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23 January 2024

Politico | American, British forces carry out large-scale strikes on Houthis in Yemen
The U.S. military has launched multiple rounds of preemptive strikes against Houthi anti-ship missile sites that were preparing to fire against international shipping over the past week. But those strikes have failed to deter the militants from continuing to attack commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

ABC News | Missile barrage on US base in Iraq leaves personnel being evaluated for brain injuries, officials say
In the latest escalation against U.S. forces in the Middle East, Iranian-backed militias launched a barrage of ballistic missiles and rockets at Al-Assad airbase in western Iraq on Saturday that left several U.S. personnel being evaluated for traumatic brain injuries, according to a statement from U.S. Central Command. Most of the incoming missiles and rockets were intercepted by the air defense systems at the base, which is used by both the Iraq and U.S. militaries, but some impacted the base, officials said.

Military Times | Navy SEALs who went missing during sea mission pronounced dead
U.S. Central Command said Sunday it was halting search and rescue efforts for two Navy SEALs who went missing during a Iranian weapons seizure mission this month, and the two are now considered deceased. The SEALs were on a mission to board an “illicit dhow carrying Iranian advanced conventional weapons” on Jan. 11 when they went missing off Somalia, according to CENTCOM.

Stars and Stripes | House GOP lawmakers attack VA for processing medical claims for illegal immigrants
Republican lawmakers clashed with Department of Veteran Affairs leaders at a hearing Wednesday over the VA’s fee-for-service agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to handle the medical claims of illegal immigrants in detention.

Defense News | Congress passes third stopgap funding bill instead of full FY24 budget
The short-term continuing resolution comes as lawmakers race to draft final defense spending legislation at an $886 billion defense spending top line stipulated in last year’s debt ceiling agreement. Failure to do so could result in a one-year CR pursuant to the debt deal that would cut funding for all federal agencies, including the Pentagon, by 1% from FY23 levels.

The American Conservative | The era of interventionist dominance is over
“Seemingly unaddressed in this [Houthi] crisis are the lives of 3,500 American service members stationed in remote and vulnerable bases in Iraq and Syria,” pointed out Reid Smith, vice president of foreign policy for the Stand Together philanthropic network. Just this weekend, a large contingent of New Jersey National Guardsmen were deployed to replace soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division in Syria and Iraq. It was the largest cohort to leave the state for an overseas deployment since the height of the Global War on Terror. “These ground deployments add little to America’s ability to project overwhelming force in the region but they do provide our opponents with an attractive target,” Smith added. Small wonder they’ve been attacked more than 1300 times since October.”

The Overwatch | CVA to Congress: Investigate sexual harassment at VA and restore accountability
The Department of Veterans Affairs has a duty and responsibility to provide needed care and benefits to veterans. But misconduct, harassment, and a lack of accountability consistently get in the way of that mission. The House Veterans Affairs Committee recently voted to subpoena documents regarding sexual harassment in the VA’s Office for Resolution Management, Diversity and Inclusion.

The Overwatch | #VAFail: VA denies Vietnam veteran’s claim he was in combat, despite paperwork and injuries
Frank Lagana was a faithful Marine who didn’t shy away from a fight. Decades later, when he reached out to the VA to cover illnesses related to his service, he was met with a shocking response – there was no record of him having served.

Associated Press | France gets ready to say ‘merci’ to World War II veterans for D-Day’s 80th anniversary this year
France is getting ready to show its gratitude toward World War II veterans who will return, many for the last time, to Normandy beaches this year for 80th anniversary commemorations of D-Day to mark the defeat of the Nazis. A ceremony at Omaha Beach, with many heads of state expected to be present, will be honoring the nearly 160,000 troops from Britain, the U.S., Canada and other nations who landed in Normandy on June 6, 1944.

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