HEADLINES
NC jet crash kills Biffle; probe continues
Australia orders security overhaul after Bondi massacre
Colombian mercenaries recruited for Sudan RSF

The time is now 11:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This hour, at eleven o’clock local time, the latest news from a changing global landscape offers a focused look at security, policy, and the human dimensions of conflict and crisis.

Investigators in North Carolina remain at work trying to determine who was piloting the private jet and what caused the crash that killed NASCAR legend Greg Biffle and six others. Officials say the inquiry is ongoing, with flight records and witness accounts being reviewed to establish a clear sequence of events and the responsible party. No conclusion has been announced as the investigation continues.

Across the Pacific, Australia is in a moment of national reflection after the Bondi Beach massacre. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ordered a government review of the police and intelligence services to ensure the nation is equipped to keep people safe in a security environment that has grown more complex. The review will assess powers, structures, and information sharing and is expected to yield findings by the end of April next year. In a parallel move, New South Wales announced plans to ban certain hateful slogans, including phrases signaling support for extremist causes, and to grant police expanded authority to shut down unauthorized protests for up to three months in response to the attack’s aftermath. Authorities say the investigation points to extremist motives linked to a broader global threat environment, reinforcing the need for stronger protections against antisemitic violence and hate speech.

In Israel, legal proceedings continued from Haifa to other jurisdictions related to security and social harmony. A Haifa Magistrate’s Court extended the detention of Ahmed Abbadi, a member of the Hadash national secretariat, who is suspected of incitement tied to past social media posts praising terrorism. Separately, a joint police and security agency effort to curb violence in the Arab sector in the country led to arrests in Rahat, where three Palestinians who had entered Israel from Gaza while the country was absorbed in wider security challenges were taken for questioning. Officials emphasized that the arrests are part of a broader push to address a surge in violence within communities, while investigators examine the specific links, if any, to the October 7 conflict region. In Jerusalem, riot conditions erupted when a municipal parking enforcement incident escalated, resulting in clashes with police and injuries to several officers, prompting use of crowd-control measures and a formal review by the relevant internal affairs body.

The domestic and international policy backdrop continues to shape these events. In Washington, United States policy toward Syria was recalibrated when lawmakers approved a defense package that included repeal of broad sanctions that had long targeted the Syrian government and its financial system. Administration officials indicated that the decision was aimed at encouraging reconstruction and economic normalcy in Syria, even as some allies pressed for retaining leverage on human rights and regional stability. In Israel’s circles, there was careful reporting that some Israeli contacts sought to preserve certain sanctions as a bargaining tool, while others argued for a broader approach to diplomacy in the region. The Syrian change comes as the region’s security landscape evolves, with officials stressing the importance of keeping channels open for dialogue and potential reconciliation while safeguarding strategic interests in the broader Middle East.

In Europe, on the anniversary of a deadly Christmas market attack in Germany, leaders urged continued vigilance and a commitment to peaceful coexistence. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke from Magdeburg about solidarity and resilience in the face of violence, underscoring a national resolve to stand united against hatred and extremism. While the focus of attention remains on the Middle East and allied partners, the incident served as a reminder of the cross-border threats that connect security, governance, and public life.

Meanwhile, a forthcoming investigative report from a major international outlet details a transnational network involving Colombian mercenaries recruited to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. The project documents how individuals were recruited via messaging platforms, transported through regional hubs, and deployed to conflict zones in Darfur, with training and salaries provided by entities tied to private security interests in the United Arab Emirates. The report notes United States sanctions imposed in December aimed at disrupting this network and highlights the broader concerns about foreign fighters, civilian harm, and the complicated web of state and non-state actors operating in Sudan’s war. The accounts include testimonies from families and veterans and draw connections to a wider pattern of recruitment that has drawn condemnation from governments and human rights organizations alike.

In sum, the week’s events underscore a security environment in which national and international actors are rethinking tools—from legal frameworks and border controls to sanctions and intelligence-sharing—to address immediate threats while seeking longer-term stability. The human cost remains at the center of these developments: communities contending with the loss of life, families seeking answers and accountability, and nations balancing urgent protective measures with the rights of citizens and residents.

This concludes the latest hour of reporting. We will continue to monitor the investigations into the North Carolina crash, Australia’s security review and legislative proposals, the security situation within Israeli communities, and the international dimensions of the Sudan conflict and related sanctions policy, reporting with care and precision as new details emerge.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-880853
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-880848
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-880847
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-880849
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-december-21-2025/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/light-over-darkness-australia-marks-day-of-reflection-for-bondi-hanukkah-attack-victims/
https://t.me/newssil/184198
https://t.me/newssil/184197
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-880575
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-880844
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-880846
https://www.timesofisrael.com/german-chancellor-urges-peaceful-coexistence-a-year-after-deadly-market-attack/
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/12/andes-darfur-colombians-lured-sudans-killing-fields