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☆ New photos show the US Army's latest version of the Bradley fighting vehicle that's proven itself in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThe US Army has released photos of the newest and most advanced version of its Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, combat-proven armor that Ukraine has been using against Russia. AdvertisementThe new M2A4E1 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle. "The Army received funding to procure the M2A4E1 for every Bradley donated to Ukraine," the PEOGCS said this week. AdvertisementA M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle drives during a live fire exercise at Fort Cavazos, Texas. The Bradley, initially built as a response to Soviet infantry fighting vehicles, entered service in the 1980s and was deployed to the Gulf War the following decade before being sent to Iraq in the 2000s.

Persons: —, Bradley, Bradley IFV, Elbit, Glenn Dean, It's, Washington, David Dumas, The Bradley Organizations: Service, US Army, Bradley, Russia, Army's, Business, Environmental Control Unit, Army, Israel's Elbit Systems, Breaking Defense, Abrams, Bradley Infantry Fighting, Spc, Army Ukrainian, US Locations: Ukraine, Maine, Maj, Kyiv, Fort Cavazos , Texas, The, Iraq

☆ Images show US military building floating pier off Gaza. Pentagon says it will cost $320 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Helen Regan | Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Construction of the temporary pier began at sea last week and the images show crew from several military vessels building the platform. Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said Monday the pier will cost the US about $320 million. The temporary pier is intended to help deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. Instead, the Israel Defense Forces will partner with the US military to anchor the causeway to the shore in Gaza “on day one,” the military official said. A working-level Israeli delegation of intelligence agencies and military officials is expected to travel to Cairo on Tuesday, the Israeli source and another Israeli official said.

Persons: Sabrina Singh, Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, Israel Organizations: CNN, United States Central Command, Planet Labs, Pentagon, Gaza . U.S . Central Command, U.S . Central Command, Israel Defense Forces, British Navy, Royal Navy, Food Programme, USAID, United Nations, PBC CNN, Integrated Locations: Gaza, Gaza . U.S, ”, Cardigan, Cyprus, British, Gaza’s Rafah, Rafah, Egypt, Israel, Cairo

☆ Russian forces have hit on a cheap way to foil US precision weapons in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Another US precision-guided weapon is being foiled by Russian electronic warfare. The new weapon, rapidly delivered to Ukraine, has repeatedly failed in combat, a US official said. Several US weapons have repeatedly been beaten by electronic warfare. AdvertisementAnother US precision-guided weapon has apparently been foiled by Russian electronic warfare, a Pentagon official said. Last week, William LaPlante, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, said a new version of a US precision weapon had failed to hit Russian targets partially because of Russian electronic warfare.

Persons: —, William LaPlante, LaPlante Organizations: Service, Pentagon, Strategic, International Studies, Business Locations: Ukraine

☆ China's plan to be the dominant power in space is moving at breathtaking speed. The US needs to wake up, officials say.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewAfter a meeting with Japanese and South Korean officials in Tokyo on Friday, US Space Force commander Gen. Stephen Whiting warned about a growing threat. China, he said, is "moving at breathtaking speed in space," and is developing a range of weapons that threaten America's space supremacy, reported Stars and Stripes. "For the first time in decades, US leadership in space and space technology is being challenged," Meink added. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations at United States Space Force, last year warned against taking US space supremacy for granted. Air Force Lieutenant General Gregory Guillot (L) and US Space Force Lieutenant General Stephen Whiting (R) on July 26, 2023.

Persons: —, Stephen Whiting, They're, Troy Meink, Space.com, Meink, Chance Saltzman, I'm, Saltzman, Whiting, Dominic Chiu, Gregory Guillot, BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI, Donald Trump, Chiu, Artemis, Frank Lucas, Anthony Mastalir, Graeme Thompson, Thompson, Tory Bruno, Arthur Herman, John F, Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, we've Organizations: Service, Korean, Space Force, Business, National Reconnaissance Office, Space Operations, United States Space Force, Eurasia Group, Air Force, US Space Force, House Science, Technology Committee, Brig, US Space Forces, Pentagon, United Launch Alliance, NBC News, Hudson Institute Locations: Tokyo, China, Colorado, Australia, Russia

☆ Matt Gaetz Faces Last-Minute Challenger in Republican Primary
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Chris Cameron | More About Chris Cameron | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Aaron Dimmock, a retired Navy officer and aviator, has entered the Republican primary to challenge Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida — jumping into the race hours before a filing deadline last Friday. Mr. Dimmock and representatives of American Patriots PAC did not respond to requests for comment. The primary for the First Congressional District, which covers Pensacola and the western Florida Panhandle, will take place on Aug. 20. Mr. Dimmock, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, served as a pilot for the P-3 surveillance plane for the Navy. Naval Academy Alumni Association in 2020, Mr. Dimmock said that he had deployed to Bosnia and Kosovo and had completed several tours in the Middle East.

Persons: Aaron Dimmock, Matt Gaetz, Dimmock’s, Kevin McCarthy, Gaetz, Mr, McCarthy, Dimmock Organizations: Navy, Republican, American Patriots PAC, House Republicans, First Congressional, Florida Panhandle, United States Naval Academy, U.S . Naval Academy Alumni Association, World Trade Center, Pentagon Locations: Florida, Pensacola, Bosnia, Kosovo, New York City

☆ Ukraine is defying the US over strikes on Russian oil refineries. Experts say it's a necessary risk.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

While the US dithered over aid, Ukraine had a robust argument for prosecuting the war pretty much as it pleased. "Taking out a particular refinery is not going to immediately undermine Russia's war effort," said Dailey, the RAND strategist. "But consistently putting pressure on Russia's oil sector would have a significant impact on Russia's ability to fight this war." AdvertisementVakulenko, in his article, also noted that that strikes on Russian oil refineries have "little impact on Russian export earnings." Later, Ukraine said that its attacks had reduced Russian oil production and processing by 12%.

Persons: —, Ann Marie Dailey, Rafael Loss, Joe Biden's, Marina Miron, Dailey, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Olga Tokariuk, Tokariuk, Donald Trump, Miron, Whittling, Celeste Wallander, Lloyd Austin, Sergey Vakulenko, There's, Sir Tony Radakin, Biden, James Patton Rogers, Patton Rogers Organizations: Service, White, Telegraph, Business, RAND Corporation, European Council, Foreign Relations, Washington Post, Department of, King's College, London's, House, Carnegie, RAND, Financial, Cornell Brooks Tech Policy Institute, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Krasnodar, King's College London, Russia

☆ China is gradually amping up its military aggression in a 'boiling frog' strategy, US Indo-Pacific commander says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementAquilino, who led US forces in the Indo-Pacific for three years, cited two major conflict points involving China — Taiwan and the Second Thomas Shoal. I've watched it increase in scope and scale, it is not slowing down," Aquilino told the FT. During his tenure overseeing the region, Aquilino repeatedly warned of China as a primary growing danger to its neighbors. Paparo, on his part, has also named China as one of the most pressing threats to US military interests in the region. AdvertisementThe Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside regular business hours by Business Insider.

Persons: —, Adm, John Aquilino, Thomas, Aquilino, That's, Samuel Paparo Organizations: Service, Financial Times, Business, Coast Guard, Philippine Coast Guard ship, Pacific Command, Pentagon, Embassy Locations: China, Beijing, Taiwan, Thomas Shoal, Philippines, Spratly Islands, South China, Washington

☆ The US is rushing to get new Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine before Russia can destroy more targets
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Pentagon said it would "rush" Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that Patriot missiles would not be a "silver bullet." AdvertisementThe US will "rush" Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine as part of a military aid package, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said. He said earlier this month that Ukraine needed "seven more Patriots or similar air defense systems" to defend its cities from Russian strikes. "'Patriots' can only be called air defense systems if they work and save lives rather than standing immobile somewhere in storage bases," Zelenskyy added on X.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, —, Austin, Mykola Oleshchuk, German Galushchenko, El, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy Organizations: Pentagon, US, Patriot, Service, Defense, Ukrainian Energy, German, Facebook, Frankivsk, Patriots, for, El Pais, EU, NATO Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano, Lviv, Russian, Spanish, Spain

How the U.S. Humanitarian Pier in Gaza Will WorkA humanitarian pier the U.S. military will bring to the Gaza Strip is currently being assembled and is expected to be ready to receive initial shipments of food and other aid early next month, according to military officials. Pier At the pier, loaded aid trucks are driven to Gaza’s shore. Gaza Strip EMPTY TRUCKS return to the pier Humanitarian partners will pick up aid near the shore to take it into the Gaza Strip. Pier At the pier, loaded aid trucks are driven to Gaza’s shore. Gaza Strip EMPTY TRUCKS return to the pier Humanitarian partners will pick up aid near the shore to take it into the Gaza Strip.

Persons: Juan Camilo Jimenez Garces, Trucks, OCHA, U.N, David Satterfield, Israel Organizations: United Nations, U.S . Agency for International Development, Military, Aid, Spanish, BANK, New York Times Ships, Army, New York Times, Food, WFP GAZA, United Nations Office, Humanitarian, New York Times Aid, Hamas, U.S Locations: U.S, Gaza, Larnaca, Cyprus, Dubai, Kenya, Europe, CYPRUS Larnaca, BANK GAZA, ISRAEL EGYPT, LEBANON, Israel, United States, Med, ISRAEL Rafah, Shalom, Egypt, Israel’s

☆ Xi shakes up China’s military in rethink of how to ‘fight and win’ future wars
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Chinese leader Xi Jinping oversees the inauguration of the Information Support Force of the People's Liberation Army at a ceremony in Beijing on April 19, 2024. The Information Support Force will be led by top generals from the now-defunct SSF. These functions will now be supervised at his level and not through the Strategic Support Force, which served as a middleman,” Wuthnow said. Though US intelligence officials said the balloon was part of an extensive surveillance program run by the Chinese military, Xi may not have been aware of the mission. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has scrapped the People's Liberation Army's Strategic Support Force, a branch he founded in 2015.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Xi, ”, Wu Qian, SSF, Bi Yi, Li Wei, Ju Qiansheng, Joel Wuthnow, ” Wuthnow, Joe Biden, didn’t, Xinhua News Agency James Char, Char Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Strategic Support Force, Support Force, PLA, China’s Defense, Aerospace Force, Cyberspace Force, Central Military Commission, Logistic Support Force, Information, Force, People's Liberation Army, Xinhua News, Information Support Force, Xinhua, Pentagon, National Defense University, Aerospace Systems Department, Network System Department, Xinhua News Agency, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, SSF’s Aerospace Systems Department, “, Communist Party, Taiwan Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Washington, United States, Singapore, Ukraine, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan

☆ Julian Assange’s mission was to change the world - but at what cost?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Lauren Said-Moorhouse | Claudia Rebaza | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Julian Assange leaves a Melbourne court after facing charges of computer hacking in 1995. WikiLeaks/ReutersUnder a global spotlightAs WikiLeaks continued its disclosures, Assange found himself the latest cause célèbre – his every movement intensely scrutinized. … He liked the fuss that (the disclosures) caused but he was oddly incurious actually about the documents.”Others offer alternative explanations for Assange’s eccentricities. There were mounting calls for Assange to leave WikiLeaks and, when he didn’t, many cut ties with it. Outside the confines of his diplomatic shelter, the world questioned whether Assange was trying to circumvent justice.

Persons: London CNN — Julian Assange, ”, He’s, Chelsea Manning, Joe Biden, Assange’s, Anthony Albanese, Assange, “, ” –, Julian Assange, Ian Kenins, Sarah Palin’s, Atika Shubert, Shubert, ” Shubert, célèbre, Fidel Narvaez, “ Assange, ” Narvaez, James Ball, Joe Raedle, ” Ball, Ball, …, Narvaez, Hans Crescent, Lenin Moreno, Moreno, Abu Hamza al, Masri, Stella Assange, Daniel Leal, Stella, “ I’m, Nick Vamos, It’s, Alice Jill Edwards, Agnès Callamard, El País, Der Spiegel, Jameel Jaffer, Xiaofei Xu, Alex Stambaugh Organizations: London CNN, WikiLeaks, Court, Ecuadorian, Army, Australian, Pentagon, NASA, University of Melbourne, Fairfax Media, of Scientology, Republican, CNN, Chelsea, Apache, Reuters, Guardian, Ellingham, Hans, London’s Metropolitan Police, US Justice Department, of Justice, Britain's, Getty, Peters & Peters, Prosecution Service, Human Rights, UN, Amnesty, The New York Times, Columbia University Locations: United States, Australian, London’s, Australia, Townsville, Queensland, cybercrime, Melbourne, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Iraq, London, Afghanistan, ”, Sweden, Ecuador, UK’s, Belmarsh

☆ Alexey Navalny's death wasn't directly ordered by Putin, WSJ reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Putin critic Alexey Navalny's death may not have been planned to happen when it did, WSJ reported. The Journal reported that this opinion is shared by several US intelligence agencies. AdvertisementAlexey Navalny's February death in a remote Arctic prison camp likely wasn't directly ordered by Vladimir Putin, despite Navalny's outspoken criticism of the Russian president, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. Despite the suspicious circumstances of the opposition leader's death, the outlet reported Putin may not have intended Navalny to be killed when he was. None of the intelligence agencies cited by the Journal or the Pentagon have responded to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: Alexey Navalny's, Navalny's, —, Vladimir Putin, Putin, — wasn't, Putin wasn't, Leonid Volkov, Navalny Organizations: Kremlin, Service, Street, CIA, National Intelligence, State, Journal, Pentagon, Business Locations: Russian, Poland

☆ Ship with 400 tons of food aid destined for Gaza has left Cyprus
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Zeena Saifi | Lauren Said-Moorhouse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The United Arab Emirates has now partnered with an aid agency to send crucial assistance to Gaza via the Israeli port of Ashdod. A UAE official told CNN Saturday that the vessel laden with critical food aid left on Saturday through a relationship with American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA). Itayam told CNN the 400 tons of aid would undergo Israeli security clearance upon arrival. The plan is for most of the food aid to be delivered to northern Gaza, but Itayam said that depending on the security situation, ANERA might consider sending a shipment to the south as well. The United States has already begun construction of the pier, intended to help deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

Persons: Jerusalem CNN —, Jennifer, ”, Itayam, Kerem Shalom, ANERA, Grant Shapps, “, ” Matthew Hollingworth Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, United Arab, UAE, CNN, American, East Refugee, West Bank, Mohenad, ANERA, of, Britain’s Royal Navy, United, Pentagon, Royal Navy, ”, British, Food, Integrated Locations: Jerusalem, Gaza, Cyprus, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Ashdod ., Larnaca Port, Israel’s Ashdod, Kerem, Territories, UAE, Cardigan, United States, ”

☆ Ukraine pulled its Abrams tanks from the front due to Russian drone tactics, US officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine has removed Abrams tanks from the front lines, Pentagon officials told the Associated Press. AdvertisementUkraine has withdrawn its US-supplied Abrams tanks from the front lines in the face of Russian drone warfare tactics, two US defense officials told the Associated Press. A Russian reconnaissance drone knocked out an M1 Abrams tank near Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine in February, according to Russian state media. AdvertisementUkraine has lost five Abrams tanks in recent months, The New York Times reported this month, citing an unnamed senior US official. AdvertisementUkraine has used them to devastating effect to take out Russian tanks, with drones responsible for two-thirds of Russian tanks taken out, a NATO official told Foreign Policy earlier this month.

Persons: Abrams, —, Christopher Grady, Grady, Markus Reisner, Ukraine's Organizations: Pentagon, Associated Press, Service, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Abrams, New York Times, US, NATO, Soviet, Challenger Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Avdiivka, Austrian

They call it an encirclement of their nation and say the United States is trying to constrain its main economic and military rival. The United States also has a new security agreement with Papua New Guinea. On Wednesday, Mr. Biden signed a $95-billion supplemental military aid and spending bill that Congress had just passed and that includes $8.1 billion to counter China in the region. In addition, the United States continues to send weapons and Green Beret trainers to Taiwan, a de facto independent island and the biggest flashpoint between the United States and China. A swarm of Chinese militia and Coast Guard vessels chased a Philippine Coast Guard ship in the South China Sea last year.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Biden, Antony J, Blinken, Yuri Gripas, ” Ely Ratner, Xi, ” Kurt Campbell, Joseph Wu, ”, “, Samuel J, Paparo Jr, Mr, Paparo, Carl Vinson, Richard A, Brooks, Trump, Lloyd J, Austin III, Chen Jining, Jes Aznar, David H, Berger, Obama, Tony Mcdonough, United States —, Admiral Paparo, China’s “ revanchist, we’re Organizations: Australian, U.S, Marines, United, Pentagon, Corps, Mr, White House, White, The New York Times, American, Marine, Green, China’s, Liberation Army, Seoul SOUTH, Pacific Command, People’s Liberation Army, Agence France, Nuclear Forces Treaty, Defense, Communist Party, Tokyo Okinawa, U.S . Navy, Coast Guard, Philippine Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Army, Philippines Luzon Partner, Australia Darwin Potential, NATO, Tomahawk Locations: Beijing, United States, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Japan, Okinawa, Taiwan, Asia, Pacific, U.S, China, Shanghai, South China, South Korea, Guam, Washington, Manila, Taipei, People’s Republic of China, Palau, West Papua, Seoul, Tokyo JAPAN CHINA Taipei TAIWAN Hong Kong, GUAM philippines MALAYSIA INDONESIA JAPAN CHINA TAIWAN, philippines GUAM, INDONESIA Seoul, GUAM philippines, MALAYSIA INDONESIA, Philippine, Moscow, Tokyo, Ryukyu Islands, South, Philippines Luzon, Luzon, Spratly, Australia, Canberra, Singapore, Darwin, Australia’s, . North Carolina, Virginia, Perth, United Kingdom, Navy’s, America

☆ Ukraine war live updates: NATO chief chides China; Pentagon says weapons will reach Ukraine 'within days'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

A view of the street filled with rubbles of partially destroyed building after a Russian missile strike as at least 7 were killed, 28 injured in the attack Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs said, in Dnipro, Ukraine on April 19, 2024. The Pentagon says its deliveries of weapons from the latest U.S. support package for Kyiv are on their way and will arrive in the coming days, if not sooner. Russian officials have hit back at the news, saying the new arms provisions will harm the region's security but will not bring Ukraine any closer to defeating Russia. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg had some strong words for China, saying Beijing must end its support for Russia's war in Ukraine if it wants better relations with the West, and that it cannot have it "both ways." Elsewhere, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Antony Blinken, Xi Jinping Organizations: Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs, Pentagon, Kyiv, Russia, NATO Locations: Russian, Ukrainian, Dnipro, Ukraine, China, Beijing

☆ Pentagon Announces Additional $6 Billion in Military Aid for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( John Ismay | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The United States will give Ukraine $6 billion to purchase military hardware directly from American defense companies, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III announced on Friday, expressing confidence that many of the weapons and munitions the country most needs will soon arrive. “This is the largest security assistance package that we’ve committed to date,” Mr. Austin told reporters at the Pentagon. It will include air-defense missiles and artillery ammunition among other offensive and defensive weaponry, he said. Mr. Austin and Gen. Charles Q. This was the 21st such monthly meeting of the group since it was formed two years ago at a U.S. air base in Ramstein, Germany, and the first to be held since President Biden signed a long-stalled foreign aid package that includes $60.8 billion for Ukraine.

Persons: Lloyd J, Austin III, ” Mr, Austin, Charles Q, Brown Jr, Biden Organizations: Ukraine, Defense, Pentagon, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Ukraine Defense Contact, NATO, United Locations: States, Ukraine, United States, Kyiv, U.S, Ramstein, Germany

☆ US announces $6 billion long-term military aid package for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Friday a $6 billion long-term military aid package for Ukraine — the largest to date — which will allow the US to purchase new equipment produced by the American defense industry for the Ukrainian military. The announcement comes just days after the US announced a $1 billion package that would quickly provide equipment to Ukraine from US stocks, following President Joe Biden’s signing of a much delayed $95 billion supplemental aid package on Wednesday. Biden said moments after signing the legislation that shipments of aid to Ukraine would begin within hours. Equipment under the $6 billion package announced Friday, however, will take much longer to arrive. The USAI is intended to provide Ukraine with a long-term supply of weapons and equipment.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, ” Austin, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Austin, CQ, “ They’ve, ” Brown, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Organizations: CNN, US, Ukraine —, Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Contact Locations: Ukraine, Germany, Ukrainian

☆ U.S. to Withdraw Troops From Chad, Dealing Another Blow to Africa Policy
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Pentagon will withdraw dozens of Special Operations forces from Chad in the next few days, the second major blow in a week to American security and counterterrorism policy in a volatile swath of West and Central Africa, U.S. officials said on Thursday. The decision to pull out about 75 Army Special Forces personnel working in Ndjamena, Chad’s capital, comes days after the Biden administration said it would withdraw more than 1,000 U.S. military personnel from Niger in the coming months. The Pentagon is being forced to draw down troops in response to the African governments’ demands to renegotiate the rules and conditions under which U.S. military personnel can operate. Both countries want terms that better favor their interests, analysts say. The decision to withdraw from Niger is final, but U.S. officials said they hoped to resume talks on security cooperation after elections in Chad on May 6.

Persons: Biden Organizations: Pentagon, Operations, Special Forces Locations: Chad, West, Central Africa, U.S, Ndjamena, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, United States, Russia, Moscow

☆ Army Begins Building Floating Aid Pier Off Gaza’s Coast, Pentagon Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Helene Cooper | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The construction is meant to allow humanitarian aid to bypass Israeli restrictions on land convoys into the besieged strip. The facility is meant to include an offshore platform to transfer aid from ships, and a floating pier to bring the aid to shore. But aid workers say, and defense officials have acknowledged, that the maritime project is not an adequate substitute for land convoys. The floating pier is being built alongside an Army ship off the Gaza coast. Army ships are large, lumbering vessels, so they have armed escorts, particularly as they get within range of Gaza’s coast, defense officials have said.

Persons: Patrick S, Ryder, General Ryder, Biden Organizations: Defense, Pentagon, ., U.S, Army Locations: Gaza, U.S

☆ Ukraine Could Use New Weapons to Hit Russian Targets in Crimea, Pentagon Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Helene Cooper | More About Helene Cooper | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Pentagon officials refused to specify the exact number of long-range systems that have been sent to Ukraine. The Biden administration sent the longer-range ATACMS secretly, to avoid alerting the Russians. President Biden’s decision in February to send more than 100 of the longer-range systems to Ukraine was a major policy shift. But more than two years into Russia’s invasion and occupation of Ukraine, Mr. Biden’s calculus has changed, administration officials said. As Congress spent months considering another aid package for Ukraine, its troops ran out of ammunition and equipment and lost territory to a slow but steady Russian advance.

Persons: Biden, ATACMS, Volodymyr Zelensky, Gen, Oleksandr Syrsky, they’ve, Charles Q, Brown Jr, Biden’s Organizations: Joint Chiefs of Staff, Georgetown University Institute of Politics, Service Locations: Ukraine, Berdiansk, U.S, Dzhankoi, Crimea, Russia

Instead, the Israel Defense Forces will partner with the US military to anchor the causeway to the shore in Gaza “on day one,” the military official said. Dire humanitarian situationThe pier’s construction comes as the humanitarian situation in Gaza has become dire, a senior administration official said Thursday. The official confirmed that USAID will be working with the UN to distribute the aid once it reaches Gaza. Two command and control cells have been set up to facilitate the delivery of the aid via the pier, the military official said. The US role in the effort has been complex, with the military carrying out a high-stakes construction mission in a warzone and diplomats helping to organize a dangerous and highly politicized aid distribution operation.

Persons: ”, Patrick Ryder, Joe Biden, Biden, “ Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, USNS, Israel Defense Forces, US Army, IDF, US Navy, USAID, UN, United Locations: United States, Gaza, ”, Cyprus, Cypriot, Israel, Hatzor, Ashdod, American, Cardigan

☆ The US secretly slipped ATACMS to Ukraine with more to come, putting high-value Russian targets in danger
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Kyiv used these long-range missiles to batter Russian helicopters in multiple strikes last year. T South Korean Defense Ministry via Getty ImagesThroughout the war, Ukraine has routinely pressed Washington to provide ATACMS so it could hit high-value Russian targets deep behind enemy lines. Kyiv used the M39 ATACMS variant in those attacks. Regardless of the variant, the arrival of additional ATACMS will likely compel Moscow to change its strategy and tactics. While the statement did not specifically mention ATACMS, it said the package contains "additional ammunition" for the HIMARS, which could include ATACMS.

Persons: —, Joe Biden, Dan Rice, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, ATACMS, Biden, Sen, Mark Werner, Zelenskyy, Serhii, Rice, AP Rice, Pat Ryder, ANATOLII STEPANOV, Vladimir Putin, Putin Organizations: Service, MGM, Tactical Missile Systems, US, South Korean Defense Ministry, Army Tactical Missile, Korean Defense Ministry, Getty, Kyiv, The New York Times, Reuters, General Staff, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Senate Intelligence, CBS, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, American University Kyiv, South Korea Defense Ministry, AP, Pentagon Press, Air Force, Gunners, Separate Mechanized Brigade, Armed Forces, Pentagon Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Moscow, United States, South Korea, Washington, Ukrainian, Russian, Crimean, ATACMS, Crimea, Donetsk Oblast, —, Russia, Kharkiv, AFP, NATO, Europe

☆ Kabul airport attack exclusive: New evidence challenges the Pentagon’s official account of a horrific incident as the US withdrew from Afghanistan
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Nick Paton Walsh | Mick Krever | Mark Baron | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +22 min

One told CNN he heard the first large burst of shooting come from where US Marines were standing, near the blast site. This is significantly more than the three “near simultaneous” bursts of gunfire that the Pentagon investigations have claimed occurred. The Supplemental Review found no new evidence of a complex attack, and uncovered no new assertions of outgoing fire post-blast. “They were targeting people,” another, Nazir, 16, told CNN. CNN spoke with about ten Marines anonymously, many of whom described hearing gunfire and feeling under attack from it.

Persons: Hamid, Akhter Gulfam, –, Wakil Koshar, Robert Maher, Sarah Morris, Morris, Maher, Rob Lodewick, ”, “, ” Shogofa Hamidi, Morsal, Nazir, ” Noorullah Zakhel, Read, Sayeed Ahmadi, ” Ahmadi, Ahmadi, Lodewick, Marcus Yam, CNN's Nick Paton Walsh, “ You’ve, they’ve, It’s, Taylor Crul, Romel Finley, Finley, Barber, ‘, ” Finley, Christian Sanchez, Sanchez, Staff Mark Milley, Kenneth “ Frank ” McKenzie, Darrell Issa, Nick Paton Walsh, Sandi Sidhu, Julia Hollingsworth, Masoud Popalzai, Sitara Zamani, Abdul Basir Bina, Katie Polglase, Gianluca Mezzofiore Organizations: CNN, United, Pentagon, US, Airport, NATO, US Army Central Command, Getty, Montana State University, University of Southampton, Marines, British Ministry of Defense, U.S . Central Command, AP CNN, “, Los Angeles Times, Marine, ” Marines, Navy, US Air Force, . Air Force, Reuters, US Marines, YouTube, Investigators, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Central Command Locations: Kabul, Afghanistan, United States, airport’s, American, British, AFP, Bozeman, England, US, Kabul airport's, U.S, Finland, ”

Biden secretly approved the transfer of the long-range ATACMS missiles in February for use inside Ukrainian territory. The Biden administration had resisted sending the long-range missiles in part because of readiness concerns. Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the ATACMS missiles, is in full-rate production and produces approximately 500 missiles per year, a spokesman for the company said in September. The US worked behind the scenes to address the readiness concerns, which included buying more ATACMS missiles and filling US military stocks. Ukrainian officials have been asking the US in private and in public for the long-range missiles to target deeper behind Russian lines.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden, Garron, ” Garn, Lockheed Martin, ”, Charlie Dietz, “, ” Dietz Organizations: CNN, US, Pentagon, Lockheed, North Korean Locations: Ukraine, Korean, Russia, ”, Moscow

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