WEDNESDAY PDB – House drafts bill to strike Iran proxies amid Israel-Hamas war. Rep. Mike McCaul is preparing a draft bill to strike Iran's proxies amid threats from Iran and fears the Israel-Hamas conflict could escalate into a broader Middle East war.
“It's something we have to prepare for if Hezbollah does get involved,” McCaul said.
“The administration does not have authorization to hit any Iran proxies. So, whether its Hezbollah, Hamas, these military Shi'a proxies in Iraq — they don't have authorization under [U.S.] law to attack.”
The proposed bill comes as Biden visits Israel.
More US ships head toward Israel and 2,000 troops on heightened alert. On Tuesday, more ships and forces were heading toward Israel, and other troops in the U.S. were preparing to deploy if called on.
Ford carrier strike group deployment extended amid Israel-Hamas war. The Gerald R. Ford and its strike group will remain in the Mediterranean longer than expected.
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:
ISRAEL'S WAR ON TERROR
What is Israel trying to accomplish? Gazans know that if they leave, they will have to rely on the goodwill of Israel to let them back in and not use this moment to remake the region's demography.
PALESTINIAN ISLAMIC JIHAD ROCKET MISFIRE DID IT – After blast kills hundreds at Gaza hospital, Hamas and Israel trade blame. Hamas blamed an Israeli airstrike, while the Israeli military showed evidence it was a rocket full of fuel misfired by other Palestinian terrorists.
POLITICS
House is set to vote on a new speaker. Here's what to know. Republican lawmakers are expected to rally their votes behind Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, to be the next speaker despite reluctance from some.
NATIONAL SECURITY
I BELIEVE THE CARICATURE NOT THE NYT – Inside Biden's reversal on sending long-range missiles to Ukraine. The story is more complex than a caricature that Joe Biden is cautious to a fault, and says no until the pressure is insurmountable.
Retired Gen Petraeus gives scathing review of Afghanistan exit but backs Biden's Ukraine response. He insists US must continue to support Ukraine against Russian aggression.
Russian FM visits North Korea amid claims of military cooperation. The foreign minister's visit comes as Russia and North Korea are developing closer military links.
CHINA THREAT
TESTING BIDEN – Chinese jets ramp up incidents with US aircraft, new videos show. The Pentagon on Tuesday released more than a dozen previously classified photos and videos of “coercive, high-risk” interactions with Chinese fighter jets that have occurred since early 2022.
RUSSIA THREAT– UKRAINE WAR
AS I REPORTED YESTERDAY – Ukraine announces it's received, and fired, US long-range missiles. Ukraine is now using long-range U.S. missiles, known as ATACMS, on the battlefield.
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 602. Ukrainian forces used U.S.-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles for the first time, inflicting heavy damage on airfields in eastern Luhansk and southern Berdyansk, which are occupied by Russia.
Russia sending more forces in attempt to capture eastern Ukraine city. Moscow is pouring more troops into the battle despite limited gains.
Ukraine's special forces use daring raids and distraction tactics in bid to free Crimea. A swarm of Ukrainian jet skis races across the ocean under pitch black skies, visible only from the infra-red camera of a drone watching from above.
IRAN THREAT
US says it thwarted drone attack on its troops in Iraq. The military intercepted two drones before they could strike, two U.S. officials said after the first such attack on U.S. forces in Iraq in more than a year.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
Marine unit in Japan soon adopting ‘littoral' name amid force changes. Despite the name, the 12th Marine Littoral Regiment will be only the second regiment of its kind.
US Army activates another SHORAD battery in Europe as base in Italy joins mix. The Army's latest air defense unit in Europe debuted Tuesday, as a ceremony at Caserma Del Din reactivated a third battery to join its two Germany-based counterparts.
USS Carl Vinson departs San Diego for Indo-Pacific operations. The aircraft carrier and its carrier strike group is heading to the Indo-Pacific
ORBAN'S FLAW – Putin in first pictured handshake with EU leader since start of Ukraine invasion. Hungary's Viktor Orbán talks about energy at a meeting in Beijing with the Russian leader.
US MILITARY
Improper storage damaging $1.8 billion in Army ground combat equipment. The combat equipment is “deteriorating or at increased risk of deterioration.”
MARINE RESERVES – BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK – The Marine Corps needs to recognize the importance of inspector-instructors. The Marine Corps Reserve operates on a minuscule budget compared to the active-duty services and is projected to see a 5% decrease in its budget for the new fiscal year.
Space Ranger — Space Guardian becomes service's first to earn Ranger tab. Space Force Capt. Daniel Reynolds recently graduated from the Army's demanding Ranger School, making him the first guardian to complete the course.
Coast Guard launching first offshore patrol cutter next week. This, according to the Commandant of the Coast Guard Adm. Linda Fagan.
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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