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CNN —The US government is “intensely tracking” an ongoing threat by Iran against current and former US officials, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday. Law enforcement officials have been concerned about the persistent threat of Iran potentially attempting to assassinate former Trump officials and the former president himself, multiple sources familiar with the matter have previously told CNN. US officials have not detailed the threats against current officials, and Blinken on Wednesday did not reveal further information. Congress is considering additional money for the Secret Service as part of its effort to keep the government funded ahead of a September 30 deadline. An additional $231 million for the Secret Service is included in a continuing resolution the House could vote on as soon as Wednesday.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Donald Trump, NBC’s, ” Blinken, Trump, ”, ODNI, ” Trump, Qasem Soleimani, Kamala Harris, CNN’s Evan Perez, Zachary Cohen, Natasha Bertrand, Kylie Atwood, Kristen Holmes Organizations: CNN, Trump, National Intelligence, Military, Truth Social, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Baghdad International Airport, Service Locations: Iran, United States, U.S, Baghdad

CNN —The United States is working urgently on a plan to mediate a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, according to three sources familiar with the matter, as officials eye with deepening concern the prospects of a widening conflict. The efforts come as Israel’s top general said Wednesday that the Israeli military is preparing for a possible ground incursion into Lebanon. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given the green light for his government to engage with the US efforts, an Israeli official told CNN. Amos Hochstein, a senior White House adviser, is involved, the source said, adding that the Americans are not talking to Hezbollah directly. Because while there’s a very legitimate issue here, we don’t think that war is the solution,” he told NBC News.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Amos Hochstein, Joe Biden, ”, Antony Blinken Organizations: CNN, Israel’s, White House, United Nations General, UN Security, West Bank, NBC News Locations: United States, Israel, France, Gaza, Lebanon, New York

Israel’s aerial bombardment killed nearly 500 people, including at least 35 children and 58 women, according to Lebanese authorities. That’s nearly half the number killed throughout the entire 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006. Lebanese civilians know all too well how frightening the Israeli military’s attempts to target Hezbollah can be. On Friday, Israeli jets carried out an airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs, in which they killed several senior Hezbollah commanders. But the missiles also destroyed a nine-story building in a densely populated neighborhood, killing 45 people, including women and children.

Persons: Bilal Hussein, That’s Organizations: AP Locations: Beirut's, AP Lebanon, Israel, The Iran, Beirut’s, Lebanon

“We are the closest we’ve been to spiraling to a regional war” since Hamas’ October 7 attack, one of the officials said. The US assesses that neither Israel nor Hezbollah are interested in a full-scale war, officials said. On Monday, Nasser Kanaani, a spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, warned of “dangerous consequences” following Israel’s strikes. Israel has told the US that a full-scale war is not the intent of its strikes, according to an Israeli official. The goal is a diplomatic solution through escalation, the Israeli official said.

Persons: “, Israel, Nasser Kanaani, “ They’ve, Joe Biden’s, ” “, Daniel Hagari, Hagari, ” Hagari, Hassan Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, Masoud Pezeshkian, “ Ismail Haniyeh, ” Pezeshkian, “ Israel Organizations: CNN, Ramat David, State Department, UN, Assembly, Pentagon, General Assembly, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Hezbollah Locations: Israel, Lebanon, East, Beirut, Ramat, Haifa, Iran, Tehran, New York, “, Gaza

☆ NORAD detects 4 Russian military aircraft near Alaska after US Army recently deployed soldiers to area
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( Mary Kay Mallonee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The North American Aerospace Defense Command says it detected four Russian military aircraft flying near Alaska on Monday, less than two weeks after US Army soldiers were deployed to the area as part of a “force protection operation” amid an increase in Russian and Chinese military exercises in the region. The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace in Alaska’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace, NORAD said in a statement. “This Russian activity in the Alaska ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat,” the statement said. NORAD intercepted Russian military aircraft flying near Alaska several times this month. Though the Biden administration has worked to resume high-level communications with China, including between military leaders, Beijing remains the US’ major military competitor.

Persons: Fort, Biden, Donald Trump, Harris, “, ” Trump, “ we’ll, CNN’s Natasha Bertrand Organizations: CNN, North American Aerospace Defense Command, US Army, Russian, NORAD, Army, 11th Airborne, Base Elmendorf, Republican, Biden Locations: Alaska, Shemya, Fort Wainwright, Ukraine, China, Beijing, Russia

CNN —The US is expected to announce a major weapons package to Ukraine as soon as next week, but it will likely delay the shipping of the equipment due to inventory shortages, according to two US officials. The US currently has $5.9 billion left in Presidential Drawdown Authority for Ukraine, the Pentagon said this week, which is set to expire at the end of the fiscal year in less than two weeks. Presidential drawdown packages were initially intended as a way of supplying Ukraine with arms and equipment in the short-term since the start of the war with Russia. More sophisticated equipment with long production times was sent through another mechanism – the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative – that purchased weapons directly from arms manufacturers for future delivery. The US believes Ukraine will need at least $500 million worth of presidential drawdown authority per month through fiscal year 2025, according to a senior administration official.

Persons: Sabrina Singh, Biden Organizations: CNN, US, Pentagon, Defense Department, Ukraine Security, Initiative Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia, Europe

☆ 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

☆ Russia will be ‘at war’ with NATO if Ukraine long-range missile restrictions lifted, Putin warns
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Avery Schmitz | Michael Conte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“This will mean that NATO countries – the United States and European countries – are at war with Russia,” Putin told reporters on Thursday. US officials have expressed concerns that allowing Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia could escalate the conflict and cause Russia to further accuse the US of being part of the war. Blinken said he discussed the restrictions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and would report back to President Biden. On Tuesday, the bipartisan congressional Ukraine caucus called on Biden to allow Ukraine to strike targets inside Russia with the long-range weapons. The United States already does provide intelligence to Ukraine, and has previously assisted in the targeting, although not with the long-range systems currently being considered.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, ” Putin, Joe Biden’s, Antony Blinken, we’ll, ” Blinken, Andrii Sybiha, David Lammy, Blinken, Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden, Putin, Stacie Pettyjohn, CNN’s Alex Marquardt, Rustem Umerov, William Courtney, ”, Michael Callahan, Natasha Bertrand, Oren Liebermann, Lex Harvey Organizations: CNN, NATO, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Britain’s, Biden, Republicans, West, United, Center, New American Security, Belbek Airbase, Tactical Missile, Ukrainian Defense, RAND Corporation Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, United States, Russia, Kyiv, Blinken’s Ukraine, Russian, Belbek, Crimea, Ukrainian, Iran, US

☆ Russian ship suspected of delivering Iranian ballistic missiles seen at Caspian Sea port
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Tim Lister | Gianluca Mezzofiore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A Russian cargo ship suspected of carrying Iranian ballistic missiles for Moscow’s war against Ukraine was seen at a Russian port on the Caspian Sea a week ago, satellite imagery shared with CNN shows. The ship had previously been in the Iranian port of Amirabad on August 29, according to ship tracking data. Period.”The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian charge d’affaires, Shahriar Amouzegar, this week following the reports of ballistic missiles being sent to Russia. By September 6, it had left the Russian port for another voyage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has frequently appealed to Kyiv’s allies for greater latitude in using Western missiles against targets inside Russia.

Persons: “, ”, Antony Blinken, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Shahriar, Amouzegar, Blinken, Sergei Shoigu, Ababil, ” Blinken, Volodymyr Zelensky, Joe Biden, Keir Starmer, Victoria Butenko, Natasha Bertrand, Kylie Atwood Organizations: CNN, Maxar Technologies, US Treasury, Russian Ministry of Defense, Treasury, Russia, Iranian Fatah, Islamic, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Washington, Iran, US, Russian Defense, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Western, UK Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Olya, Port Olya, Astrakhan ., Amirabad, Iran, Russia, London, Iranian, Islamic Republic, France, Germany, Washington, Astrakhan, The, United States

Officials are relying on multiple streams of intelligence, and there are divisions among national security officials on how and when Iran’s response might unfold. The relative uncertainty has left the Biden administration in a defensive crouch as it tries to rally allies and pressure Iran not to escalate tensions. The extent of the United States’ further involvement in the war largely depends on how exactly Iran responds to Haniyeh’s death. US destroyers helped shoot down ballistic missiles and drones launched by Iran at Israel in April. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris also met with the administration’s national security team in the White House Situation Room later Monday afternoon.

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh’s, crouch, Haniyeh –, Fu’ad Shukr, Israel, Majdal Shams, United States ’, Cole, Biden, “, Kamala Harris, Matthew Miller, Miller, Jomana Karadsheh, Michael Conte, Alex Marquardt, Zahid Mahmood Organizations: Washington CNN, Washington, CNN, Biden, United, US Central Command, State Department, US, Command Locations: Tehran, Iran, Washington, Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, Hezbollah, United States, Majdal, Golan, Gulf, Oman, Jordanian, Syria

☆ Russia pulled back weapons shipment to Houthis amid US and Saudi pressure
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Katie Bo Lillis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

For the Houthis to engage in that kind of weapons transaction, moreover, “would demonstrate to us a lack of commitment” by the Houthis to peace talks, the official said. Currently, the Houthis “appear to be drifting further away from a commitment to a negotiated peace in Yemen,” the official said. And while the imminent weapons transfer was pulled back, Russia did deploy military personnel to Yemen to help advise the Houthis over a three-day period in late July, the sources said. The Russians carried bags with them, but nothing that appeared large enough to carry weapons or weapons components, the sources said. It is not clear whether the Russian ships were carrying the equipment that Russia had been preparing to transfer to the Houthis before the Kremlin abandoned the plan.

Persons: “, Saudi Arabia’s pushback, Vladimir Putin, Biden, Oman — Organizations: CNN, US, Saudi Embassy, Kremlin, US Central Command Locations: Russia, Yemen, United States, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Moscow, Saudi, Russian, Ukraine, Somali, Shabaab, China, Oman

☆ Sean Grayson, who killed Sonya Massey, was removed from the Army for serious misconduct, had DUIs and needed ‘high stress decision’ classes, records show
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( Holly Yan | Bill Kirkos | Amanda Musa | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

He also failed to obey a command while working for another sheriff’s office in Illinois and was told he needed “high stress decision making classes,” the agency’s documents reveal. Bodycam footage from another deputy showed Massey saying she rebuked Grayson, and Grayson responded by threatening the 36-year-old. In May 2022, Grayson started working at the Logan County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois, records show. Then he started working full-time with Auburn police, the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, and finally the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office in May 2023. He resigned from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office in April 2023.

Persons: Sean Grayson, Sonya Massey, Grayson, Massey, Breonna Taylor, Atatiana Jefferson, Massey “, Ben Crump, Daniel Fultz, ” Grayson, DUIs, Crump, Bryce Dubee, “ Sean P, KSHB, Kincaid, “, Grayson “, ” “, Jack Campbell, “ Sonya Massey, ” Campbell, “ Grayson, ”, Malachi, ” Malachi, Jesus, ” Massey, Massey’s, Brad Parks, Natasha Bertrand, Emma Tucker, Eric Levenson Organizations: CNN, Army, Department of Defense, Kincaid Police Department, KSHB, Auburn Police Department, Pawnee, Auburn police, Office, Auburn, Massey Locations: Illinois, Sangamon County, Fort Riley, Kansas, Macoupin, Logan, Lincoln, Logan County, Sangamon County –, Massey

☆ NORAD intercepts Russian TU-95 Bear, Chinese H-6 bombers operating together near Alaska in first such flight
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Oren Liebermann | Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The North American Aerospace Defense Command intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what a US defense official said was the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together. The US and Canada, which together comprise NORAD, intercepted the Russian TU-95 Bear and Chinese H-6 bombers. It also marks the first time H-6 bombers, which are a derivative of older Soviet bombers, have entered the Alaska ADIZ, the defense official said. The intercept was carried out by US F-16 and F-35 fighter jets, as well as Canadian CF-18 fighter jets, according to the defense official. In May, Russia flew four aircraft into Alaska’s ADIZ, which NORAD said at the time “occurs regularly.”But the presence of Chinese aircraft appears to be a new development.

Persons: Gregory Guillot, ” Guillot, ” Organizations: CNN, North American Aerospace Defense Command, NORAD, Canadian CF, US Northern Command, Senate Armed Services Committee Locations: Alaska, Canada, Russian, Russia, China

☆ US military ends troubled temporary pier mission off Gaza coast
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Haley Britzky | Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The US military is ending its temporary pier mission off the Gaza coast that has been plagued with challenges after roughly 20 days of operational use, as humanitarian aid begins being brought in through an Israeli port instead. Cooper said the pier was operational for “a little more than 20 days” and delivered 19.4 million pounds of aid. The US military will continue to help deliver the remaining aid from Cyprus to Ashdod, Cooper said. “A temporary pier would enable a massive increase in the amount of humanitarian assistance getting into Gaza every day,” Biden said. During the same storm, four US Army vessels supporting the pier were washed ashore on beaches in Gaza and Israel.

Persons: ”, Brad Cooper, redeploy, Cooper, Israel —, Joe Biden, “, ” Biden, Steve Taravella, Sonali Korde, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: CNN, US Central Command, US Army, Brooke Army Medical Center, Food, Food Programme, Bureau, Humanitarian Locations: Gaza, Cyprus, Ashdod, Israel, San Antonio , Texas

☆ How Boeing defrauded the United States and escaped with a slap on the wrist
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-13 | by ( Chris Isidore | Pete Muntean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Boeing agreed to plead guilty to a charge that it defrauded the Federal Aviation Administration, hiding crucial information about a design flaw on the 737 Max during its original certification process. Boeing attorneys had it as part of their mission to make sure that its executives did not face any criminal charges, Lindquist said. A Boeing spokesman said the company had no comment about the anticipated guilty plea or the case beyond a brief statement confirming the agreement. Another way to make executives payEven if there are no criminal charges brought against executives, they can face significant penalties, Arlen said. Why Boeing will keep its government contractsThe most serious penalty that Boeing could face is by far the least likely – it could be barred from federal government contracts due to its guilty plea.

Persons: Critics, ”, Peter Goeltz, Goeltz, “ I’m, Moody’s, Paul Cassell, Jemal Countess, “, Mark Lindquist, Lindquist, FAA ”, Mark Forkner, ” Lindquist, there’s, that’s, Arlen, Dave Calhoun, Dennis Muilenburg, Calhoun, Max, Patrick Ryder, Robert Clifford, – CNN’s Natasha Bertrand Organizations: New, New York CNN, Boeing, Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, CNN, ”, Alaska Airlines, Justice Department, FAA, Volkswagen, University of Utah, Ethiopian Airlines, Max, Alaska Air, DOJ, “, Department of Defense, Pentagon, Air Force, Department of Justice, they’re Boeing Locations: New York, Alaska, Indonesia

For more than six months, Russia has been carrying out a sabotage campaign across Europe, largely by proxy. “We’re seeing sabotage, we’re seeing assassination plots, we’re seeing arson. Russia’s sabotage campaign has, at times, smacked of a shotgun approach carried out by amateurs. In London in March, several men were charged with working with Russian intelligence services to set fire to a Ukrainian-linked warehouse. And French authorities last month detained a Russian-Ukrainian man who was allegedly building bombs as part of a sabotage campaign orchestrated by Moscow.

Persons: Armin Papperger, Olaf Scholz, Boris Pistorius, Fabian Bimmer, “, ”, Adrienne Watson, “ Russia’s, Oliver Hoffman, ” Hoffman, Donald Tusk, Papperger, Dariusz Borowicz, Agencja Wyborcza.pl, Reuters “, ” CNN’s Zachary Cohen Organizations: CNN, Kyiv, Rheinmetall, NATO, National Security, NATO Allies, Embassy, intel, US, Reuters, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Europe, Kyiv, Germany, Berlin, Russia, West, Moscow, Papperger, Unterluess, United States, Washington, Russian, Polish, Lithuania, Poland, Ukrainian, London, Warsaw

☆ NATO allies are discussing reclaiming some Chinese-owned infrastructure in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Kayla Tausche | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —NATO officials are discussing taking action to reclaim some Chinese-owned infrastructure projects in Europe should a wider conflict with Russia break out in the east of the continent, three officials involved in the discussions told CNN. A decade ago, when Europe was still crawling out of the economic crater caused by the global financial crisis, the promise of infrastructure funding from Chinese-owned investment firms seemed like a major windfall. The fear, according to one US official, is that Beijing could use the infrastructure it owns in Europe to provide material assistance to Russia if the conflict were to expand. The discussions reflect an increasing focus on China by the NATO alliance. A NATO official said that if a war erupted, the infrastructure “would almost certainly be nationalized, or nations would temporarily assume operating control, under emergency security measures.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Kishida, ” Blinken, Jens Stoltenberg, CNN’s Natasha Bertrand Organizations: CNN, NATO, Washington, Moscow, Beijing, Initiative, Helsinki Shipyard –, US, Ukraine, European Union Locations: Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Beijing, China, NATO, Eastern Europe, Baltic, Finland, Canada, Japan, East Asia, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, France, Washington

☆ Troubled US military pier near Gaza to be permanently removed as soon as next week, US officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Oren Liebermann | Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Last month marked the third time that the pier has been disconnected from Gaza because of inclement weather. But once the remaining aid is delivered, the pier is expected to be removed from the coast of Gaza and the operation, which began in mid-May, will end, officials said. Since the pier began operations, more than 19.4 million pounds of humanitarian aid have been delivered via the pier to the collection area in Gaza. Its removal will mark the end of a highly anticipated, but deeply troubled effort to flow humanitarian aid to the population of Gaza. The Pentagon and USAID inspectors general have launched coordinated reviews of the pier operation, they announced last month.

Persons: Pat Ryder, “ Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, ”, US, Associated Press, Israel Defense Forces, USAID, Republicans Locations: Gaza, Cyprus, Ashdod, Israel, Egypt

☆ Intelligence on Russian sabotage threat prompted increase in security at US military bases in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

In April, two German-Russian nationals were arrested for allegedly plotting bomb and arson attacks on targets including US military facilities on behalf of Russia. In London in March, several men were charged with working with Russian intelligence services to set fire to a Ukrainian-linked warehouse. And French authorities last month detained a Russian-Ukrainian man who was allegedly building bombs as part of a sabotage campaign orchestrated by Moscow. But a senior NATO official said the sabotage campaign is getting increasingly brazen and aggressive. “We’re seeing sabotage, assassination plots, arson — real things that have cost human lives.”This story has been updated with additional information.

Persons: Dan Day, we’ve, “, Katie Bo Lillis Organizations: CNN, US, US Army, NATO, Command Locations: Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Riga, Latvia, London, Warsaw, Poland, Prague, Czech Republic, Paris, Ukrainian, Russian, Moscow

CNN —Ukraine’s path to joining NATO was described as “irreversible” in a draft text of the alliance’s joint communique, three sources familiar told CNN Monday. While many Europeans have emphasized the need for strong language around Ukraine’s eventual future in the alliance, US and German officials had proposed describing a “bridge” to NATO membership for Ukraine. Ruslan Stefanchuk, the chair of Ukraine’s parliament, said at an event Monday that it’s not just about language, but it’s about actually bringing Ukraine closer to NATO. “There is rightly considerable focus on what Allies will say about Ukraine’s membership path in the summit declaration. “I’ll let the Ukrainians speak for themselves, but I think they understand the value of what NATO will be doing for that,” they said.

Persons: Ruslan Stefanchuk, it’s, ” Michael Carpenter, “, “ I’ll, ” Organizations: CNN, NATO, White House, Ukraine, Russia, Ukraine ”, National Security Council Locations: Ukraine, Washington, Kyiv, Moscow, European, Europe, Wiesbaden

☆ Biden and Netanyahu are expected to meet later this month in Washington, source says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-02 | by ( Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —President Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to meet in Washington, DC, in several weeks when the Israeli prime minister visits to address Congress on July 24, a source familiar told CNN. US and Israeli officials are still in the process of nailing down logistical details for the Biden-Netanyahu meeting, which would likely take place at the White House, the source said. A White House official told CNN that Biden has known Netanyahu for decades, and that “they will likely see each other when the Prime Minister is here over the course of that week. But we have nothing to announce at this time.”CNN has also reached out to the prime minister’s office for comment. Last month, Biden said in an interview that Netanyahu may be dragging out the war in an attempt to cling to power and said it was “uncertain” whether Israel had committed war crimes.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Biden, “, ”, ” Biden, Israel, Antony Blinken “, Amos Hochstein, Netanyahu’s, CNN’s Jack Forrest, Christian Edwards, Tara John, Kevin Liptak, Natasha Bertrand, Arlette Saenz, Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood, Melanie Zanona, Oren Liebermann, Piper Hudspeth Blackburn Organizations: CNN, Biden, White, ” CNN Locations: Washington , DC, Israel, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Washington

☆ Several US military bases in Europe on heightened alert amid possible terrorist threat
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-30 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Several US military bases across Europe were put on a heightened state of alert over the weekend, with the level of force protection raised to its second-highest state amid concerns that a terrorist attack could target US military personnel or facilities, according to two US officials. The bases, including the US Army garrison in Stuttgart, Germany where US European Command is headquartered, raised their alert level to Force Protection Condition “Charlie” on Sunday, the officials said. But he told CNN that USEUCOM is “constantly assessing a variety of factors that play into the safety of US military community abroad. Since March, France has raised its national security alert system to the highest level, according to the US embassy in France. “French authorities actively monitor terrorist threats from organized groups and radicalized individuals,” the embassy said.

Persons: Charlie ”, ”, Dan Day, USEUCOM, Nancy Faeser Organizations: CNN, US Army, US, Command, Cdr, Paris Olympics, ”, Olympic Games Locations: Europe, Stuttgart, Germany, ” France, France

CNN —President Joe Biden is expected to pardon US veterans who were convicted by the military over a 60-year period under a military law that banned gay sex, three US officials told CNN. The granting of pardons won’t automatically change convicted veterans’ records but allows those impacted to apply for a certificate of pardon that will help them receive withheld benefits. A service member’s discharge status can determine what kind of Veterans Affairs benefits they are eligible for. “For decades, our LGBTQ+ service members were forced to hide or were prevented from serving altogether,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at the time. If a certificate of pardon is issued, the service member will then have to apply to their respective military department’s board of corrections to have their military records corrected.

Persons: Joe Biden, won’t, Don’t, ”, Lloyd Austin Organizations: CNN, Military, Veterans Affairs, Pentagon, ”, Department

☆ Biden administration moving towards allowing American military contractors to deploy to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The Biden administration is moving toward lifting a de facto ban on American military contractors deploying to Ukraine, four US officials familiar with the matter told CNN, to help the country’s military maintain and repair US-provided weapons systems. The change would mark another significant shift in the Biden administration’s Ukraine policy, as the US looks for ways to give Ukraine’s military an upper hand against Russia. The policy is still being worked on by administration officials and has not received final sign-off yet from President Joe Biden, officials said. Allowing experienced, US government-funded American contractors to maintain a presence in Ukraine means they will be able to help fix damaged, high-value equipment much faster, officials said. The discussions follow a series of decisions the US has made in recent months to try to help Ukraine beat back the Russians.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden, “, ”, Jake Sullivan, Alex Vindman, Donald Trump’s, Vindman, ” Vindman Organizations: CNN, Biden, Russia, ”, Pentagon, State Department, Administration, Ukraine, National, European Affairs, Donald Trump’s National Security Council Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian, Poland, Romania, Kharkiv, Iraq, Afghanistan

☆ US signals that it has expanded policy to allow Ukraine to counterstrike into Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Haley Britzky | Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The US appears to have expanded its agreement with Ukraine to strike over the border inside Russian territory wherever Russian forces are engaging in cross-border attacks into Ukraine, not just in the Kharkiv region as was previously determined. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told PBS News on Monday that the agreement with Ukraine to fire into Russia extends wherever Russian forces are attempting to invade. “It extends to anywhere that Russian forces are coming across the border from the Russian side to the Ukrainian side to try to take additional Ukrainian territory,” Sullivan said, adding that it’s “not about geography. The change marks a significant shift in the limited nature of the agreement between the US and Ukraine. “Russia opened a new front, they opened the front in the north in Kharkiv, where they’re attacking directly from Russian territory just over the border.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan, Charlie Dietz, ” Dietz, Joe Biden, there’s, Jens Stoltenberg, Ukraine “, ” Stoltenberg, I’ll, ”, There’s, John Kirby Organizations: CNN, National, PBS, Pentagon, US Defense Department, NATO, National Security Locations: Ukraine, Kharkiv, Russia, Brussels, ”, Russian

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