China’s Support For Iran Raises ‘Enemy Combatant’ Questions

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB): Risk of broader global conflict rising as China’s military support for Iran comes into sharper focus, with new concerns emerging over Chinese weapons used against U.S. forces.

Chinese missiles targeting U.S. Navy in Iran could trigger ‘overnight’ war shift. China expert, Gordon Chang, says supersonic missiles Iran launched at USS Abraham Lincoln were Chinese-made, and that Iran is believed to have more of them.

A direct hit on U.S. military assets could immediately alter relationship between Washington and Beijing.

The broader concern is that China’s involvement is not limited to isolated support but spans multiple layers of assistance that stop just short of direct military engagement.

“China’s support for Iran is across the board… It’s everything except for combat troops… We should consider China an enemy combatant,” Chang said.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense news from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

THE PDB – Not the President’s Daily Briefing, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF:    

NATIONAL SECURITY

President Trump facing daunting question: Will he put U.S. troops on the ground in Iran to secure some 970 pounds of highly enriched uranium Tehran could use to build nuclear weapons?

Calculated risk? Sending a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) from Okinawa to Middle East leaves gap in U.S. power in the Indo-Pacific. Sending two or three MEUs, even more so.

Spy chief Tulsi Gabbard acknowledged U.S. and Israel have different goals for their joint military campaign in Iran, after Israeli jets struck energy facilities and President Trump pressed for stopping attacks on oil infrastructure.

Who are Iran’s new leaders? A look at 6 that U.S. placed $10 million bounty on – 2 of whom are already dead.

How U.S. copied cheap Iranian kamikaze drones and used them to bomb Iran.

DEFENSE POLITICS

Americans think Trump will send ground troops to Iran.

Polls show deep rift over Iran war.

Hegseth wants Pentagon to dump Claude, but Pentagon staffers, former officials and IT contractors who work with U.S. military reluctant to give up Anthropic’s AI tools, which they view as superior to alternatives.

HOMELAND DEFENSE

Northern Command used new “Flyaway Kit” to eliminate a drone threat at undisclosed ‘strategic’ installation on U.S. soil just hours into the Iran war.

Friendly takeover? U.S. military not preparing for Cuba invasion, senior general says.

HOMELAND SECURITY

Pentagon again urges civilian employees to volunteer with DHS in border security missions.

Coast Guard Cutters Forward and Spencer seized thousands of pounds of illicit drugs while interdiction missions in Eastern Pacific Ocean.

US POWER OVERSEAS

Army used Apache helicopters to shoot down drones in air-to-air combat in Europe for first time during an exercise in Germany.

Why not in Persian Gulf? Pair of Navy counter-mine vessels homeported in Bahrain arrived in Singapore this week.

U.S. to approve more than $16 billion in air defense sales to Middle East aimed primarily at countering missile and drone threats.

IRAN CAMPAIGN

Iran war not becoming ‘quagmire’ or ‘forever war.’ War Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed back against criticism of the war.

‘It takes money to kill bad guys’: Pentagon seeks $200 billion in new funding for war in Iran, as senior military officials acknowledge Iran retains “some capability” to attack U.S. assets and allies in Middle East.

U.S. dropped 5,000-pound penetrator weapons to hit underground Iranian storage facilities holding coastal defense cruise missiles and related support equipment.

“Retiring” Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft now engaged in maritime interdiction operations along southern flank of Iran, targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fast-attack watercraft in Strait of Hormuz.

A-10s striking Iranian fast boats in Strait of Hormuz is a ‘wake-up call’ to stop the venerable Warthog’s retirement.

U.S. F-35 fighter was forced to make an emergency landing after flying a combat mission over Iran, possibly hit by Iranian fire.

The reported damage to a U.S. F-35 by an Iranian surface-to-air missile system is operationally noteworthy. It should not, however, be seen as anything more.

WAR’S REGIONAL/GLOBAL IMPACT

UN nuclear watchdog chief said “a lot has survived” of Iran’s nuclear capabilities, and military operations alone cannot destroy them. What’s next for Iran’s nuclear ambitions?

Around 100 ships have passed through Strait of Hormuz since early March, sailing close to Iranian coast, suggesting an approved route that points to Tehran’s tightening grip on narrow waterway.

Tehran intensifies attacks on Gulf energy facilities drawing Arab neighbors more directly into the conflict, after Israel hits Iranian gas field.

Israel forges ahead on ground incursion against Hezbollah’s Iran-backed terror army in Lebanon. The operation is separate from joint U.S.-Israel war on Iran, but dynamics of each conflict zone will inevitably intersect.

MIDDLE EAST THREATS

Less than month after repeal of sanctions, Syria’s transitional president launched offensive against Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, triggering Arab tribal defections and rapid loss of territory. Fallout has jeopardized Islamic State containment in northeast Syria.

CHINA THREAT

China has been preparing for global energy crisis for years. It is paying off now. As other Asian economies race to conserve energy, China has huge reserves of oil and gas as well as alternative energy sources like wind and solar.

NORTH KOREA THREAT

Kim Jong Un and daughter unveiled new tank to repel missiles and drone attacks as leader Kim urged military to step up war preparations.

US MILITARY

Self-propelled howitzers that stop to fire are vulnerable targets. Towed howitzers don’t have a chance. Germany’s remote-controlled howitzer allows standard howitzer batteries to fight and survive like HIMARS batteries. U.S. Army should buy them.

Air Force wants small, easily portable, one-way attack drones that can fit in backpack to arm special forces operators, so they can launch first-person-view (FPV) precision strike missions like Ukraine has against Russia.

Anduril Industries will begin building its new Fury, “loyal wingman,” high-speed combat drones shortly at new facility, as military’s interest in unmanned aircraft surges.

War on “woke” continues. Service members will be granted religious exemptions from grooming standards and facial hair only on “sincerely held religious beliefs.”

FOR MORE DETAILED, UNCENSORED, INTELLIGENCE, AND ANALYSIS FROM PAUL CRESPO, SUBSCRIBE TO HIS SUBSTACK.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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