NEWS SUMMARY-INTELLIGENCE REPORT SUNDAY 1/12/2020

A major Royal meeting amidst a family crisis is just hours away in the United Kingdom but first....

At the top of news and part of the weekend newsdump.....

More than a dozen members of the Saudi military training at US military bases are to be expelled from the US according to sources who spoke with CNN.

The Washington Post earlier reported their expulsion was not a certainty.     An investigation launched after last month's attack at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida that killed three and wounded eight.   

 An attack called a terrorist attack by local Congressman Matt Gaetz but not called a terrorist attack by President Trump or Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Connections to "extremist movements" said to be behind the intention to expel the Saudis from the US.

The Washington Post reporting notes other issues including pornography being related to the intention to expel the Saudis.

"Israel National News" published this story about the matter.......LINK

IN IRAQ ROCKETS HIT A BASE THAT HOSTS US TROOPS LATE TODAY.  THE ATTACK AT THE BALAD AIR BASE NORTH OF BAGHDAD.   MEDIA REPORTS SAY MOST US TROOPS HAD PULLED OUT OF THE BASE BECAUSE OF RISING TENSIONS WITH IRAN.

THE IRAQI MILITARY SAYS FOUR OF ITS SOLDIERS WERE WOUNDED IN THE ATTACK INVOLVING LAUNCH OF EIGHT ROCKETS AT THE BASE.

THIS STORY PUBLISHED BY GERMANY'S "DEUTSCHE WELLE"...LINK

US SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE POMPEO SAYING HE IS "OUTRAGED" BY THE ATTACK.

Iraq being threatened with a cut off of bank accounts in the US including the one at New York's Federal Reserve Bank if it asks US troops to leave the country.    

This is reported by the "Wall Street Journal".....LINK

The Emir of Qatar visiting Iran arriving in the capital of Tehran and meeting with President Hassan Rouhani early today. 

  

Later the Qatari leader met with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who said that "corrupt actions" by the United States and its allies are responsible for the situation in the region......LINK TO PRESS TV IRAN NEWS STORY

The Emir promoting the notion of regional cooperation among countries in the region.  Qatar has been close to Turkey and is estranged from key US ally Saudi Arabia.

There have been suggestions and reports that Qatar may be acting in a role of mediator between the US and Iran.

If the US is sending diplomatic messages to Iran are they messages on behalf of US interests or the interests of other nations?

Retired US Army officer and Defense Intelligence Agency official Patrick Lang offered a post on his blog that considers this and other matters related to US-Iran policy....LINK

Demonstrations this weekend in Tehran over the shooting down of the Ukrainian airliner last Wednesday morning during the tensions with the United States  caused by the assassination of the Iranian general.     Demonstrators demanding that senior Iranian government officials step down according to mainstream media reports.

President Trump getting into the fray tweeting:   "Iran stop killing your protesters".     Police and security forces are on the streets of Tehran to confront the demonstrators today.

Within hours of the President's tweet pro-opposition media outlets reported that Iranian security forces were firing rubber bullets and live ammunition at protesters in the country.

The British Ambassador to Iran called in to Iran's Foreign Ministry over his involvement in an "illegal rally".    The ambassador was arrested and detained for an hour Saturday after he appeared at an anti-government rally protesting the Ukrainian airliner incident.

Protesters appeared at the British Embassy in Tehran later Sunday to demand the expulsion of Ambassador Rob Macaire.

"The police showed up at the scene but didn't lift a finger to help the Jews.  They just stood by and watched what was happening, while the Jews were being beaten up"

This is the account of a Jewish man in Ukraine recounting a Friday night incident in Uman.  Worshiping Jews attacked by a mob of Ukrainians.  More from "Israel National News"....LINK

Ukraine is telling Israel to butt out of its national debate on honors for Ukrainians who collaborated with the Nazis during World War 2.   This story from "Israel National News"......LINK

A new prime minister selected on the Mediterranean island nation of Malta.    The governing Labor Party picking Robert Abela to replace Jospeh Muscat.

Muscat said he would leave last month amidst the scandal over the car bomb murder of a journalist.

Daphne Caruana Galizia  killed in 2017 while she was investigating corruption linked to the country's government.

The BBC has more on the story.....LINK

In just hours a cease-fire agreement between the main warring parties in Libya will be signed in Moscow.    More from "Tass".....LINK

In Libya the Government of National Accord announced today its agreement to a Russian-Turkish cease-fire set to take effect today after the opposition Libyan National Army earlier said it agreed.

In Syria a cease-fire said to be underway in the northwestern part of the country, the Greater Idlib area.

But late reports are that jihadist opposition forces have shelled Aleppo killing three and wounding three.     Here is that story from Syria's "SANA" news agency......LINK

Israel's parliament moving towards a vote on immunity for Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu, who's been indicted in three corruption cases.     The immunity issue will be considered as Israel approaches its third election in less than a year on March 3rd.

Indications are that a majority of the 120 members oppose immunity.

More from Israel's "Haaretz".......LINK

There's been serious flooding in Israel in recent days and the Israel's air force was not spared.    Fighter jets caught in the high waters sustaining tens of millions of dollars worth of damage.

The aircraft to be repaired in the coming days.     "Southfront" has published this report......LINK

And now the Royal Row triggered by last week's sudden move by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, to break away from their royal stipends and charity work and pursue their own way that may be more lucrative financially.

Her Majesty The Queen will meet Prince Harry in the coming hours in the face of the most serious threat to the Royal Family's stability since Princess Diana died in 1997.     This new controversy comes on the heels of Prince Andrew's decision to pull back from royal life due to the outrage over his association with Jeffrey Epstein.

Also expected to be involved in the meeting Prince Charles, Harry's father, and the Duke of Cambridge, Harry's brother.     And the Duchess of Sussex also expected to be involved via phone from Canada.   It is said the Queen is looking for a quick resolution of the situation and clarity on the future relationship of the Duke and Duchess with the rest of the Royals within days.

The BBC has published this story late Sunday US time.......LINK

And for now that's the way it really is Sunday January 12th, 2020.