Army Trained on Russian Vehicle Surrogates
Source: Defence Blog
December 11 2022
USA
The U.S. Army's 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment will use U.S. vehicles made to look like Russian vehicles for training purposes, reports Defence Blog.
The Blackhorse Regiment's new Tigr surrogates are modified M998 Humvees, while their BTR-87 wheeled armored vehicles are Strykers in disguise.
These surrogates are meant to help U.S. troops train on the signatures of near-peer vehicles without having to acquire the genuine article.
New Sanctions Target Human-Rights Abusers, Corruption
Source: Dept. of the Treasury
December 12 2022
USA
The U.S. Dept. of the Treasury has unveiled new sanctions on dozens of individuals and entities in nine countries for corruption and human-rights abuses.
On Dec. 9, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) implemented the measures against more than 40 individuals and entities under several executive orders and the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, the department said in a release.
In North Korea, sanctions were imposed on the Ministry of State Security Border Guard General Bureau (BGGB) for reported forced labor, torture and other human-rights violations.
In El Salvador, two close allies of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele were sanctioned for corruption.
Three Guatemalan politicians were designated for various bribery schemes, and in Guinea, ex-president Alpha Conde, was sanctioned for serious human-rights abuses during his time in office.
Other sanctions were imposed on two law enforcement forces in Iran; Allah Karam Azizi, the warden of Iran's notorious Rajaee Shahr prison; and Karim Keita, the son of former Malian president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita's son, among others.
These actions are part of the Biden Administration's efforts to implement the first U.S. Strategy for Countering Corruption, which was released in December 2021.
Putin Plans Escape To South America If Ukraine War Lost, Former Speechwriter Claims
Source: Business Insider
December 11 2022
Russia
A Kremlin political consultant and ex-speechwriter to Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that Putin is planning an escape from Russia in the event of its defeat in Ukraine, reports the Business Insider.
Abbas Gallyamov, who last worked for Putin in 2010 and is living in exile in Israel, posted the rumor in a Telegram post, citing unnamed insiders as his sources.
He said that Putin's plan involves escaping to either Argentina or Venezuela, because Chinese asylum was deemed unlikely.
None of Gallyamov's claims have been independently verified, and Western intelligence assessments described to the press, as of as October, suggest that he will maintain power despite battlefield setbacks.
5 Jersey Residents Killed in Explosion
Source: BBC News
December 12 2022
United Kingdom
At least five people have been killed in a suspected natural gas explosion in St. Helier, Jersey, in the English Channel, reports BBC News.
On Saturday morning, the three-story Haut du Mont residential block blew up, 7.5 hours after firefighters had visited the building to check on a reported gas leak.
Of the building's nine residents, five have been found dead. Four remain missing.
European Parliament Bribery Scandal Escalates
Source: Financial Times
December 12 2022
Qatar
European Union
A Belgian judge has charged four people with "participation in a criminal organization, money laundering and corruption" as part of a growing scandal involving Qatari bribery of members of the European Parliament, reports the Financial Times (U.K.).
Belgian police have so far seized 600,000 euros (US$634,000) in cash, searched the homes of two members of European Parliament (MEPs) and detained an MEP's family in Italy over the weekend. Italian prosecutors reported that Antonio Panzeri, a former MEP, was detained in Brussels.
The Belgian justice system has not revealed the identities of those accused, but reports indicate that Qatar is suspected of having paid several MEPs with bribes, including European Parliament Vice President Eva Kaili.
Kaili has been stripped of her duties and removed from the Greek socialist Pasok party.
Some MEPs have confirmed reports that Qatari officials have run a sustained bribery campaign since 2019.
Fighting Continues In East
Source: Institute for the Study of War
December 12 2022
Ukraine
Russia
The war in Ukraine grinds on with both sides launching strikes in eastern and southern Ukraine, reports the Institute for the Study of War (Washington, D.C.).
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that Ukrainian forces repelled Russian attacks in Donetsk and Luhansk, launching strikes that hit nine Russian command posts, 17 rallying points, an artillery cluster and two ammunition dumps, reported Ukrinform.
Meanwhile, "in violation of the international humanitarian law," General Staff said that Russian forces struck civilian infrastructure in Kostiantynivka in Donetsk with two missile strikes; conducted 11 airstrikes against Ukrainian; and hit recently liberated Kherson with 60 multiple rocket launcher strikes.
One source claims that a Ukrainian strike in Melitopol killed 200 Russian troops.
Separately, Russia has been continuing to suggest that Belarusian ground forces will join the fighting in Ukraine. Analysts say that such an attack is highly unlikely, but Russian and Belarusian forces are employing information operations to keep Ukrainian forces along the border with Belarus to prevent them from reinforcing operations elsewhere.
3 Attackers Killed By Security Forces Near Kabul Hotel
Source: Al Jazeera
December 12 2022
Afghanistan
Taliban security forces have killed three attackers in a gun battle in Kabul, reports Al Jazeera (Qatar)
On Monday, unknown gunmen attacked the Kabul Longan Hotel, which is popular with Chinese nationals. No foreigners were killed in the attack, a Taliban spokesman. Two suffered injuries after jumping from a hotel balcony to escape.
The assault came a day after the Chinese ambassador met with the Afghan deputy foreign minister to address security concerns.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
7 Killed In Border Clash With Pakistan
Source: Ariana News
December 12 2022
Afghanistan
Pakistan
At least six Pakistani civilians and a Taliban border guard have been killed in fighting between Afghan and Pakistani forces along their shared border, reports the Ariana News (Kabul).
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sherif claimed that the Afghan forces opened fire without provocation.
Afghan security forces said the clash began after Pakistani troops demanded that they stop building a new check post on their side of the border, reported Reuters.
At least seven people were killed and more than a dozen injured in the gunfight.
Sharif called on Afghanistan to prevent such border clashes in the future.
At Least 10 Volunteers Killed By Suspected Jihadists In Center-North Region
Source: Agence France-Presse
December 11 2022
Burkina Faso
At least 10 civilian volunteer militiamen have been killed in a gun battle with jihadists in northern Burkina Faso, reports Agence France-Presse.
On Dec. 7, the militants fought with civilian volunteers supporting the Burkinabe army in the town of Boala in north-central Burkina Faso, said a regional leader of the volunteer forces.
At least 10 volunteers were killed and several others injured.
Several jihadists were "neutralized" by the volunteers after a two-hour gunfight, the leader said.
Annual CARAT Drills With U.S. Underway
Source: USNI News
December 11 2022
USA
Indonesia
The Indonesian and U.S. navies are in the midst of a joint exercise in the Java Sea, reports USNI News.
The 28th Annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) drills began on Dec. 7 and run through Dec. 21.
The training is focused on enhancing interoperability, capabilities and bilateral relationships, said Rear Adm. Joaquin Martinez de Pinillos, the vice commander of U.S. 7th Fleet.
The U.S. contingent includes the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, with the embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The amphibious group includes the Makin Island (LHD-8) and San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks John P. Murtha (LPD-26) and Anchorage (LPD-23). A P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and MH-60S Seahawk helicopters are also taking part.
The Indonesian contingent includes the frigates Raden Eddy Martadinata and Abdul Halim Perdakusuma, corvette Diponegoro and tank landing ship Teluk Banten as well as units from 2nd Marine Force of the Indonesian marine corps. The Indonesian air force is also participating in the drills.
IDF Troops Kill 4 Palestinians In Jenin Raid
Source: Middle East Eye
December 11 2022
Israel
At least four people have been killed in Israeli raids in the West Bank, reports the Middle East Eye (London).
On the morning of Dec. 8, Israeli forces raided Jenin, opening fire on a group of Palestinians near Ramallah, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. Three Palestinians were killed and two others injured.
Hours later, Israeli troops shot and killed a 17-year-old Palestinian boy.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, Israeli forces killed a 16-year-old girl and injured three others in another raid in Jenin.
Palestinian media said that an undercover Israeli force had been engaged by Palestinian fighters, resulting in a shoot out.
Israel has stepped up raids in the West Bank this year, with 166 Palestinians killed in the region so far this year.
Third Of Fleet Docked Due To Personnel Shortage
Source: Defense News
December 11 2022
New Zealand
The New Zealand navy has taken a third ship out of service due to a lack of personnel, reports Defense News.
The service has docked the Wellington offshore patrol vessel at the Devonport naval base, along with her sister, Otago, and the inshore patrol vessel Hawea, the newspaper reported last week. The move leaves the navy with one-third of its nine ships out of service.
Air Marshal Kevin Short, the chief of defense, said the move would free up engineering personnel and better enable the service to manage its personnel shortage.
The navy is suffering a 16.5-percent personnel attrition rate, which has been attributed to a competitive job market and resignations due to the COVID pandemic.
Army Denies Report Of Mass Forced Abortion Program
Source: Radio France Internationale
December 11 2022
Nigeria
Nigerian military officials have rejected a Reuters report that claims that the armed forces "conducted a secret, systematic and illegal abortion program in the country's northeast, ending at least 10,000 pregnancies" since at least 2013, reports Radio France Internationale.
The Reuters report, citing dozens of women liberated from Boko Haram, as well as their guards and soldiers involved in the program, says that abortions were conducted on pregnant women as soon as they entered Nigerian military custody after they were freed from their jihadist captors.
Many of the women in question were not informed of the abortion medication they were receiving. Several sources reported that abortions were forced upon those who were aware of the treatment and did not want it.
The Nigerian army, which has been conducting a counterinsurgency in Nigeria's northeast since 2009, denied the allegations, calling them, "a body of insults on the Nigerian peoples and culture."
Thousands Of Children Killed In Fight Against Boko Haram, Report Says
Source: Reuters
December 12 2022
Nigeria
A new Reuters investigation has found that thousands of children have been killed by Nigerian forces in their fight against Islamist insurgents in northeastern Nigeria.
Forty civilian and military eyewitnesses reported seeing, or personally participating in, the murder of children as young as four-months-old, says the Reuters report.
One woman said that Nigerian soldiers smothered her children before her eyes on the grounds that, "they are children of Boko Haram – they are not human beings."
One soldier confirmed this attitude to the sire service, saying: "I don't see them as children, I see them as Boko Haram … If I get my hands on them, I won't shoot them, I will slit their throat … I enjoy it."
Nigerian military leaders have denied the accusations.
Boluarte Seeks To Bring 2026 Elections Forward To 2024 Amid Unrest
Source: MercoPress
December 12 2022
Peru
President Dina Boluarte has agreed to bring forward Peruvian elections following the failed coup by her predecessor Pedro Castillo, reports MercoPress (Uruguay).
The decision comes amid protests by Castillo's supporters, who say they do not recognize the legitimacy of Boluarte, who became president after Castillo was deposed following the coup attempt.
Thousands of supporters have marched across Peru. Two demonstrators have reportedly been killed, while another 21 have been injured in the protests.
In response, Boluarte agreed to move general elections scheduled for 2026 up to April 2024, reported the Voice of America News. Congress must still approve the move.
New Insurance Requirements Turn Bosporus Into Russian Oil Chokepoint
Source: Daily Sabah
December 11 2022
Russia
Turkey
Ships carrying Russian crude oil through the Bosporus were left without necessary paperwork due to Western sanctions requiring maritime insurers to enforce a US$60-dollar-a-barrel price cap, reports the Daily Sabah (Istanbul).
Since the beginning of the month, Turkey has required vessels to provide proof of insurance for all circumstances covering their transit through the Bosporus.
Australian, European Union and G7 sanctions requiring maritime insurers to only service Russian oil shipments that can prove they will be sold at or below a US$60-dollar-a-barrel price cap functionally stripped many Russian oil shipments of their insurance.
The Tribeca shipping agency estimates that 20 oil tankers are anchored in the Black Sea and nine others in the Dardanelles, all held up by Turkey's insurance requirement.
The logjam at the Bosporus has turned a price cap policy into a partial blockade, further disrupting global energy markets, analysts said.
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