Continuing developments over Syria and the possibility of a Western military strike continue to be the focus of media coverage. The online editions of the Guardian and Telegraph cover a French report in which President Assad challenged the West to produce a “single piece” of evidence that his forces used chemical weapons. The Independent online emphasises Assad’s warning that the Middle East will “explode” if Western military intervention takes place. However, the online editions of the Guardian, Telegraph and Financial Times cover claims by the French government of new evidence indicating Assad’s “massive” and “coordinated” chemical deployment. Meanwhile, the Times says that former-Iranian President Rafsanjani has accused the Assad regime of using chemical weapons. The Guardian online covers comments by Senator John McCain who warned that Congressional rejection of intervention in Syria would be “catastrophic” for the international standing of the United States. Writing in the Evening Standard, Lord Owen suggests that this week’s G20 meeting in St Petersburg could be an opportunity for international diplomatic progress on Syria.

The Times and Telegraph cover a United Nations announcement that the number of Syrian refugees who have fled the country has exceeded two million. A feature in the Telegraph by David Blair investigates life in Lebanon for Syrian refugees and speculates that the country itself could be plunged into conflict as a result of the Syrian civil war.

The Independent covers a Kuwaiti report that Hezbollah said it would strike Israel from inside Syria if the West attacks the Assad regime. Meanwhile, the Telegraph online reports that the Israeli army has demobilised most of the estimated one thousand reserve soldiers it had called up last week as tensions mounted in the region. The Financial Times says that there is considerable Israeli concern that Western hesitancy and possible inaction over Syrian chemical weapons will be repeated over Iran’s nuclear development. In the Independent, Dominic Lawson argues that recent events have demonstrated that Israel is manifestly not at the root of problems and instability in the Middle East.

In Egypt, the Times reports that the Egyptian army has increased its presence along the Suez Canal owing to fears of attacks by armed Islamist groups on international shipping. Meanwhile, the Guardian covers a recommendation by a panel of Egyptian judges that the Muslim Brotherhood should be dissolved.

In the Israeli media this morning, Yediot Ahronot leads with exerts from an interview with Economy Minister and Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett, which will appear in full in tomorrow’s New Year edition. It indicates that there is a lack of discord between Bennett and Finance Minister Yair Lapid, leader of Yesh Atid, over a number of economic issues, such as child benefits and the ultra-Orthodox draft. Bennett and Lapid became unlikely close allies during coalition negotiations following January’s election.

Israel Radio news this morning reports a dramatic security alert at Ben Gurion International Airport overnight. A truck broke through a security roadblock and was eventually brought to a halt following a chase by security personnel. The two Palestinian men driving the vehicle turned out to be car thieves who had taken a wrong turning and panicked in the face of airport security. Airport operations were temporarily suspended during the incident, causing flight delays and road traffic in the region.

Meanwhile, developments regarding Syria continue to be widely covered. President Assad’s claim in an interview in the French media, that a Western strike on his country could ignite “regional war” is the front page headline in Maariv and Makor Rishon and is also given prominence by Israel Hayom.