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[1/2] US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik attend a welcome ceremony before their annual security meeting at the Defence Ministry in Seoul, South Korea on November 13, 2023. JUNG YEON-JE/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Nov 13 (Reuters) - South Korea and the United States have revised a bilateral security agreement aimed at deterring North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threats during talks on Monday, South Korea's defence ministry said. The Tailored Deterrence Strategy (TDS) is aimed at countering the threat of North Korea's nuclear weapons and other armaments, according to an announcement on the agreement by the two countries 10 years ago. The revision was considered necessary because the existing strategy did not adequately address the rapid advancements in North Korea's missile and nuclear threats, it said. Earlier, South Korea's defence ministry said Shin and Austin would discuss jointly countering threats by North Korea, including through executing an "extended deterrence" strategy.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won, sik, JUNG YEON, Shin Won, Lloyd Austin, Shin, Austin, Phil Stewart, Hyunsu Yim, Jack Kim, Ed Davies, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Defense, South Korean Defence Minister, Defence Ministry, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Korea's Defence, U.S ., The Defence Ministry, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, United States, North Korea, United, Korea

JUNG YEON-JE/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Nov 13 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday left open the possibility of more strikes against Iran-linked groups if attacks against American forces in Iraq and Syria don't stop, hours after overnight U.S. air strikes in Syria. "These attacks must stop, and if they don't stop, then we won't hesitate to do what's necessary, again, to protect the troops," Austin told reporters at a news conference in Seoul. Austin said the latest air strikes in eastern Syria targeted facilities used by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and related groups. "These strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the freedom of action of these groups, which are directly responsible for attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria," Austin said. It was still unclear whether anyone was killed in the latest U.S. strikes in Syria.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won, sik, JUNG YEON, Lloyd Austin, Albu Kamal, Austin, Phil Stewart, Ed Davies, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Defense, South Korean Defence Minister, Defence Ministry, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, . Defense, American, U.S, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, United, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, Iran, Iraq, Syria, The U.S, Albu, Mayadeen, Israel, U.S, United States, State, East

☆ Five US service members killed in aircraft training accident in eastern Mediterranean Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Five US service members were killed in an aircraft crash during a training flight in the eastern Mediterranean Sea on Friday evening, according to a statement from US European Command. The accident occurred during a routine air refueling mission as part of military training, EUCOM said. All five service members on board the helicopter died. It’s unclear exactly what happened or at what point in the flight the crash occurred, but the accident remains under investigation. Our entire nation shares their grief.”Service members, Biden continued, “willingly take risks to keep the American people safe and secure.

Persons: EUCOM, Joe Biden, “ Jill, Biden, “, Defense Lloyd Austin, ” Organizations: CNN, Command, Service, Defense, America Locations: Gaza, Israel, Lebanon

NEW DELHI (AP) — Top diplomats and defense chiefs from India and the United States met Friday focusing on security issues involving the Indo-Pacific, China and the Israel-Hamas war. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. and India have a strong partnership and would discuss matters with implications for the future. He also said that the United States and India are bolstering their partnership in international peace and strengthening a rule-based order. Political Cartoons View All 1239 ImagesBlinken also said defense cooperation was a key pillar in ties between the countries. India and the U.S. have held the two-plus-two talks between India’s external affairs and defense minister and the U.S. secretaries of state and defense since 2018 to discuss issues of concern and strengthen bilateral ties.

Persons: Antony Blinken, ”, Blinken, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Uday Bhaskar, Defense Lloyd Austin, Rajnath Singh, Narendra Modi’s Organizations: DELHI, —, U.S, Association of Southeast, Nations, Defense, Indian Locations: India, United, Pacific, China, Israel, U.S, Asia, Japan, Australia, United States, Palestine, Gaza, Ukraine, Philippines, South China, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Washington

☆ Iran envoy says Tehran had no direct role in Hamas’ Israel rampage, or proxy attacks on US forces
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Jennifer Deaton | Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Iravani said there was cooperation and collaboration, but that Iran was not directing any of those operations. He likened Iran’s role to that of the US in providing assistance to Israel. Tehran has long been accused of arming Hamas and other Iran-aligned groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, as regional attacks by its proxies have escalated and become increasingly frequent. CNN pressed Iravani as to whether Iran supported Hamas’ murder of women and children and its hostage-taking on October 7. Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shi’a movement based in Lebanon with one of the most powerful paramilitary forces in the Middle East, has also said that Hamas’ attack was kept secret from them.

Persons: Amir Saeid Iravani, Iravani, “, ”, Defense Lloyd Austin, General Hassan Nasrallah, Nasrallah Organizations: CNN, Republic’s United Nations, UN, United States, Pentagon, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Defense, Quds Force, US, Hamas, Israel Locations: Iran, Lebanon, Israel, Houthis, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, IRGC, UN, Tehran, Gaza, East

Instead, ongoing exercises in Hawaii, which conclude Friday, highlight part of a new American approach to Pacific defense and deterrence, with a focus on small groups of mobile land forces operating from islands like those off China's coast. As part of its “Operation Pathways” revamp of Pacific defense set in motion nearly a decade ago, the U.S. has been increasing its number of exercises with partners in the Indo-Pacific. “And that helps the U.S. to overcome its numerical disadvantages as China's navy is continuing to expand. The exercises provide experience in technical and procedural interoperability and also build human bonds that can be critical in times of crisis. Austin’s travels overlap with Secretary of State Antony Blinken ’s own visits to Tokyo, Seoul and New Delhi.

Persons: ”, Marcus Evans, Euan Graham, ” Graham, Evans, ” Evans, Defense Lloyd Austin, Antony Blinken ’, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Graham Organizations: 25th Infantry Division, U.S . Air Force, Wheeler Army, U.S . Department of Defense, U.S . Navy, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, U.S, United States Army, Defense, ” Aircraft Locations: BANGKOK, Taiwan, U.S, Beijing, China, Israel, Iran, Hawaii, American, New Zealand, Indonesia, Thailand, Britain, Oahu, United States, Mariana Islands, Guam, Pacific, Philippines, South Korea, Japan, Australia, India, Tokyo, Seoul, New Delhi, Solomon Islands, Washington

☆ Marjorie Taylor Greene and other Republicans are taking advantage of a 19th-century House rule to try to lower Biden officials' salaries to $1
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In 1876, the House passed the Holman Rule for the very first time. The rule's been utilized 36 times this year by House Republicans. AdvertisementAdvertisementRep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and House Republicans are trying to bring an obscure House rule from the 19th century back in vogue. The Holman Rule hasn't always been included in rules packages since it its introduction in 1876 — the rule has been removed and re-added to the House rule book on numerous occasions. The 115th Congress also briefly instituted the Holman Rule, though the congressional body never passed a single amendment using it.

Persons: Holman, —, Marjorie Taylor Greene, William S Holman, Greene's, Defense Lloyd Austin, Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Alejandro Mayorkas, Amanda Bennett, Pete, Greene, Antony Blinken, Cyrus Salazar, hasn't, Kevin McCarthy Organizations: House Republicans, Service, Biden, Rep, Defense, Transportation, Homeland, US Agency for Global Media, White, Lawmakers, Department of Defense's, Diversity, Equity, Senate, GOP, Representatives, Congress Locations: Canadian

☆ Blinken to visit South Korea as North Korea, Russia deepen ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Seoul visit comes as the United States and South Korea, along with Japan, have condemned what they say is the supply of arms and military equipment by North Korea to Russia. North Korea is preparing to launch a spy satellite after having failed twice this year to put one in orbit. South Korea's spy agency said last week North Korea was in the final stages of preparations for the launch after apparently receiving technical assistance from Russia. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is also due to visit South Korea this week on a trip that will include Indonesia and India. In Washington, U.S. and South Korean officials held talks on North Korea's illicit cyber activities that they say fund its unlawful weapons programs, South Korea's foreign ministry said.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Yoko Kamikawa, Toshifumi, military's Vandenberg, Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin, Soo, Choi, Ed Davies, Michael Perry Organizations: Japanese, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, South Korean, SpaceX, U.S, Defense, Blinken, United, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Rights SEOUL, Seoul, Russia, Blinken's, Asia, India, Israel, United States, South Korea, North Korea, Washington, North, Ukraine, Pyongyang, Korea, Moscow, Russia's, South, Indonesia, North Korean, Pacific, Washington , U.S, United Nations

☆ Top Biden administration officials head to Asia to show China remains a top priority amid Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —The Biden administration’s senior-most national security officials are traveling this week to the Indo-Pacific, signaling that the administration’s China strategy remains a priority as it grapples with an increasingly volatile Middle East. Blinken and Austin will both travel to India for a 2+2 Dialogue with their counterparts. Meanwhile, talks between US and Chinese officials stalled until this summer when Blinken met with senior Chinese officials in Beijing. Asked by CNN on Monday if Austin would be meeting with any PRC officials during his travel, Pentagon spokesman Brig. The senior officials’ travel also comes as the White House is preparing for a meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month in San Francisco.

Persons: Washington CNN —, Biden, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, CQ Brown, Brown, Austin, Blinken, —, Nancy Pelosi’s, Ely Ratner, John Aquilino, “, ”, Li Shangfu, Pat Ryder, Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, ” Kritenbrink, Blinken —, Israel —, ’, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, “ It’s, Karine Jean, Pierre said, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: Washington CNN, Biden administration’s, Defense, Joint Chiefs, Staff, West Bank, Security, Relations, US Air Force, US, East, Military, Pacific Command, ASEAN Defense, China’s, CNN, Pentagon, East Asian, Pacific Affairs, State Department, Hamas, Israel Locations: China, East, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Japan, Taiwan, Chinese, South China, Beijing, Pacific, Iranian, Iraq, Syria, Gaza, San Francisco

☆ Blinken makes unannounced visit to Iraq
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Baghdad, Iraq CNN —Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Sunday – a significant stop on his whirlwind trip through the region. Blinken met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in Baghdad for more than an hour. In the wake of Hamas’ October 7 attack, Iranian-backed proxy groups have scaled up attacks aimed at US troops in Iraq and Syria. Ahead of his stop in Iraq, Blinken on Sunday also met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah amid escalating Israeli settler violence in the West Bank. Before Blinken’s visit to Iraq, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was the highest-ranking Biden administration official to travel to the country, when he made an unannounced trip to Baghdad in March.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Mohammed Shia, “, ” Blinken, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, Mahmoud Abbas, Blinken’s, Defense Lloyd Austin, Biden, CNN’s Jack Forrest, Abby Baggini, Oren Liebermann Organizations: Iraq CNN, Sunday, Iraqi, Embassy, US, State Department, Palestinian, West Bank, Defense Locations: Baghdad, Iraq, Sudani, Israel, Iranian, Syria, Gaza, Ramallah, Jordan, Cyprus, Turkey

Biden also asked for $14.3 billion for Israel, $9 billion for humanitarian relief -- including for Israel and Gaza -- $13.6 billion for U.S. border security, $4 billion in military assistance and government financing to counter China's regional efforts in Asia. Congress has already approved $113 billion for Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, but Biden's $24 billion request for more funds in August never moved ahead. Democrats - and many Republicans - in the Democratic-majority Senate back Biden's strategy of combining Ukraine aid with support for Israel. Newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson has voted in the past against assistance for Kyiv. Biden's support for Israel, which already receives $3.8 billion in annual U.S. military assistance, has drawn criticism amid international appeals for Gaza civilians to be protected.

Persons: Joe Biden, Leah Millis, Joe Biden's, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, Biden, Mitch McConnell, Donald Trump, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, Patricia Zengerle, Aistair Bell, Nick Zieminski Organizations: White, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Defense, Kyiv, REPUBLICANS, Democratic, Israel, Republican, University of Louisville, Internal Revenue Service, Democrats, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Ukraine, Israel, U.S, United States, Gaza, Asia, Congress, Russia, Washington, China

In the first major legislative action under new Speaker Mike Johnson, House of Representatives Republicans unveiled a standalone supplemental spending bill only for Israel on Monday. Republicans have a 221-212 majority in the House, but Biden's fellow Democrats control the Senate 51-49. To become law, the bill would have to pass both the House and Senate and be signed by Biden. The top Senate Democrat said the Republican bill would be dead on arrival in the upper chamber, even if it passed the House. "We need to treat all four of these areas, all four of them, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the border," McConnell told reporters.

Persons: Anas, Joe Biden, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden's, Biden, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Antony Blinken, Johnson, Defense Lloyd Austin, Blinken, Matthew Miller, Patricia Zengerle, Costas Pitas, Jonathan Oatis, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Republicans, Revenue Service, Democratic, Israel, Senate, Democrat, Republican, Leader, Management, Budget, Defense, Department, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, China, U.S, Mexico, East, Taiwan

Republicans have a narrow majority in the House, but Biden's fellow Democrats control the Senate. To become law, the bill would have to pass both the House and Senate and be signed by Biden. Democrats said the Republican bill would be dead on arrival in the Senate, even if it passed the House. "We need to treat all four of these areas, all four of them, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the border," McConnell told reporters. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said they had discussed issues including Biden's request for support for Ukraine and Israel.

Persons: Anas, Mike Johnson, Joe Biden's, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Antony Blinken, Johnson, Defense Lloyd Austin, Blinken, Matthew Miller, Patricia Zengerle, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Republicans, Internal Revenue, House Republicans, Israel, Senate, Biden, Democrats, Republican, Democratic, Leader, Defense, Department, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, China, U.S, Mexico, Taiwan

☆ Saudi defense minister expected to visit White House on Monday, Axios reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi's new Defence Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman chairs his first meeting with military officials in the Ministry of Defence in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, September 28, 2022. Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is expected to visit Washington on Monday for meetings with senior Biden administration officials, Axios reported on Saturday, citing three sources with knowledge of the trip. Khalid bin Salman is expected to meet with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and several senators, according to the Axios report. The White House National Security Council told Reuters it had nothing to confirm when asked about the possible visit. U.S. President Joe Biden and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman on a call on Tuesday discussed efforts to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict widening.

Persons: Prince Khalid bin Salman, Axios, Khalid bin Salman, Jake Sullivan, Defense Lloyd Austin, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Mohamed bin Salman, Biden, Michael Martina, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Defence Minister, Ministry of Defence, Saudi Press Agency, Handout, REUTERS, Rights, Saudi Arabian Defense, Washington, Biden, Saturday, Hamas, White House, Defense, White House National Security Council, Reuters, Saudi Arabian, Palestinian, Thomson Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Gaza

As tensions soar over the Israel-Hamas conflict, U.S. and coalition troops have been attacked at least 19 times in Iraq and in Syria by Iran-backed forces in the past week. The targets were weapons and munitions storage facilities, the official added, speaking late on Thursday to reporters in Washington. The United States has occasionally carried out retaliatory strikes against Iranian-backed forces in the region after they attack American forces. In March, the U.S. military carried out multiple air strikes in Syria against Iran-aligned groups that it blamed for a drone attack that killed an American contractor. There is growing concern that the Israel-Hamas conflict could spread through the Middle East and turn U.S. troops at isolated bases into targets.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin III, Olivier Matthys, Lloyd Austin, Joe Biden, Austin, Abu Kamal, Biden, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Asad, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Jamie Freed, Michael Perry Organizations: Defense, Ukraine Defense Contact, NATO Defense, Rights, U.S, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Pentagon, . Defense, United, Iranian, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Brussels, Belgium, Syria, Iraq, Israel, U.S, Iran, Iranian, Syrian, Washington, United States, Tehran, State, East, Yemen

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

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

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

☆ Davos in the Desert: Jamie Dimon and other bankers visit Saudi Arabia as Israel-Hamas war rages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Dubbed “Davos in the Desert,” the annual Future Investment Initiative (FII) will welcome about 6,000 participants from more than 90 countries over the next three days. Since the Hamas assault on October 7, Israel has widened its offensive against the Palestinian militant group and other regional enemies. Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammad bin Salman, denied any personal involvement in Khashoggi’s murder but later confirmed it was carried out by Saudi officials. Bin Salman chairs the Public Investment Fund. “Very few people” had canceled plans to attend the conference, according to Richard Attias, the CEO of the FII Institute, the event’s organizer.

Persons: Jamie Dimon, Citigroup’s Jane Fraser, Defense Lloyd Austin, Larry Fink, Goldman Sachs, David Solomon, Noel Quinn, Ray Dalio, Stephen Schwarzman, Harvey Schwartz, Blackstone, Carlyle, “ We’re, it’s, ”, Fraser, Fink, “, Karen E, WeWork, Slack, Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia’s, Mohammad bin Salman, Bin Salman, bin Salman, Masayoshi, Richard Attias, Young, — Winston Lo, Michelle Toh Organizations: London CNN, “, Future Investment Initiative, Defense, Palestinian, Israel Defense Forces, West Bank, HSBC, Citigroup, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, Columbia University’s Center, Global Energy, CNN, Reliance Retail, Softbank’s Vision, Future Investment, FII Institute, Young of Columbia University Locations: Saudi Arabia, Israel, “ Davos, Gaza, Lebanon, Riyadh, Ukraine, Europe, United States, Washington, Russia, Saudi, Istanbul, Kingdom, Hong Kong

☆ Intelligence shows Iranian-backed militias are ready to ramp up their attacks against US forces in the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Natasha Bertrand Katie Bo Lillis Zachary Cohen Jennifer Hansler | Natasha Bertrand | Katie Bo Lillis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The US has intelligence that Iranian-backed militia groups are planning to ramp up attacks against US forces in the Middle East, as Iran seeks to capitalize on the backlash in the region to US support for Israel, according to multiple US officials. The militia groups have already launched multiple drone attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria. But the US now has specific intelligence that those same groups could escalate even further as the war between Israel and Hamas continues. Officials said that at this point, Iran appears to be encouraging the groups rather than explicitly directing them. In the case of the recent drone attacks on bases housing US forces, “Iran is certainly more culpable than in the case of the Hamas attack in Israel,” said another person familiar with the intelligence.

Persons: John Kirby, ”, Kirby, “, Matthew Miller, they’re, ” “ It’s, Defense Lloyd Austin, Naledi, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, ” Abdollahian, ” Austin Organizations: CNN, Israel, Officials, National Security, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, Quds Force, State, State Department, ISIS, Defense, Pentagon, US Navy, Iran’s Locations: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Tehran, Qatar, Iranian, Yemen, East

☆ Sec. Austin said US is 'concerned about potential escalation'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Aileen Graef | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Sunday the US is “concerned about potential escalation” in the Middle East a day after announcing the deployment of additional military assets to the region. “We’re concerned about potential escalation. Both the THAAD and Patriots systems are air defense systems designed to shoot down short, medium and intermediate ballistic missiles. Last week, a US Navy warship operating in the Middle East intercepted multiple projectiles near the coast of Yemen fired by Iranian-backed Houthi militants, who are engaged in an ongoing conflict in the country. These steps will bolster regional deterrence efforts, increase force protection for U.S. forces in the region, and assist in the defense of Israel,” Austin said in a statement.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, “ We’re, ”, Austin, Biden, ” Austin, Yoav Gallant, “, Israel, Jon Organizations: CNN, Defense, Sunday, Area Defense, Patriots, US Navy, East, ABC Locations: East, Israel, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Iranian, Iraq, Gaza

☆ How Ukraine is beating the Russian airforce with US missiles
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukraine has been bolstering its air defense capabilities in recent months, and it shot down five Russian Su-25 attack jets over a 10 day period, The Kyiv Post reported. Canada also announced it was donating 43 AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles to Ukraine in May. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkraine sought assistance from the US to replenish its air defense arsenal, and AIM-9s were on the list. Meanwhile, the UK has also supplied advanced AIM-132 ASRAAM air-to-air missiles, which Ukraine has fitted to trucks. —🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) August 4, 2023Adding to its mix-and-match armory, Ukraine's recently acquired ATACMS has boosted its capability to attack the Russian air force.

Persons: —, we've, Oleksandr Shtupun, Defense Lloyd Austin Organizations: Service, Kyiv Post, US AIM, AIM, US Air Force, Ukrainian, Stingers, Defense Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Russian, Kyiv, Canada

An aerial view of residential buildings destroyed in Israeli airstrikes in Zahra City, Gaza, on October 21. Ronen Zvulun/Reuters A woman mourns over a dead man at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza City on October 18. Yousef Masoud/The New York Times A morgue worker arranges body bags at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on October 12. Ramez Mahmoud/AP A plume of smoke rises in the sky over Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on October 9. Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Reuters Palestinian citizens inspect damage to their homes caused by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on October 8.

Persons: CNN —, “, Daniel Hagari, ”, Jonathan Conricus, Ali Jadallah, Shadi Tabatibi, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Belal al Sabbagh, Mohammed Saber, Khan, Rizek Abdeljawad, Ahmad Gharabli, Janis Laizans, Abed Khaled, Mohammed Dahman, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, Yasser Qudih, Ofir Libstein, Aza, Ronen Zvulun, Belal Khaled, Abed Rahim Khatib, Leon Neal, Hod, Ayal Margolin, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Brendan Smialowski, Biden, Netanyahu, Kenny Holston, Ariel Schalit, Mohammed Abed, Kfar Aza, Ilia Yefimovich, Mustafa Hassona, Mahmoud Khaled, Samar Abu, Fatima Shbair, Dor Reder, Violeta Santos Moura, Shir Torem, Wahaj Bani Moufleh, Antonio Macías, Macías, Francisco Seco, Eli Albag, Liri, Mohammed Talatene, Sergey Ponomarev, Hatem Ali, Dor Kedmi, Mahmud Hams, Saher, Hatem Moussa, Abraham Cohen, Valentin Ghnassia, Ghnassia, Yuri Cortez, Yousef Masoud, Ibrahim Hams, Bashar Taleb, Baz Ratner, Jack Guez, Yahya Hassouna, Mapal Adam, Abed Zagout, Tamir Kalifa, Agha, Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, Reuters Itzik, Miriam Shafir, Dor Shafir, Savion Kiper, Maya Alleruzzo, Mohammed Salem, CNN Sergey Ponomarev, Eden Guez, Atef Safadi, Ohad, Mohammed Soboh, Said, Noam Elimeleh Rothenberg, Amir Cohen, Ilai Bar Sade, Erik Marmor, Oren Ziv, Majdi, Ramez Mahmoud, Roi Levy, Alleruzzo, Tali Touito, Jalaa Marey, Oded, Khan Younis, Ahmad Hasballah, Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa, Tsafrir, Ilan Rosenberg, Eyad Baba, Itai Ron, Hadas Parush, Herzl Halevi, “ We’ll, We’ll, Halevi, Joe Biden “, Defense Lloyd Austin Organizations: CNN, West Bank, Palestinian, Israel Defense Forces, Sunday, Al, Islamic, Palestinian Ministry of Health, Getty, Reuters, Reuters Civil, AP Rockets, AP Israel's, Regional, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Israel's, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Israeli, Ben Gurion International, New York Times, Shifa, AP, Aris Messinis, Haim, Mount, Mount Herzl Military, Nova, Anadolu Agency, Nova Festival, Ben Gurion, Rockets, United Nations, Reuters Police, Reuters Rockets, Staff, Golani Brigade, Defense, Area Defense, Patriots, Hamas, IDF, Food Programme, WFP Locations: Gaza, Israel, Jenin, Toubas, Nablus, Gaza City, Anadolu, Zahra City, Europe, Tel Aviv, Egypt, Rafah, AFP, Khan Younis, Xinhua, East Jerusalem, Ras, Israel's, Yehuda, Aqsa, Hod HaSharon, Kiryat Shmona, Al, Ahli, Sderot, Gan, Kfar, North Sinai, Samar, Samar Abu Elouf, Beit Kama, Haifa, Cyprus, West, Lebanon, Kfar Saba, Israeli, Be'eri, Rehovot, Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, Kibbutz Be'eri, Modiin Maccabim, Kfar Aza, Ashkelon, Mount Herzel, Yassin, Palestinian, Beitar Ilit, Ramat Gan, Itai, Beit Hanun, Rishon Lezion, United States, Palestinian Territories, Arish

To underscore the pattern, the Pentagon released previously nonpublic photos and videos of Chinese fighter jets intercepting US aircraft flying in international airspace. The images, which date back to January 2022, show Chinese fighter jets getting dangerously close to US military jets in international airspace in an attempt to “intimidate” them, the Pentagon said in a statement about the incidents. Some of the Chinese fighter jets came within 20 feet of the US planes, the videos show. Office of the Secretary of Defense Public AffairsThe photos and videos also show the Chinese jets releasing objects and projectiles, including flares. But the Pentagon’s efforts this year to engage with Chinese military leadership have gone unanswered, and US officials have grown increasingly concerned about the lack of military-to-military dialogue between the countries.

Persons: ”, Ely Ratner, ” Ratner, Austin, Adm, John Aquilino, Defense Lloyd Austin, “, Wei Fenghe, Nancy Pelosi, “ I’ve, ” Aquilino Organizations: CNN, US, East, South China, Pacific Security Affairs, Pentagon, PLA, Defense Public Affairs, People’s, Army, Defense, National Defense, Military, Security, China Locations: South, “, People’s Republic of China, Beijing, Taiwan

☆ Thousands of US Marines are sailing to Israel while the Pentagon orders 2,000 additional troops to ready for potential deployment, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Hannah Getahun | Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Two thousand Marines and sailors are heading toward Israel, a defense official told CNN. Multiple reports suggest the move could bolster Israel ahead of its expected ground invasion of Gaza. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . A defense official who spoke with the outlet said a rapid response force of 2,000 US Marines and sailors is headed toward the coast of Israel. AdvertisementAdvertisementFox News reported that the troops on the rapid response team are separate from the ones warned about a potential deployment.

Persons: —, Gerald R, Ford, USS Eisenhower, Defense Lloyd Austin, Joe Biden's, Jordan, Biden, Jonathan Conricus Organizations: CNN, Service, US Navy, USS, Fox News, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine, Street Journal, Pentagon, US, Defense, Fox, Wednesday, West Bank Locations: Israel, Gaza

CNN —The US secretly provided Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missiles, according to two US officials, providing Ukraine with a significant new capability that could allow its forces to hit new Russian targets that were previously out of reach. The confirmation came on Tuesday after images of the missiles’ submunitions inside Ukraine began circulating on social media. In August 2022, the Pentagon acknowledged that it had sent HARM anti-radiation missiles to Ukraine unannounced. Ukraine also has the UK-provided long-range Storm Shadow missiles, which have a range of about 155 miles. ATACMS missiles are fired from HIMARS rocket launchers, the same type of vehicle that launches the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles that Ukraine already employs.

Persons: Russia’s, Joe Biden, Defense Lloyd Austin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden, Zelensky’s, Andriy Yermak, Zelensky, “, he’s, we’ve Organizations: CNN, US, Pentagon, Patriot, Defense, Ukrainian Armed Forces Locations: Ukraine, Luhansk, Ukrainian, Russia, Washington, DC

CNN —A US Marine rapid response force is headed to the waters off the coast of Israel and the Pentagon is preparing American troops for a potential deployment to the country, escalating the US’ show of force in the region as it works to prevent the conflict between Israel and Hamas from widening any further. A defense official familiar with the planning said the rapid response force, consisting of 2,000 Marines and sailors, is being sent. That could be particularly valuable if Israel launches a ground invasion of Gaza, which could be complicated and bloody, experts have warned. Officials would not specify where exactly the Marine unit will now go, other than to say it is headed toward Israel. The Wall Street Journal was first to report about the potential deployment of troops to Israel.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Biden, Capt, Angelica White, Sabrina Singh, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, Hezbollah, Defense, Israel, USS Ford, Air Force, Troops, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine Corps Locations: Israel, Iran, Lebanese, Gaza, Middle East, Kuwait, “, Red, Bataan, Gulf of Oman, of Oman, Hormuz

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