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Many countries are working on them — and neither China, Russia, Iran, India or Pakistan have signed a U.S.-initiated pledge to use military AI responsibly. Another AI project at Space Force analyzes radar data to detect imminent adversary missile launches, he said. One urgent challenge, says Jane Pinelis, chief AI engineer at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Lab and former chief of AI assurance in Martell’s office, is recruiting and retaining the talent needed to test AI tech. Testing and evaluation standards are also immature, a recent National Academy of Sciences report on Air Force AI highlighted. Might that mean the U.S. one day fielding under duress autonomous weapons that don’t fully pass muster?

Persons: —, Replicator —, Kathleen Hicks, ”, Gregory Allen, we’ve, Missy Cummings, George Mason, Lisa Costa, Wallace ‘ Rhet ’ Turnbull, Tom Siebel, Matt Visser, Palantir, Jack Shanahan, Maven, Mark Milley, Christian Brose, Paul Scharre, ” Anduril, Nathan Michael, Michael, Shanahan, Craig Martell, Martell, Jane Pinelis, “ Organizations: U.S ., Russia, Air Force, China, Pentagon, Department of Defense, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Navy, ” U.S . Space Force, Space Force, Space Systems Command, Blackhawk, ., U.S . Missile Defense Agency, Defense Counterintelligence, Security Agency, Third Infantry Division, NATO, Maven, National Geospatial - Intelligence Agency, U.S . Special Operations, ISIS, Command, Control, Chiefs, Armed Services Committee, U.S, Marines, Special Forces, Industry, BAT, Marine Expeditionary, Pentagon AI, LinkedIn, Johns Hopkins, Lab, National Academy of Sciences Locations: Md, Ukraine, U.S, China, Russia, Iran, India, Pakistan, ” U.S, Silicon Valley

☆ 'Routine' helicopter mission in the Mediterranean leaves 5 US service members dead
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Hannah Getahun | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The US Military said five service members died during a training mission in the Mediterranean. So far, dozens of service members have died this year during training missions. AdvertisementAdvertisementFive US service people were killed when a military helicopter crashed over the eastern Mediterranean Sea during a training mission, US officials said Sunday. The New York Times reported the crash involved an MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and involved US Army Special Operations forces. Before that, in February, March, and April, three other separate crashes killed a total of 14 service members during helicopter training.

Persons: —, Lloyd Austin, Gerald R, Dwight D Organizations: Military, Service, Command, New York Times, Hawk, Special Operations, of Defense, Air Force, Ford, US Military, Eisenhower, Boeing Locations: Israel, Cyprus, Gaza, Australia, Syria

☆ Pentagon identifies Army soldiers killed in helicopter crash in eastern Mediterranean Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen Dwyer, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane Barnes, Staff Sgt. Cade Wolfe were truly SOF professionals and are among the nation’s finest soldiers,” Col. Roger P. Waleski Jr., commander of the 160th SOAR (Abn. In 2020, he “fully dedicated himself to the organization” by resigning his commission and becoming a warrant officer, the Army release says. His awards and decorations include the Air Medal with Combat device, Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal with combat device. He volunteered for an assignment with the 160th SOAR and completed the regiment’s “extensive training and assessment program” this year.

Persons: Stephen R, Dwyer, Shane M, Barnes, Tanner W, Andrew P, Cade M, Wolfe, Stephen Dwyer, Shane Barnes, Tanner Grone, Andrew Southard, Cade Wolfe, ” Col, Roger P, Waleski Jr, “, ”, Jonathan Braga, ” Braga, Barnes ’, Grone, Southard, Lloyd Austin, ” Austin Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Apache, Abn, US Army Special Operations Command, Operations, US European Command, Army Special Operations Command, United States Military Academy, Army, Star, UH, Gonzaga University, Staff, 160th, Hawk, Combat Aviation Brigade, Overseas Service Ribbon, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Battalion, Overseas Service, Defense, America Locations: Clarksville , Tennessee, Sacramento , California, Gorham , New Hampshire, Arizona, Mankato , Minnesota, Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, Hawaii, 160th SOAR

☆ 5 U.S. Special Operations Forces Killed in Helicopter Crash in Mediterranean
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Eric Schmitt | More About Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Five U.S. Army Special Operations forces have died in a helicopter crash in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, American officials said on Sunday. The troops were crew members of an MH-60 helicopter that was on a refueling training mission early Saturday when the aircraft crashed off the coast of Cyprus, three U.S. officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss operational details. The crash is under investigation, they said. The Pentagon has quietly dispatched to Cyprus commando teams from the Joint Special Operations Command, including the Army’s Delta Force and the Navy’s SEAL Team 6, to stand by in case they are needed to help evacuate American citizens from the region. The commandos are also trained in hostage rescue operations.

Persons: Biden, Israel Organizations: U.S, Army Special Operations, Pentagon, Operations Command, Army’s Delta Force, Navy’s Locations: Cyprus, Israel, Gaza

☆ Ukraine special forces colonel played a key role in sabotaging the Nord Stream gas pipelines, a report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Nord Stream gas pipelines were damaged in an act of sabotage last year. AdvertisementAdvertisementA senior Ukrainian military official played a key role in sabotaging the Nord Stream gas pipelines last year, according to an investigation by two international newspapers. AdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, The Post reported that Zelenskyy would not have known about the Nord Stream operation and that those involved reported to Zaluzhny. Chervinsky denied his role in the attacks in a statement to the papers through his lawyer: "All speculations about my involvement in the attack on Nord Stream are being spread by Russian propaganda without any basis." AdvertisementAdvertisementThe blasts in September last year damaged three of the four pipelines that make up Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2.

Persons: Zelenskyy, —, Der Spiegel, Valery Zaluzhny, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Jack Teixeira, Chervinsky Organizations: Service, Washington Post, Post, Pentagon, Nord, Kyiv, European Union Locations: Ukrainian, Russia, Germany, Ukraine, Western, Nord, Kyiv, Russian

☆ Senior Ukrainian officer coordinated Nord Stream attack: Washington Post
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pipes for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea, which are not used, are seen in the harbour of Mukran, Germany, on September 30, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Nov 12 (Reuters) - A Ukrainian military officer coordinated last year's attack on the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline, the Washington Post reported on Saturday, citing anonymous sources in Ukraine and Europe. Washington and NATO called it an act of sabotage, while Moscow said it was an act of international terrorism. Roman Chervinsky, a former intelligence official who served in the Ukrainian military's special forces, managed a six-person team but did not plan the attack, the Post reported. Germany, Denmark and Sweden have launched investigations into the Nord Stream explosions, which sent plumes of methane into the atmosphere in a leak that lasted several days.

Persons: Pipes, Fabian Bimmer, Roman, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Chervinsky, Viktor Hanushchak, Germany's Der, Dan Peleschuk, Tom Balmforth, William Maclean Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Washington Post, Reuters, Germany's Der Spiegel, Thomson Locations: Baltic, Mukran, Germany, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Europe, Bornholm, Washington, NATO, Moscow, Denmark, Sweden, Russian

☆ Ukraine is expanding its bridgehead along the Dnipro River and have taken across armored vehicles for the first time, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine is expanding its bridgehead along the left bank of the Dnipro river. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkraine is expanding its bridgehead along the left bank of the Dnipro river, putting Russian defense forces under pressure. Earlier this week, it was reported that Ukrainian armored vehicles had crossed the river for the first time. The bridgeheads are not believed to be connected, but Ukrainian forces are expanding them, British newspaper The Telegraph reported. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkraine's forces are attempting to push forwardElite Ukrainian naval forces raiding a Russian-occupied island in the Dnipro river.

Persons: —, Forbes, Krynky, Konstyantyn Mashovets Organizations: Ukrainian Marines, Service, Kyiv Post, British, The Telegraph, for, Russian, Elite Ukrainian, Command, Special Operations Forces of, Armed Forces of, Facebook Locations: Ukraine, Dnipro, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Krynky, Kherson, Russian, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Poyma, Oleshky, Kherson Oblast

☆ Ukraine appears to be gunning for a top Russian battlefield commander who has had an unusual run as a military leader
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ukraine appears to be gunning for him as Kyiv's military makes pushes in his area of control. According to several prominent Russian military bloggers and independent Russian media reporting, the Ukrainian military fired long-range missiles last week at the Dnepr battlegroup's headquarters. Astra, the independent Russian publication, reported that Ukrainian missiles hit command posts belonging to the Dnepr group in Strilkove that same day. As the Russian military bloggers noted, the timing of the strikes fall in line with an uptick in Ukrainian assaults around the Dnipro. "Teplinsky's appointment is likely an indication of increased pressure on Russian forces defending the area," Britain's defense ministry said in late October.

Persons: Gen, Mikhail Teplinsky, gunning, —, Moscow's, Rybar, ROMAN PILIPEY, Teplinsky —, Russia's ultranationalists, Vladimir Putin, Teplinsky, Oleg Makarevich Organizations: Service, Moscow's VDV Airborne Forces, Dnepr, Ukraine, Storm, Russian, Neptune, Telegram, Astra, Getty, Wagner Group, Kremlin ., Institute for, Ukrainian, Command, Special Operations Forces of, Armed Forces of, Facebook, Dnipro, Kyiv Locations: Russian, Col, Ukraine, Kherson, that's, Azov, Dnipro, Ukrainian, AFP, Teplinsky, Russia, Kremlin . Russian, Washington, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Kherson Oblast

Israeli airstrikes hit two refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday, killing scores of people, health officials said. The strikes came as the U.S. keeps urging Israel to take a humanitarian pause from its relentless bombardment of Gaza and rising civilian deaths. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Ramallah in the West Bank for a previously unannounced meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Political Cartoons View All 1234 ImagesCurrently:— Gaza has lost telecom contact again, while Israel’s military announces it has surrounded Gaza City. — A U.N. official says the average Palestinian in Gaza is living on two pieces of bread a day.

Persons: Israel, Antony Blinken, Mahmoud Abbas, Blinken, Mohammed Shia, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, evacuee Sara El, Masry, –, JORDAN, Jordan, King Abdullah II, ”, Michael Hertzog, ” Hertzog, OBAMA, Barack Obama, “, he’s, ” Obama, I’ve, Alp Toker, Juliette Touma, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ismail Haniyeh, IRNA, Khamenei, Haniyeh, JERUSALEM —, Jacob Lew, Biden, ” Lew, Isaac Herzog, Lew, Antony Blinken’s Organizations: West Bank, Iraqi, Hamas, Ministry, WHO, GAZA, SYDNEY AIRPORT SYDNEY, Nine, Sydney Airport, Australian, United Arab Emirates, Mideast, Central Command, FIRE, NATIONS, Inter, Agency, UNRWA, United Nations, Jordanian, Twitter, ISRAEL, CBS, JERUSALEM, Paltel, Associated Press, Hezbollah, U.S, Israel, Embassy, . Riot Locations: Gaza, Ramallah, Baghdad, Jordan, Israel, United States, Egypt, Qatar, Gaza City, —, U.S, Berlin, israel, Sydney, Rafah, DUBAI, United Arab, Suez, ., Ohio, America's, Iran, UN, Palestinian Territory, GAZA AMMAN, Jordanian, GAZA, Palestinian, IRAN, TEHRAN, Lebanon, GAZA JERUSALEM, Beit Hanoun, TURKEY, ISTANBUL –, Ankara, Turkish

The U.S. military is flying surveillance drones over the Gaza Strip, according to two Defense Department officials and an analysis by The New York Times. The officials said the drones were being used to aid in hostage recovery efforts, indicating that the U.S. is more involved than previously known. While Israel frequently conducts reconnaissance flights over Gaza, U.S. defense officials said it was believed to be the first time that U.S. drones have flown missions over Gaza. The unarmed surveillance flights are not supporting Israeli military operations on the ground, according to the Defense Department officials. But the surveillance flights suggest that the Pentagon is taking a more active role in a key I.D.F.

Persons: Amelia Smith, Smith loitered Organizations: U.S, Defense Department, The New York Times, U.S . Special Operations, Pentagon, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, American, The Times, U.S . Air Force’s Locations: Gaza, U.S, Israel, Gaza , U.S, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria

☆ Russian troops celebrated conquering a waste heap, and threaten a pocket of Ukrainian troops
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Russian troops continue their offensive in Avdiivka, in Ukraine's east, and surround some Ukrainian troops on three sides. A video shows a Russian flag near Avdiivka planted in a waste pile, but any small gain comes at a high cost. Experts at the The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) confirmed the advancements on Wednesday in geolocated footage but noted: "Russian forces largely claimed that Russian forces controlled the Avdiivka waste heap, as did a Ukrainian military observer. Ukrainian Avdiivka City Military Administration Head Vitaly Barabash denied claims that Russian forces control the Avdiivka waste heap and stated that the waste heap is a contested 'gray area.'" Combat footage shared by Ukraine's military on Friday shows what it says is the destruction of Russian tanks and armor in the area.

Persons: —, Vitaly Barabash, Yuriy Butusov, Butusov, George Barros, it's Organizations: Service, Twitter, Donetsk that's, The Institute, Administration, AP, White House, Special Operations Forces Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine's, Russian, Russia, Ukrainian, Donetsk, Ukraine, Moscow, Bakhmut

☆ US military advisers invoke lessons of Iraq in urging Israelis to avoid all-out ground assault in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Natasha Bertrand Oren Liebermann Mj Lee Katie Bo Lillis | Natasha Bertrand | Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“I don’t think Israel has a strategy for what they do next” in terms of executing a full-blown ground invasion, one source familiar with concerns within the Biden administration said. President Joe Biden greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ben Gurion International Airport, Oct. 18, 2023, in Tel Aviv. “We stand before the next stage, it is coming,” Netanyahu told the Israel Defence Forces’ Yahalom unit on Tuesday, according to a press release from Netanyahu’s office. “We will not stop until we complete it, with your help.”Military to military channelsIn 2014, Netanyahu set out to debilitate Hamas with the last ground invasion into Gaza. Despite numerous rounds of escalation and conflict with Gaza, Israel hasn’t attempted another incursion since.

Persons: Biden, James Glynn, Israel, Joe Biden, Bill Burns, Benjamin Netanyahu, Evan Vucci, Netanyahu, enflamed, ” Netanyahu, “, ”, Israel hasn’t, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Matthew Miller, “ We’ve, Defense Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, ” Gallant, Emmanuel Macron, ” Macron, Obama, Gilad Erdan Organizations: Washington CNN — American, CNN, Israel Defense Forces, ISIS, Marine Corps, Marine Forces Special Operations Command, CIA, NATO, Israeli, Ben Gurion International Airport, Israel Defence Forces ’, ”, Pentagon, Defense, International Coalition Locations: Iraq, Gaza, Israel, Fallujah, US, Mosul, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, United Kingdom, Tel Aviv, United States, Western, Palestinian

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has sent military advisers, including a Marine Corps general versed in urban warfare, to Israel to aid in its war planning and is speeding multiple sophisticated air defense systems to the Middle East days ahead of an anticipated ground assault into Gaza. Glynn will also be advising on how to mitigate civilian casualties in urban warfare, the official said. The advisers will not be engaged in the fighting, the unidentified U.S. official said. Last Thursday the destroyer USS Carney shot down four land-attack cruise missiles launched from Yemen that the Pentagon has said were potentially headed toward Israel. The official noted arranging for the release of the Raanans took longer to come together than many people realized.

Persons: James Glynn, Glynn, Israel “, John Kirby, Kirby, Carney, Israel —, Eisenhower, “ We’re, ” Ryder, “, ”, Biden, Natalie Raanan, —, Axios Organizations: WASHINGTON, Pentagon, Marine Corps, Marine, Islamic, U.S, National Security, Patriot, Defense, Eisenhower, U.S . Central Command, Navy, Ford, U.S . Locations: Israel, Gaza, Islamic State, Fallujah, Iraq, Iran, Syria, East, Yemen, of Oman, Qatar, U.S

☆ Combat video shows what Ukraine says are its special ops forces destroying enemy armor, capturing the cost of Russia's new assaults in the east
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The video captures Russian tank and vehicle losses near Avdiivka, Kyiv's special ops forces said. Avdiivka, in eastern Ukraine, is one area where Moscow recently launched a renewed assault. Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SSO) said it detected Russian armor heading toward Avdiivka, a small city in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region that's currently surrounded on three sides by Russian-occupied territory. It's one area where Moscow's forces recently launched a "renewed offensive," according to US officials. "These days, Russian losses are really impressive, and it is exactly the kind of losses of the occupier that Ukraine needs."

Persons: Avdiivka, —, John Kirby, Lyman, Vladimir Putin, Kirby, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, Ukraine's Special Operations Forces, Twitter, OF UKRAINE, National Security, Institute for, MGM, Tactical Missile Systems, Ukraine Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine, Moscow, Ukraine's, Ukraine's Donetsk, that's, Russian, Russia, Washington, Ukrainian, Kyiv

☆ Ukraine's first ATACMS strikes may leave a lasting impact on Russia's airpower and send it scrambling to pull bases back from the front lines, Western intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ukraine revealed it has ATACMS this week after launching several strikes on Russian airbases. The attack destroyed multiple helicopters and other weaponry, Kyiv's defense ministry said. According to Western intelligence, this may cause lasting damage to Russian airpower and force a change in basing. On Tuesday, Ukraine's special operations forces used ATACMS to carry out strikes on Russian airfields in Berdyansk and Luhansk — two locations in Russian-occupied territory. —Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) October 18, 2023Russia has had to do this before in response to other Western weapons.

Persons: —, there's, wishlist, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Biden, Mykhailo Podolyak, Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, MGM, Tactical Missile Systems, —, Artillery Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, Berdyansk, Luhansk, Russia, Azov, Russian, France, Sevastopol, Washington, United States

☆ Biden’s Rule of Engagement: Don’t
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Lauren Camera | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +14 min

Leaders of Egypt and Jordan and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called off a planned summit with President Joe Biden. “Don’t,” he said, warning Iran as well as the U.S.-designated terror group Hezbollah that runs Lebanon and any others from intensifying the crisis by escalating their involvement. But perhaps most effective of all, experts say, is the single word Biden continues to repeat: Don’t. “When the president says, ‘Don't,’ and then moves an aircraft carrier, that looks good. Middle East analysts go back to the point that Hezbollah and Iran likely don’t want to escalate the war either.

Persons: Biden, Mahmoud Abbas, Joe Biden, ”, Mark Montgomery, –, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, ” Montgomery, “ Will, Matthew McInnis, “ That’s, ” McInnis, McInnis, Lloyd Austin, Gerald R, Ford, Dwight D, Antony Blinken, Israel, ” Biden, Barack Obama, Syria’s Bashar al, Assad, ‘, Alex Vatanka, Carney, Hashem Safieddine, Netanyahu, “ It’s Organizations: Hamas, Intelligence, Defense Department, Israel, U.S, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, organization’s, Technology, Institute for, Eisenhower, Israel Defense Forces, United Arab, West Bank, Treasury, Foreign Assets Control, Target, Middle, Middle East Institute, Navy, “ Locations: Gaza, Israel, U.S, Jihad, Hamas, Iran, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Jerusalem, Afghanistan, Syria, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, China, Sudan, Turkey, Algeria, Tel Aviv, United States, Iraq, Eastern, Yemen, Red, Ukraine

☆ Hamas hostages: what we know so far
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Israel has responded by pounding Gaza with air strikes, killing thousands, and has said it will act to free the hostages while wiping out Hamas. Hamas has suggested the hostages could be swapped for approximately 6,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. Israel has said that there will be no end to the blockade of the enclave without freedom for Israeli hostages. Israel says the hostages were taken to Gaza but their exact whereabouts within the enclave are unknown, making their rescue more complicated. U.S. President Joe Biden said his administration is "workin’ like hell" to find American hostages held by Hamas.

Persons: Rachel Goldberg, Hersh Goldberg Polin, Ammar Awad, Israel, Kan, Mia Schem, Jake Sullivan, Jim Risch, Alberto Fernandez, Rishi Sunak's, Sunak, Ofir Engel, Kibbutz Be'eri, Garcovich, Ivan Illaramendi, Benjamin Netanyahu, Gal Hirsch, Hakan Fidan, Joe Biden, Britain's Sunak, Argentina's Fernandez, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Biden, Charlie Devereux, Crispian Balmer, Kylie MacLellan, Patricia Rua, John Irish, James Mackenzie, Patricia Zengerle, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, Monday, Reuters, U.S, French, Tel Aviv . U.S, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Jerusalem, Rafah, Egypt, Thailand, Argentine, France, Portugal, Portuguese, Chilean, Spanish, Italy, Turkey, Germany, U.S, Franco, Berlin, Tel Aviv

☆ Russia's Lancet drone is its most effective weapon in Ukraine, and it's only getting deadlier
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( David Hambling | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Rise of the lancetA Russian Lancet loitering munition shot down in the Zaporizhzhia region in July 2022. At first only a handful of Lancet strike videos were posted each month. Target setUkrainian soldiers shoot at what Ukraine said were Russian Lancet drones in a still image from a video released in May. AdvertisementAdvertisementAccording to Lost Armor, as of October 3 there are 667 Lancet strike videos. These are typically kept several miles back from the front line, but not far enough to be out of Lancet range.

Persons: —, Samuel Bendett, 19FortyFive, Yuriy Sak, Dmytro Smoliyenko, Crews, Bendett, Zala, David Hambling Organizations: Service, Russia, Strategic Communications, Ukrainian Armed Forces, REUTERS, Zala Aero Group, Special Operations Forces, CNA, CNAS, Lancet, Reuters, Ukraine Defense Ministry, Analysts, Publishing, Getty, Artillery, Oryx, Russia's RIA, Telegram, Vostok, Volunteer, Aviation, Forbes, The, New, Popular Mechanics, WIRED Locations: Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia, Syria, Russia, Russian, Ukrainian, German, Kyiv, Lancets, London

☆ Ukraine says it struck Russian airfields, taking out enemy helicopters, and it looks like it did it with ATACMS it secretly got from the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ukraine says it carried out a series of strikes on Russian airbases, damaging multiple helicopters. Multiple reports and a source familiar with the matter said Kyiv used ATACMS in the attack. In the aftermath of the strikes, open-source intelligence (OSINT) accounts, Russian military bloggers, and analysts began suggesting on social media that Ukraine used ATACMS to carry out the attack. AdvertisementAdvertisementA person familiar with the matter told Insider that Ukraine used ATACMS missiles, confirming multiple reports that Kyiv's forces secretly acquired ATACMS from the US. Every day, every week, Ukraine needs such results.

Persons: —, hasn't, ATACMS Organizations: Kyiv, Service, MGM, Tactical Missile, Luhansk —, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Berdyansk, Luhansk, Russian, Ukrainian

On Tuesday, more ships and forces were heading toward Israel, and other troops in the U.S. were preparing to deploy if called on. The buildup reflects growing U.S. concern that the deadly fighting between Hamas and Israel will escalate into wider regional conflict. The Pentagon has said those troops are not participating in any hostage rescues and there are no other U.S. military forces on the ground in Israel. AND MORE TROOPS ARE GETTING READYAustin ordered about 2,000 U.S. forces to be prepared to deploy if needed in the coming days and weeks. She said the troops would be able to respond quickly, particularly to provide intelligence and surveillance, transportation and medical assistance.

Persons: Gerald R, Lloyd Austin, Dwight D, USS Carter, Austin, Israel, Frank Kendall, Sabrina Singh Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Ford, Pentagon, Eisenhower, Bataan, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, USS, Aircraft, Dome, Israeli Defense Forces, AIR FORCE, Air Force, Atlantic Council, U.S . Air Force, Army Locations: U.S, Israel, Iran, Mesa Verde, Bataan, Gulf, Gaza, Syria

The missiles got into Ukraine within the last few days, said one of the U.S. officials. Their arrival at the warfront gives Ukraine a critical ability to strike Russian targets that are farther away, allowing Ukrainian forces to stay safely out of range. Because of lingering U.S. concerns about escalating tensions with Russia, the ATACMS version that went to Ukraine will have a shorter range than the maximum distance the missiles can have. The small number of missiles underscores the U.S. reluctance to send the powerful weapons. In July, the U.S. agreed to send thousands of cluster bombs to Ukraine.

Persons: Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “, Zelenskyy, Biden, Hanna Arhirova, Illia Novikov Organizations: WASHINGTON, Army Tactical Missile, Operations Forces, U.S, Biden, enraging, House, Democratic, NATO, Associated Press Locations: United States, Ukraine, Russia, U.S, Berdyansk, enraging Moscow, Kyiv

Chief among those is getting munitions for Israel's Iron Dome air defense system sped along. President Joe Biden said Tuesday that resupplying Iron Dome munitions and air defense systems was an immediate priority. “We’re surging additional military assistance, including ammunition and interceptors to replenish Iron Dome,” Biden said. Raytheon produces most of the missile components for Iron Dome in the U.S., and the Army has two Iron Dome systems in its stockpile. Neither the Air Force nor Central Command would comment on what additional missions U.S. airpower might take on in response to the conflict.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Joe Biden, ” Biden, “ We’re, Gerald R, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Biden, John Kirby, Frank Kendall, Kendall, hadn't, Colleen Long Organizations: WASHINGTON, Hamas, Israel . Defense, Raytheon, Israel Defense Forces, Iron Dome, Army, Pentagon, Ford, Italian Navy, Hawkeye, Eisenhower, AIR FORCE, Air Force, Atlantic Council, U.S . Air Force, Central Command, Associated Press Locations: U.S, Norfolk , Virginia, Israel, Iran, Iron, Syria

☆ Fierce fighting rages around Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Anna Pruchnicka | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/3] A view shows grain warehouses heavily damaged by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at a compound of a port in Odesa region, Ukraine October 12, 2023. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukrainian forces were holding their ground on the third day of battle, but municipal officials said the Russian attacks were relentless. It is Ukrainian courage and unity that will determine how this war will end," Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app alongside photos of Ukrainian troops and of Avdiivka's entrance sign. Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had inflicted damage on Ukrainian forces in areas including Avdiivka but gave few details. In other fighting, Ukraine said it had thwarted an attempt overnight by a Russian eight-member saboteur group to cross its northeastern border in the Sumy region.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Vitaliy Barabash, Barabash, Oleksandr Shtupun, Andriy Yermak, Olena Harmahs, Alex Richardson, Timothy Organizations: Press, REUTERS Acquire, Moscow, Special Operations Forces, Russian, Russia's Defence Ministry, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Odesa region, Handout, Russia, Ukraine Ukraine, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Kyiv, Moscow, Donetsk, Crimea, American, Odesa, Sumy

☆ Opinion: The Hamas hostage crisis: How might it be resolved?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Peter Bergen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

There are rescue operations, typically by special operations forces. US special operations forces are offering their expertise and support to Israel, but are not part of a ground mission to rescue hostages. In 2010, the Taliban kidnapped British aid worker Linda Norgrove, and US Navy SEAL Team Six launched a rescue operation. Subsequent investigations revealed that Norgrove was killed by a fragmentation grenade thrown by a SEAL team member during the operation. In 2014, during a SEAL Team Six rescue operation in Yemen, American journalist Luke Somers was killed by his al Qaeda captors.

Persons: Peter Bergen, ”, James W, Foley, Gilad Shalit, Linda Norgrove, Norgrove, Luke Somers Organizations: New, Arizona State University, Apple, Spotify, CNN, Peter Bergen CNN Hamas, ISIS, US, US Navy, Team, Six Locations: New America, Gaza, Qatar, Iran, Qatari, Israel, Syria, Yemen, American

☆ A Ukrainian sniper said he tracked and took out a Russian for wounding his friend
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Ukrainian sniper described the moment he took out a Russian soldier who had wounded his friend. He said he brought the video of the kill back to his friend to show him that he had taken revenge. The soldier was speaking in a video interview to United 24, a Ukrainian government-run platform. AdvertisementAdvertisementA Ukrainian sniper recounted the moment he took revenge for a wounded comrade by taking out a Russian soldier with precision. One prolific sniper, the Ghost of Bakhmut, recently told Insider that his elite unit had killed 558 Russians.

Persons: —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Taras Organizations: Service Locations: Ukrainian, Russian

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