Syrian forces took control of the strategic al-Tanf military base near the borders of Iraq and Jordan on Thursday, February 12, 2026, following the withdrawal of U.S. troops. The handover of the base, as reported by Al Jazeera and the Syrian defense ministry, occurred through coordination between Syrian and American sides.
The al-Tanf military outpost, which had been a longstanding U.S. presence, was secured by Syrian Arab Army units, according to the Syrian defense ministry. The base's surroundings were also secured as part of the operation.
In other news, a teenage girl is set to become the next leader of North Korea, with Kim Jong Un expected to confirm his daughter as his successor, according to Sky News. The announcement could come at a party congress later this month, following a five-year hiatus. Ahead of the conference, Kim appears to be taking steps to consolidate his daughter's position.
Meanwhile, in South Korea, a growing number of U.S. investors are taking legal action against the South Korean government over the handling of a Coupang data breach. TechCrunch reported that the breach has become a geopolitical flashpoint, with investors seeking international arbitration under the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA). U.S. investment firms Greenoaks and Altimeter filed a notice with South Korea's Ministry of Justice on January 23, 2026, stating they suffered losses.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has also raised concerns about allegations that Apple News is censoring conservative content. In a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook, FTC chair Andrew Ferguson cited reports accusing Apple of excluding right-leaning outlets from the top articles in the Apple News feed. "I abhor and condemn any attempt to censor content for ideological reasons," Ferguson wrote, according to TechCrunch.
Finally, the hours-long closure of El Paso airspace was reportedly triggered by the Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) use of an anti-drone laser. The Verge reported that CBP officials thought they were taking down a drone, but it was actually a party balloon, according to The New York Times.
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