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ON BOARD THE USS BATAAN (AP) — When attacks with missiles and drones surged in the Red Sea late last year, crewmembers of the USS Bataan worked round the clock to make sure they were shot down before reaching passing merchant vessels. Weeks later, they are still perfecting that operation in training and simulations, along with a dozen other scenarios, despite moving north to the Mediterranean where commercial marine traffic is at little risk. The U.S. Navy is reshuffling its warship deployment in the Middle East to maintain dominance in the region – now eyeing the longer haul as concerns mount that Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza could set off a regional conflict. The Bataan was sailing toward the eastern Mediterranean Friday after taking part in live-fire exercises with NATO-member Greece on the country’s mainland. “I would say, the difference (after coming to Greece) is that the food is a little bit better.”

Persons: Weeks, Gerald Ford, Jeremy Hawkins, “ We’re, ”, Gregory Aftandilian, Sam Peters, we’re, “ Organizations: BATAAN, U.S . Navy, United, Carter, School of International Service, American University in, American University in Washington DC, NATO, U.S, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Navy Locations: Red, Bataan, Gaza, United States, Mesa Verde, America, Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, American University in Washington, Israel, Greece, North Carolina, Valdosta, U.S, Georgia

☆ Iran says attacks by its allies won’t stop until Israel’s war in Gaza ends
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Tamara Qiblawi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Attacks by Iranian-backed groups in the Middle East won’t stop until Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza ends, Tehran’s top diplomat warned on Wednesday, as tensions across the region threaten to spiral into wider conflict. Since Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel and the Israeli offensive in Gaza that followed, the militant group Hezbollah has engaged in daily confrontations with Israeli forces on the Lebanon-Israel border. Houthi rebels have launched a series of attacks on commercial ships and Western military vessels in the Red Sea, a major artery for international trade. Iran also launched missile strikes in Syria and Pakistan against what it described as terrorist groups who it blamed for deadly attacks inside Iran in recent weeks. Meanwhile, there are fears that the ripple effects of the tensions have begun to extend beyond the Middle East.

Persons: Tehran’s, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Hassan Nasrallah, “, Hizam al, Assad, Matt Miller, ” Miller, Israel, Herzi Halevi, ” Halevi, Chris Liakos, Adam Pourahmadi, Jennifer Hansler, Wayne Chang Organizations: CNN, Economic, Sunday, Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Iraq, US, State, Israel’s, Staff, Israel Defence Forces Locations: Gaza, Iranian, Davos, Israel, Lebanon, Red, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Erbil, Pakistan, Yemen, “, East, China, ”

☆ No, the Ultimate World Cruise won't be ending early because of Red Sea chaos
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Kieran Press-Reynolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rumors have circulated that the much-talked-about Ultimate World Cruise could end early. Royal Caribbean told Business Insider that the ship plans to continue as scheduled. Advertisement"Royal Caribbean's Ultimate World Cruise will continue its current schedule as planned," the spokesperson said over email. Advertisement"There has been no official communication from Royal Caribbean about this concern but as passengers, we have been talking amongst ourselves and with Royal Caribbean," Antoine said. TikTok has been rife with reporting about and from the Ultimate World Cruise, which began on December 10, 2023, and will end on September 10, 2024.

Persons: —, @aditaml2759, Anthony Antoine, Antoine, Yemen's, TikTok Organizations: Royal Caribbean, Business, Service, Royal Caribbean International, BI, Global Security, Royal, Royal Caribbean Group, Travel Locations: Los Angeles, Suez, Asia, Royal Caribbean

☆ U.S.-owned container vessel struck by an anti-ship ballistic missile off the coast of Yemen
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A U.S.-owned and operated container ship on Monday was struck by an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, according to the U.S. Central Command. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations organization said authorities were investigating the incident, which occurred southeast of Aden in Yemen. It comes shortly after the U.S. and U.K. launched joint strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. The Iran-backed group has been attacking ships traversing the Red Sea since late last year, wreaking havoc on global trade and drawing international condemnation. The militants claim their attacks in the Red Sea are in response to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

Persons: Yemen's Houthi, Marshall, UKMTO Organizations: U.S . Central Command, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Locations: Israel, Sana'a, Yemen, U.S, Gibraltar, Aden, Iran, Gaza

☆ The 'crown jewel' of the Chinese military appears to have a serious corruption problem, but the US can't afford to bet on its missiles all being defective
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Recent reports point to corruption and readiness problems in the Chinese military, the rocket force in particular. In the aftermath of the report, an ex-PLA official told Radio Free Asia problems like this have long been rampant in the Chinese military. The rocket force shakeups suggest that there are questions over who can be trusted. Xinhua/Cha Chunming via Getty ImagesConcerns about corruption and readiness stand in contrast with the modernization and strengthening of the Chinese military. Is the PLA, particularly the rocket force, the increasingly formidable force the Pentagon described in a military power report last October?

Persons: It's, —, Tom Shugart, Xi Jinping, that's, hotpot, hadn't, bigwig, Xi, Liu Dawei, Shugart, weren't, Lintao Zhang, Li Shangfu, Li Gang, ISW, there's, Andy Wong Organizations: Service, People's Liberation Army, US, Center, New, New American Security, Liberation Army, Getty Images, Bloomberg, PLA, Rocket Force, Radio Free, 14th China International Aviation, Aerospace Exhibition, Getty, Liberation Army Rocket, Business, United, Naval, Army, Air Force, Communist, of, Defense, Chinese Communist Party, Liberation Army's Army Infantry College, Li, Pentagon, U.S . Nimitz, US Army Locations: New American, Taiwan, Hefei, Anhui province, Radio Free Asia, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, Xinhua, United States, Beijing, China, PLA, Gutian, Jiangxi Province, U.S, Tiananmen, Pamir, Kashgar, China's Xinjiang, Pacific

☆ Houthi attacks and U.S. strikes add to concerns of broader conflict in the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-27 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Houthi military helicopter flies over the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea in this photo released on Nov. 20, 2023. Yemen's Houthi rebels launched fresh attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea, while the U.S. carried out strikes against targets in Iraq, amid fears that the war in the Gaza Strip could engulf the Middle East. The U.S. military carried out retaliatory strikes against three installations in Iraq linked to Kataib Hezbollah on Monday, the Pentagon announced, after three American service personnel were injured in a one-way drone attack carried out by the Iran-aligned militant group. On Tuesday, Houthi militants, also backed by Iran, launched a fresh drone attack against a container ship operated by MSC that was heading for Pakistan. "The naval forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a targeting operation against the commercial ship, 'MSC UNITED,' with appropriate naval missiles," Yahya Sare'e, spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, said in a post on the X social media platform, formerly known as Twitter.

Persons: Yemen's Houthi, Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin, Yahya Sare'e Organizations: Galaxy Leader, Hezbollah, Pentagon, Defense, Reuters, stoke, Houthi, MSC, Yemeni Armed Forces, UNITED, Twitter Locations: Red, U.S, Iraq, Gaza, The U.S, Iran, Pakistan

☆ Red Sea crisis: Who are the Houthis and why are they attacking ships?
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-19 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels are stepping up their strikes on ships in the Red Sea, which they say are revenge against Israel for its military campaign in Gaza. While the Houthis may not be able to pose a serious threat to Israel, their technology can wreak havoc in the Red Sea. Video Ad Feedback Video shows moment Houthi rebels storm cargo ship in the Red Sea 02:30 - Source: CNNWhy are the Houthis attacking ships in the Red Sea? A number of countries have taken steps to try and push back Houthi aggression in the Red Sea region. The United Nations Security Council has meanwhile approved a resolution calling on Yemen’s Houthi rebel group to “cease its brazen” attacks in the Red Sea.

Persons: CNN —, Israel, Biden, Allah, Hussein, ”, Zaidis, Khaled Abdullah, aren’t, Israel –, Carney, Yemen’s, Joe Biden, ” Biden, “, Houthis “, ” Sare’e, Mohammed al, Al Jazeera Organizations: CNN, CNN — Yemen’s, United, Hamas, Reuters, UN, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs, Center for Strategic, International Studies, US, Maersk, Lloyd, CMA CGM, Evergreen, United Arab Emirates, Prosperity, United Nations Security Locations: CNN — Yemen’s Iran, Red, Gaza, United States, United Kingdom, Yemen, Iran, Islam, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Sanaa, Iran’s, Israel, Islamic Republic, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Tehran, Eilat, Suez, Egypt, Hapag, Africa, Russia, China, Britain, Palestine

☆ US submarines are getting new long-range ship-killer missiles as China's large navy keeps getting bigger
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US Navy plans to arm submarines with a new version of the Tomahawk missile next fall. It's the latest US anti-ship effort as rival China continues to build up its already large navy. AdvertisementStarting next fall, US submarines will be equipped with a new version of a widely used and powerful cruise missile. Jon Hersey, the program manager for the Tomahawk Weapons System program office, said in a statement reported by Bloomberg. In its latest report on China's military power, the Pentagon said China had 370 ships and submarines, almost 100 more than the US Navy.

Persons: —, Jon Hersey, Nancy Pelosi's, Kenneth Wilsbach, we've Organizations: US Navy, Tomahawk, Service, Maritime, Pentagon, Bloomberg, RTX Corporation, Navy, US Pacific Air Forces, Air Force, Army, Marines Locations: China, Taiwan, Beijing

☆ USS Carney shoots down drones, responds to ballistic missile attack on commercial vessel
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Haley Britzky | Hamdi Alkhshali | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The USS Carney shot down two Houthi drones headed in the ship’s direction in the southern Red Sea on Sunday and responded to a distress call from a civilian commercial vessel that was fired upon by a ballistic missile, a US defense official said. A US official said other commercial vessels were also “attacked by Houthi missiles today,” though it’s unclear how many or which vessels specifically. The Houthi-run Yemeni Armed Forces claimed on Sunday that its naval forces had carried out attacks against what it called “two Israeli ships” in the Red Sea’s Bab al-Mandab strait. According to Yemeni Armed Forces’ statement, the vessels Unity Explorer and Number Nine were engaged with a naval missile and drone, respectively, after rejecting warning messages. Last month, the USS Thomas Hudner shot down multiple one-way attack drones launched from Yemen.

Persons: Carney, Burke, Gerald R, “, Bab, Thomas Hudner, Mason, Pat Ryder, “ That’s, ” Organizations: CNN, Arleigh, Ford Carrier Strike, Houthi, US, Yemeni Armed Forces, Unity, ”, Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, Hamas, Pentagon Locations: Sea, Red, vessel’s, “, Gaza, Israel, Iran, Yemen, Gulf, Aden, Somali, Persian, Iraq, Syria

"Hell on Earth has returned to Gaza," said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian office in Geneva. Israeli assaults since have laid waste much of Gaza, which Hamas has ruled since 2007. Sirens blared across southern Israel as militants fired rockets from the coastal enclave into towns. U.S. AND HAMAS TRADE ACCUSATIONSThe United States blamed Hamas for the renewed fighting, saying it had failed to produce a new list of hostages to release. The United States is working on a plan with Israel to minimize harm to civilians in any military operation in southern Gaza, a senior U.S. official said.

Persons: Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Jens Laerke, Martin Griffiths, Israel, Antony Blinken, Mark Warner, Washington, Crescent, Gazans, Khan, Mohammed Abu, Suhaib, Nidal, Mohammed Salem, Humeyra Pamuk, Ari Rabinovich, Emily Rose, Andrew Mills, David Brunnstrom, Grant McCool Organizations: REUTERS, United Nations, Hamas, Tel, Hezbollah, Reuters, Democratic U.S, Senate Intelligence, Palestinian, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, GAZA, Geneva, QATAR, Qatar, Radwan, Tel Aviv, Lebanon, Iran, Lebanese, States, Jerusalem, Washington, United States, Israeli, Rafah, Egypt, U.S, Khan Younis, Khan, Suhaib Salem, Cairo, Doha

☆ A US Navy warship held together with coconut logs after a Japanese torpedo strike once sailed hundreds of miles in reverse to reach safe harbor
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Over 80 years ago, a US warship was badly damaged by a Japanese torpedo during the Battle of Tassafaronga. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. The torpedo wrecked the New Orleans' forward magazines and gas tanks and damaged its hull, but the ship didn't fully sink. With limited resources or friendly ports out near Tassafaronga Point on Guadalcanal, the New Orleans crew had to improvise. The New Orleans arrived in Sydney on December 24 and later received a new bow, among other repairs.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, US Navy, US Naval Institute, — U.S . Naval Institute, Imperial Japanese Navy, Naval, Heritage Command, Navy, New Orleans, The, New Locations: Tassafaronga, New Orleans, Sydney, Australia, —, Sound, Orleans, Guadalcanal, The New Orleans, Coral, Midway, Philippine, Japan

☆ After years of building up its navy, Saudi Arabia is testing its new warships with real-world missions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in its navy in recent years, buying a number of new warships. AdvertisementThe first of the Spanish-built corvettes, Al Jubail, arrived at the Saudi naval base in Jeddah in August 2022. Patrol boats for Saudi Arabia at a German shipyard in April 2019. During that decade, Saudi Arabia initiated the first Saudi Naval Enhancement Program, which equipped its navy with modern American, French, and British warships. The current buildup, called Saudi Naval Enhancement Program II, or SNEP II, is the most significant one since then.

Persons: —, Leonardo Jacopo Maria Mazzucco, MCS3 Louis Thompson Staats, Mazzucco, Al Jubail, Juan Carlos Toro, Lockheed Martin, Stefan Sauer, Nixon, Shah, HMS Badr, Paul Iddon Organizations: Service, Saudi, Royal Saudi Naval Forces, Combined Maritime Forces, International, Analytics, Stimson Center, US Navy, Royal Saudi Naval Force, Getty, RIM, Saudi Western Fleet, Saudi Eastern Fleet, Lockheed, Fleet, Saudi Naval Enhancement, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC Navy, SNEP Locations: Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Persian, Saudi, Iran, Yemen, Washington, Al, Madinah, Navantia's, Cádiz, Spain, Jeddah, East Africa, Iraq, Gulf

☆ How the U.S. courted the Philippines to thwart China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +14 min

What followed was two trips to the United States in less than a year for Marcos, and visits to the Philippines by high-ranking Biden administration officials. Marcos’ predecessor, the populist firebrand Rodrigo Duterte, was openly hostile to the United States and attempted to bring his country closer to communist China during his six-year term. For the United States, cementing alliances in the Asia-Pacific region is likewise crucial to keeping China in check. China’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement to Reuters, characterized China and the Philippines as “close neighbors across the sea” with a common interest in friendship. At the time, he said the cancellation of his visa was the latest in a list of “gripes and disrespect” by the United States.

Persons: Ferdinand “ Bongbong ” Marcos Jr, Joe Biden, Marcos, Gregorio Maria Araneta III, “, ” Araneta, Biden, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, Julio Amador III, Marcos ’, Rodrigo Duterte, China’s, Xi Jinping, ” Marcos ’, Ferdinand Marcos Sr, ”, Marcos family’s, Washington, Duterte, China “, Becca Wasser, Wasser, Barack Obama, Xi, “ I’ve, ” Duterte, Ronald “ Bato, dela Rosa, Dela Rosa, gripes, Toribio Adaci, hadn’t, Blake Herzinger, Herzinger Organizations: Reuters, U.S, Defense, ., Party, China, U.S . State Department, ” Reuters, Philippine, United, Foreign Ministry, ” ‘, People’s Liberation Army, Center, New, New American Security, CNAS, U.S . Department of Defense, U.S ., Initiative, Philippines National Economic Development Authority, United States, Philippine National Police, Washington, Forces, VFA, Mutual, China’s, U.S . Pacific Fleet, Cooperation Locations: Philippines, Philippine, Manila, United States, U.S, China, America, Asia, Taipei, Taiwan, Beijing, South, East Asia, Pacific, Washington, Hawaii, South China, It’s, American, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New American, Taiwan . U.S, Duterte, China’s, Guangdong

☆ Winter storm may have unmoored mines in the Black Sea ramping up naval danger for both Ukraine and Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The fierce winds may have unmoored maritime mines in the Black Sea, according to reports. AdvertisementA fierce winter storm walloped southern Ukraine on Monday inhibiting military operations on both sides and could have worsened already-heightened navigational dangers in the Black Sea. Giant waves and gusty winds threatened to unmoor maritime mines in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, the outlet reported — posing an even greater risk for those who navigate the perilous shipping lanes. Sea mines in the region have previously come loose in less violent storms. Both Ukraine and Russia have accused the other of placing Soviet mines along Ukraine's coast, Reuters reported.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, The New York Times, Ukrainian, Reuters Locations: Ukraine, Azov, Russian, Russia, Crimea, Kherson

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Attackers seized a tanker linked to Israel off the coast of Yemen on Sunday, authorities said. The attackers seized the Liberian-flagged Central Park, managed by Zodiac Maritime, in the Gulf of Aden, the company and private intelligence firm Ambrey said. London-based Zodiac Maritime is part of Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group. Both the Symi and the Central Park had been behaving as if they faced a threat in recent days. The Houthis did not immediately acknowledge the seizure of the Central Park.

Persons: Ambrey, Zodiac, ” Zodiac, Eyal Ofer’s, Ofer, Daniel Guy Ofer, ”, — Organizations: United Arab Emirates, — Attackers, Liberian, Zodiac Maritime, Associated Press, Turkish, Clumvez Shipping Inc, Eyal Ofer’s Zodiac Group, Clumvez Shipping, U.S, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, CMA, Central, AP, Ships, AIS, Israel Locations: DUBAI, United Arab, Israel, Yemen, Gulf, Aden, London, Saudi, Houthi, U.S, Iran, Oman, British, Yemen's, Djibouti, Somalia, Suez, Palestinian, Red

☆ Ukraine Says It Has Destroyed 15 Russian Naval Vessels in Black Sea During War
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's military said on Friday its operations had resulted in the destruction of a total of 15 Russian naval vessels in the Black Sea since the start of Russia's invasion and that 12 other vessels had been damaged. Ukraine has stepped up its attacks in the Black Sea and on Crimea, which Russia seized and annexed in 2014. Ukraine's military said its operations carried out in the Black Sea so far have included strikes on the Russian Black Sea Navy headquarters in Sevastopol and the shipyard in Kerch, which damaged a vessel that had not yet joined the fleet. In April 2022, shortly after the start of the war, Ukraine's forces said it hit the Moskva missile cruiser, flagship of Russia's Black Sea fleet, with domestically produced a Neptune anti-ship missile. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy recently said Kyiv had managed to shift the balance of power in the Black Sea, seizing the initiative from Moscow which regards Crimea as strategically vital to its interests.

Persons: Dmytro Pletenchuk, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Yuliia Dysa, Gareth Jones Organizations: Kyiv, Reuters, Russian Black Sea Navy Locations: Ukraine, Crimea, Russia, Kyiv, Novorossiysk, Russian, Sevastopol, Kerch, Moscow

☆ The US Air Force is training to take down Chinese warships, but China's military has built a 'wicked' problem for it to overcome
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

That's not a new task for the US Air Force, but it faces a 'wicked' threat from China's air defenses. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe US Air Force is working on improving its ability to sink well-defended warships, a reflection of the US military's concern about the growing size and increasing capability of China's navy. US Naval History and Heritage CommandUS pilots have trained to sink warships since the early 1920s, well before the Air Force's founding in 1947. US Air Force A-10s at Naval Air Station North Island in California for Green Flag-West in November 2022. Wilsbach said in September that training by Pacific Air Forces has emphasized "stacking effects" to bring more weapons to bear.

Persons: That's, —, Nancy Pelosi's, Pelosi, Gen, Kenneth Wilsbach, we've, Wilsbach, Sun, Brendan Mulvaney, Mulvaney, eng.chinamil.com.cn, Yang Yunxiang, that's, Mark Kelly, Kelly, hasn't, Lyle Goldstein, TENGKU BAHAR, Goldstein, they've, John Baum, Baum, Zachary Rufus, Col, Daniel Lehoski, William R, Lewis, Lockheed Martin, Lindsey Heflin Organizations: US Air Force, Service, US Pacific Air Forces, an Air and Space Forces Association, China News Service, Getty, China Aerospace Studies Institute, Department of, Air Force, United, and Space Forces Conference, Air Combat Command, Defense, Heritage Command US, Air, Navy, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, Naval Air Station, Green Flag, West, US Army, Air Force Weapons, Weapons, Flag, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada ., Pacific, US Navy, Squadron, Force, Missiles, Ship, Lockheed, Command, Lindsey Heflin Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, Army Locations: China, Taiwan, Pacific, United States, Ukraine, Asia, Hong Kong, Liaoning, Shandong, Fujian, Iraq, Afghanistan, California, Nevada

☆ Japan-led navy exercise starts with Philippines observing for first time
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Sakura Murakami | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

F-35C stealth jet sits on deck of USS Carl Vinson in the Western Pacific, south of Japan, November 30, 2021. REUTERS/Tim Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsABOARD USS CARL VINSON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Japan's navy on Saturday announced the start of a joint annual military exercise, with the Philippines observing the operations for the first time as the two countries seek closer maritime cooperation. The Japan-led Annualex exercise started on Friday with operations conducted by the naval forces of the United States, Australia and Canada, with the Philippines attending as an observer, Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force Vice Admiral Akira Saito told reporters. Last week, Japan said it would provide radar systems to the Philippines to bolster its security. So I'm thrilled that Japan invited the Philippines to observe this year," Vice Admiral of the U.S.

Persons: Carl Vinson, Tim Kelly, CARL VINSON, Akira Saito, Saito, I'm, U.S . Seventh Fleet Karl Thomas, Sakura Murakami, David Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Saturday, Self, Defence Force, U.S . Seventh Fleet, East China, South China, Thomson Locations: Pacific, Japan, Philippines, United States, Australia, Canada, U.S, China, East, South

☆ 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

[1/5] Smoke rises over Gaza as seen from southern Israel, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas, November 10, 2023. "The Israeli occupation launched simultaneous strikes on a number of hospitals during the past hours," Gaza Ministry of Health spokesman Ashraf Al-Qidra told Al Jazeera television. Israel said Hamas has hidden command centres and tunnels beneath Al Shifa, and other hospitals such as the Indonesian Hospital, allegations Hamas denies. Palestinian officials said 10,812 Gaza residents had been killed as of Thursday, about 40% of them children, in air and artillery strikes. The Israeli military has allowed some wounded Palestinian civilians to cross into Egypt for treatment.

Persons: Evelyn Hockstein, Hossein Amir, Amir, Abdollahian, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al, Ashraf Al, Qidra, Al Shifa, Israel, Nasr, ISRAEL, Joe Biden, John Kirby, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Nidal al, Angel, Emily Rose, Maayan, Rami Amichay, Steve Holland, Matt Spetalnick, Humeyra Pamuk, Cynthia Osterman, Michael Perry, Grant McCool, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Iranian, Press, Gaza Ministry, Health, Al, Indonesian, Reuters, Islamic, Rights Watch, Rantisi Pediatric Hospital, Indonesian Hospital, White House, Fox News, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Iran, GAZA, DUBAI, U.S, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Iran's, Israeli, Al Jazeera, Gaza City, Al, Lebanese, Indonesia, Egypt, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Washington

☆ China tells Britain to stop efforts to 'enhance' ties with Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ File photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Nov 9 (Reuters) - The Chinese government on Thursday told Britain to stop its efforts to "enhance" ties with Taiwan after a high level meeting in London and the signing of a new trade agreement between the island and Britain. "We urge the UK to abide by the one-China principle and stop using trade cooperation as an excuse to engage in official exchanges or enhance substantive relations with Taiwan," it added. Britain and Taiwan both maintain de facto embassies in each other's capitals, but London does not officially recognise the democratically elected government in Taipei. Britain approved a sharp increase in exports of submarine parts and technology last year to Taiwan as it upgrades its naval forces, Reuters reported in March. Because of its diplomatic isolation and pressure from China, chip powerhouse Taiwan has few formal foreign trade agreements, though it is a member of the World Trade Organization and has free trade agreements with Singapore and New Zealand.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Nigel Huddleston, Chen Chern, Ben Blanchard, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Wednesday, Trade Partnership, British Trade, World Health Organization, Reuters, World Trade Organization, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Rights BEIJING, Britain, Taiwan, London, China's, Beijing, China, Taipei, Singapore, New Zealand

☆ 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

☆ Video shows a US Navy drone boat firing off its own exploding drone in the Middle East, a first for the unmanned vessels
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The US Navy said its drone boats fired lethal weaponry for the first time in the Middle East. Footage of one of the engagements shows Navy personnel operating the drone boat in the open waters. The USV then fires one of the munitions, which includes a first-person view of its trajectory into the simulated target, causing it to detonate on impact. Navy officials said the exercise was designed to advance the lethality and combat potential of drone boats, and future events could broaden the arsenal of these unmanned systems. Beyond drone boats, the Pentagon has taken other measures in recent months to boost deterrence in the region like dispatching an assortment of fighter jets and warships to the area.

Persons: —, Ray USV, Devil Ray, NAVCENT, Brad Cooper, Cmdr, Dre Johnson, Jonathan Nye, Justin Stumberg Organizations: US Navy, Navy, Service, US Naval Forces Central Command, . Naval Forces Central Command’s, Digital, Missile System, U.S . Naval Forces Central Command’s, Mass, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, Pentagon Locations: Arabian, U.S, Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Persian, Iran, American

☆ Opinion | The Memories That Feed Distrust in the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Zeynep Tufekci | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +10 min

His pained voice turned to anger when he recounted encountering disbelief that Hamas committed terrible atrocities when it attacked Israel. Indeed, since Hamas did murder children and take others as hostages, should it get credit if it didn’t also behead them? But if the U.S. response after Sept. 11 is a model, it is as a model of what not to do. After the attacks, the United States received deep global sympathy. In the Middle East, the devastating aftermath of that war — justified by false claims — has never ended.

Persons: Moshe Lavi, Lavi, there’s, Biden, didn’t, that’s, ”, Bush, —, Peter Lerner, Saddam Hussein, Saddam, Benjamin Netanyahu Organizations: Hamas, New York Times, United Nations, Britain’s Sky, United, Iraqi Army, The New York Times, Guardian, Israeli Defense Forces, Hamas’s Naval Police, Naval Force, Amnesty International, Kuwaiti, American, Rights, Amnesty, West Bank Locations: Israel, Gaza, Iraq, U.S, United States, Abu Ghraib, People, Israeli, Kuwait, Vietnam, Kuwaiti

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Yemen's Houthi rebels for the first time Tuesday claimed missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, drawing their main sponsor Iran closer into the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and further raising the risks of a regional conflict erupting. There also has been at least one attack that the Houthis claimed where suspicion later fell fully on Iran. In 2019, cruise missiles and drones successfully penetrated Saudi Arabia and struck the heart of its oil industry in Abqaiq. While the Houthis claimed the Abqaiq attack, the U.S., Saudi Arabia and analysts blamed Iran. Iran's mission to the U.N. did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Houthi attacks.

Persons: Yemen's, Israel, Tuesday's salvos, Yahya Saree, “, ” Saree, Jack Jeffrey, Sam Magdy Organizations: United Arab Emirates, U.S . Navy, Arrow, Yemeni Armed Forces, Israel, Washington -, Strategic, International Studies, Navy's, Pentagon, Bloomberg, Hezbollah, United Nations, Associated Press Locations: DUBAI, United Arab, Israel, Iran, Gaza, Eilat, The, Sanaa, U.S, Taba, Palestine, Washington, Iranian, Bataan, Saudi Arabia, Jazan, Tehran, Abqaiq, Cairo

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