WEDNESDAY PDB – The Israeli advance continues despite Hamas terrorists fighting in and around hospitals. What the IDF has said about entering al-Shifa hospital.
Israeli tanks and troops have entered the grounds of al-Shifa Hospital in a “precise and targeted operation” against what it says are Hamas command and control bunkers beneath.
The White House confirmed that U.S. intelligence backed the Israeli assessment that Hamas was using hospitals including al-Shifa as military cover. Military use of a hospital negates its protected status under international law and is a war crime itself.
MEANWHILE – Though Team Biden keeps urging Israeli restraint – US is quietly sending Israel more ammunition, missiles. The Pentagon is delivering on requests that include more laser-guided missiles for its Apache gunship fleet, as well as 155mm shells, night-vision devices, bunker-buster munitions and new army vehicles.
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:
POLITICS
Democrats advance plan to force quick vote on military nominations. The plan still needs support from Republican senators before the military leadership posts can be filled.
House votes to prevent a government shutdown. The Senate is expected to approve the proposal by week's end, effectively pushing a final showdown over government funding to the new year.
NATIONAL SECURITY
YES! REAL ACCOUNTABILITY AT THE TOP IS NEEDED – Calls for more oversight, punishment after major military disasters. A senior Democratic senator is pushing Defense Department leaders to create new processes to investigate disasters within the military in an effort to better prevent other tragedies in the future.
Forbidden Russian oil flows into Pentagon supply chain. After multiple changes of ownership, the fuel is sold to a Greek refinery that serves the U.S. military.
CHINA THREAT
TEAM BIDEN IS DESPERATE – Resuming US-China military talks a priority of Biden-Xi meeting. Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet and discuss reestablishing military communications between the two countries. PODCAST.
Taiwanese troops may be on their way to train on US soil. A Capitol Hill commission says Taiwanese troops should train in the U.S., but plans may already be in the works.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
Ukraine Seeks to Reignite Counteroffensive With Daring River Crossings. Ukrainian marines slip across the Dnipro River at night in small groups to reinforce a growing contingent of troops engaged in a daring operation to reinvigorate Kyiv's military efforts in the occupied south. They have established three toeholds in and around villages on the eastern bank of the river in recent weeks, cutting off a road Russia uses to supply troops in the area. Their hold is precarious.
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 630. Russia intensified air bombardments and ground assaults around the ruined eastern town of Avdiivka, 12 miles from the Russian-held Ukrainian city of Donetsk. Separately, the head of Ukraine's ground forces, said that Russia continued to launch simultaneous assault attempts on Ukrainian positions around Bakhmut and Kupyansk, and had stepped up their use of kamikaze drones.
IRAN THREAT
US releases new videos of Syria airstrikes as attacks continue. The Pentagon released declassified videos of its most recent airstrikes in eastern Syria, providing fresh detail on the targets that were struck Nov. 12.
IRAN IS UNDETERRED – Drone attacks on US troops in Middle East rise to 55 in under a month. The attacks in Iraq and Syria have caused 59 U.S. injuries counted so far.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
South Korea may suspend parts of military agreement if North launches satellite. An inter-Korean agreement designed to lower tensions on the peninsula could be partially suspended if North Korea attempts a military satellite launch.
SPACE THREAT
Two things the Space Force needs from Congress – and one thing it definitely doesn't. Here's what it needs in the 2024 NDAA, and what it doesn't, to continue its maturing as the newest military service.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
UK sees ‘incredible acceleration' in military capabilities from Ukraine war. Defense companies are testing prototype arms and gear on eastern European battlefields.
Debut of F-16 training center in Romania complements $2.5 billion Abrams tank buy. An F-16 training center that will host Ukrainian pilots opened this week in NATO member Romania, which also just received the green light from the State Department to buy U.S. Abrams tanks.
The Taliban are patrolling Kabul on rollerblades now, apparently. But where are all the potholes?
US MILITARY
General Atomics ‘nears deal' to sell anti-missile pod for its Reaper drones, company says. Self-Protection Pod might have saved the MQ-9 recently downed near Yemen.
Coast Guard is short on manpower, but lack of data makes ‘true magnitude' unknown, watchdog says. The service could be facing an even greater personnel shortage than current estimates suggest, but data and workplace assessment failures mean the exact number is unknown.
Officers say Air Force's new parental discharge policy is broken. The Air Force argues its separation policies — which let troops apply to resign before a child is born, or within one year after the baby's birth — are designed to offer families flexibility and can boost recruitment and retention.
Army Special Forces medic sues parachute makers, sellers. It could take more than a year before the case of a Special Forces medic suing a parachute manufacturer is resolved, according to court documents.
‘F—k you, I don't know': Marine vet Adam Driver delivers lance corporal salute during Q&A. Actor Adam Driver is a former Marine lance corporal. Rah!
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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