Daily World Briefing, Jan. 8

U.S. forces seize oil tanker linked with Russia, Venezuela in North Atlantic

U.S. European Command said it has seized an empty oil tanker linked with Venezuela and registered as a Russian vessel in the North Atlantic in an operation on Wednesday.

"The @TheJusticeDept & @DHSgov, in coordination with the @DeptofWar today announced the seizure of the M/V Bella 1 for violations of U.S. sanctions. The vessel was seized in the North Atlantic pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court after being tracked by USCGC Munro," said the Command in a post on social media X.

The seizure of the oil tanker Marinera, formerly known as Bella-1, which has been under the U.S. sanctions targeting Iran, was made after an active pursuit since late December by U.S. forces, according to CBS News and other U.S. media reports.

Trump says Venezuela to turn over 30-50 mln barrels of oil to U.S.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Venezuelan authorities "will be turning over" 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to the United States, proceeds from which will be "used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States."

The oil will be sold at market price and the revenue will be controlled by Trump himself as the U.S. president, Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

The oil from Venezuela will be shipped directly to unloading docks in the United States, Trump said, noting that U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has been assigned to execute the plan.

U.S. to indefinitely control Venezuelan oil sales, says U.S. energy secretary

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Wednesday that the United States will not only market stored oil in Venezuela but also control the sales of oil output from the country indefinitely.

At an industry conference in Miami, Florida, Wright said: "We're going to market the crude coming out of Venezuela, first this backed up, stored oil, and then indefinitely, going forward, we will sell the production that comes out of Venezuela into the marketplace," according to media reports.

The sales will be "done by the U.S. government and deposited into accounts controlled by the U.S. government," Wright said.

Trump weighs options to acquire Greenland including using force

U.S. President Donald Trump and his team are weighing "a range of options" to acquire Denmark's Greenland, including "utilizing the U.S. military," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday.

"The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the commander-in-chief's disposal," Leavitt told Xinhua in an emailed statement.

She said that "President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it's vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region."

6 killed in Saudi airstrikes on hometown of STC's leader in southern Yemen

At least six people were killed early Wednesday in Saudi airstrikes on the hometown of Aidarous Al-Zubaidi, leader of the Southern Transitional Council (STC), in Yemen's southern province of Al-Dhalea.

Initial reports indicated that the airstrikes struck a residential house in the Zubaid area of Al-Dhalea province, killing six civilians and injuring nearly 10 others, said an official at Al-Dhalea's health department on condition of anonymity, adding that medical teams have taken the wounded to nearby hospitals.

In response, the STC said in a press statement on the same day that it was "surprised" by the Saudi airstrikes, describing the strikes as a "regrettable escalation" that runs counter to the prevailing atmosphere of dialogue.

Hezbollah member killed in Israeli airstrike on S. Lebanon

An Israeli airstrike on the village of Jwaya in southern Lebanon Wednesday afternoon killed a Hezbollah member and injured another, according to Lebanese sources.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported the strike targeted a vehicle in the Tyre district. The Public Health Emergency Operations Center confirmed one fatality and one injury.

Lebanese security sources told Xinhua the deceased was Hussein Hamza, a Hezbollah member.

Hamas resumes search for remains of last Israeli hostage in Gaza

A Hamas source said Wednesday the group has resumed searching for the remains of the last Israeli hostage held in the Gaza Strip.

The source, who spoke to Xinhua on condition of anonymity, said the search is taking place in the Zeitoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City, with the participation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The operation faces significant challenges due to widespread destruction from Israeli military operations during the war and a lack of necessary equipment.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV News also reported the resumed efforts by Hamas and the ICRC to locate the body of Israeli policeman Ran Gvili.■