U.S. Sends Defense System, Troops to Israel |
The United States plans to send advanced anti-missile defense systems and about one hundred troops to Israel to bolster the country’s defenses against Iran, the U.S. Department of Defense said yesterday. U.S. and Israeli officials have been in talks on how to respond to what the Pentagon called Iran’s “unprecedented attacks” against Israel in April and earlier this month. The decision to send this latest round of war aid marks the first significant deployment of U.S. troops to Israel since the war in the Gaza Strip began. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on social media site X that Tehran has “no red lines” when it comes to defending its people and interests in response to an expected Israeli retaliation for Iran’s recent missile attacks.
Meanwhile, the United Nations accused Israel of running tanks through peacekeeping missions in Lebanon over the weekend, calling it a “flagrant violation” of international law. Israel disputed the UN account; Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Lebanese militant group Hezbollah of using the UN mission as “human shields” and urged that peacekeepers be moved out of harm’s way. A Hezbollah strike on Sunday killed four Israeli soldiers and injured roughly sixty in what is considered one of the group’s deadliest attacks on Israel since last October. (WSJ, Department of Defense, WaPo, Times of Israel, FT)
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“Despite numerous disagreements between [U.S.] President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the course of the yearlong war, the president’s decision to deliver the THAAD system before Israel’s attack represents another example of his willingness to trust Netanyahu and give him the benefit of the doubt,” John Hudson and Dan Lamothe write for the Washington Post.
“One of the major failures of U.S. policy toward Israel and the Middle East over the past fifteen years, since Netanyahu’s return to power, in late 2009… [has been] a fundamental misunderstanding of Benjamin Netanyahu,” the Center for American Progress’s Andrew Miller tells The New Yorker. “It’s not that they necessarily thought he was a good-faith actor. They believe that he’s a political animal, and if the U.S. can help to support more virtuous or more aligned political actors within Israel, Netanyahu could be persuaded to do the right thing.”
This article by CFR’s Jonathan Masters and Will Merrow explores Iran’s missile and nuclear capabilities.
Read the full suite of Foreign Affairs and CFR.org resources on Israel and the current conflict.
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China Kicks Off War Games in Taiwan Strait |
The large-scale air and sea drills began today in nine areas surrounding Taiwan as part of Beijing’s warning against “separatist acts” by Taipei’s independence forces. A regional command of the Chinese military said they were “prepared for battle.” The drills follow just days after Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s first National Day speech, where he said China had “no right to represent Taiwan.” (Nikkei, FT)
This article by CFR expert David Sacks gets into why China would struggle to invade Taiwan.
China/Vietnam: The two countries agreed to boost defense and security cooperation during Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit with Vietnamese President To Lam in Hanoi over the weekend. They also pledged to boost economic ties and develop railway links. (Nikkei)
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Indian Muslim Politician Killed in Mumbai |
Three gunmen opened fire on Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique this weekend. The shooting comes weeks after Siddique heightened his security details following death threats. Two suspects have been taken into custody; their motive was not immediately clear, though the state government has promised a thorough investigation. (The Hindu, BBC)
This Backgrounder by Lindsay Maizland looks at how India’s Muslims have become increasingly marginalized.
China/Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan police arrested 198 Chinese nationals yesterday during raids on cybercrime operations throughout the country. Police said that victims of these cyber crimes include “people in Sri Lanka as well as those overseas.” (AFP)
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Middle East and North Africa |
Iran Delivers Satellites to Russia for Launch, Tasnim News Reports |
The two Iran-made satellites dispatched on Friday were “developed by a private-sector company,” according to the news agency, which is linked to Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Russia sent Iranian satellites into orbit earlier this year and in 2022, raising concern among U.S. officials about the collaboration of the two U.S.-sanctioned countries. (Tasnim News, RFE/RL)
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Zimbabwe Confirms First Two Cases of Mpox Variant |
The unspecified variant was reported shortly after Zimbabwe’s neighbor, Zambia, confirmed its first case last week, signaling a wider spread of the virus across more African countries. The World Health Organization has declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time since 2022. (Reuters) For Think Global Health, CFR’s Allison Krugman and Chloe Searchinger monitor global mpox vaccine donations.
Africa: The African Petroleum Producers’ Organization, an eighteen-strong coalition of oil-producing countries, aims to launch an “energy bank” that would fund oil and gas projects on the continent. Operations could begin as soon as early next year. Africa’s largest oil producers have faced funding restrictions from traditional multilateral institutions and banks as they seek to curb new oil and gas development. (FT)
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North Korea Is Sending Troops to Russia, Says Zelenskyy |
In a national address yesterday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserted that North Korea’s and Russia’s military relationship is growing beyond the “transfer of weapons” to the “transfer of people.” While he did not specify details, South Korean and Ukrainian officials raised concern over North Korean-Russian military training and cooperation last week. A Kremlin spokesperson dismissed the reports as “fake.” (Reuters, WaPo)
Lithuania: Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, leader of the main opposition Social Democratic Party, is expected to become the next prime minister after this weekend’s parliamentary elections. She plans to increase defense spending and maintain a tough stance toward Russia, as well as improve public services. (Reuters)
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Venezuela Cancels Passports for More Than Forty Journalists and Activists |
Individuals had their passports confiscated at airports and while overseas without explanation, according to Laboratorio de Paz, a Venezuelan rights group. Rights groups say the crackdown is part of an intensifying campaign of repression after President Nicolás Maduro’s contested reelection win in July. (FT)
Guyana: President Irfaan Ali unveiled several economic initiatives for citizens including free college tuition and a household one-time cash payment of almost $1,000. The move comes as Guyana has seen massive profits in oil revenue ahead of the country’s national election late next year. (AP)
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Trump Pledges to Bolster Border Patrol |
At a rally in Arizona yesterday, former President Donald Trump said that he would hire ten thousand extra border agents if reelected and would ask Congress to fund wage increases. This includes a 10 percent pay raise and a $10,000 retention and signing bonus. (Reuters)
This Backgrounder by Amelia Cheatham, Claire Klobucista, and CFR’s Diana Roy looks at how the U.S. patrols its borders.
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