Biden Affirms Sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles To Ukraine
Source: Washington Post
January 05 2023
Ukraine
USA
The Biden administration has confirmed that Bradley infantry fighting vehicles could be included in a military aid package for Ukraine as soon as this week, reports the Washington Post.
U.S. President Joe Biden replied "in the affirmative" to a reporter's question about sending Bradleys to Kyiv.
Ukraine has been requesting modern armor from its Western supporters amid the ongoing war with Russia.
Polish Government Finalizes Abrams Tank Sale
Source: Defense Post
January 05 2023
Poland
Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak has signed a deal with the U.S. for main battle tanks, reports the Defense Post.
Under the US$1.4 billion deal, Poland will receive 116 M1 Abrams tanks, with deliveries slated to begin later this year.
Washington is financing about US$200 million of the cost of the deal.
AMX-10RC Light Tanks To Be Supplied To Ukraine
Source: Army Recognition
January 05 2023
Ukraine
France
President Emmanuel Macron has promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that France would supply light tanks capable of destroying Russian main battle tanks, reports Army Recognition.
The pledge includes an unspecified number of AMX-10RC/RCR wheeled armored reconnaissance vehicles, armed with 105-mm semi-automatic cannons, reported the Le Figaro (Paris) newspaper.
France has 245 AMX-10RC/RCRs vehicles, which it is replacing with the Jaguar 6 x 6 armored vehicle.
Ground Forces Get New Leader
Source: South China Morning Post
January 05 2023
China
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has named a new head for its ground force, reports the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong).
Gen. Li Qiaoming succeeds Gen. Liu Zhenli, who held the post from June 2021 to December 2022.
Li previously led the Northern Theater Command, which oversees China's borders with Russia, North Korea and Mongolia.
He has held several other positions, including chief of staff, corps commander and major general in the 41st Army.
Hypersonic Missile-Armed Frigate Deployed To Atlantic
Source: Fox News
January 05 2023
Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the deployment of a frigate armed with hypersonic missiles to the Atlantic Ocean, reports Fox News.
The Admiral Gorshkov is said to be equipped with the new Zircon hypersonic missile.
On Wednesday, Putin touted the Zircon as having "no analogues in any country in the world."
The ship is scheduled to sail through the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean during its deployment.
Marcos Jr. State Visit Deepens Diplomatic Ties
Source: CNN
January 05 2023
Philippines
China
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s first state visit to Beijing yielded joint commitments to conflict management and deeper trade relations on the South China Sea, reports CNN.
Following leader-to-leader talks, Chinese and Philippine leaders committed to finding a solution to overlapping fishery claims, resuming talks on oil and gas exploration and a hotline between the their respective maritime authorities.
China also pledged a series of development projects in the Philippines.
During the talks, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Marcos Jr. signed 14 total bilateral agreements.
Emirati Foreign Minister Visits To Normalize Relations
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency
January 05 2023
United Arab Emirates
Syria
United Arab Emirates Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdallah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has made an official visit to Syria, reports the state-controlled, Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
Sheikh Abdallah met with Syrian leader Bashar Assad and expressed his government's support for "Syria's stability and sovereignty all over its lands."
The Syrian government hailed the visit as a return to "distinguished brotherly relations."
Sheikh Abdallah also expressed readiness to boost cooperation between the U.A.E. and Syria.
Iranian Drones Found To Have U.S. Parts
Source: CNN
January 05 2023
Iran
Ukraine
USA
Ukrainian intelligence says that Iranian drones used by Russian forces contain U.S.-made parts, reports CNN.
The report, which was shared late last year and recently obtained by CNN, found that more than a dozen U.S. and Western companies had produced parts that were found in a single Iranian drone used by Russian forces in Ukraine.
Of the 52 foreign components that the Ukrainians removed from an Iranian Shahed-136 drone, 40 appear to have been manufactured by 13 U.S. companies. The remaining 12 were produced by companies in Canada, Switzerland, Japan, Taiwan and China.
The companies involved included Texas Instruments, Hemisphere GNSS, NXP USA, Analog Devices and Onsemi.
The report reflects a degree of success on Tehran's part in circumventing tough U.S. export controls and sanctions on the Iranian economy.
Military Announce Renewed Ops Against Oromo Militants
Source: Addis Standard
January 05 2023
Ethiopia
The Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) has announced fresh operations against the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), reports the Addis Standard (Addis Ababa).
An unnamed senior commander said that a joint force is successfully operating in the Southern Oromia region in the West Guji, East Guji and Borana zones.
Ethiopian forces have already succeeded in liberating seven villages from OLA control.
The goal with is to "eradicate" the group, officials said.
The OLA is an armed, anti-government group seeking greater ethnic autonomy for the Oromo community.
The Oromia regional government has refused talks with the OLA under the conditions offered by the militant group. OLA has expressed interest in negotiations under a third party.
There are increasing calls for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
U.S. Base Hit By Rocket Attack
Source: Mehr News Agency
January 05 2023
USA
Syria
An American base in the Koniko natural gas field in eastern Syria has been hit with a rocket attack, reports the Mehr News Agency (Iran).
According to local sources, at least 10 rockets were fired at the base. No casualties were reported.
U.S. fighter jets and helicopters were reportedly in the air immediately following the attack
The perpetrators of the attack are currently unknown.
The base is in the territory of the U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who have been conducting escalating operations against ISIS cells.
Military To Spend Big On Expanding Army Strike Capabilities
Source: Guardian
January 05 2023
Australia
Australia plans to purchase new cruise missiles and rocket artillery systems in a major expansion of its strike capabilities, reports the Guardian (U.K.).
Plans call for the procurement of Kongsberg Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) and Lockheed Martin High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).
The acquisition of 20 HIMARS systems is expected to be completed by 2026-2027. The rocket systems will expand Australia's army strike weapon range from 18-31 miles (30-50 km) to 190 miles (300 km).
The NSM is intended to replace aging Harpoon anti-ship missiles starting in 2024. The number of missiles purchased was not made public.
The value of both deals is more than Aus$1 billion (US$685 million).
The purchases were unveiled in April, but the government has since accelerated the acquisition, citing the need to keep pace with increasing regional military modernization.
French Armed Forces Minister Promises To Strengthen Military Cooperation
Source: The National
January 05 2023
France
Lebanon
In a visit to Lebanon, French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu has promised to strengthen bilateral military cooperation, reports the National (Abu Dhabi).
Lecornu had apparently been tasked by President Emmanuel Macron with preparing a cooperation program to improve the capabilities of the Lebanese armed forces.
Lecornu emphasized France's enduring support for Lebanon.
Lebanon has been gripped with turmoil as it faces severe economic downturn and political gridlock in which the Parliament has been unable to select a new head of state since September.
Hiraan Bombing Kills 35
Source: BBC News
January 05 2023
Somalia
At least 35 people have been killed in a bombing in Somalia's central Hiraan province, reports the BBC News.
The Al-Qaida-linked Al-Shabaab terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Mahas town district commissioner said that his home and that of a local member of Parliament were targeted in an initial car bombing. A second explosion struck the town's market.
Pakistani Taliban Claims 2 ISI Killings
Source: Reuters
January 05 2023
Pakistan
The Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP) has claimed responsibility for killing a senior Pakistani intelligence official and another officer, reports Reuters.
The intelligence officials were killed in an attack outside a hotel in Punjab on Tuesday.
The Pakistani Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) confirmed the deaths of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officers but did not confirm TTP's responsibility.
The CTD statement said that the ISI officers had met their killer earlier at the hotel for tea.
Pro-Iran Militias Plan Demonstrations On Anniversary Of Soleimani Killing
Source: Al-Monitor
January 05 2023
Iran
Iraq
Pro-Iranian militias in Iraq plan demonstrations to mark the third anniversary of the death of Qassem Soleimani, then the head of Iran's Quds Force, in a U.S. air strike, reports the Al-Monitor (Washington, D.C.).
The Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) are preparing for several demonstrations across the country in remembrance of the fallen Iranian general.
The PMU set up monuments and memorials to Soleimani as well as Iraqi PMU commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was killed in the same strike.
PMU memorials were established on Baghdad's airport boulevard this year for the first time. These had been prevented by the previous government of Mustafa al-Kadhimi.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani tweeted support for the fallen commanders, praising their work against the Islamic State in Iraq, while condemning the U.S. for its violation of Iraqi sovereignty and international law with the attack.
The events were used by several PMU groups to call for the expulsion of American forces from Iraq and the Middle East.
Taliban Claims Destruction Of 3 ISIS Hideouts
Source: Ariana News
January 05 2023
Afghanistan
The Taliban government says that its forces killed eight ISIS-K fighters in a recent series of raids, reports the Ariana News (Kabul).
The ISIS-K hideouts -- two in Kabul and one in Nimroz province -- were used as bases for recent attacks on the Kabul airport, a hotel popular with Chinese nationals and the Pakistani embassy in Kabul, the Taliban said.
Mines, explosive devices and suicide vests were seized in the raids.
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