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☆ Niger junta says it has blocked President Bazoum's escape bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Niger’s military government said Thursday it foiled a late-night escape attempt by deposed President Mohamed Bazoum to flee to neighboring Nigeria after being held in custody for nearly three months following his ouster in a coup. The deposed Nigerien leader – who has yet to resign as president– had been placed under house arrest since the military junta overthrew him on July 27. Later that month, the junta said it had “gathered the necessary evidence” to prosecute Bazoum for “high treason.”The junta has held on to power despite pressure from Niger’s Western and regional allies. Last week, the US said it was putting a hold on its assistance programs to Niger, including funding while formally declaring Bazoum’s ouster as a coup. The military rulers said they ovethrew Bazoum because of the country’s security problems and struggling economy.

Persons: CNN —, Mohamed Bazoum, Bazoum, they’ll, ”, –, Bazoum’s Organizations: CNN, Nigerien Locations: Nigeria, Niger’s, Niamey, ”, Niger

☆ Niger's Ousted President Bazoum Attempts Escape, Junta Captors Claim
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

NIAMEY (Reuters) - Niger's junta said on Thursday that it had thwarted an escape attempt by ousted President Mohamed Bazoum who has been imprisoned by the military since a July 26 coup despite international calls for his release. The interim authorities said that Bazoum and his family, with the help of accomplices in the security forces, planned to drive a vehicle to the ouskirts of the capital Niamey and catch a helicopter to neighbouring Nigeria. "The strong reaction of the defense and security forces made it possible to foil this plan to destabilize our country," a military spokesman said on national television. Reuters was not able to confirm the account or reach Bazoum, whose whereabouts are unknown. Bazoum's party and family members say he has had no access to running water, electricity or fresh goods, prompting condemnation from former western allies.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Bazoum, Boureima Balima, Edward McAllister, Diane Craft Organizations: Reuters Locations: NIAMEY, Niamey, Nigeria, West Africa's, Sahel, Mali, Burkina Faso

☆ Gaza explained: What to know about the enclave
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

As Israel prepares for a ground offensive into Gaza, here’s what you need to know about the 140 square-mile enclave – one of the most densely-populated territories on Earth. Israel won, but Gaza remained under the control of Egypt and the region saw an influx of Palestinian refugees from Israel. During the conflict, which became known as the Six-Day War, Israel seized Gaza and held it for nearly 40 years until 2005, when it withdrew its troops and settlers. Even before Hamas’ attacks and Israel’s retaliation on Gaza, living conditions in the enclave were dire. More people have been killed in this week’s bombardment of the enclave than during the six-week Israel-Hamas war of 2014.

Persons: Israel, Samson, Delilah, David Ben Gurion, “ Israel, ”, Bilal Saab, –, “, Tania Hary, Hary Organizations: CNN, Hamas, United Nations, Washington DC, West Bank, World Health Organization, CIA, Palestinian, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, UN, Israel, Palestinian Authority, European Union, US State Department, State Department, Middle East Institute, Rights Locations: Israel, Gaza, here’s, Egypt, Jordan, Ottoman Empire, Britain, Europe, British, Palestine, Syria, Hamas, United States, Iran, Rafah

WASHINGTON, Oct 11 (Reuters) - The U.S. says it has accepted an invitation to attend China's top annual security forum in late October, the latest sign of potentially warming ties between the two countries' militaries. The Pentagon did not say whom China had invited or who from the U.S. side would attend, and China's embassy in Washington also declined to give details. Before 2019, the U.S. often sent embassy defense attaches. CHINA'S DEFENSE MINISTERAs China's defense minister, Li typically would give a keynote speech at the forum and meet with delegations. Beijing has offered no official explanation about Li's fate and his disappearance raises questions about how this year's forum will be conducted.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Austin, Li Shangfu, Nancy Pelosi's, China, China Chad Sbragia, Li, Sbragia, –, Xi, Liu Pengyu, Michael Martina, Idrees Ali, Don Durfee, Gerry Doyle Organizations: U.S, Pentagon, Reuters, China's People's Liberation Army, PLA, Beijing Xiangshan, Defense, Xi Jinping's Global Security Initiative, Washington, Thomson Locations: U.S, Washington, China, Beijing, United States, Taiwan, Russia, Austin

☆ Israel Gaza war: How goes Hamas get its weapons? A mix of ingenuity, tenacity, resourcefulness and a key mentor, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Said Khatib/AFP/Getty Images/FILEThe Iran factor“Hamas acquires its weapons through smuggling or local construction and receives some military support from Iran,” the CIA’s World Factbook says. Video Ad Feedback Retired general explains why he thinks Iran helped support Hamas attacks 01:08 - Source: CNNBut Iran has been a mentor, too, analysts say. A senior Hamas official based in Lebanon gave details of the Hamas’ weapons manufacturing in an edited interview with Russia Today’s Arabic-news channel RTArabic published on their website on Sunday. And Tehran keeps the training of Hamas’ weapons makers current, he added. Gaza has none of the heavy industry that would support weapons production in most of the world.

Persons: It’s, –, Said Khatib, ”, Bilal Saab, Daniel Byman, Charles Lister, Byman, “, ” Ali Baraka, Mahmud Hams, Lister, ” Lister, Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, what’s, Alkhatib, Aaron Pilkington, Baraka, ” Pilkington Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Brigades, Getty, ’, Defense and Security, Middle East Institute, Transnational, Center for Strategic, International Studies, MEI, CSIS, Hamas National Relations, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hamas ’, CIA, Washington Institute for Near, Fikra, US Air Force, Middle, University of Denver Locations: Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Palestinian, AFP, Iran, Islamic Republic, Hamas, Washington, “ Iran, Lebanon, Russia, Kalashnikovs, Tehran, Iran’s, Saudi

☆ European leaders say they can’t fully replace U.S. support to Ukraine as funding fears grow
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Gathering in Granada, Spain, for a summit of the European Political Community, European leaders sought to reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine amid Russia's full-scale invasion. He has insisted, however, that a majority of members across both major parties support funding Kyiv. "Ukraine needs the support of the European Union, which is sure, they will have it and we will increase it. "As far as I oversee the situation in the United States, I am very confident of support for Ukraine from the United States. Asked whether the EU could step in if the U.S. does not resume its support for Ukraine, Rutte said, "It is not necessary.

Persons: Josep Borrell, Jorge Guerrero, Joe Biden, Robert Fico, Washington's, Borrell, Viktor Bondarev, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Ursula von der Leyen, Biden, Mark Rutte, Rutte Organizations: EU, Representative, Union for Foreign Affairs, Palacio, Congreso, Afp, Getty, Political Community, Wednesday, Republican, U.S . Congress, European Union, Kyiv, Russia's Federation, Committee, Defense, Security, European Commission, Congresos, Political, Europa Press, Dutch, U.S . House, Representatives, Hague, Ukraine Locations: Granada, Spain, U.S, Ukraine, Europe, Russian, Slovakia, Kyiv, EU, America, Russia, Andalusia, United States, Netherlands

☆ Crimea: Satellite imagery indicates Russia moving navy ships to other ports after Sevastopol attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Tim Lister Anna Chernova Gianluca Mezzofiore. Maria Kostenko Paul Murphy | Tim Lister | Anna Chernova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

As many as a dozen ships, including frigates, landing ships and submarines now appear to be moored further east at Novorossiysk, imagery from the past few weeks showed. the home port of the Black Sea Fleet. BlackSkyThe ISW noted that satellite imagery taken on October 2 shows four Russian landing ships and one Kilo-class submarine remaining in Sevastopol. Dmytro Pletenchuk, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Navy, said Thursday that the Black Sea Fleet was “constantly dispersing its ships. They are guarding this facility from the north and from the south.”Even so, Pletenchuk said, “I would not write off the Black Sea Fleet.

Persons: Makarov, Admiral Essen, Dmytro Pletenchuk, ” Pletenchuk, Pletenchuk, “, ”, Aslan Bzhania, ” Bzhania Organizations: CNN, Black, Technologies, Fleet, Ukrainian Navy, Border Guard Service, Sea Fleet, Russian Navy, Reuters Locations: Russia, Sevastopol, Crimea, Moscow, Georgia, Novorossiysk, Feodosia, Technologies Ukraine, Ukraine, Azov, Russian, BlackSky, ”, Abkhazia, Ochamchira

☆ Dead or alive? Mystery surrounds the fate of Russia's Black Sea Fleet commander
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Admiral Viktor Sokolov attends a ceremony marking 240th anniversary of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea May 13, 2023. Alexey Pavlishak | ReutersMystery continues to surround the fate of the commander of Russia's Black Sea Fleet, who Ukraine claimed it had killed in a missile strike on the Russian naval headquarters in Crimea. Commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet Viktor Sokolov (left) appears on the screen at the meeting that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu held with ministry officials in Moscow, Russia, on Sept. 26, 2023. Viktor Sokolov attends a ceremony marking the 240th anniversary of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, Crimea, on May 13, 2023. U.K. defense officials noted Tuesday that "a dynamic, deep strike battle is underway in the Black Sea."

Persons: Viktor Sokolov, Alexey Pavlishak, Sokolov, Sergei Shoigu, it's, Michael Clarke, there's, Reuters Clarke, Sam Ramani, Kyrylo Budanov, Ramani, Stringer Organizations: Reuters, Fleet, Russia's Defense, Russian, Defense Ministry, Zvezda, NBC, Russia, Russian Defense, Russian Defense Ministry, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Sky News, Black, Russian Federation, Russian Army, Royal United Services Institute, Defense, Russia's, Afp Locations: Russian, Sevastopol, Crimea, Ukraine, British, Moscow, Russia, Novorossiysk

CNN —North Korean leader Kim Jong Un received body armor and drones as parting gifts as he wrapped up a trip to Russia that has alarmed the West. North Korea is heavily sanctioned and is in need of everything from energy to food to military technology. As he left, the governor of the far eastern Russian region of Primorye gave him a bulletproof vest and a set of drones, Russian state media TASS reported. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, called his meeting with North Korea's Kim Jong Un "very substantive" on Wednesday. Vladimir Smirnov/Sputnik/APThe North Korean leader visited an aircraft manufacturing plant in the city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur in eastern Russia on Friday.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Kim, Kim Jong, Sergei Shoigu, Putin, “, ” Putin, Vladimir Smirnov, KCNA, Yuri, ” Organizations: CNN, North, Russian, TASS, Russia's, Russian Defence Ministry, Reuters, RIA Novosti, RIA, Putin, Aviation, Russian Defense, Pacific Fleet, Russian Navy, Military Locations: Russia, Korea, Ukraine, North Korea, Russian, Primorye, Artyom, Khasan, Russia’s Far, Komsomolsk, Reuters North Korean, KCNA, South Korea, Japan, Europe

☆ After replacing 2 senior military commanders in charge of its nukes, China is now investigating its defense minister, US officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Ella Hopkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

General Li Shangfu, China's defense minister, hasn't been seen in public for more than two weeks. Sources in direct contact with the Chinese military said the defense minister was suspected of corruption in procuring military equipment. A further eight officials from the government's military procurement unit, which General Li led from 2017 to 2022, are under investigation, two sources told Reuters. AdvertisementAdvertisementIt comes two months after Xi Jinping, China's president, also replaced two of his most senior military commanders who were in charge of the country's nuclear arsenal. A US official told The Journal that General Li's dismissal indicated problems with Xi's years-long campaign to reform the People's Liberation Army, China's military.

Persons: Li Shangfu, hasn't, Li, Qin Gang, Wang Yi, Xi Jinping, Li's, it's, Su, yun, General Li, Rahm Emanuel Organizations: New York Times, Service, Street Journal, Reuters, The New York Times, People's Liberation Army, PLA, Institute for National Defense and Security Research, Times, Twitter Locations: Wall, Silicon, Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan

CNN —Dozens of people were killed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo this week during demonstrations against the United Nations’ mission in the country. At least 43 people were killed and a further 53 were injured during the clashes with local authorities. Over 150 people were arrested, including the leader of the group which organized the protests, the government said. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Friday called for DRC authorities to ensure that “future law enforcement actions in the context of the policing of public assemblies fully adhere to international human rights norms and standards.”Anti-UN protests in the DRC broke out in July and have since escalated. The UN has a longstanding and significant footprint in the country, which has been the object of local demonstrations for years.

Persons: “, ”, MONUSCO, ’, ” Ravina Shamdasani, ” Shamdasani, Volker Türk Organizations: CNN, Democratic, United Nations, Protesters, Wednesday, East African Community, UN, Human Rights, Human Locations: Democratic Republic of Congo, Goma, ”, Congolese, ’ Goma, DRC

CNN —A group of military officers claiming to represent “defense and security forces” in Gabon announced on Wednesday they had seized power in the African nation, according to a televised address circulating on social media. In the broadcast, the military officer said the election results would be voided and the country’s borders would be closed until further notice. Bongo’s long ruleEarlier on Wednesday, Gabon’s election body said Bongo had won the presidential election with 64.27% of the vote, after a delay-plagued general election that the opposition denounced as fraudulent. The elder Bongo came into power in 1967, seven years after the country’s independence from France. Ahead of the election, the non-profit Reporters Without Borders condemned the Gabonese government for obstructing foreign press coverage of the event.

Persons: ”, Ali Bongo, “, Bongo, Albert Ondo Ossa, Omar Bongo, Ondo, Bongo’s Organizations: CNN, Gabon24, Twitter, Senate, National Assembly, Constitutional, Economic, Social, Environmental Council, Reuters, Union, Borders, United Nations, Gabonese Locations: Gabon, Gabonese, Libreville, West, Central Africa, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Ondo, France

☆ Niger allows Mali, Burkina Faso troops to enter its territory in case of attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An aerial view of the streets in the capital Niamey, Niger July 28, 2023. Any escalation risks further destabilising the insurgency-torn region as Niger's junta-led neighbours, Mali and Burkina Faso, have said they would back Niger in any conflict with ECOWAS. On Thursday, the three allies' foreign ministers said they had met in the Nigerien capital Niamey to discuss boosting cooperation on security and other joint issues. The statement said the ministers welcomed the signing on Thursday by Niger junta leader General Abdourahamane Tiani of two orders "authorising the Defense and Security Forces of Burkina Faso and Mali to intervene on Nigerien territory in the event of an attack." Reporting by Tiemoko Diallo Writing by Alessandra Prentice Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: General Abdourahamane Tiani, Tiemoko Diallo, Alessandra Prentice, Sandra Maler Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, West, ECOWAS, Niger, Defense and Security Forces, Burkinabe, Malian Ministers, Thomson Locations: Niamey, Niger, Rights BAMAKO, Mali, Burkina, Burkina Faso, Nigerien

☆ Who are Ukraine's 82nd Air Assault Brigade? A new elite unit armed with the best Western gear seems to have Russia rattled.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukraine's elite 82nd Air Assault Brigade appears to have joined its counteroffensive fight. Ukraine's 82nd Air Assault Brigade created a stir when it joined the attack. The area has been the scene of intense fighting and where Ukraine says it has made small gains, Ukraine's Kyiv Post reported. This would mean that the 82nd battalion alone would have half of Ukraine's best infantry armored vehicles from its NATO allies, the Kyiv Post reported. And the Kyiv Post reported that the infantry vehicle component only began training in March.

Persons: Insider's Rebecca Rommen, Vladimir Solovyov, Rybar, Michael Clarke Organizations: Air Assault Brigade, Service, Ukraine's, Ukraine's Kyiv Post, Stryker, Challenger, Politico, 82nd, NATO, Kyiv Post, Forbes, Telegraph Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, Russia, Ukraine, Robotyne, Ukraine's Kyiv, Kyiv, Verbove

☆ Ukraine sends the powerhouse 82nd Air Assault Brigade into battle, as generals decide 'to put all their chips on the table,' says defense analyst
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukraine's 82nd Air Assault Brigade has officially joined the counteroffensive against the Russian invasion forces, the Kyiv Post reports. Leaked documents from earlier this year revealed the 82nd Brigade was a formidable unit with about 150 NATO-supplied armored infantry carriers. Forbes called the 82nd Brigade "almost comically powerful" as it represents half of its best NATO-delivered infantry armored vehicles. The 82nd Brigade, and its sister air-assault unit, the 46th Brigade, had previously been held in reserve. The 82nd Brigade is reportedly active in the village of Robotyne, in the southern Zaporizhzhia Region of Ukraine.

Persons: Michael Clarke, Forbes, They're, Shane Charles Ukraine's, Clarke, they've, it's, Jimmy Rushton, Victor Ayala Clarke, Rushton Organizations: Air Assault Brigade, Service, 82nd Brigade, NATO, Stryker, British Challenger, Politico, Challenger, Forbes, Brigade, British, Royal United Services Institute, 46th Brigade, US Army Stryker, US Army, Spc, Ukraine, The Locations: Wall, Silicon, Russian, Ukraine, London, Kyiv, Fort Polk, Louisiana, Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia Region, Urozhaine, Zaporizhzhia Oblast

☆ Ukraine sends its US-supplied Stryker combat vehicles into battle for the first time in the counteroffensive against Russia, say reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Stryker combat vehicle is officially in action near the Zaporizhzhia frontline. The US-supplied vehicles can be outfitted with various weapons and move quickly while carrying soldiers. Its impressive arsenal includes 90 US-supplied Stryker vehicles, 40 German-produced Marders, 24 US M113 infantry carriers, as well as 14 British Challenger tanks, Politico reported. A US Army Stryker armored vehicle fires a Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire-guided missile at Fort Polk in Louisiana in June 2009. There are 18 variants of the combat vehicle, and more than 4,900 have been built in the last 20 years by General Dynamics.

Persons: –, Jimmy Rushton, Michael Clarke, Victor Ayala Organizations: Stryker, Service, Air Assault Brigade, Kyiv Post, 82nd Brigade, NATO, US, British Challenger, Politico, Challenger, US Army Stryker, US Army, Spc, Pentagon, Kyiv, General Dynamics, New York Times, Ministry of Defence, Russian Federation Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Russian, Zaporizhzhia Region, Kyiv, Fort Polk, Louisiana, Zaporizhzhia

WASHINGTON, Aug 18 (Reuters) - The Biden administration has tightened controls on the export of materials and components for nuclear power plants to China, saying it would ensure the items were used only for peaceful purposes and not the proliferation of atomic weapons. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the federal agency responsible for nuclear energy safety, also requires exporters to get specific licenses to export special nuclear material and source material. That includes different types of uranium as well as deuterium, a hydrogen isotope that, in large amounts, could be used in reactors to make tritium, a nuclear weapons component. China opposes "putting geopolitical interests above nuclear non-proliferation efforts," he said. Two exports to China of the regulated nuclear materials occurred under a general license in the last year.

Persons: Biden, Liu Pengyu, Edwin Lyman, Henry Sokolski, Donald Trump's, Timothy Gardner, Michael Martina, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Industry and Security, Commerce Department, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NRC, U.S, Nuclear Weapons, Union of, Pentagon, Nonproliferation, Education Center . U.S, Westinghouse, Thomson Locations: China, Washington, Beijing, U.S, United States

☆ Poland to hold biggest military parade in decades, as its clout in Europe grows
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Kacper Pempel/ReutersPolish military vehicles are seen during a Saturday rehearsal for this week's parade in Warsaw. “Nobody is going to say that military security is not an important issue and that we shouldn’t be strengthening the military. With the UK out of the European Union and Germany still hesitant to take on a leadership role on Ukraine, Poland has sensed its opportunity. In November, two people were killed in eastern Poland, about four miles (6.4 kilometers) west of the Ukrainian border, by a Ukrainian missile defending against incoming Russian fire. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko asked the group to help train his country’s military, and earlier this month the two forces held joint training exercises near the Polish border.

Persons: Russian Wagner, Kacper Pempel, Pawel Supernak, ” Edward Arnold, Arnold, Aleks, ”, Jamie Shea, Putin, ” Arnold, ” Shea, Abrams, “, Dominika, Wagner, Alexander Lukashenko, Mariusz Blaszczak, Lukashenko Organizations: CNN, NATO, Poland’s Defense Ministry, Polish, Russia’s, Abrams, University of Sussex, University of Exeter, Chatham House, Eastern Europe …, European Union, Ukraine, United Nations, “, Polish Army, Getty, Kremlin . Locations: Poland, Belarus, Korean, Crimea, Ukraine, Russian, Kaliningrad, Warsaw, Russia, Polish, Soviet, North Korea, Iran, Communist Poland, England, East, Afghanistan, Central, Eastern Europe, Germany, France, Washington, Ukraine Poland, South Korea, Italy, Polanka Wielka, Ukrainian, Minsk

Editor’s Note: A version of this story appears in CNN’s Meanwhile in the Middle East newsletter, a three-times-a-week look inside the region’s biggest stories. The drill is the latest in a flurry of Chinese activity in the Middle East, traditionally seen as the US’ backyard. According to the Wall Street Journal, the US wants Saudi Arabia to distance itself economically and militarily from Beijing in return. Four of the top 10 importers of US arms are Gulf Arab states: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE. Some of these purchases were driven by US restrictions on selling arms to Gulf states under the Biden administration, according to Alhasan.

Persons: ” Hasan Alhasan, “, Barack Obama’s, ”, Mohammed Baharoon, John Calabrese, …, ” Calabrese, CNN’s Becky Anderson, Reema bint Bandar Al Saud, Washington, Biden, Alhasan, China’s, Xi Jinping, ” Yun Sun, ” Alhasan, ” Baharoon Organizations: UAE CNN, United Arab Emirates, American, Washington, UAE, Middle East, International Institute for Strategic Studies, CNN, Asia Experts, East ., US, Dubai Public Policy Research Center, Middle East Institute, Wall Street Journal, China Program, China, Stimson Center Locations: Abu Dhabi, UAE, United States, China, China’s, Xinjiang, Ukraine, Gulf, Asia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Yemen, Washington, Dubai, Russia, Saudi, Riyadh, Israel, Beijing, Europe, Arab, Qatar, Kuwait, Sun, “

☆ A fierce naval battle 35 years ago shows how destructive another US showdown with Iran could get
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

More than 50 IRGCN and Iranian Navy personnel were killed, while the US lost one SeaCobra helicopter and its two crew members. After all, Iran has made significant changes to its naval forces and tactics over the past 35 years, becoming "much more asymmetric," according to Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and expert on naval operations. Iran's naval force now consists of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, known as the IRGCN, and the regular Iranian Navy, Clark told Insider. The Iranian Navy still primarily consists of frigates and corvettes, which operate outside the Gulf, and is much more like other conventional navies. Iranian Navy warship Sahand in Persian Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz in April 2019.

Persons: Biden, Earnest Will, Chance, Samuel B, Roberts, Bryan Clark, Clark, Nadimi, Abu Musa Island, IRGC, Morteza, Kyle Jia Iran's, weren't, Paul Iddon Organizations: Service, US Navy, US, Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, US Naval Forces Central Command, Fleet, SS, Iranian Navy, Hudson Institute, Washington Institute for Near East, Iran's Navy, REUTERS, Getty, US Marines, US Marine Corps Locations: Persian, Iran, Wall, Silicon, China, Marshall, Iranian, Gulf, Strait, Hormuz, Tehran, Iraq, SS Bridgeton, Abu Musa, Handout, Persian Gulf, Soviet Union, Lebanon, Bataan

Vice President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan rose to prominence as a pugnacious opponent of Beijing’s claims over the island. But now, as a leading candidate in Taiwan’s presidential race, he is likely to present a more muted persona when he visits the United States starting Saturday. Expect restraint, not rousing speeches, Taiwanese officials and scholars say. Nonetheless, his stops in New York and San Francisco will be closely watched — in Taiwan, in Beijing and in Washington — for clues to how he might handle crucial relations with the United States and China as president, a top issue in Taiwan’s intense presidential race. And his visit, however low-key, is also likely to prompt an escalation of Chinese military flights and naval maneuvers near Taiwan, bringing into focus the risks of real conflict over its future.

Persons: Lai Ching, Beijing’s, Washington —, there’s, ”, Shu Hsiao, huang, ” Mr, Lai, William Organizations: United States, People’s Liberation Army, Taiwan’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research, Democratic Progressive Party Locations: Taiwan, New York, San Francisco, Beijing, Washington, United States, China, Taipei

ECOWAS responded days later by enacting sanctions and issuing an ultimatum to the ruling military junta: stand down within a week or face a potential military intervention. ECOWAS leaders have said their preference is to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis and would send in troops as a last resort. The regional bloc will “uphold all measures and principles agreed upon by the extraordinary summit held on Niger on 30th July 2023,” at which strong sanctions were decided against the military junta in Niger. Niger’s armed forces appeared to be preparing for possible military intervention this week, a military source told CNN. Confusion and concernSeveral analysts told CNN that a military intervention in Niger would probably not be imminent, as it takes time to assemble the ECOWAS troops.

Persons: Omar Alieu Touray, Mohamed Bazoum, Touray, it’s, Murtala Abdullahi, Bola Tinubu, Abdourahamane Alkassoum, ”, Cameron Hudson Organizations: CNN, West, Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, ”, Nigerien, Center, Strategic, International Studies Locations: Abuja, Nigeria, Republic of Niger, ”, Niger, ” Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, ” Abuja, Gambia, “ Niger

☆ Ukraine Warns of Renewed Russian Infrastructure Attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Enjoli Liston | Diego Ibarra Sanchez | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

The findings echoed the warnings President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said he gave allies ahead of the counteroffensive that began in early June. “The most glaring deficiency is the inability of Ukraine’s partners to appreciate the lead times between decisions and their desired effects,” Mr. Watling wrote. Even so, Mr. Watling noted, decisions to fulfill the requests were not made until mid-January. That is when Britain, France, Germany and the United States agreed to send Western tanks and other armored fighting vehicles to Ukraine, essentially allowing other NATO countries to follow suit. But the fight has unfolded slowly, with Ukraine’s forces tripped up by minefields and outgunned by Russian forces.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Jack Watling, Mr, Watling, Abrams, “, Zelensky, ” Organizations: Royal United Services Institute for Defense, Security Studies, United, Ukrainian, NATO Locations: British, Ukraine, Britain, France, Germany, United States, Russia, Russian

☆ How — and when — Ukraine's war with Russia could end
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Wojciech Grzedzinski | Anadolu Agency | Getty ImagesThe war between Russia and Ukraine entered a new phase this summer when Kyiv launched its much-anticipated counteroffensive, and there were hopes Ukraine would regain the upper hand. "By the end of this year, both sides will think they still have more to gain by fighting. "Literally, they're [the Ukrainian forces] just running into the first line of defenses now, but that's a 30 kilometer deep belt of minefields and trenches and counter attacks. Meanwhile, any prospect of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine look slim despite efforts to bring both sides to the negotiating table. "One outcome is that this war is fought out because Ukraine gets the help to do it.

Persons: King Danylo, Wojciech Grzedzinski, It's, Richard Barrons, isn't, Barrons, Nick Reynolds, they've, you've, Jamie Shea, Shea, John Kirby Organizations: Mechanized Brigade, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Kyiv, Russian, Military, Joint Forces Command, CNBC, Ukrainian, Ukraine's Defense Ministry, Battalion, Territorial Defense, Ukrainian Air Force, NATO, Ukraine, U.S . National Security Locations: Ukrainian, Russia, Ukraine, Donetsk Oblast, Donetsk, Bakhmut, Berdyansk, Azov, London, Russian, Crimea, United States, Vilnius, Lithuania, China, India, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, U.S, Greece, Cyprus, North, South Korea

☆ Niger: As critical deadline for military coup expires, the country's airspace closes due to 'threat of intervention'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Josh Pennington | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Niger’s airspace closed on Sunday, the day imposed as a deadline by a group of African countries for Nigerien military coup leaders to release power and reinstate the country’s democratically-elected president. As that deadline expired, Niger’s airspace closed due to “the threat of intervention from neighboring countries,” according to a video statement by Nigerien coup leader Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane. The military coup in Niger was launched late July. But outside Niger, the coup leaders’ actions were quickly condemned by the United States and some Western nations, as well as group of western African countries, which threatened force. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional bloc, warned that if the military junta does not stand down, it could face possible military intervention and gave coup leaders until Sunday to cede power.

Persons: Major Amadou Abdramane, Mohamed Bazoum, “, ”, Abdel, Fatau Musah Organizations: CNN, Nigerien, West African States, ECOWAS, European Union, Political Affairs, Peace, Security Locations: Niger, United States, France, Niamey, Niger’s, Nigeria

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