Sudan has been engulfed in a brutal civil war for over a year, following escalating tensions between the military, led by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo. The conflict began with street clashes in Khartoum in mid-April 2023 and has since spread nationwide, causing widespread destruction and suffering. The war has significantly disrupted food production and distribution networks, leading to dire warnings from humanitarian groups about the risk of mass starvation. Justin Brady, head of the U.N. humanitarian coordination ..read more

Amidst rising global military tensions and increased demand from conflict zones such as Ukraine and areas of strategic interest like Taiwan, U.S. defense contractors are ramping up production of Patriot missiles. The Lockheed Martin-produced PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE), the most advanced version of the Patriot missile, is now being manufactured at a rate of nearly 500 units per year. This increase is part of a broader effort to stabilize the supply chain for various missile components. In parallel, RTX (formerly Raytheon), focusing on the European market, is developing a supp ..read more

The MV Behshad, a cargo ship suspected by U.S. analysts and officials of providing intelligence support to Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, is returning to Iran after nearly three years at sea. This development is noteworthy as it occurs amid escalating tensions following Iran’s retaliatory attack on Israel, prompting speculation about potential Israeli strikes on high-profile Iranian targets like the Behshad. Iran has previously issued warnings against targeting this vessel. A senior Iranian commander emphasized on Thursday the possibility of revising Iran’s nuclear policy in response to threats ..read more

In a recent military operation in southern Ukraine, the 73rd Maritime Special Operations Center, part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, carried out a precision strike on a Russian ammunition depot. This operation was confirmed by the press service of the Special Operations Forces. The targeted strike involved the use of FPV drones, equipped with payload drop systems, and 122-mm D-30 howitzers, effectively hitting the depot and nearby enemy personnel locations. The attack resulted in the complete destruction of caponiers housing ammunition and the elimination of Russian troop positions in the vici ..read more

In Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, thousands of demonstrators have rallied against a proposed “foreign influence” bill, which they have labeled as “the Russian law” due to its perceived similarity to Russian regulations used to stifle dissent. The protesters, many waving European Union and Georgian flags, are calling for the government to withdraw the legislation, arguing it threatens civil freedoms and the country’s aspirations to join the EU. Tbilisi today Rustaveli avenue is packed! pic.twitter.com/cn6cyDIxpl — Alexander Kavtaradze (@alexkavtaradze_) April 17, 2024 The contentious bill ..read more

Chad’s government has signaled a potential pivot in its military alliances by threatening to cancel the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with the United States. This agreement currently facilitates the operation of US military personnel in Chad, specifically at a French base in N’Djamena where US Special Operations Task Force is stationed. According to US intelligence sources, the Chadian Chief of Air Staff, Idriss Amine, communicated this threat through a letter not sent via standard diplomatic channels, which some US officials believe could be a negotiating tactic for a more favorable agree ..read more

German authorities have arrested two individuals, Dieter S. and Alexander J., both German-Russian nationals, on suspicions of espionage and planning sabotage attacks against U.S. military facilities in Germany. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office announced that these arrests are part of an investigation into activities aimed at undermining international military support for Ukraine amidst its ongoing conflict with Russia. The investigation revealed that Dieter S. had allegedly been in contact with a Russian secret service agent since October 2023, discussing potential sabotage operations within Ge ..read more

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a stern warning that it might attack Israel’s nuclear sites and even reconsider its nuclear policy if Israel strikes at Iran’s nuclear facilities. This development follows statements from Israeli officials promising retaliation for Iran’s attacks last week, which were themselves in retaliation for the suspected Israeli targeting of Tehran’s consulate in Syria. Brigadier General Ahmad Haghtalab of the IRGC was quoted on the Tasnim news website stating, “The nuclear facilities of the Zionist enemy have been identified and all the necessary ..read more

A cybersecurity analysis by the firm Mandiant has linked a Russian-affiliated hacking group to a cyberattack on a water facility in Muleshoe, Texas. The attack, which occurred in January, led to the overflow of a water tank after hackers gained access to the facility’s industrial control systems.  The attack in Muleshoe was detected alongside similar suspicious activities in other North Texas towns, prompting local authorities to enhance cybersecurity measures. Although the primary incident did not compromise the safety of the drinking water, it raised concerns about the vulnerability of ..read more

The Kremlin confirmed plans to withdraw approximately 2,000 Russian troops from the Nagorno-Karabakh region now controlled by Azerbaijan. This announcement follows a period during which Azerbaijan took full control of the area after a series of conflicts and a blockade that severely impacted the local Armenian population. The Russian peacekeeping forces were originally deployed under a 2020 ceasefire agreement brokered between Armenia and Azerbaijan to stabilize the region and protect the ethnic Armenian population following extensive fighting. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the ..read more