At approximately 7 PM local time, a motorist driving a BMW SUV plowed into a crowded Christmas market in Magdeburg, a city just west of Berlin. The incident resulted in at least two fatalities and 80 injuries, some of which are critical. Local authorities suspect the act was deliberate, though the motive remains under investigation. The driver, identified as a doctor of Saudi origin, was arrested at the scene. Reports indicate that he had rented the vehicle shortly before the attack. A suitcase found in the passenger seat raised concerns about a potential explosive device, prompting authorities to conduct extensive searches of the market for additional threats. The attack has evoked memories of the 2016 Berlin Christmas market assault, which claimed 12 lives in a similar vehicle attack. At that time, the Islamic State claimed responsibility, highlighting the persistent security challenges surrounding festive gatherings.

A suicide bomber disguised as a visitor detonated explosives inside the Ministry of Refugees compound in Kabul as the Taliban’s refugee minister, Khalil-Ur-Rahman Haqqani, was leaving his office. Khalil Haqqani, a member of one of Afghanistan’s most powerful political families and the uncle of Sirajuddin Haqqani—the acting interior minister and leader of the influential Haqqani network—was assassinated. This marked the highest-profile killing in the country since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover. At least six other people were killed in the attack, and several others were reportedly injured. Khalil Haqqani had been designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the U.S. in 2011, with a $5 million reward offered for information leading to his capture. He was also listed under UN Security Council sanctions. The Haqqani network, a subgroup within the Taliban, is known for carrying out some of the largest mass-casualty attacks during the conflict with the United States. The group maintains distinct operations and has often clashed with the broader Taliban leadership over governance strategies. Though no group immediately claimed responsibility for the assassination, Taliban officials blamed the Islamic State Khorasan Province (IS-K) for the attack.

President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly fled Syria, marking the end of 53 years of Assad family rule, as insurgents led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group advanced into Damascus following a swift military offensive. Unconfirmed reports suggest his aircraft either crashed or was downed during his escape attempt. Opposition forces have taken control of major cities, including Aleppo, Hama, and Homs, leaving Assad's regime with authority over only two provincial capitals, Latakia and Tartus. The rebel advances have plunged Damascus into chaos, with abandoned military checkpoints, continuous gunfire, and residents fleeing toward Lebanon. The international community, including the U.N. and influential countries like Russia, Turkey, and Iran, has called for urgent political talks to transition Syria. This offensive, which began on November 27, represents the most significant threat to Assad’s rule in the 14-year conflict. Despite state media denying Assad's departure, his allies, including Russia and Iran, have provided minimal support due to their own geopolitical challenges. With the collapse of key regions and critical infrastructure, Syria faces a severe political and humanitarian crisis. Calls are growing for international intervention to protect civilians and facilitate peace negotiations.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)-led rebel forces have captured key territories, including the suburbs of Homs, southern Syria, and areas within 30 kilometers of Damascus. Homs, a strategic hub between Damascus and the Alawite regime's coastal strongholds, is under siege from the north and east, with government defenses collapsing in multiple areas. In the east, rebels have seized Deir al-Zor, severing President Bashar al-Assad’s land connections to Iraq and further isolating Damascus. Protests in the Damascus suburbs, including the destruction of a statue of Assad's father, signal the broader resurgence of rebellion, which could mark the end of Assad's 24-year rule. Reports suggest Assad's family has fled to Russia, though Assad himself remains in Damascus, relying on strained support from Hizballah and Iranian-backed militias. Regional powers—Russia, Iran, and Turkey—face disagreements over Syria’s future. Iran’s support is hampered by its conflict with Israel, while Russia’s involvement is constrained by its war in Ukraine. Despite providing limited air support for Assad, these air assaults are unlikely to stop the rebel advances. The rebel advances also threaten Russian military facilities at the Hmeimim airbase in Latakia and the Tartous naval facility, both critical to Moscow’s Mediterranean operations. This escalation underscores Syria’s volatile political landscape, with collapsing government defenses alarming neighboring Arab states and fueling fears of broader regional instability.

Six soldiers and 22 militants were killed in clashes across three districts in the Waziristan region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near the Afghan border. The military reported that the soldiers died during intelligence-based operations, while the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility, stating its fighters attacked security checkpoints in the region. The TTP, a coalition of Sunni Islamist militant groups, has escalated attacks in recent months, focusing primarily on security forces. Although separate from the Afghan Taliban, the TTP pledges allegiance to the group that seized control of Afghanistan after the 2021 U.S.-led withdrawal. Data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, an Islamabad-based think tank, reveals that in November 2024 alone, at least 245 people—including 68 security personnel, 127 terrorists, and 50 civilians—were killed in terrorist attacks and clashes nationwide.