OT subject but worth a main-stream read- OT News Feeds...

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Thursday Israel-Hamas update:

"A U.S. Special Operations strike in the Baghdad capital yesterday killed a senior leader of Katai’ib Hezbollah, which is the Iran-backed militia that U.S. officials blame for the attack in Jordan, the Pentagon said. A senior Katai’ib Hezbollah official and Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps both said that two commanders had been killed in the strike. A U.S. official said the strike was a “dynamic” hit on the commander, whom American intelligence had been tracking for some time. Helene Cooper and Alissa J. Rubin report for the New York Times.

Iraq has issued a warning to the United States in response to yesterday’s airstrike in Baghdad, calling the attack a “new aggression” by Washington that “undermine[s] all understandings” between Iraq and the United States. A spokesperson for Iraq’s Joint Operation Command added that the strikes are a “violation of Iraqi sovereignty.” Mohamed Tawfeeq reports for CNN.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected Hamas’s counteroffer to a ceasefire proposal yesterday, adding that negotiations with the group were “not going anywhere” and describing their terms as “bizarre.” Israel was expected to take issue with Hamas’s counter-offer, but its response was a categorical rebuke, indicating that Israeli officials see Hamas’s effort to end the war on its terms as unacceptable. BBC News reports.

Israel’s military has proposed immediately extending the length of military service for conscripts and reservists, increasing the compulsory enlistment period to 36 months for all service members. The plan, proposed yesterday, requires legislative approval before going into effect. Under current Israeli law, men must serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for 32 months, and women for 24 months. Lars Dolder reports for the New York Times.

French President Emmanuel Macron described the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks as the “largest antisemitic attack of our century” during a ceremony yesterday for French victims in the attacks in the Invalides military complex in Paris. A total of 42 French and dual French-Israeli nationals were killed in the attacks, and six were injured. Three remain missing and are presumed to have been taken hostage by Hamas. Laura Gozzi reports for BBC News.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said yesterday that he still hopes a deal could be reached between Israel and Hamas for a fighting pause despite “nonstarters” in Hamas’s response. “We’ve looked very carefully at what came back from Hamas and there are clearly nonstarters in what it’s put forward,” he said during a visit to Israel. “But we also see space in what came back to pursue negotiations to see if we can get to an agreement, and that’s what we intend to do.” Zolan Kanno-Youngs reports for the New York Times.

Blinken met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah yesterday. Blinken and Abbas discussed “developments in the ongoing efforts to stop the aggression against our people,” according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA. Abbas reiterated “it is not possible to accept or deal with the plans of the occupation authorities to separate [the Gaza Strip], or cut off any inch of its land, and it falls under the responsibility of the State of Palestine and under its administration,” WAFA reported. Ibrahim Hazboun and Eyad Kourdi report for CNN."

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Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:
"Large numbers of Russian troops are attacking the city of Avdiivka from all directions, its mayor said yesterday. “The enemy is pressuring from all directions. They are storming with very numerous forces,” Avdiivka mayor Vitaliy Barabash said. Reuters reports.
At least five people were killed and 50 injured, after Russia fired a wave of missiles and Shahed-type drones at six regions of Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv. The Ukrainian military said it intercepted 44 of the 64 drones and missiles that Russia launched. About 20,000 homes were left without power in Kyiv. Moscow claimed it was targeting Ukrainian weapons factories.
A preliminary assessment of the Russian attacks concluded that two of the five missiles that targeted Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine were made in North Korea, said Serhii Bolvinov, head of the National Police’s investigation unit in the region.
Russia said its air defence systems intercepted two separate Ukrainian air attacks, destroying 12 rockets and drones over the southwestern region of Belgorod. "

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No newsworthy happenings regarding the Red Sea and Houthis today (so far).  

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Friday Israel-Hamas update:

"Israel bombed targets in Rafah today, hours after Biden administration officials warned Israel against expanding its Gaza ground offensive into the southern city. Airstrikes hit two residential buildings in Rafah, while two other sites were bombed, killing twenty-two people, according to AP journalists who saw bodies arriving at hospitals. Najib Jobain, Wafaa Shurafa, and Bassem Mroue report for AP News.

As a Hamas delegation arrived in Egypt yesterday for further talks on ending the war in Gaza, Israeli officials indicated their government was still open to negotiation, despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strong public rejection of Hamas’s counter-proposal this week. “There is agreement among members of the governing coalition, and particularly among individual members of the government, that we do have to get the hostages back and to make a deal. But not at any price. Stopping the war, they won’t agree to,” Miki Zohar, an Israeli government minister, said yesterday. Patrick Kingsley and Adam Rasgon report for the New York Times.

President Biden said yesterday that Israel’s operation to go after Hamas had been “over the top,” one of his sharpest rebukes yet of Israel’s military conduct in Gaza.“I’m of the view…that the conduct of the response in Gaza – in the Gaza Strip – has been over the top,” Biden told reporters at the White House. Kevin Liptak reports for CNN."

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Friday Russia-Ukraine update:

"Tucker Carlson interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday in Putin’s first one-on-one interview with a Western journalist since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In the interview, Putin hinted about releasing detained Wall Street Journalist Evan Gershkovich in a possible prisoner swap. He used much of the interview to monologue on revisionist historical accounts of post-World War I Russia and suggested the West fears Beijing more than Moscow, saying “The West is afraid of a strong China more than it fears a strong Russia.” Rebecca Falconer reports for Axios.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy removed his top general yesterday as part of a sweeping overhaul of his military command, the most significant restructuring of Ukrainian leadership since Russia’s invasion. The dismissal followed weeks of speculation about the fate of commander Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, whose relationship with Zelenskyy deteriorated as Ukraine failed to make a breakthrough in its counteroffensive last year. “Starting today, a new management team will take over the leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. Andrew E. Kramer and Marc Santora report for the New York Times. 

Mayor Vitaly Barabash told state media that large numbers of Russian forces were “storming” Avdiivka, which has been under sustained Russian assault since mid-October and lies about 20km (12 miles) east of the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk. Dmytro Lykhovyy, a Ukrainian military spokesperson, told national television that Russian and Ukrainian forces were engaged in fighting “within the town”.

Russia and Ukraine exchanged 100 prisoners of war each with the United Arab Emirates acting as an intermediary, both countries said. Zelenskyy said most of those brought home had been captured in the three-month defence of Mariupol, which fell in May 2022.

Ukraine’s air force said 11 of 17 Russia-launched drones targeting four regions of the country were shot down. No casualties were reported.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said it destroyed a dozen Ukrainian missiles headed for the border city of Belgorod."

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The latest with the Houthis:

Maersk CEO Says Military Operations Can’t Guarantee Safety of Ships in Red Sea

HEATHER MONGILIO

FEBRUARY 8, 2024 8:11 PM

The military operations in the Red Sea cannot guarantee the safety of commercial shipping in the region, the chief executive officer of a major shipping company said on Thursday.

During a 2023 third-quarter earnings call, Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc mentioned the lack of guaranteed safety in the Red Sea, which has come under several attacks by the Yemen-based Houthis in a Thursday interview on Bloomberg T.V.

Clerc said disruptions in the Red Sea have affected about a third of the company’s container volume, which was less than the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’ve not seen the level of threat peak, to the contrary,” Clerc said. “The amount or the range of weapons that are being used for these attacks is expanding and there is no clear line of sight to when and how the international community will be able to mobilize itself and guarantee safe passage for us.”

And this from the US Central Command:

The U.S. Central Command forces yesterday conducted seven “self-defense” strikes against four Houthi unmanned surface vessels and seven mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to be launched against ships in the Red Sea, the U.S. military said. Kanishka Singh reports for Reuters.

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Monday Israel-Hamas update:

"Israel’s military said today it had conducted a “wave of attacks” on the southern Gazan city of Rafah to cover as soldiers freed two hostages held by Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ignored warnings by Israel’s main allies – including the United States and the United Kingdom – not to proceed with the plan to send troops into Rafah, saying that Israel had no choice but to finish its assault on Hamas, which it says is hiding members among the civilians in Rafah. Yan Zhuang, Gabby Sobelman, and Andrés R. Martínez report for the New York Times.

Hamas condemned what it called a “horrific massacre” by Israel against civilians in Rafah after Israel confirmed it conducted airstrikes near the city. “We’ve had conflicting reports on this, with heath[sic] ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra saying 67 people were killed in Rafah. But the AFP news agency, also citing the ministry, is reporting more than 100 killed in the city on the border with Egypt,” BBC News reports.

King Abdullah II of Jordan will meet with President Biden today in Washington to discuss “efforts to produce an enduring end to the crisis” and the “vision for a durable peace to include a two-state solution with Israel’s security guaranteed,” a White House statement confirmed. 

Israel’s planned ground offensive into Rafah would have “dire consequences,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shourky said on Saturday. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, which has conditioned normalization with Israel on an end to the war and steps toward Palestinian statehood, issued a statement warning of “the extremely dangerous repercussions of storming and targeting the city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip” as the city is “the last refuge for hundreds of thousands of people.” The Times of Israel reports. 

Qatar “condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli threats to storm the city of Rafah” and “calls on the U.N. Security Council to take urgent action to prevent the prevent the Israeli occupation forces from invading Rafah and committing genocide, and to provide full protection to civilians under international law,” a statement issued by the Qatari ministry of foreign affairs said. 

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Doha yesterday, where he is expected to meet with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, today to continue discussions to stop Israel’s “aggression,” according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA. Jo Shelley reports for CNN."

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Monday Russia-Ukraine update:
"Russian forces are using Elon Musk’s SpaceX satellite system near the front line in occupied areas of Ukraine, Kyiv’s military intelligence said. The system, known as Starlink, has enabled Ukrainian forces to communicate via secure chat apps without relying on radio signals, which could be intercepted. In response, Musk said, “A number of false news reports claim that SpaceX is selling Starlink terminals to Russia. To the best of our knowledge, no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia.” Ian Lovett and Micah Maidenberg report for the Wall Street Journal.
Seven people were killed, including three small children, after a Russian drone attack on the northeastern city of Kharkiv on Saturday hit a petrol station burning half the street to the ground.
Russia launched drone attacks on Kyiv and southern Ukraine, injuring at least one civilian and damaging a gas pipeline and residential buildings in the river and seaport of Mykolaiv, Ukraine’s military said on Sunday. The Air Force said air defence systems destroyed 40 out of the 45 Russian-launched Shahed drones."

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Tuesday Israel-Hamas update:

"The Israeli military has not yet presented its plan to the government for evacuating civilians from Rafah, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson said today. “The government has instructed the IDF to devise a plan to achieve our goals, our war goals, in the area of Rafah,” IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said. “The plan that you’re asking for has still yet to be presented, of course, to the government.” Alex Stambaugh reports for CNN.

Egypt has fortified its border with Gaza and deployed more troops in North Sinai as a “precautionary measure” ahead of an expected Israeli ground operation in Rafah, two security officials told CNN.

Israel should “stop and think seriously before it takes any further action” in Rafah, British foreign secretary David Cameron said yesterday. When asked about the situation in Rafah and whether Israel’s actions had gone beyond international law, Cameron said, “We think it is impossible to see how you can fight a war amongst these people. There’s nowhere for them to go … what we want is an immediate pause in the fighting and we want that pause to lead to a ceasefire.” Reuters reports."

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Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:
"Ukraine claims it has evidence that Russia fired an advanced hypersonic missile – one that experts say is almost impossible to shoot down – for the first time since the start of the war. Brad Lendon reports for CNN. And more-Researchers in Kyiv said a preliminary analysis concluded that Russia hit the Ukrainian capital last week with a hypersonic Zircon missile, marking the weapon’s first use in the war. The Zircon has a range of 1,000km (625 miles) and travels at nine times the speed of sound, according to Russia.

Russia attacked the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro with missiles and drones today, damaging a power plant and forcing authorities to close schools and evacuate a hospital. Ukraine reported it shot down 16 out of 23 drones. Reuters reports.

Norway’s intelligence service warned Russia was “gaining the advantage” in the war in Ukraine owing to a greater number of troops and materiel supplied by Iran, China, North Korea and Belarus. Nils Andreas Stensones, the head of the military intelligence unit, said Kyiv would need “extensive” Western military assistance to turn the situation around.

The Kremlin denied Ukraine’s claim that its troops were using Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet system for military communications in parts of Ukraine it occupies. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the system was neither certified for use in, nor officially supplied to, Russia, and therefore could not be used."

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Worth the read if you want to better understand the rise of CHEETO:
Frictionless conduit here-

https://us7.campaign-archive.com/?e=53ef3a76b6&u=61572bb8acf7b8704903af7b8&id=a3af198b20

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Wednesday Israel-Hamas update:
"Negotiations in Cairo for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have been extended for another three days, according to an Egyptian official briefed on the talks, after a first day of high-level negotiations yesterday ended without an agreement. The talks over the next three days will involve lower-level officials. President Biden had dispatched CIA director William Burns to join the talks on Tuesday, where he met with the head of Israel’s intelligence agency, Qatar’s prime minister and high-level Egyptian officials, including President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, according to Egyptian media. Vivian Lee and Julian Barnes report for the New York Times. 

Israeli ultranationalist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich is blocking a U.S.-funded flour shipment to Gaza because it is bound for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), two Israeli and U.S. officials told Axios. U.S. officials said this is a violation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s personal commitment made to President Biden several weeks ago, with State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller saying yesterday, “The Israel government made a commitment to allow the flour to go in and we expect them to implement this commitment [sic].” Smotrich’s office confirmed he ordered customs not to release the flour shipments and has asked officials to find a new delivery mechanism to ensure they do not reach Hamas. 

Israeli forces have ordered Palestinians to evacuate one of the last functioning hospitals in Gaza, raising fears that troops will attempt to storm the facility. The Israeli military accused Hamas today of conducting military activity inside the grounds of the hospital, the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, and alleged that the complex “was used to hold hostages.” Raja Abdulrahim reports for the New York Times."

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Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"The United States rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s suggestion of a ceasefire in Ukraine, three Russian sources with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters. A U.S. source denied there had been any official contact and said Washington would not engage in talks that did not involve Ukraine. Guy Faulconbridge and Darya Korsunskaya report for Reuters.

A Russian ship has sunk off the coast of Russian-occupied Crimea, according to Ukraine’s armed forces. Ukraine’s intelligence director released a video of what it said were Magura V5 sea drones striking the ship. Paul Kirby reports for BBC News.

At least 10 people were killed in Russian drone and shelling attacks across eastern, central and northern parts of Ukraine, including three who were at a market in the northeastern region of Kharkiv.

A missile and drone attack on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro damaged a power plant, forcing authorities to close schools and evacuate a hospital. Ukraine’s Air Force said it shot down 16 of 23 drones."

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Thursday Israel-Hamas update:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not approve sending an Israeli delegation to Cairo today for follow-up talks over a possible hostage deal, two Israeli officials said. Mossad director David Barnea and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar tried to convince Netanyahu to send the delegation and said they believe progress can be made, but he rejected their recommendation, one official said. Netanyahu believes there is no point in further talks until Hamas agrees to soften its position on the number of prisoners it demands to be released, according to both officials. Barak Ravid reports for Axios.

Israeli forces stormed the Nasser Medical Complex today hours after an Israeli strike hit the hospital, killing at least one person and wounding six others, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The Israeli army said its operation was “precise and limited,” and sought to recover the remains of hostages taken by Hamas. Wafaa Shurafa and Bassem Mroue report for AP News.

The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) expressed fears yesterday that the Nasser Medical Complex might soon stop functioning, saying it had been cut off by heavy fighting and that Israel had refused to allow in medical resupply missions. The hospital has been surrounded for over a week by Israeli forces, and on Tuesday the Israeli military ordered civilians sheltering there to evacuate. The W.H.O. said it last had access to the hospital on Jan. 29 and had applied to Israel this week to conduct resupply missions and assess the hospital’s condition, but Israel had denied both requests. Nick Cumming-Bruce reports for the New York Times. 

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud called on Hamas to “quickly” reach a deal to release hostages in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported. He urged the group to conclude the deal to “protect Palestinian people and avoid an attack on Rafah,” also calling on the United States and Arab nations to “work seriously to complete the deal.” Mostafa Salem and Hamdi Alkhshali report for CNN."

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Thursday Russia-Ukraine update:
"Ukraine said it critically damaged the Caesar Kunikov, a Russian landing warship, off occupied Crimea, in a drone attack, the latest blow to the Russian navy’s Black Sea Fleet. Ukraine said the ship, one of Russia’s newest vessels, had a crew of 87 and had taken part in wars in Georgia and Syria as well as Ukraine. There was no official comment from Russia on the attack.

Newly-appointed Ukrainian armed forces chief Oleksandr Syrskyii visited troops fighting around the key flashpoint of Avdiivka on the eastern front line, and described the situation as “extremely complex and stressful”. Syrskyii, who was accompanied by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, said Russian forces had “a numerical advantage in personnel”.

At least three people, including a child, were killed and a dozen injured in a wave of Russian missile attacks on the town of Selydove in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. Officials said a hospital and several apartments were damaged.

President Joe Biden and top officials urged Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson for a vote on a bill that would provide $61bn in crucial assistance to Ukraine but is opposed by Donald Trump, the likely Republican candidate in November’s election in the United States. The Senate backed the bill, which also includes assistance for Israel and Taiwan, earlier this week.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also urged US lawmakers to pass the bill. “This is not charity. This is an investment in our own security,” Stoltenberg said."

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Cities With The Worst Drivers, Ranked

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/car-insurance/worst-drivers-by-city/

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Red Sea-Houthis and the lay of the land:
"Strikes continue: The U.S. launched four self-defense strikes Wednesday and one Tuesday , all against targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, CENTCOM said. Those strikes took out eight mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, three aerial drones, and one explosive robot boat, all of which were “prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea.” 

 Those strikes may be harder to launch going forward , as United Arab Emirates and other countries have restricted the U.S. military’s ability to launch airstrikes against Iranian proxies from their soil, Politico reports. The U.S. has a large Air Force presence at an air base in UAE, as well as troops and air assets in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and elsewhere in the region. 

 Developing: Politico, citing anonymous sources, reports that “several Arab countries,” especially those trying not to provoke Iran, are “increasingly restricting” the U.S. and other nations from “conducting self-defense operations from their soil,” including strikes in retaliation for attacks in Iraq, Syria, and the Red Sea. "

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Friday Israel-Hamas update:

"Qatar is waiting for Hamas to respond to a proposed ceasefire deal that would see the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. “The major sticking point remains the Israeli withdrawal of troops from Gaza,” the source said. Becky Anderson reports for CNN.

Israel has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to dismiss South Africa’s request to issue additional emergency measures ahead of Israel’s planned offensive in Rafah. In documents released yesterday, Israel argued that the emergency measures issued by the ICJ already cover “the situation of hostilities in Gaza as a whole.” Reuters reports. 

A wall is apparently being constructed near the border between Egypt and Rafah, according to analysis by the New York Times. Satellite imagery shows a large patch of land being bulldozed and a wall being built, with work estimated to have begun around Feb. 5. It is unclear whether the structure might be intended to hold Gazans who crossed the border, but if it were, it would be a major reversal of Egypt’s stance. The Egyptian government has declined to discuss the new construction, referring only to its fortification of the border in recent weeks. 

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday, where he said the “UK was deeply concerned about the loss of civilian life in Gaza and the potentially devastating humanitarian impact of a military incursion into Rafah.” Sunak “highlighted the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and urged Israel to fully open the Kerem Shalom crossing and allow the maritime delivery of international aid through Ashdod port, which the UK stood ready to support on.” Sunak also “noted the importance of continuing to abide by International Humanitarian Law and protecting civilian infrastructure like hospitals and shelters.”"

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Friday and this regarding Iran and the Houthis:

"Yesterday, new reports surfaced suggesting the United States recently conducted a covert cyber operation against the Iranian ship MV Behshad in the Red Sea. The reports cited an unnamed U.S. official, who described the operation as aimed at inhibiting the ship’s “ability to share intelligence with Houthi rebels in Yemen.” The official said the operation was part of the Biden administration’s response to the drone attack by Iranian-backed militia in Iraq that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan late last month. A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment. Courtney Kube and Carol Lee report for NBC News.    See our coverage on the report, Key Questions in U.S. Cyber Attack on “Iranian Spy Ship,” from Just Security Senior Fellow Brianna Rosen and Co-Editor-in-Chief Tess Bridgeman. 

A U.S. Coast Guard cutter “seized advanced conventional weapons and other lethal aid” originating in Iran and heading for Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen from a vessel in the Arabian Sea on Jan. 28, CENTCOM said in a statement. “This is yet another example of Iran’s malign activity in the region,” CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael E. Kurilla said. “Their continued supply of advanced conventional weapons to the Houthis is in direct violation of international law and continues to undermine the safety of international shipping and the free flow of commerce.”"

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Russia-Ukraine Friday update:
"Ukraine’s key eastern town of Avdiivka “is at risk of falling into Russian control,” national security spokesperson John Kirby said yesterday at a briefing in Washington.Kirby said Avdiivka would fall “because the Ukrainian forces on the ground are running out of artillery ammunition … And because Congress has yet to pass the supplemental bill, we have not been able to provide Ukraine with the artillery shells that they desperately need to disrupt these Russian assaults.” Jaroslav Lukiv reports for BBC News.

Ukraine said it was withdrawing troops from some parts of eastern Avdiivka to more advantageous positions and deployed the battle-hardened Third Assault Brigade to reinforce its forces as Russia intensifies efforts to encircle the front-line town.

At least seven people were killed in the Russian city of Belgorod after what authorities said was a Ukrainian rocket attack. A shopping centre, sports centre and apartment blocks were damaged.

Russia launched missile attacks on seven Ukrainian regions, including the capital Kyiv, and the cities of Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and Lviv, injuring at least 11 people. Air raid warnings lasted for more than two hours across the country. The air force said air defences shot down 13 of the 26 missiles Russia launched."

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Alexei Navalny's death: (surprisingly not falling out of a window...)

"We don’t realize how strong we actually are. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing. So don’t be inactive." So said Alexei Navalny in anticipating his own deathat the hands of the Putin regime. Sadly, the reality he saw as a distinct possibility was just realized in a Russia jail. Most headlines are announcing that Navalny died in prison. It was a slow motion murder. Alexander Vindman cuts to the chase. Alexei Navalny was murdered by Vladimir Putin. "After sending his wife a Valentine’s Day message and appearing on camera on February 15th, Navalny reportedly 'felt sick after a walk and lost consciousness.' Only a fool would take Russia’s announcement at face value – it is clear that Alexei Navalny’s death was an assassination by the murderous regime of Vladimir Putin."

President Biden agrees: "Make no mistake: Putin is responsible for Navalny's death. Putin does not only target citizens of other countries, as we've seen in what's going on in Ukraine right now — he also inflicts terrible crimes on his own people." 

And more commentary:

Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, also had harsh words for the Kremlin.

 "They will pay for what they have done to our country, to our family, and my husband," she said to applause at the Munich Security Conference.

 Navalny's death has also sparked a renewed debate around funding for Ukraine amid its war with Russia, with Congress deadlocked on passing new aid for Kyiv.

 Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley used the opportunity to blast former President Trump, who has at times praised Putin and has promised he will bring an end to the Ukraine war in 24 hours once in office.

 "Putin did this," Haley wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "The same Putin who Donald Trump praises and defends."

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Monday Israel-Hamas update:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defied international pressure to call off Israel’s planned ground invasion of Rafah, the southernmost Gazan city where over a million displaced Palestinians are sheltering. “Those who want to prevent us from operating in Rafah are basically telling us: Lose the war. It’s true that there’s a lot of opposition abroad, but this is exactly the moment that we need to say that we won’t be doing a half or a third of the job,” Netanyahu said. Adam Rasgon and Aaron Boxerman report for the New York Times.

Israeli forces will expand military operations in Rafah if hostages held by Hamas are not returned by the start of Ramadan, war cabinet minister Benny Gantz saidyesterday. The Muslim holy month is expected to start on March 10 or 11, and Gantz’s comments appear to be the clearest deadline yet for Israeli military action in the southern Gaza city. “The world must know, and Hamas leaders must know — if by Ramadan our hostages are not home — the fighting will continue to the Rafah area,” Gantz said, adding, “We will do so in a coordinated manner, facilitating the evacuation of civilians in dialogue with our American and Egyptian partners to minimize civilian casualties.” 

Israel formalized its opposition to what it called the “unilateral recognition” of Palestinian statehood, saying any such agreement must be reached through direct negotiations. Netanyahu brought the “declaratory decision” to a vote in cabinet, which unanimously approved the measure. Reuters reports.

Gaza’s Nasser hospital has ceased to function after “a week-long siege followed by the ongoing raid,” the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) has said. “Both yesterday and the day before, the WHO team was not permitted to enter the hospital to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite reaching the hospital compound to deliver fuel alongside partners. There are still about 200 patients in the hospital. At least 20 need to be urgently referred to other hospitals to receive health care,” W.H.O. head Tedros Ghebreyesu said. The Israeli military said no deaths have occurred as a result of its actions and that its troops had been told to keep the hospital running. BBC News reports. 

Talks to reach a ceasefire agreement were “not very promising in recent days,” Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said. “The pattern in the last few days [is] not really very promising but, as I always repeat, we will always remain optimistic and will always remain pushing,” he told world leaders at the Munich Security Conference, stressing that a truce should not be dependent on a deal to release the hostages held by Hamas. “This is the dilemma that we’ve been in and unfortunately that’s been misused by a lot of countries – that in order to get a ceasefire, it’s conditional to have the hostage deal,” he said. James Gregory reports for BBC News."

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Monday US, Iran, Israel and Houthis update:

"The United States struck five Houthi military targets including an undersea drone in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on Saturday, CENTCOM announced yesterday. It is believed to be the first time that the Houthi fighters have used an underwater drone since they began their campaign against ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Eden on Oct. 23. Julian E. Barnes reports for the New York Times.

Iran is privately urging Hezbollah and other armed groups to exercise restraint against U.S. forces, according to officials in the region. U.S. officials say the message might be having some effect. As of Saturday, Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria had not attacked U.S. forces for more than 13 days – an unusual lull since the start of the war in Gaza. Susannah George, Dan Lamothe, Suzan Haidamous, and Mustafa Salim report for the Washington Post.

Israel carried out covert attacks on two major natural gas pipelines inside Iran this week, disrupting the flow of heat and cooking gas to provinces with millions of people, according to two Western officials and a military strategist affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps. While Israel has long targeted military and nuclear sites inside Iran, blowing up part of the country’s energy infrastructure marked an escalation in the covert war and appeared to open a new frontier, officials and analysts said. Farnaz Fassihi, Eric Schmitt, Ronen Bergman and Julian E. Barnes report for the New York Times."

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Monday Russia-Ukraine update:
Russian troops launched multiple attacks to the west of just-captured Avdiivka in a bid for more gains, a Ukrainian army spokesperson said on Sunday. Kyiv also announced it had opened a war crimes investigation after two separate reports of Russian troops shooting captured Ukrainian soldiers emerged. Russia has said some Ukrainian troops remain at the Avdiivka coking coal plant.

Facing manpower and ammunition shortages, Ukraine was forced to withdraw from Avdiivka in the eastern Donetsk region, handing Moscow its first major territorial gain since May last year. “The enemy is trying to actively develop its offensive,” said Dmytro Lykhoviy, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian army commander leading Kyiv’s troops in the area. Ukraine’s general staff reported 14 failed Russian attacks on the village of Lastochkyne, around 2km (one mile) to the west of Avdiivka’s northern edge. “But our considerable forces are entrenched there,” Lykhoviy said.

Lykhoviy also reported failed Russian attacks near the villages of Robotyne and Verbove in the southern Zaporizhzhia region – one of the areas where Ukraine managed to regain ground during last year’s counteroffensive. He said it would be “very difficult” for Russia to break through there, given heavy Ukrainian defensive lines and natural conditions of the terrain. “The situation in the Zaporizhzhia sector is stable … No positions have been lost. The enemy was kicked in the teeth and retreated.”

Denmark has decided to donate all its artillery to Ukraine, the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, told the 60th Munich Security Conference on Saturday, pointing out that other European countries are also holding munitions they do not immediately need. “If you ask Ukrainians, they are asking us for ammunition now, artillery now,” he said. “From the Danish side, we decided to donate our entire artillery.”

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This just in:

Crew abandon British-registered cargo ship off Yemen after Houthi attack

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68337027?at_campaign_type=owned&at_medium=emails&at_objective=awareness&at_ptr_type=email&at_ptr_name=salesforce&at_campaign=newsbriefingpm&at_email_send_date=20240219&at_send_id=4043939&at_link_title=https%3a%2f%2fwww.bbc.co.uk%2fnews%2fworld-middle-east-68337027&at_bbc_team=crm

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Tuesday Israel-Hamas update:

"The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said yesterday they apprehended “hundreds” of Hamas militants hiding in the Nasser Medical Complex in the southern Gazan city of Khan Younis, including some of whom they say had been posing as medical staff. The military added that they found medicines with the names of Israeli hostages on them during their raid on the medical complex. Kareem Khadder, Alex Stambaugh, Richard Allen Greene, and Kareem El Damanhoury report for CNN.

Israeli troops have turned Nasser Medical Complex, the main hospital serving the southern Gaza Strip, into a “military barracks” and are “endangering the lives of patients,” according to the Hamas-run health ministry. 

Israel will allow Ramadan prayers at Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa Mosque during the upcoming holy month, but limits will be set according to “security needs,” Netanyahu’s office said yesterday. Hamas denounced the proposed restrictions, and the top Palestinian Islamic council called on all Muslims to visit Al Aqsa regardless. Reutersreports. 

Russia has invited all Palestinian factions, including Hamas, to meet in Moscow on February 26, according to Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh.Shtayyeh said the Palestinian Authority, which is dominated by the Fatah political faction, is still seeking unity with Hamas, adding that “If Hamas is not ready to come to ground with us that’s a different story. But we need Palestinian unity.” Alex Stambaugh reports for CNN.

The United States plans to veto an Arab-sponsored resolution in the U.N. Security Council that calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages. On Saturday, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said in a statement that ongoing negotiations for a six-week fighting pause and the phased release of Hamas-held hostages represent the “best opportunity” for their freedom and an increase in humanitarian aid. On Monday, the United States circulated a draft resolution calling for support of that plan, including what it calls a “temporary ceasefire,” in a future vote. Karen DeYoung reports for the Washington Post. "

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Tuesday Russia-Ukraine update:

"NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged the United States to “deliver what they promised” by providing Ukraine with a support package to help in their defense against Russian aggression, speaking to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour on Saturday. 

Ukrainian authorities are investigating possible war crimes after the relatives of six Ukrainian soldiers were reportedly executed after surrendering following the takeover of Avdiivka. Abdujalil Abdurasulov report for BBC News.

Ukraine shot down two Russian fighter jets in the eastern part of the country, the Ukrainian Air Force reported yesterday. 

Russian forces claimed full control of the Soviet-era coke plant in the newly-fallen Ukrainian town of Avdiivka yesterday, Russia’s defense ministry said. Guy Faulconbridge and Lidia Kelly report for Reuters. 

Canada will donate more than 800 SkyRanger R70 multi-mission Unmanned Aerial Systems to Ukraine to help in its war against Russia, Canada’s Defence Minister Bill Blair said yesterday. Reuters reports. " 

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Wednesday Israel-Hamas update:

"Israel’s military ordered two neighborhoods of Gaza City to evacuate yesterday amid signs of hunger and mounting desperation. The evacuations came as the World Food Program (W.F.P.) halted deliveries in the north, describing scenes of chaos as its teams faced hungry crowds, looting, and gunfire in recent days. The W.F.P. said it did not take the decision to suspend deliveries in Gaza’s north lightly, citing the “unprecedented levels of desperation” witnessed by its teams. Cassandra Vinograd and Matthew Mpoke Bigg report for the New York Times.

The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) said yesterday that the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis had no electricity or running water after an Israeli raid last week, calling the destruction surrounding the hospital “indescribable.” Israel pushed back on the W.H.O.’s description of the conditions, saying the hospital had sufficient medical supplies and that it had delivered a generator for the intensive care unit and food for the remaining patients. Adam Sella reports for the New York Times.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said yesterday that Israel would not pay any price for the return of the 134 hostages still held in Gaza. Smotrich said that while the hostages return was “very important,” they could not be released “at any cost,” saying that the way to free them was by increasing military pressure on Gaza and defeating Hamas. Reuters reports. 

Netanyahu acknowledged that “there is a lot of pressure on Israel” to end the Gaza offensive but said “no pressure will stop us.” “We really want to achieve more releases and we are also willing to go a long way, but we are not ready to pay any price, certainly not to pay the prices, the illusions that Hamas demands from us, which mean defeat for the state of Israel,” Netanyahu said. Doha Madani reports for NBC News."

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Wednesday Russia-Ukraine update:

The Swedish government yesterday announced a $683 million package of military aid to Ukraine. “This support package meets some of Ukraine’s most pressing needs and is in line with the military capability coalitions that are taking shape within the Ukraine Defence Contact Group,” Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson said. 

E.U. members today approved a 13th package of Ukraine-related sanctions against Russia, banning nearly 200 entities and individuals accused of helping Moscow procure weapons or of involvement in kidnapping Ukrainian children. Julia Payne, Andrew Gray, and Gabriela Baczynska report for Reuters. 

And this article:

Analysis: How Russia, Ukraine’s militaries stack up after two years of war

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/21/analysis-how-russia-ukraines-militaries-stack-up-after-two-years-of-war. 

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Since we are coming up on the two year mark of the Russia' invasion of Ukraine I went back and found this article from Feb 2022: (Originally posted by @JohnInCarolina).  A good reread.  
https://www.journalofdemocracy.org/what-putin-fears-most/.