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☆ Russia reportedly has a secret long-range drone program in China. Experts say it shouldn't surprise anyone.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-26 | by ( Aditi Bharade | Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewRussia is tapping China to build long-range attack drones for use in its war against Ukraine, Reuters reported. The report stated that Russia had created a secret weapons program in China, citing documents as well as two unnamed sources from a European intelligence agency. AdvertisementBut prior to the Reuters report, it was thought that China stopped short of transferring entire weapons systems to Russia. "Let's be absolutely clear about it: China does not want Russia to lose this war," Nixey said. AdvertisementThe war, he said, "is a symbol and a forebear of Western ability, Western spine, Western political will to defend the rules-based international order."

Persons: —, IEMZ, Kupol, G3s, James Nixey, shouldn't, Nixey, Kurt Campbell, Sari Arho Havrén, NATO's, Farah Dakhlallah, Dakhlallah Organizations: Service, Ukraine, Reuters, Business, Russian Ministry of Defence, US, Royal United Services Institute Locations: Russia, China, Russia's, Ukraine, Russian, Izhevsk, Eurasia, Brussels, Europe

☆ Germany’s coalition government is ‘absolutely creaking at the seams,’ RUSI fellow says
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailGermany’s coalition government is ‘absolutely creaking at the seams,’ RUSI fellow saysJohn Kampfner, author of “In Search of Berlin” and a fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, discusses Germany’s political and economic outlook.

Persons: RUSI, John Kampfner Organizations: Berlin, Royal United Services Institute

☆ Ukraine wants to fire Western long-range weapons into Russia. But the battlefield gain is not clear-cut
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-22 | by ( Clare Sebastian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Next week, an already very public debate over whether Ukraine should be allowed to use long-range Western-supplied missiles on Russian soil will come under an even brighter international spotlight. It was almost exactly a year ago, also during an in-person meeting with Zelensky in the United States, that Biden made the decision to supply the ATACMS to Ukraine. In both cases, Ukraine promised not to use them on Russian territory. Russia recently relocated planes from two bases near the border further east, according to one US official. To really bring mass (equipment), to get 10 to one artillery ratios on Ukraine at the frontline,” he told CNN.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Joe Biden, Biden, ”, Ben Wallace, Zelensky, “ Zelensky, Matthew Savill, “ He’s, Savill, it’s, George Barros, John Hamilton, “ You’ve, …, Barros ’, Barros, ATACMS, “, There’s, outlast Organizations: CNN, UN, Assembly, Franco, Shadow, Army Tactical Missile Systems, Zelensky, British Storm, NATO, Royal United Services Institute, Washington DC, Army Tactical Missile, White, Russia’s, Military, US ’ Ramstein Air Force Base Locations: Ukraine, New York, United States, Luhansk, Berdiansk, Russia, Poltava, “, Kharkiv, London, Russian, Ukrainian, Washington, New Mexico, Rostov, Iranian FATH, Kursk, Germany

☆ Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system almost didn't get built
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-21 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Some of the IDF brass feared that missile defense would lead to a defensive mentality, rather than taking the war to the enemy. Ran Kochav, the former head of Israel's air and missile defense system. Indeed, there were similar criticisms in the US as to whether President Ronald Reagan's "Star Wars" missile defense would work. Israel's missile defense system faced its most difficult test in April, when Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel. Ultimately, the virtue of missile defense may be that it is the least bad alternative.

Persons: Sidharth Kaushal, Ran Kochav, Israel Defense Forces —, Critics, Kochav, Ronald Reagan's, Yitzhak Rabin, Saddam Hussein, Israel, JALAA MAREY, RUSI, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Israel Defense Forces, Royal United Services Institute, Business, Cricket, Israeli Air Force, General Staff, Getty, Arrow, Israel, Iron, IDF, Forces, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Israel, British, Iran, Brig, Lebanon, Israeli, AFP, Gaza, Hezbollah, Britain, Jordan, Ukraine, Russia, Forbes

☆ Ukraine war analyst says Russia keeps surprising him with just how bad its soldiers are: 'The bar is very, very low'
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewA Ukraine war analyst told Business Insider that while watching this conflict, Russia has continually surprised him with how poorly trained its soldiers are. AdvertisementCaptured Russian soldiers, war experts, Ukrainian troops, and Western intelligence have all pointed to Russian troops being poorly trained and treated as disposable throughout the war. Related storiesRussia's losses have risen recently as Russian troops continue to suffer from deficiencies in training. The UK Ministry of Defence said in July that more than 70,000 Russian troops were likely killed or wounded between May and June. It blamed "an effective Ukrainian defense and a lack of Russian training" as Russia fought in multiple sectors.

Persons: —, George Barros, it's, Barros, Vladimir Putin, Matthew Savill Organizations: Service, Business, Russia, Russian Army, Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, AP, UK Ministry of Defence, Royal United Services Institute Locations: Russia, Russian, US, Ukraine, Soviet, Soviet Union, Cuba, Kursk

☆ Putin is embarking on an aggressive hiring drive to rejuvenate Russia's army. But he can't sustain it, experts say.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

On Monday, Putin ordered the army to increase its troops by 180,000, per a decree published by the Kremlin. This will raise the overall number of Russian military personnel to 2.38 million people, with 1.5 million of them being active soldiers. AdvertisementThe gear coming off the production line "will still be substantial," Reynolds told BI in an interview on Wednesday. Russia has "adapted much better than predicted to some of the pressures it's been put under," Reynolds told BI. Other experts BI spoke to said that while Putin might still be able to grow Russia's army, it may only add more strain to the already-stretched Russian labor force.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Nick Reynolds, Reynolds, That's, It's, it's, Artem Kochev, Kochev, Benjamin Hilgenstock, Jeremy Morris Organizations: Service, Kremlin, Business, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Royal United Services Institute, Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, Kommersant, Kyiv School of Economics Institute, Bloomberg, Russian Armed Forces, Aarhus University Locations: Russia, China, India, Ukraine, Moscow

☆ Russia and China's anti-US alliance is growing even more threatening
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

On Tuesday, the Russian military launched large-scale naval and air drills in the Sea of Japan alongside China. It's the second time in only three months that the powers have held joint military exercises, with drills held near the southern Chinese port of Guangdong in July. The joint exercises are taking place in the Sea of Japan and Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk. Some analysts, though, are pointing to tensions between Russia and China that could weaken the alliance. But for now, the alliance is growing closer, and Thomson said that the US will be watching the latest military exercises between Russia and China closely.

Persons: —, It's, Graeme Thomson, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Thomson, China's, Chels Michta Organizations: Service, Business, Russian Defense Ministry, Defense, AFP, China Power Project, Eurasia Group, Anadolu, Getty, NATO, Center for, Congressional, Pentagon, Royal United Services Institute Locations: China, Russia, Russian, Japan, Pacific, Baltic, Guangdong, Moscow, Beijing, Kremlin, Ukraine, South Korea, Sea, Okhotsk, Taiwan, Alaska, Anadolu, United States

☆ China’s secretive space plane has returned to Earth
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Here’s what we know – and don’t – about China’s space plane. The term “space plane” often evokes NASA’s Space Shuttle, which flew 135 missions from 1981 to 2011, carrying astronauts into orbit and helping to construct the International Space Station. Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesWhat do we know about China’s space plane program? China’s space plane development comes as a growing number of countries are paying attention to the deepening connections between security on Earth and in space – and vying for so-called counterspace technologies with the potential to disrupt or even destroy adversaries’ assets in space. But observers have also raised questions about the activities of the space plane, including its own deployment of multiple small satellites.

Persons: –, “ It’s, Chance Saltzman, NASA's, “, It’s, ”, Juliana Suess, Clayton Swope, Joe Skipper, Brendan Mulvaney Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Boeing, Xinhua, Shuttle, Space, Space Force, Columbia, NASA's Kennedy Space Center, US Space Shuttle, Hulton, China Aerospace Science, Technology Corporation, Royal United Services Institute, Aerospace Security, Center for Strategic, International Studies, SpaceX, Earth, US Space Force, United, Foundation, China Aerospace Studies Institute, US Air Force Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, Soviet, “, Florida, Xinjiang, London, Washington

☆ China is taking over the South China Sea, and the US isn't doing enough to stop it, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewTensions between the Philippines and China have heightened around contested waters in the South China Sea in recent months. In recent months China has engaged in increasingly aggressive operations against the Philippines around the disputed islands of Sabina Shoal, Escoda Shoal, and Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. Chinese Coast Guard holding knives and machetes as they approach Philippine vessels in the disputed South China Sea on June 17, 2024. A Chinese Coast Guard firing a water cannon at a Philippine Navy-chartered vessel resupplying troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal in March 2024. AdvertisementSpeaking at a conference, he said that the "escort of one vessel to the other is an entirely reasonable option within our Mutual Defense Treaty."

Persons: —, Collin Koh, Thomas Shoal, Second Thomas, Jay Tarriela, Timothy Heath, Heath, Koh, Shoal, Ezra Acayan, Samuel Paparo, Alexander Lopez, Sari Arho Havrén Organizations: Service, Institute of Defence, Strategic, Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, Business, coastguard, Mutual Defense Treaty, RAND Corporation, Coast Guard, Armed Forces, AP, Congressional Research Service, China, Philippine Navy, Navy, Air Force, Pacific Command, Mutual Defense, Philippine National Maritime Council, RAND, Royal United Services, Democrats, Republicans Locations: Philippines, China, South, Sabina, South China, Philippine, Second, Sabina Shoal, Asia, Ukraine, Israel

☆ Russia put SIM cards in its exploding one-way attack drones to use Ukraine's cellphone network for strikes, war expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewRussia equipped its deadly attack drones with cellphone parts to help improve their targeting capabilities, a war expert noted in a new report. Advertisement"Second," he said, "the Russians were sending telemetry data from the UAVs back through the mobile phone network to help plan follow up strikes." "This is only possible, however, if the mobile phone network has effective relationships with security organisations," he said. Cellphones and related technology have played a role on both sides of the war, with Russia and Ukraine using enemy signals to aid in their targeting and strikes. "Used properly, mobile phone networks can help militaries to hide in the noise, distribute critical data, and deconflict with civilian authorities."

Persons: —, Jack Watling, Watling, SIMs Organizations: Service, Royal United Services Institute, Business, Kyiv, Strategic Communications, AP, US Army Locations: Russia, Iranian, Ukraine, Moscow, Kupiansk, Ukrainian

☆ Ukraine uses ‘dragon drones’ to spew fiery substance on Russia’s frontlines
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Yuliya-Talmazan-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Yuliya Talmazan | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has long conjured images of war that Europe thought had been consigned to the history books. Several Ukrainian military units have shared videos of these drones in action in recent days. Ukraine’s 108th separate mountain assault battalion shared another video over the weekend, saying that its drone pilots had flown the “dragon drones” over Russian positions. Video purportedly shows a Ukrainian "dragon drone" shared on Telegram by Zelenskyy's chief adviser Andriy Yermak on Monday. They also include at least one instance of the fiery drones being used in Russia’s border Kursk region, which Ukrainian troops invaded last month, he said.

Persons: ”, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s, Andriy Yermak, It’s, “, ” James Patton Rogers, Emil Kastehelmi, Kastehelmi, Rogers, Justin Bronk Organizations: Kyiv, Moscow’s, Ukrainian, Mechanized Brigade, NBC News, NBC, Cornell Brooks School Tech Policy Institute, Telegram, Bird Group, ”, Armed Forces of, Russian, Royal United Services Institute Locations: Ukraine, Europe, New York, Ukrainian, Finland, Russian, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Russia’s, Kursk, Armed Forces of Ukraine, British, Moscow

☆ The battle of Kursk hinges on the Russian railroad
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-08 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Related storiesExactly how overloaded the Russian rail network may be isn't clear. Despite the humiliation of foreign troops occupying Russian soil, Russian forces continue to grind forward in bloody attacks at places such as Pokrovsk, in the Donetsk region. Relying on trucks would require an extraordinary number of vehicles, so it seems likely that Russian forces at Kursk will require multiple railheads that depend on a limited number of railroad bridges. However, Ukraine has captured data about the Russian railway system, which will make it easier to disrupt operations, Fraser noted. Barros believes that Ukraine could seriously disrupt Russian rail traffic and logistics if the US would lift those restrictions.

Persons: —, We've, George Barros, ZwsdIWSBwg, — Rob Lee, Ben Hodges, Kyiv's, Barrow, Oleg Palchyk, Callum Fraser, Fraser, Biden, Barros, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Business, Belarusian, Moscow Railway, Moscow Railways, Russian Railways, Study, UR, 101st Airborne Division, US Army, Interior Ministry, FSB, Kremlin, Getty, Britain's Royal United Services Institute, Ukraine, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Los Angeles, Russia, railheads, Kursk, Russian, Orel, Belarus, Smolensk, Moscow, Ukrainian, Washington, Belgorod, Europe, Ukraine, Donetsk, Bryansk, Russia's Kursk, Kharkiv, Leningrad, Oryol, Voronezh, Forbes

☆ Ukrainian forces in Kursk are readying for a long fight and may plan to 'bleed' the Russians just like in Ukraine, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-07 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

That figure is more than the amount of territory Russia has seized in Ukraine so far this year. AdvertisementThat's a rate of more than 1,100 casualties a day, and there are indications Russian forces are continuing to take heavy losses. A pair of Ukrainian soldiers walk in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Sudzha in Russia's Kursk region. But he said there's also a danger that Ukraine's forces could get overextended and "get too widely spaced that the Russians can take advantage of it." Furthermore, this unexpected invasion of Russian territory has allowed Ukraine to regain the initiative after months in a grueling defensive position.

Persons: —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Fabien Nachi, Matthew Savill, David Cohen, Michael Bohnert, Savill, Ed Ram, Mark Cancian, there's, Cancian, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Service, Business, NBC, Getty, Royal United Services Institute, UK Ministry of Defence, Russia, Ukraine, CIA, RAND Corporation, Washington, Marine, Center for Strategic, International Studies Locations: Russia's Kursk, Russia, Ukraine, Kursk, Sudzha, Ukrainian

☆ One of China's neighbors is sending out more naval patrols to challenge its attempts to dominate the South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-04 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewThe Philippines says it has stepped up its naval patrols and air surveillance around a disputed island in the South China Sea to counter the growing number of Chinese vessels in the area. In June, Chinese coast guards armed with swords and knives attacked Philippine vessels in the contested waters, resulting in injuries and one soldier losing a thumb. Chinese coast guards holding knives and machetes as they approached Philippine troops in the disputed South China Sea in June. "We once again warn the Philippines to face reality and give up illusions," Liu Dejun, a spokesperson for China's coast guard, said. Advertisement(Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also lay claim to parts of the South China Sea.)

Persons: —, Roy Vincent Trinidad, BRP Teresa Magbanua, Trinidad, Sabina Shoal, Jay Tarriela, Tarriela, Teresa Magbanua, Liu Dejun, Liu, Sari Arho Havrén, Collin Koh, Koh, Adm, Samuel Paparo, Alexander Lopez Organizations: Service, Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, Daily Tribune, Business, BRP, Armed Forces, AP, The Daily Tribune, Liberation Army Navy, US Department of State, Royal United Services Institute, Institute of Defence, Strategic, Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, CNN, Pacific Command, Mutual Defense, Philippine National Maritime Council Locations: South, Philippine, Sabina, Escoda, China, Philippines, South China, China's, Sabina Shoal, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, Washington, Manila

☆ This new air-to-air missile appears to be the US Navy's answer to the growing reach of China's weapons
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-04 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The missile helps to close the gap between US capabilities and those of China, which is fielding new beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles with reach. Related storiesIn the most recent Pentagon report on Chinese military developments, officials noted its work on "beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles." The PL-15 was China's answer to the US AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Isaiah B. GoesslThe air-to-air missile range game is expected to continue though. As the Pentagon noted in its report, China is at work on its air-to-air missiles, and the US is likewise working on next-generation systems like the AIM-260.

Persons: —, Carl Vinson, Douglas Barrie, pBur3mhRQs, 0L2bNLgTUi —, Justin Bronk, Joshua Sapien, It's, Bronk, Zheng Shuai, China's, Isaiah Organizations: Service, US Navy, AIM, Business, Navy, Hornets, Nimitz, Hawaii's, People's Liberation Army Air Force, International Institute for Strategic Studies, U.S . Navy, 0L2bNLgTUi — Doha, US AIM, Air Missile, Royal United Services, Hornet, RIM, Getty, Navy's, Observers, American, aircraft, Pentagon Locations: China, Washington

☆ Ukraine's surprise incursion leaves Putin scrambling to save face — and his territory
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Yuliya-Talmazan-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Yuliya Talmazan | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Things seemed to be going so well for Vladimir Putin — at home and on the battlefield. Now Russia is the battlefield, after Ukraine’s stunning assault across the border turned the tables on Putin’s war and left his army scrambling to retake its own land. Putin convened a meeting with governors from the border regions as well as top defense and security officials on Monday. “One of the justifications that he routinely uses for the invasion of Ukraine is the security of the Russian state. The fact that Ukraine has launched this incursion into Russian territory, I think, is absolutely humiliating for him,” Fraser told NBC News.

Persons: Vladimir Putin —, Putin, Gavriil, ”, Callum Fraser, ” Fraser, “, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Kremlin, Royal United Services Institute, NBC News, Kyiv Locations: Russia, It’s, Russian, Ukraine’s, Russia’s, London, Ukraine, Kursk

☆ Here is what Ukraine probably wants from its wild assault on Russian territory
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-12 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Read previewUkraine has surprised the world with its attack on Kursk, a rare ground invasion of Russian soil. As of Monday, the Kremlin announced that Ukrainian troops had advanced almost 19 miles into the western Russian region. In a public meeting that afternoon, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed his military to purge Ukrainian troops from Kursk. Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the London-based Royal United Services Institute, assessed on Monday that some Russian troops had been moved from within Ukraine, but the scale is unclear. He said this would likely only be incidental to Ukraine's main strategic goal in the Kursk attack.

Persons: —, Patrick Bury, Vladimir Putin, We're, Matthew Ford, Ford, Matthew Savill, Savill, Russia's, West, Ukraine —, Bury, we've, they've, Putin, Vladimir, Peter Dickinson Organizations: Service, UK's University of Bath, Kremlin, Business, Agence France, Presse, BI, UK's University of Sussex, Royal United Services Institute, West Ford, Ukraine, Pentagon, Trump, Atlantic, Moscow Times Locations: Ukraine, Kursk, Russian, Russia, Kyiv, London, Kharkiv

☆ Ukraine is striking targets hundreds of miles inside Russia for 3 key reasons, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-10 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

While the news grabbed headlines, it was not the first time that Ukraine has reportedly targeted sites deep within Russia. AdvertisementUkraine does not currently have permission to use long-range guided weapons such as the ATACMS to hit such targets inside Russia. While striking targets so far from the frontline may be seen as Ukraine spreading itself rather thinly, such attacks have three key benefits, experts told BI. "Russia has already adapted its air defense posture following previous drone strikes and reportedly has stood up mobile counter-UAS [unmanned aircraft system] teams. Russia's S-400 is one of its most advanced air defense systems.

Persons: —, Mark Cancian, Cancian, Justin Bronk, Moscow's pocketbook, John Hardie, Hardie, hasn't, Bronk Organizations: Service, Business, Ukraine's Security Service, International Security, Centre, Strategic, International Studies, Stringer, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Ukraine, Royal United Services Institute, Russia, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Bloomberg, Reuters Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Murmansk, Russia, Astrakhan, Bashkortostan, Moscow

☆ Israel's urban warfare tactics in Gaza offer lessons for NATO armies
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-10 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Urban warfare in Gaza has revealed a painful truth for NATO: Many of its armies are ill-prepared for fighting in crowded cities. There is good reason for concern: urban warfare has become a fixture of warfare on a rapidly urbanizing planet, from Fallujah in 2003 to Bakhmut in 2023. Israeli troops and their vehicles have faced challenges operating in sections of Gaza that the Israeli Air Force shattered. The biggest lesson of Gaza is the importance of firepower in urban warfare, according to RUSI. Related storiesFirepower played a decisive role "in determining initiative during the fighting in Gaza," RUSI said.

Persons: RUSI, Jack Watling, Nick Reynolds, Watling, Reynolds, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, NATO, Israel Defense Forces, British Army, Business, Royal United Services Institute, US Army, IDF, Israeli Air Force, Anadolu, Getty, Fighters, Hamas, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Gaza, British, Fallujah, Bakhmut, Israel, Ukraine, Russia, Forbes

☆ Ukraine's audacious invasion of Russian territory is a massive blow to Putin's power
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-09 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But as the scale of the attack became clearer, with thousands of Ukrainian troops advancing up to 6 miles into Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin hurried to contain the fallout. Ukraine's attack catches Russia off guardA Russian military video showing a Ukrainian tank during an attack on the Kursk region in Russia in August. It's led to fierce criticism of the Kremlin from ultranationalist bloggers, who've questioned why the Russian military was so unprepared and criticized chaotic attempts to evacuate civilians. Putin has so far been able to avoid major domestic unrest from the two-year war — despite the vast casualties it's inflicted on the Russian military. But the 2023 rebellion by the Russian mercenary group Wagner exposed Putin's vulnerability to blowback from events in Ukraine.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Alexei Smirnov, Putin, Vladimir Putin's, It's, who've, Bryden Spurling, Callum Fraser, Russia aren't, Wagner, Russia's, Fraser, Spurling, STRINGER, Ukraine's, Maxim Alyukov, it'll, Alyukov Organizations: Service, Kremlin, Business, Anadolu, Russian MOD, RAND Corp, Royal United Services Institute, Wagner, Don, Getty, King's College London Locations: Ukraine, Russia's Kursk, Russia, Russian, Kursk, US, Kharkiv, London, Rostov, Moscow

This came after the Israeli military said it had struck a “terrorist cell operating a drone” in southern Lebanon after “numerous projectiles” were fired at northern Israel. Rockets fired from southern Lebanon are intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome air defence system over the Upper Galilee region in northern Israel. The killing came a day after Shukr, a senior Hezbollah leader died in an Israel airstrike on Lebanon’s capital Beirut. Israel’s military said it struck a Hamas military compound embedded in the schools. It came after an Israeli airstrike hit a tent camp inside a hospital in central Gaza earlier in the day.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jordan, Jalaa Marey, Ismail Haniyeh, Fuad Shukr, Haniyeh, Masoud Pezeshkian, Israel “, ” Israel, Shukr, ”, Menahem Kahana, Burcu Ozcelik, Mahmoud Zayyat Organizations: NBC News, Rockets, Israel's, Getty, Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Israel, Pentagon, Navy, Royal United Services Institute, NBC, Diplomats, Health Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, Australia, France, Canada, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Turkey, Lebanon, Beirut, Galilee, AFP, Iran, Tehran, Golan, Shams, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, U.S, Britain, Haniyeh’s, London, Lebanese, Sidon, Gaza City

☆ Why Ukraine May Not Use New F-16s in Frontline Attacks
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Officials later confirmed to the Associated Press that some F-16s were indeed in Ukraine. AdvertisementThis means Ukraine may not use its F-16s for the frontline offensives it would prefer, according to military experts and Ukraine's top general. Peter Layton, a fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute who served in Australia's air force, said Ukraine would have to be cautious. He said its small number of aircraft and few pilots would mean Ukraine has to prioritize avoiding losses, so it can fly the F-16s as long as possible. Ukraine also faces challenges when it comes to logistics around the F-16s.

Persons: —, Netherlands —, Peter Layton, Justin Bronk, Gen, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Marina Miron, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, Bloomberg, Associated Press, NATO, Business, Times, Griffith Asia Institute, Russian, Royal United Services Institute, Guardian, War Studies Department, King's College London, Department of Defense, Politico, Washington Post, Reagan Locations: Ukraine, — Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, London, Russia, Col, Ukrainian

☆ Killing of Hamas leader leaves Gaza ceasefire hopes dangling by a thread
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The assassination of the political leader of Hamas has plunged the Middle East into fresh crisis and dented already slim hopes of an end to the war between Israel and the militant group that rules Gaza anytime soon. Here’s what the killing of the Hamas and Hezbollah leaders means for the Gaza war and the region. “Netanyahu has systematically sabotaged ceasefire talks because ending the war will likely end his political career,” said Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute, a US-based foreign policy think tank, in a post on X. A faltered negotiation process also extends the risk to the lives of the remaining hostages in Gaza. “This is the time for a deal.”There are 111 hostages still in Gaza, including 39 believed to be dead, according to data from Netanyahu’s office.

Persons: Israel, Ismail Haniyeh, Haniyeh, ”, Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Benjamin Netanyahu, –, “ Netanyahu, “, Netanyahu, Jalaa Marey, Gershon Baskin, Baskin, ” Baskin, Gaza’s, Anwar, Antony Blinken, Biden, ” Hellyer, CNN’s Becky Anderson Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Quincy Institute, Palestinian, Getty, Families, Anwar Amro, Hellyer, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Royal United Services Institute for Defense, Security Studies, Israel Locations: Israel, Gaza, Tehran, Iran, Beirut, Golan, Qatar, Egypt, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, Thani, Doha, US, Karmiel, AFP, Beirut's, United States, London

☆ The killing of a top Hamas leader in its backyard is 'humiliating' for Iran, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewIsmail Haniyeh, the leader of the political wing of Hamas, was killed on Wednesday. Ismail Haniyeh (left) meeting with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran, on July 30, 2024. According to Middle East and military experts, Haniyeh's death is a "humiliating" blow to Iran. A new phase of brinkmanshipTensions between Israel and Iran were high even before Haniyeh's killing. MOSAB SHAWER/AFP via Getty ImagesSince Hamas launched terror attacks on Israel on October 7, groups allied with Iran — the Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah — have targeted Israel, with attacks sometimes spilling over into neighboring countries and directly involving Iran.

Persons: —, Ismail Haniyeh, Haniyeh, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Nobody, Israel didn't, Andrew Fox, Henry Jackson, Fox, Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Ameneh, Farzan, MOSAB SHAWER, Burcu, Fuad Shukr Organizations: Service, Business, Iran's, KHAMENEI.IR, Getty Images, Henry, Henry Jackson Society, New York Times, East, Global Governance Centre, Geneva Graduate Institute, BI, West, Getty, —, Middle East Security, Royal United Services Institute, Fox Locations: Iran, Tehran, AFP, Israel, Middle East, Iranian, West Bank, Hebron, Syria, Beirut, Iraq, Yemen, Red, ACLED, Lebanon

☆ Wargames show the US could burn through its ammo in 'as few as 3 to 4 weeks' in a war with China, commission warns
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewA new high-profile report on US national defense acknowledged that the Pentagon could deplete its munitions within "three to four weeks" in a protracted war with China. Some important munitions, such as anti-ship missiles, could last only a few days, the commission warned. As an example, they cited a 2022 report from the Royal United Services Institute about the war in Ukraine. Defense industry 'grossly inadequate' even in peacetimeThe US commission warned that defense production as a whole is in bad shape, saying the wider industry doesn't have the capacity to meet national needs even in peacetime.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business, Army, Democratic, Center for National American Security, Royal United Services Institute, Defense, Department Locations: China, Russia, Ukraine, United States, Donbas, Iran, North Korea

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