DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ The US Navy is leaving the volatile Middle East without an aircraft carrier again, even as fighting continues
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementThe US Navy's sole aircraft carrier in the Middle East left the region over the weekend. The US is now without a carrier in the volatile Middle East for the first time in a while. An E/A-18G Growler launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in October. AdvertisementUSNI News first reported on Monday the Lincoln's departure from the Middle East. AdvertisementThe aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln prepares to conduct a replenishment-at-sea with the destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. in November.

Persons: Abraham Lincoln, Arleigh Burke, Frank E, Petersen, Michael Murphy, Spruance, Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Lincoln, Harry S, Truman, Defense Lloyd Austin, Pat Ryder, Austin Organizations: Navy's, East, US Navy, Business, Fleet, Lincoln, US, Pentagon, Israel, Defense, US Air Force, Navy, Hamas Locations: Lincoln, Iran, Portugal's, Gulf of Aden, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon

☆ US has not assessed Israel is violating law on Gaza aid, will not change policy despite humanitarian groups’ findings
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The US statement comes in sharp contrast to the findings of humanitarian aid organizations, who say that “the humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated to its worst point since the war began in October 2023.” The situation in northern Gaza in particular has been described as “apocalyptic,” with areas at “imminent” risk of famine. Section 620I of the US Foreign Assistance Act requires the US to halt security assistance to governments who restrict US humanitarian aid. “We, at this time, have not made an assessment that the Israelis are in violation of US law,” State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said Tuesday. “Israeli forces repeatedly attacked humanitarian sites and frontline responders during the 30-day period,” the scorecard said. “There is no provision in US or international law that allows extra time to starve people,” said former top State Department official Stacy Gilbert.

Persons: Washington CNN —, Biden, Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, “, ” Blinken, Vedant Patel, Patel, “ We’ve, ”, they’ve, Kate Phillips, you’re, ” Phillips, Barrasso, Stacy Gilbert, CNN’s Michael Conte, Mick Krever, MJ Lee, Kylie Atwood, Abeer Salman, Kareem Khadder, Irene Nasser Organizations: Washington CNN, Israel, State Department, Defense, Biden, US Foreign, ” State Department, CNN, Anera, CARE International, Mercy Corps, Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, Refugees International, UNRWA, UN, The State Locations: Gaza, ”, U.S, Austin, Gaza’s Beit, Israel, America, United States

☆ Israel fails to meet US criteria to improve humanitarian situation in Gaza, aid groups say
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —The Israeli government has failed to meet criteria set out by the US to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, a group of eight humanitarian aid organizations said in a joint “scorecard” released Tuesday. “Israel not only failed to meet the U.S. criteria that would indicate support to the humanitarian response, but concurrently took actions that dramatically worsened the situation on the ground, particularly in northern Gaza,” the organizations said. Section 620i of the US Foreign Assistance Act requires the US to halt security assistance to governments who restrict US humanitarian aid. “Israeli forces repeatedly attacked humanitarian sites and frontline responders during the 30-day period,” the scorecard said. The humanitarian scorecard noted that “the effectiveness of international diplomatic efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza hinges on the willingness of the United States and other countries to push Israel to comply with these priorities.”

Persons: ”, “ Israel, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, Israel, Matthew Miller, “, Kate Phillips, you’re, ” Phillips, Barrasso, Miller Organizations: Washington CNN, Defense, UN, Biden, US Foreign, State Department, Anera, CARE International, Mercy Corps, Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, Refugees International, CNN, UNRWA, The State Locations: Gaza, U.S, ”, Gaza City, North Gaza, United States, Israel

☆ Pentagon officials discussing how to respond if Trump issues controversial orders
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-08 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Pentagon officials are holding informal discussions about how the Department of Defense would respond if Donald Trump issues orders to deploy active-duty troops domestically and fire large swaths of apolitical staffers, defense officials told CNN. “Troops are compelled by law to disobey unlawful orders,” said another defense official. “But the question is what happens then – do we see resignations from senior military leaders? At the time, defense officials tried to include as few civilian employees as possible to limit the impact to the workforce, sources said. But “there are still ways a new administration could work around these protections,” a defense official said, even if it might take several months to do so.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, ”, Mark Milley, “, Defense Lloyd Austin, Milley, John Kelly, Trump’s, Kelly, Hitler’s, Biden, –, George Floyd, …, Austin, ” CNN’s Oren Liebermann Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, Department of Defense, Joint Chiefs, Staff, ”, “ Troops, Trump, White, DoD, Defense, National Guard, White House, Defense Department, Customs, Reserves, Army, Congress, United States, Civilian, National Security and Intelligence, Management Locations: ’, ”, Hitler’s Nazi, United States

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, a long rumored move that was announced on Election Day in the United States. Gallant will be replaced by Foreign Minister Israel Katz, Netanyahu said in a statement. “In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and the minister of defense,” Netanyahu said. Netanyahu's decision was welcomed by his ultranationalist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who congratulated the prime minister on the move. In a nationally televised statement in May, Gallant challenged Netanyahu over his refusal to discuss a cease-fire and hostage deal.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Netanyahu, Gallant, Israel Katz, Gideon Saar, ” Netanyahu, “, ”, ” Yoav Gallant, Defense Lloyd Austin, Benny Gantz, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Ben, Israel, ” Gallant Organizations: Tuesday, Foreign, Anadolu Agency, Getty, U.S ., Defense, Hamas, Hezbollah, National Locations: United States, Gaza, Lebanon, Israel, Washington

☆ US says it expects North Korean troops to enter combat against Ukraine in the coming days
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —As many as 8,000 North Korean troops are in Russia’s Kursk region and are expected to enter combat against Ukraine in the coming days, top US officials announced Thursday. The US will announce additional military support to Ukraine “in the coming days,” Blinken said. Ukrainian forces have held territory in Kursk since launching a surprise incursion into the Russian border region in August. The US defense secretary noted Thursday that the number of North Korean troops sent to Kursk “pales in comparison” to the number of casualties Russia sees regularly. “I’m surprised by China’s silence” on North Korea’s support for Russia, Zelensky said in an interview with South Korea’s KBS.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, Blinken, ” Austin, ” Blinken, Volodymyr Zelensky, “, Austin, Austin redoubled, ” “ We’ve, “ I’m, Zelensky, ” Organizations: CNN, Ukraine, Defense, South Korean, Korean, Ukraine “, North, Russia, South Korea’s KBS Locations: Russia’s Kursk, Washington, Kursk, Russia, Moscow, Pyongyang, Ukraine, Russian, South Korea, Blinken, China, North Korea, Beijing

☆ Why North Korea would want to go to war for Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-28 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

North Korea sent thousands of troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine. AdvertisementWhy is North Korea helping Russia? STR/KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty ImagesIt's unclear what exactly is driving North Korea to become increasingly involved in the war and send troops to Russia. North Korea also has an aging fighter jet fleet it wants to upgrade and a desire for advanced satellite technologies. Beijing has often aligned with Russia and North Korea, and Western officials have accused China of also giving military aid to Russia in return for certain technologies and information.

Persons: Kim, Putin, —, Mark Rutte, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong, KRISTINA KORMILITSYNA, Ivan Samoilov, Rutte, Kirby, Kurt Campbell, Defense Lloyd Austin, Biden, Seoul's Organizations: Ukraine, Service, US, Korean, Russian, NATO, Department of Defense, Pentagon, Ukrainian, North, Duma, Research, Gwara, Getty, VIA KNS, National Security, Technologies, Roman, Defense, Publicly, Ministry of Foreign, South Locations: Korea, Russia, Ukraine, South Korea, Kursk, Ukrainian, North Korea, Russian, Pyongyang, Korean, Moscow, Iran, North Korean, AFP, Kyiv, China, Beijing

☆ U.S. and Israeli negotiators to travel to Doha with hopes of resuming Gaza ceasefire talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-24 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Abigail-Williams-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Abigail Williams | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. and Israeli negotiators will travel to Doha in the coming days, the top diplomats for U.S. and Qatar said Thursday, intending to resume long-stalled talks to reach a ceasefire deal and secure the release of hostages in Gaza. The announcement comes after Israeli forces killed Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas, earlier this month and the militant group continues its search for a new leader. Among the options is an Egyptian proposal, as previously reported by NBC News, for a two-week ceasefire in exchange for the release of six hostages. Qatari Sheikh Mohammed said there are ongoing discussions between Egypt and Hamas even today and he “hopes the discussions will yield something positive” for the talks that follow. Speaking from Doha, Blinken said the U.S. had seen Israel take some positive steps but it is not enough to get assistance to the borders of Gaza.

Persons: Yahya Sinwar, Biden, Sinwar, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, “, Sheikh Mohammed, Defense Lloyd Austin, Blinken, ” Organizations: U.S, Qatari Prime, NBC News, Defense, Israel, U.S . Locations: Doha, Qatar, Gaza, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, U.S, Egypt, Blinken, Israel

“We assess that between early- to mid-October, North Korea moved at least 3,000 soldiers into eastern Russia,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. “We assess that these soldiers traveled by ship from the Wonsan area in North Korea to Vladivostok, Russia. “We are seeing evidence that that there are North Korean troops that have gone to Russia,” Austin told reporters traveling with him in Rome on Wednesday. A senior administration official said earlier Wednesday that the training of North Korean soldiers and possible preparation to send them to find to Ukraine is a sign of serious desperation on Russia’s part. Meanwhile, South Korea’s spy agency, the National Intelligence Service, said Friday that North Korea has shipped 1,500 soldiers, including special forces fighters, to Russia for training.

Persons: “, John Kirby, …, Defense Lloyd Austin, ” Austin, Austin, Kirby, Putin, ” Kirby, Volodymyr Zelensky, Kevin Liptak, MJ Lee Organizations: CNN, Ukraine, ” National Security, Defense, US, Korean, Kremlin, UN, United, NATO, National Intelligence Service Locations: Russia, North Korea, Wonsan, Vladivostok, Ukrainian, Korea, Ukraine, Rome, Europe, Pacific, Moscow, Pyongyang, United States, Kyiv, Washington, Koreans, South

The United States, Ukraine and South Korea say that North Korean troops were dispatched to Russia for training with the aim of being deployed to Ukraine. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russia's President Vladimir Putin after signing a comprehensive strategic partnership in Pyongyang, North Korea on June 19, 2024. “We are developing scenarios to understand the potential impacts North Korea and Russia’s actions could have on us,” the government official said. The arrangement could also help North Korea gain real-world intelligence on the functioning of its weaponry. Soldiers march in a parade for the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding day in Pyongyang, North Korea, on September 9, 2018.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Zelensky, Inna Varenytsia, Kim Jong, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, ”, François Walschaerts, Foreign Affairs Kim Hong, Kim Tae, Defense Lloyd Austin, ” Austin, John Kirby, “, Carl Schuster, Ng Han Guan, Kim, Chun, ” Chun Organizations: South Korea CNN, Ukraine, NATO, Korean, CNN, National Intelligence Service, North, Maxar Technologies, Maxar, UN, Foreign Ministry, Getty, Korean First, Foreign Affairs, National Security Office, South, Moscow, Defense, National Security, Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Korea, Ukraine, Europe, United States, Russia, North Korea, Moscow, Pyongyang, Kyiv, Washington, Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, Koreans, South, Russia’s Far, China, Sergeevka, Russian, Brussels, AFP, South Korean, ” South Korea

☆ Defense Secretary Austin arrives in Ukraine amid Russian gains and imminent US election
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Kyiv, Ukraine CNN —Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrived in Kyiv early Monday morning, as the future of US aid to Ukraine hangs in the balance of the imminent US presidential election and as Russia continues to make small but steady gains on the battlefield. “It’s been absolutely remarkable that Ukraine has been able to do what it’s done,” Austin told reporters. Ukraine has prevented Russian President Vladimir Putin from achieving “one single strategic objective” during the war, Austin said Sunday. China also continues to be a “critical enabler” of Russia’s war effort, the NATO official said. Ukraine has more sophisticated weaponry thanks to the West, which could give the country a strategic edge, the defense official said.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Rustem Umerov, Biden, Austin, “ It’s, ” Austin, we’ve, Donald Trump, ”, Trump, Zelensky, “, ” Zelensky, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Ukraine CNN —, Defense, CNN, Ukraine Defense, European Union, Pentagon, Capitol, Ukraine, NATO, Russia Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia, Austin, ”, Europe, Russian, Iran, North Korea, China, Moscow

☆ US election looms over NATO discussions to Trump-proof Ukraine aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

NATO officials say they are preparing for the US to take on a lesser role. “I’m very worried,” the NATO official said. But that mechanism, known as NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine, is not yet fully operational and won’t be for several more months, another NATO official said on Friday. Russia alone is producing around 3 million munitions per year, while NATO collectively is producing less than 2 million annually, NATO officials said on Thursday. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Thursday that he was confident the alliance “will not lose” its unity when it comes to Ukraine.

Persons: Donald Trump, Defense Lloyd Austin, Volodymyr Zelensky, ”, Joe Biden, Austin, Trump, Biden, James O’Brien, O’Brien, “, ” Austin, Russia It’s, Mark Rutte, Vladimir, Putin Organizations: Brussels CNN, NATO, Defense, Ukraine, Trump, ”, NATO Security Assistance, Training, State, Eurasian Locations: Brussels, Ukraine, Iran, North Korea, China, Russia, ”, Europe, NATO, EU, Hungary, Riga, ” North Korea, Moscow, Korea, Kyiv, “

U.S. B-2 bombers and other aircraft struck five underground Houthi weapons storage locations in parts of Yemen that the Iranian-backed rebel group controls, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said. The strikes targetedThe strikes targeted weapons that are used to target civilian vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the defense official said. An annual $1 trillion flow of goods goes through the Red Sea. Some shippers responded to the attacks late last year by suspending service in the Red Sea. The U.S. first launched airstrikes against Houthi weapons in January in response to the Houthi attacks against commercial shipping.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Irani Organizations: Defense, U.S, NBC News, Hamas, The U.S . Locations: Yemen, Aden, Gaza, Red, The

☆ The B-2 stealth bomber used to hit the Houthis was built to strike the toughest targets
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Pentagon disclosed that B-2 stealth bombers were involved in the operation. AdvertisementThe US military carried out a series of airstrikes against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen on Wednesday, using B-2 stealth bombers to hit targets underground. The US bases the heavy strategic bombers at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. AdvertisementBefore the emergence of the new B-21 Raider, the B-2 was, for decades, the only stealth bomber. The Air Force describes the MOP as a heavy munition that can accomplish "difficult" and "complicated" missions of reaching enemy weapons stored in well-protected sites.

Persons: —, Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin, Vincent De Groot, Northrop Grumman, Matthew S, Domingos Mark Gunzinger, Samantha White Organizations: Pentagon, Service, Defense, Navy, US Air Force, US Air National Guard, The Air Force, Northrop, Whiteman Air Force Base, Raider, Air Force, Islamic, U.S . Air Force, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, Boeing, Air Locations: Yemen, Iran, Gulf of Aden, United States, Missouri, Soviet, Australia

☆ US says B-2 stealth bombers struck hidden Houthi weapons, sending a message to foes that nothing is out of reach
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The strikes targeted Houthi weapons storage facilities, according to the Pentagon. US B-2 bombers were part of the operation, marking their first known involvement in the Houthi conflict. AdvertisementThe US military hit Houthi targets in Yemen with multiple "precision strikes," the Pentagon announced late Wednesday evening. The strikes on Wednesday — early Thursday local time — mark the latest US bombardment of Houthi targets in Yemen. American forces targeted the rebels earlier this month.

Persons: —, Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin Organizations: Pentagon, Service, Defense, Navy, US Air Force, of Defense, US Central Command, US Locations: Yemen, Iran, United States, Gulf of Aden, Israel

☆ Bob Woodward issues a stark warning on Trump weeks from Election Day
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Peter Bergen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

As has been the case for previous Woodward books, those who don’t come out well from his reporting publicly dismiss it. Woodward notes that neither Biden nor Trump spoke to him for this book, but he still got great access. It’s clear from a close reading of “War” that almost every top national security official in the Biden administration spoke with him. The Biden administration has halted the shipment of massive 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, but otherwise, the large flow of American weapons to the Jewish state continues. Coats told Woodward, “It’s still a mystery to me how he deals with Putin and what he says to Putin.

Persons: Bob Woodward, Woodward, ”, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Trump, Putin, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, “, Barack, ” Putin, Biden, CNN’s Jim Sciutto, it’s, Bush, ” Woodward, Robert Woodward, Nixon, Richard Nixon, … Trump, ” Biden, Bill Burns, Burns, Eric Green, Green “, ” Green, Here’s, Vadim Ghirda, Russia ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, Brendan Smialowski, Yahya Sinwar, Netanyahu, ” —, ” Netanyahu, Antony Blinken’s, Blinken, hasn’t, Kamala Harris, Defense Lloyd Austin, Jake Sullivan, Harris, “ Tell Bibi, Anna Moneymaker, Joe, “ Bibi, Dan Coats, Coats, “ It’s, …, ” Trump Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, New York Times, Trump, White, Biden, United Nations, Pentagon, CIA, National Security, NATO, Ukraine, Turks, Russia, West Bank, Gaza Health Ministry, Israel, UN, Getty, Hamas, US, Brown University, Defense, ”, Prince George’s Community College, Intelligence Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Crimea, Afghanistan, Gaza, Russia, Woodward, Kyiv, Sweden, Finland, Kursk, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Tel Aviv, AFP, Iran, Rafah, Largo , Maryland, Scranton, Delaware

CNN —The Biden administration sent a letter to the Israeli government demanding it act to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza within the next 30 days or risk violating US laws governing foreign military assistance, suggesting US military aid could be in jeopardy. The Sunday letter, jointly written by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, is addressed to Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer. It marks a significant new step by the US to try to compel Israel to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The deadline falls after the US presidential election on November 5. This story is breaking and will be updated.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Ron Dermer, “, ”, ” Blinken, Austin Organizations: CNN, Defense, Strategic, US, US State and Defense Locations: Gaza, Israel, norther

U.S. officials believe Israel has narrowed down what they will target in their response to Iran’s attack, which these officials describe as Iranian military and energy infrastructure. There is no indication that Israel will target nuclear facilities or carry out assassinations, but U.S. officials stressed that the Israelis have not made a final decision about how and when to act. U.S. and Israeli officials said a response could come during the Yom Kippur holiday. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, last night and they discussed broad strokes about an Israeli response. U.S. officials have continued to urge the Israeli government to make their response proportional, sticking to military targets and avoiding oil, gas and nuclear facilities.

Persons: Israel, Ismail Haniyeh, Hassan Nasrallah, Defense Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, it’s, Gallant, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu Organizations: U.S, Defense Locations: Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Tehran, Beirut, The U.S, U.S, Gaza

☆ Monster storms Milton and Helene prove climate change is a national security issue
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Peter Bergen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

This comes two weeks after Hurricane Helene significantly damaged communities like Asheville, North Carolina, hundreds of miles inland, that were seemingly immunized from the worst effects of climate change. Treating climate change as a national security problem is not a liberal position but a hardheaded realist one. This framing of national security also endured after the 9/11 attacks. After Hurricane Milton, Americans should ask themselves: Are they safer now from threats like climate change and pandemics? And if not, isn’t it time for a real discussion of what truly constitutes national security to begin?

Persons: Milton, Helene, Defense Lloyd Austin, It’s, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Peter Roady, ” Roosevelt, Roosevelt, —, George W, Bush, “, … Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, Defense, Key US Navy, Security, Welfare, Social Security, Federal Government, Hurricane Milton Locations: Florida, Asheville , North Carolina, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Virginia, Sudan, Europe, Soviet Union

☆ The US military is bracing for a fight with warships and more aircraft as further violence grips the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Israel's killing of the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has put the Middle East even more on edge. AdvertisementThe US military has a substantial force of warships and fighter aircraft stationed across the Middle East and is moving even more firepower into the region as it braces for an increase in conflict. The US has publicly said that it's ready to defend Israel and protect its forces in the Middle East from any attack by Iran or its regional proxies. As part of these efforts, Ryder said Austin directed the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to remain in the Middle East region, where it has been operating for several weeks. Beyond the carrier strike group and amphibious ready group, the US Navy has destroyers operating in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Persons: Hassan Nasrallah, —, Nasrallah, USS Abraham Lincoln, Joe Biden, Defense Lloyd Austin, Pat Ryder, Ryder, Austin, Abraham Lincoln, Spruance, Ayal Margolin, Yoav Gallant, Gallant Organizations: Service, Hezbollah, US, Defense, Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, Wasp, Group, US Navy, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Pentagon, REUTERS, Israeli Locations: Iran, Beirut, Israel, East, Hill, Cyprus, Lebanon

☆ U.S. boosts air support and hikes troops' readiness to deploy for Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on July 25, 2024. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has authorized the military to reinforce its presence in the Middle East with "defensive" air-support capabilities and put other forces on a heightened readiness status, the Pentagon said on Sunday. "[Austin] increased the readiness of additional U.S. forces to deploy, elevating our preparedness to respond to various contingencies," Pentagon spokesman Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder said in a statement. The statement did not detail what new aircraft would be deploying to the region. "Secretary Austin made clear that should Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take every necessary measure to defend our people," Ryder added.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Lloyd Austin, Patrick Ryder, Austin, Ryder Organizations: Defense, Pentagon, U.S . Defense, Air Force Locations: Washington ,, Austin, Iran, United States

☆ Israel went after Hezbollah's leader in a powerful strike on its headquarters. His fate is still unknown.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Israel said Friday that it carried out a strike against Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut. Israel has increasingly targeted top Hezbollah officials and operatives over the past week, but killing its leadership would be a significant and dramatic escalation. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the Israeli military, said that the headquarters struck Friday was located underneath residential buildings in Dahieh, a Beirut suburb. AdvertisementIsrael has not publicly acknowledged that it specifically targeted Nasrallah, nor has it commented on his status. Hours after the earlier strikes against Hezbollah's headquarters, the Israeli military said that it was carrying out additional strikes on Hezbollah weapons storage facilities in Beirut.

Persons: Israel, Hassan Nasrallah, —, Hezbollah's, Nasrallah, Daniel Hagari, Defense Lloyd Austin Organizations: Hezbollah's, Service, CNN, Reuters, Pentagon, Defense, Israel, IAF, Hezbollah Locations: Beirut, Iran, Israel, Dahieh, Lebanon

The blasts that rocked Lebanon for a second day reached the doors of a walkie-talkie maker in Japan on Thursday, as Israel’s declaration of a “new phase” to the conflict raised fears of all-out war. As the world urged against further escalation after months of devastating war with Hamas in Gaza, Israel indicated its focus had shifted to its northern border with Lebanon. “We are at the start of a new phase in the war — it requires courage, determination and perseverance on our part,” he said. In northern Israel, at least eight people were injured by anti-tank fire from across the Lebanon border, health authorities said early Thursday. While Israel has not taken responsibility for the attacks, the militant group and Lebanese officials also pinned the blame on Israel.

Persons: pagers, Hassan Nasrallah, Yoav Gallant, ”, Gallant, Defense Lloyd Austin, Israel, Abdallah Rashid Bouhabib, NNA, Icom, Kazuhiro Nogi, ” Yoshiki Enomoto, Enomoto, didn't, ” Icom, Cristiana, Gold, Arcidiacono Organizations: ”, Defense, NBC News, . Security, Lebanese Telecommunications Ministry, Getty, Reuters, Icom, NBC, Consulting, Taiwanese Ministry of Economic Affairs Locations: Lebanon, Japan, Iran, Gaza, Israel, U.S, New York, Taiwan, Bulgaria, Beirut, Osaka, Tokyo, AFP, East

☆ US military aid packages to Ukraine shrink amid concerns over Pentagon stockpiles
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-17 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —US military aid packages for Ukraine have been smaller in recent months, as the stockpiles of weapons and equipment that the Pentagon is willing to send Kyiv from its own inventory have dwindled. The shift comes amid concerns about US military readiness being impacted as US arms manufacturers play catchup to the huge demand created by the war against Russia. In April, Congress gave the Biden administration an additional $13.4 billion to use specifically to send Ukraine weapons and equipment drawn from US stockpiles. There are also limits, the official added, to how quickly Ukraine can absorb the equipment and distribute it effectively. Austin acknowledged at the meeting that the US is working to ramp up production and “speed up deliveries” to Ukraine.

Persons: Biden, “, Pat Ryder, It’s, won’t, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Defense Department hasn’t, Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin, ” Austin, ” Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, Russia, Russia’s, Patriot, National Security Council, Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Defense Department, Congress, ”, Defense Locations: Ukraine, Germany, Kyiv

The Iran-backed militant group said the wireless devices began to explode around 3:30 p.m. local time in a targeted Israeli attack on Hezbollah operatives. Experts say the explosions, unprecedented in their scale and nature, underscore Hezbollah’s vulnerability as its communication network was compromised to deadly effect. CNN could not geolocate the image, but has verified it was published Tuesday, the same day as the explosions. Hostilities are at an all-time high between Israel and Hezbollah following Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke twice with his Israeli counterpart, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, according to two US defense officials.

Persons: Israel, ”, Hassan Nasrallah, “, Avi Melamed, ” Melamed, David Kennedy, I’ve, John Miller, Amos Yadlin, Nasrallah, Yahya, ” Yadlin, Kim Ghattas, Ahmad Kaddoura, Miller, Ismail Haniyeh, Mohamed Azakir, ’, Defense Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Middle, GPS, New York Times, Times, US National Security Agency, Intelligence, Getty, American University of, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Reuters, Global, Defense, Israeli Locations: Lebanon, Iran, Gaza, East, Israel, Lebanese, Israeli, Sidon, Anadolu, United States, Iranian, Tehran, American University of Beirut

Search resuls for: "Defense Lloyd Austin"

25 mentions found