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Almost 16,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its campaign in October, following Hamas’ terror attack on Israel on October 7, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health. Israel believes it has killed “several thousand” Hamas militants, an Israeli official said. Israeli officials have indicated that that is their intention, one of the officials said. Senior US officials have been careful not to publicly criticize Israel and are increasingly insisting that their strategy of counseling Israel to target Gaza more deliberately and surgically has delivered some results. “I do believe that they have listened,” Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters on Sunday when asked whether Israel is listening to the US.

Persons: Israel, Lloyd Austin, Austin, ”, Israel can’t, Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, “, Kamala Harris, John Kirby Organizations: CNN, US, Israeli Defense Forces, Reagan National Defense Forum, Israel, Gaza Ministry, Health, Biden, National Security Council, Hezbollah, Senior, IDF, Israel Defense Forces, National Security Locations: Gaza, Israel, Lebanese, Iraq, Afghanistan

☆ Rocky hostage release underscores fragility of deal between Israel and Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hamas on Saturday blamed the delay on issues with the amount of aid being delivered and selection of Palestinian prisoners being released. Thirty-nine Palestinian teenagers and women were also released from Israeli prisons, per the terms of the exchange, on Saturday. All but one of the Israeli hostages released had been at the communal kibbutz of Nir Oz when they were abducted. Under the deal, Israel is freeing three Palestinians from jail for every Israeli hostage allowed out of Gaza. Released Palestinian prisoners arrive to Beitunia, west of Ramallah, on Friday.

Persons: ”, Neta Rosenberg, Alex Sherman, Ron, Israel –, Emily Hand, Noga, Shiri Weiss, Adi Shoham, Naveh, Regev, Noam Avigdori, Sharon Avigdori, Hila Rotem, Shoshan, Noam, Nir Oz, Yafa Adar, Jaafar Ashtiyeh, Yoni Asher, we’ll, we’re, We’ve, we’ve, “, Nutthawaree Munkan, ” Boonyarin Srichan, Joy, Aseel El, ” El, Titi, Issam, Nadav Rudaeff, ” CNN’s Oren Liebermann, Joseph Ataman, Clarissa Ward, Kocha, Manveena Suri, Eve Brennan, Lauren Izso Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Palestinian, Saturday, Reuters, Ofer, West Bank, Getty, West Bank . Locations: Israel, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Irish, Alma, Philippine, Beitunia, AFP, Thailand, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Anadolu

CNN —Tensions are boiling over in Israel as frustrated families of hostages demand answers from the government about the fate of their loved ones and a deal for their release. Wenkert spoke to media on Monday, before he and other relatives met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet in Tel Aviv. So far only a handful of families have met with Netanyahu – infuriating hundreds of other relatives of hostages who say the government isn’t doing enough to free them. But many hostage families accuse Ben-Gvir of endangering their loved ones further, arguing that Hamas could be less willing to release hostages if there is suggestion that Israel might execute Palestinian prisoners. Netanyahu has repeatedly expressed two goals of the war – the release of all hostages, and the destruction of Hamas.

Persons: ”, Shai Wenkert, Omer, Wenkert, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Goren, Tal Chaimi, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Judith Tai Raanan, Natalie Raanan –, Nurit Cooper, Yocheved Lifshitz, Lifshitz, “, Itamar Ben, Ben, Gil Dickmann, Avigdori, Almog Cohen, ” Cohen, Gvir’s, Ismail Haniyeh, ” Haniyeh, Haniyeh, Israel Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Palestinian Ministry of Health, West Bank, National, Jewish Power Locations: Israel, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Qatar, United States, Gulf, –

☆ CNN visited the exposed tunnel shaft near Al-Shifa Hospital. Here’s what we saw
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

We would spend the next six hours inside Gaza, much of that time spent getting back and forth from the tunnel shaft. Oren Liebermann/CNNIt was nearing midnight as we walked the last few feet to the exposed tunnel shaft. The discovery of the tunnel shaft the next day was more compelling, showing an entrance to something underground. Standing on the edge of the tunnel shaft, it was apparent that the structure itself was substantial. The IDF said the tunnel shaft extends downwards approximately 10 meters and the tunnel runs for 55 meters.

Persons: Humvees, Oren Liebermann, Tom, “, —, ”, Daniel Hagari Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Shifa, Residents, IDF, Hamas, Health Locations: Gaza, Gaza City, Gaza’s, Israel

☆ Negotiations to free hostages held by Hamas are closer than ‘perhaps any point,’ White House official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Priscilla Alvarez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Negotiations to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas are close and the disagreements among parties have narrowed amid intensive talks, deputy national security adviser Jon Finer said Sunday. US officials have been signaling for days that Israel and Hamas are moving closer to a deal to secure the release of hostages taken during the Hamas attacks on Israel in exchange for a sustained, days-long pause in fighting. Only a handful of hostages have been released so far since the start of the war. The negotiating parties – Israel, Hamas and the US, with Qatar mediating between them – have sought to work through a number of sticking points. And so, we don’t have perfect fidelity about exact numbers of hostages, including numbers who are still alive,” he said.

Persons: Jon, “, Jake Tapper, Joe Biden, – Israel, –, ”, we’re, CNN’s Alex Marquardt, Kaitlan Collins, MJ Lee, Oren Liebermann Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Union, UN Locations: “ State, Israel, Qatar, Gaza, United States

CNN —Hamas has demanded that Israel stop flying surveillance drones over Gaza as part of its request that Israel pause its military operations in exchange for freeing hostages held by the terrorist group, according to two Israeli officials and a third source familiar with the ongoing negotiations. The Israeli military has been flying drones in the skies over Gaza for hours on end virtually every day during their military operation, using them as a primary means of surveillance to monitor the battlefield. The Pentagon has also been flying American surveillance drones over Gaza in its support of Israel’s efforts to find the hostages, which includes an estimated 10 Americans. The negotiating parties – Israel, Hamas and the US, with Qatar mediating between them – continue to grind away, as they try to reach an agreement on a number of sticking points. Other demands made by Hamas during the negotiations are more aid and fuel into Gaza, sources say, as well as allowing Palestinians who have fled south for safety to return to northern Gaza, where Israel now has control.

Persons: Israel, – Israel, Joe Biden, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al, “ It’s, –, Tzachi Hanegbi, ”, —, ” Hanegbi, Jake Sullivan, Brett McGurk, Bill Burns, McGurk, ” Biden, CNN’s Tamar Michaelis Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Pentagon, Israel’s National Security, Senior Biden, National, CIA Locations: Israel, Gaza, Washington, Qatar, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani

☆ Hamas bodycam video shows early moments of massacre and tunnels under Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Hamas video provided by Israeli Defense ForcesThe video marks the first time that Israel has publicly released footage of Hamas tunnels in Gaza it says were being used on the day of the attack. The video shows him run past one man who readies a rocket-propelled grenade on his shoulder. The video shows the gunman with the bodycam charging the last bit as he spots an Israeli soldier on the ground. He asks God for victory and “well-deserved martyrdom.”Hamas video provided by Israeli Defense ForcesFrom here, the group advances on motorbikes, speeding along nearly empty Israeli roads. The timestamp on the video shows that it is just after 7:40 in the morning.

Persons: Israel CNN —, “ Allahu Akbar, ”, “, God, Ein HaShlosha Organizations: Israel CNN, CNN, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, Israeli Defense Forces, Hamas, AK Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Gaza, Kissufim, Nova, Ein, Re’im

CNN —President Joe Biden said Tuesday that he believes a deal can be reached to release hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza, voicing optimism as officials tell CNN prolonged talks to free hostages are nearing an agreement. The broad parameters that are currently being discussed entail Hamas releasing a large group of hostages at the same time Israel frees Palestinian prisoners. Israel recently asked for 100 hostages to be released, according to a Hamas spokesman and a source familiar with the negotiations. A senior Israeli official told that CNN hostage negotiations are ongoing – and are being handled by Qatar, the CIA, and Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad. Another factor that had slowed talks was a lack of information about the hostages Hamas is holding.

Persons: Joe Biden, “ I’ve, ” Biden, “, it’s, Biden, Jake Sullivan, Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, CNN’s Dana Bash, – Organizations: CNN, White, US, National, Hostage Affairs, Israel, Qassam, CIA Locations: Gaza, Israel, Washington ,, Qatar, Israeli

☆ 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

☆ US conducts more strikes in eastern Syria, defense secretary says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The US carried out another set of strikes against targets affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in eastern Syria, according to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, following continued attacks on US forces in the region. In total, there have been at least 46 attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria since October 17, and at least 56 troops have been injured. Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said Thursday the injuries were a combination of traumatic brain injuries and minor injuries. The strikes targeted a weapons storage facility and an ammunition storage facility. But the attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria have persisted, even as the US has tried to separate the conflict in Gaza from the rest of the region.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Austin, Joe Biden, Abu Kamal, Mayadin, Sabrina Singh, “, ” Austin, IRGC Organizations: CNN, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Pentagon, US Locations: Syria, Iraq, United States, Iran, Gaza

☆ US military says aircraft crashes in training accident in eastern Mediterranean Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A US military aircraft crashed in a training accident in the eastern Mediterranean Sea on Friday evening, according to the US European Command, though there were few other details provided. In a statement, European Command would not identify what type of aircraft went down or whether anyone was killed, and it’s not clear what the status of the crew is. European Command stressed that the incident happened during a training exercise and was not related to Israel’s fighting in Gaza or the fighting along the Israel-Lebanon border. “We can definitively say that the aircraft sortie was purely related to training and there are no indications of hostile activity,” the statement said. European Command said more information would be provided “as the situation develops.”

Persons: ” Organizations: CNN, US European Command, Command Locations: Gaza, Israel, Lebanon

☆ White House warns Israel against reoccupying Gaza as Netanyahu signals what a post-war Strip could look like
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Priscilla Alvarez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“The president still believes that a reoccupation of Gaza by Israeli forces is not good. In an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” last month, Biden said it would be a “big mistake” for Israel to occupy Gaza. Israeli government officials have not yet elaborated on how Gaza would be governed should they succeed in eliminating Hamas. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Tuesday that Israel will “retain complete freedom of action to respond to any situation in the Gaza Strip” once the war ends. That hasn’t changed since October 7 and it’s not going to change going forward,” Kirby said.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, “, It’s, ”, John Kirby, Antony, Blinken, Netanyahu, we’ve, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Michael Herzog, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Israel, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, ” Gallant, Kirby, We’re, hasn’t, it’s, ” Kirby, CNN’s Jennifer Hansler, Hagi Cohen, Boland, Stephanie Halasz, Natasha Bertrand, Katie Bo Lillis, Oren Liebermann, Kareem El Damanhoury, Mitchell McCluskey Organizations: Washington CNN, Security, CNN, ABC News, CBS, Hamas, Israel’s Foreign Affairs, Defense Committee, Israel Locations: Gaza, Israel, United States

☆ US says Ohio-class submarine has arrived in Middle East, a message of deterrence amid Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Oren Liebermann | Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —In a rare announcement, the US military said a guided missile submarine has arrived in the Middle East, a message of deterrence clearly directed at regional adversaries as the Biden administration tries to avoid a broader conflict amid the Israel-Hamas war. US Central Command said on social media Sunday that an Ohio-class submarine was entering its area of responsibility. The military rarely announces the movements or operations of its fleet of ballistic and guided missile subs. In April, the Navy announced that the USS Florida, one of the two East Coast-based SSGNs, was operating in the Middle East. The announcement of a guided missile sub in the region comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been holding a series of meetings with US partners in the Middle East.

Persons: ”, Carl Schuster, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Austin, Pat Ryder, ” CNN’s Haley Britzky, Will Mullery Organizations: CNN, Biden, US Central Command, US Navy, Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, Navy, West Bank, Defense, ”, Pentagon Locations: Israel, Ohio, Suez, Cairo, “, Florida, Libya, Iran, USS Florida, USS Michigan, South Korea, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Cyprus, Gaza, Syria, Iranian, ” Brig

☆ 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

CNN witnessed the skies of Northern Gaza illuminated by flares and explosions as the bombardment intensified late Thursday night. Israel Defense Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus claimed the strike was targeting a Hamas commander hiding in an underground bunker and that when the complex imploded it possibly collapsed nearby buildings. The Israel military says there are fuel supplies in Gaza being held by Hamas, which are not being distributed for humanitarian purposes, CNN has reported. Pentagon officials believe Israel has been striking legitimate Hamas targets, including some senior commanders. Blinken plans to raise the issue in his talks with Israeli officials Friday, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Antony Blinken –, –, “ didn’t, ”, Jonathan Conricus, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel, Blinken, “ I’m, Base Andrews, “, Sen, Chris Murphy of, Austin, Yoav Gallant, CQ Brown, Herzi, Gabriel Boric, Boric, CNN’s Oren Liebermann Organizations: Washington CNN, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, CNN, White, Israeli, Sunday, West Bank, Hamas, Base, Pentagon, Joint Chiefs, Staff Locations: Israel, Gaza, Gaza City, Northern Gaza, Minnesota, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Chile

CNN —The US has intelligence that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has agreed to provide the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah with a Russian-made missile defense system, according to two people familiar with the intelligence. The Russian mercenary organization Wagner Group, which operates in Syria, has been tasked with carrying out the delivery of the surface-to-air SA-22 missile system, the people said. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Wagner may provide the system to Hezbollah. A third source familiar with western intelligence said there was evidence of increasing collaboration between Hezbollah and Wagner in Syria. It is not clear how much influence Russia had over the decision to provide the system to Hezbollah.

Persons: Bashar al, Assad, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, –, Hassan Nasrallah, CNN’s Oren Liebermann Organizations: CNN, Wagner Group, Street, Russian, US, Kremlin, Israel Locations: Lebanese, Russian, Syria, Russia, Syrian, Iran, Lebanon, Israel, Moscow, –, Gaza

Washington CNN —The US carried out airstrikes targeting two facilities linked to Iranian-backed militias in eastern Syria on Thursday, according to a statement from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, following a series of drone and rocket attacks against US forces in the region. He directly accused Iran of having a role in the attacks on US forces, saying in the statement, “Iran wants to hide its hand and deny its role in these attacks against our forces. We will not let them.” Austin also promised further strikes if the attacks by Iran’s proxies continue. Earlier Thursday, the US announced it is deploying about 900 troops to the Middle East - with the potential for many more. The US strikes follow a growing number of attacks against US forces in Iraq and Syria since October 17.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Austin, Joe Biden, ” Austin, Biden, ” Biden, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, Brig, Pat Ryder Organizations: Washington CNN, Defense, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, US, Pentagon, Wednesday, ISIS, UN, Assembly, Iranian, ”, Defense Department Locations: Iranian, Syria, Gaza, Iran, Israel, Iraq

☆ 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

In private discussions with their Israeli counterparts, Western defense officials have not tried to dissuade Israel from moving into Gaza with ground forces, the sources said. While he said that “taking out the extremists is a necessary requirement” for Israel, “Hamas and the extreme elements of Hamas don’t represent all the Palestinian people. At least publicly, Israeli officials have articulated their plans only in broad strokes, saying that the goal is to eliminate Hamas and its infrastructure. In one word – to win.”In 2014, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set out to debilitate Hamas with the last ground invasion into Gaza. “I think the goal was to show clear support (and) to understand Israel’s strategy of what comes after an invasion if Israel is successful in decimating Hamas.

Persons: Israel, Joe Biden, “, Biden, Gilad Erdan, Staff Herzi Halevi, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel hasn’t, ”, Jonathan Panikoff, didn’t Organizations: CNN, NATO, Israel, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces Chief, Staff, Haaretz, ”, US Locations: Israel, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon –, Iran, Tehran

☆ Incident involving US warship intercepting missiles near Yemen lasted 9 hours
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A US warship that intercepted drones and missiles near the coast of Yemen on Thursday encountered a larger and more sustained barrage than was previously known, shooting down 4 cruise missiles and 15 drones over a period of 9 hours, according to a US official familiar with the situation. Their trajectory left little doubt that the projectiles were headed for Israel, the official said, a clearer assessment than the Pentagon’s initial take. The drones and missiles were intercepted with SM-2 surface-to-air missiles launched from the USS Carney. US interceptions of Houthi launches are exceedingly rare, making the timing of this incident, as tensions rise in Israel, more significant. In response, the US fired sea-launched cruise missiles at Houthi radar facilities in Yemen.

Persons: Carney, Burke, Brig, Pat Ryder, ”, Ryder, USS Mason, I’m Organizations: CNN, Arleigh, Pentagon, SM, USS, Navy, US Central Command, Support, US Locations: Yemen, Suez, Israel, Gaza, East, Syria, Iraq, Iranian, Tanf, Baghdad

☆ American mother and daughter taken hostage by Hamas have been released, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Alex Marquardt Kaitlan Collins Oren Liebermann Michael Conte Sana Noor Haq | Alex Marquardt | Kaitlan Collins | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Hamas released two American hostages, Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natali Raanan, on Friday after they abducted around 200 people from Israel in a deadly attack on October 7. They are being released on “humanitarian grounds” because the mother is in poor health, the same source said. US officials have not said whether they believe any of the American hostages are dead and have previously noted that all hostages are assumed alive. Amnesty International has said Israel’s “collective punishment” of Palestinian civilians for Hamas’ attack amounts to a war crime. “The families’ headquarters welcomes the release of hostages from Hamas captivity,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement to CNN.

Persons: Judith Tai Raanan, Natali, Daniel Hagari, Abu Obaida, Biden, ”, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Majid Al, Ansari, Joe Biden, “, “ Jill, Israel, Antony Blinken, Rishi Sunak Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Brigades, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United Nations, Amnesty Locations: Israel, Gaza, Chicago, Nahal Oz, Qatar, ” Qatar, Israel’s, Mexico, Brazil, Thailand

CNN —A US Navy warship operating in the Middle East intercepted multiple projectiles near the coast of Yemen on Thursday, two US officials told CNN. One of the officials said the missiles were fired by Iranian-backed Houthi militants, who are engaged in an ongoing conflict in Yemen. Approximately 2-3 missiles were intercepted, according to the second official. Gen. Pat Ryder confirmed that the USS Carney shot down three land attack missiles as well as several drones that were launched by Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen. The USS Carney transited through the Suez Canal into the Red Sea on Wednesday.

Persons: Brig, Pat Ryder, Carney, ” Ryder, ” Organizations: CNN, US Navy, East, Pentagon, US Fleet Forces Locations: Yemen, Iranian, Iran, Israel, Suez

☆ Pentagon warns about China’s growing long-range missile arsenal in major report
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The 2023 China Military Power report, released annually by the Defense Department, said that Beijing has also completed the construction of three new fields of long-range ballistic missiles silos as it builds out its options for delivering a nuclear warhead from different platforms. China uses its military might to assert its claims of sovereignty in the South China Sea and beyond, including Taiwan. In 2022, the Chinese military increased its aggressive actions towards the independent island territory, including ballistic missile overflights, military aircraft flying into Taiwan’s aerial identification zone and major exercises near Taiwan. The growing aggression isn’t only pointed at Taiwan or China’s neighbors. Chinese military pilots have ramped up their “coercive and risky” behavior against US aircraft flying over the East and South China in the last two years.

Persons: ”, Xi Jinping, ” Ely Ratner, “, Aquilino Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, Defense Department, National Defense Strategy, America, East, Defense, Pacific Security Affairs, PLA, PLA’s Joint Staff Department Locations: China, United States, Beijing, South, Taiwan, South China, Fiji

☆ UFOs: US is receiving dozens of reports a month, senior Pentagon official tells CNN
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The office has received approximately 800 reports of unidentified objects to investigate as of this past April, up from 650 reports in August 2022, Sean Kirkpatrick, who heads the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office at the Pentagon told CNN. “I am worried from a national security perspective.”But Kirkpatrick could offer few details about why certain reports raised suspicions about foreign involvement. The portal for historical sightings is set to open sometime in the next month or so, Kirkpatrick told CNN. Its purpose is to validate or refute past reports of unidentified objects, checking them against other reports and cataloging them for possible further analysis. Asked if the US government should have created an effort to handle unidentified objects earlier, Kirkpatrick demurred.

Persons: Sean Kirkpatrick, Kirkpatrick, ”, ” Kirkpatrick, Biden, UAPs, David Grusch, Grusch, “, Kirkpatrick demurred Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, Federal Aviation Administration, Air Force Locations: United States, South Carolina

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

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