Exploding Wireless Devices, Prelude To Wider Israel-Hezbollah War?

PAUL'S DAILY BRIEF (PDB) Thursday – Israel's Hezbollah device attacks: Is this a prelude to war, or an alternative? First, it was pagers that exploded. Now, it's walkie-talkies. What Israel might be up to is unclear.

The sophisticated attacks on Hezbollah's communications equipment, which killed 37 people and wounded around 3,000 over two days, sowed disarray in Lebanon, with panicked residents abandoning their mobile phones.

The ominous implications of the pager attack against Hezbollah. An apparent masterstroke of Israeli sabotage could quash cease-fire talks in Gaza and spark a wider war.

How exploding pagers in Lebanon boost the risk of Israel fighting two full wars. A second large-scale attack stunned the Iran-backed militia Hezbollah and brought the region ever closer to a much wider conflict.

Israel must protect its north, but can it afford the price? Hezbollah has a serious Iran-backed army.

Israel's pager attack was a tactical success without a strategic goal, some analysts say. By targeting so many devices at the same time, Israel demonstrated technical prowess and partly restored the aura of its intelligence agencies. But its long-term intent is unclear.

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

Not the President's Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL'S DAILY BRIEFING – the PDB:       

NATIONAL SECURITY

Stopgap funding ‘catastrophic' to military, national defense commission chairwoman says ahead of CR vote. This, just hours before an expected House vote on a continuing resolution to fund the federal government through March.

Space Force close to award new launch contracts—but only if Congress passes a budget.

DOD must accelerate AI adoption amid growing threats. The CEO of a prominent AI company called for the faster adoption of powerful software, particularly by the military.

POLITICS

Pro-Kremlin websites and social media accounts blames Ukraine for potential Trump assassination attempt. This, as the Senate convenes a hearing with tech industry leaders about Russia's and other U.S. adversaries' efforts to meddle in the election.

US wants more clarity from Ukraine on possible use of long-range weapons. Team Biden-Harris still is not convinced that it should give Ukraine the authority to launch weapons deeper into Russia and want more details about how they fit into the broader strategy for the war.

Biden's arms transfers to Israel under internal investigation. IGs for the Pentagon and State Department are preparing to disclose multiple reports after complaints that they had done little to scrutinize the U.S. weapons surge.

After stumbling for years, federal program to address veteran homelessness is back on track.

‘That's our land': Homeless veterans in LA hail court ruling ordering VA to use campus for housing. They say that the Department of Veterans Affairs had plenty of room for oil wells, parking lots, a baseball stadium, athletic fields and swimming pools, but none for them on the spacious grounds.

VA to resume collecting pharmacy co-pays for thousands of vets at hospitals in Ohio and Washington starting next month. But it won't pursue past debts related to the medications for now.

Veterans' disability, education benefits could be held up if Senate doesn't vote to fill $3B shortfall by Friday. But the deadline to fix the issue without potentially disrupting payments to veterans is fast approaching

US POWER OVERSEAS

USAF experiments with drones to better monitor Russia in the Arctic. U.S. Air Forces in Europe are testing more drones to extend its Arctic surveillance. While sharing information might be “the easiest and cheapest” option, it's far from enough.

US moves soldiers to Alaska island amid Russian military activity increase in the area. About 130 soldiers along with mobile rocket launchers deployed to a desolate island in the Aleutian chain of western Alaska amid surge in Russian military planes and vessels approaching U.S. territory.

US Special Operations Command Europe reorganizes to take on NATO role. The leadership makeover is aimed at improving how U.S. special operators work with its allies.

IRAN THREAT

US military acknowledges Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels shot down 2 MQ-9 Reaper drones in under a week.

CHINA THREAT

Lessons from Red Sea and Ukraine's Black Sea fight help prep Navy for possible future conflict with China.

Navy war plan preparing Navy for China conflict by 2027 with flat budgets, static fleet size. Chief of Naval Operations' “America's Warfighting Navy,” guidance to the fleet includes fixing maintenance backlogs and recruiting.

Air Force elevating role of warfighter communications networks to better posture itself against a China threat.

China's Liaoning Carrier Strike Group deploys to Philippine Sea. This, in the carrier's first western Pacific deployment since completing a mid-life refurbishment in March.

Chinese aircraft carrier comes closer than ever to Japan shores. Tokyo conveyed its “serious concerns” to Beijing over China's increasingly aggressive military actions around Japan.

MEANWHILE – Modified Japanese helicopter carrier scheduled for F-35B tests near San Diego. It is one of Japan's largest warships and modified to carry fifth-generation stealth fighters.

US plans spare aircraft parts sale to stem wear and tear on Taiwan fighter jets. The parts and related military equipment is worth an estimated $228 million.

China hits 9 US defense firms with China property freeze over weapons sales to Taiwan. This, in the latest move to put added pressure on the U.S. to halt its arms sales to the island.

RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR

Ukrainian drones strike a major military depot in a Russian town northwest of Moscow. This, the largest explosion of the war so far.

Estonia seeks battlefield decoys to lure and sponge up Russian missiles. This, the latest in a line of Tallinn's defense investments animated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

France and Italy order upgraded ‘fully mature' SAMP/T air-defense systems. This, as they seek better protection against threats including hypersonic missiles.

NORTH KOREA THREAT

North Korea says newest short-range ballistic missile can carry ‘super-large warhead'. This, as well as a ‘highly upgraded' cruise missile test fired during the rogue regime's most recent show of force.

US MILITARY

US special ops cuts armed overwatch buy, still needs to justify need. Special Operations Command cut its purchase of 75 aircraft to 62 following a recommendation last year to slow down the program's acquisition.

Marines reopen second WWII-era airfield to prep for future combat. A recently refurbished airfield was reactivated this year for air training and operations.

Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation releases video of the Titan submersible's tail cone.

JUST DO IT, AIR FORCE! – Could trainees start carrying real rifles in BMT? There's interest, but no timeline yet. Air Force and Space Force trainees might be expected to carry actual weapons at Basic Military Training at some point.

Air Force deploys cloud-based C2 capability to all North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) air defense sectors.

Air Force cyber official says AI could help sort through nearly 2.5 million daily cybersecurity alerts.

Soldiers set to get new monthly deployment bonus as high operations tempos strain the Army. The troops, including Guard and Reserves, will receive from $210 to $450 per month — depending on rank — for time away from home exceeding 30 days.

Army wants to buy drones in the “kind of quantities” it buys munitions. Lots of them.

Navy will buy more oilers. Now it needs enough mariners to crew them. It plans to buy at least eight more replenishment oilers for $6.75 billion but will need crews.

END of PDB

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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