American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

On this episode of American Prestige, our last news roundup before the holidays —but stay tuned for other fun AP programming! This week: in Palestine-Israel, yet more Gaza ceasefire talks (1:33) and two new reports on Israeli conduct in the Strip (6:54); in Syria, reports of reprisal attacks (12:18), the US fails to broker a Turkey-SDF ceasefire (16:23), and Israel occupies the country's south (20:40); Russia appears to have moved military assets from Ukraine to Libya (23:32); the RSF carries out more attacks in Sudan's Al-Fashir (27:13); South Korea's Yoon is impeached again (28:21); in Russia-Ukraine, a prominent Russian general is assassinated (30:46), Russian forces close in on Pokrovsk (32:47), and Zelenskyy is in Brussels to talk peacekeepers (34:52); and a New Cold War update featuring the US and China extending a research agreement (37:19), a US naval vessel docking in Cambodia (38:26), and the Trump FP team targeting China (40:59).

If you want to keep following AP over the break, you can access our feed over at americanprestigepod.com!

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On this episode of American Prestige, our last news roundup before the holidays —but stay tuned for other fun AP programming! This week: in Palestine-Israel, yet more Gaza ceasefire talks (1:33) and two new reports on Israeli conduct in the Strip (6:54); in Syria, reports of reprisal attacks (12:18), the US fails to broker a Turkey-SDF ceasefire (16:23), and Israel occupies the country’s south (20:40); Russia appears to have moved military assets from Ukraine to Libya (23:32); the RSF carries out more attacks in Sudan’s Al-Fashir (27:13); South Korea’s Yoon is impeached again (28:21); in Russia-Ukraine, a prominent Russian general is assassinated (30:46), Russian forces close in on Pokrovsk (32:47), and Zelenskyy is in Brussels to talk peacekeepers (34:52); and a New Cold War update featuring the US and China extending a research agreement (37:19), a US naval vessel docking in Cambodia (38:26), and the Trump FP team targeting China (40:59).

If you want to keep following AP over the break, you can access our feed over at americanprestigepod.com!

The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

Iran War Kills US Troops, US-Saudi Arabia Strike Nuclear Deal, Zelensky Fires Top General / American Prestige
byThe Nation Magazine

American Prestige HQ continues to roll the dice on iceberg lettuce. In this week’s news: Iranian strikes kill four U.S. service members in Jordan and Iraq, and the Pentagon conceals dozens of additional casualties (2:09); Trump threatens to hit an Iranian nuclear facility and warns of attacks on civilian infrastructure (6:32); the Houthis blockade Saudi Arabia and strike two oil tankers in the Red Sea (14:20); the U.S. and Saudi Arabia announce a civilian nuclear deal (18:23); in Lebanon, the IDF begins a “pilot” withdrawal from three southern villages (23:48); Hamas elects Khalil al-Hayya as its new political leader (25:48); Ebola deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo top 1,000 (27:44); the Trump administration considers military action against jihadists in Mali (30:09); Volodymyr Zelensky fires Ukraine's top general, Oleksandr Syrskyi (32:29); Andy Burnham becomes prime minister of the United Kingdom (35:17); Trump imposes new tariffs on Brazil and Canada (36:53); and the State Department releases a report that names Cuba a top security threat (40:46).

Don’t forget to watch a replay of last night’s livestream with special guest Alex Aviña

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Daniel BessnerTwitterDaniel Bessner is an historian of US foreign relations, and cohost of American Prestige, a podcast on international affairs.


Derek DavisonDerek Davison is a writer and analyst specializing in international affairs and US foreign policy. He is the publisher of the Foreign Exchanges newsletter, cohost of the American Prestige podcast, and former editor of LobeLog.


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