Jason Jay Smart’s Post

Yesterday, Russians killed at least 18 civilians in missile strikes on Kyiv, Kharkiv and other cities of Ukraine. 🗨 "Another strike on residential buildings. There is not a single military facility there. Only residential buildings or civilian infrastructure facilities, such as shops, hospitals, pharmacies, etc," told Ihor Terekhov, the mayor of Kharkiv. ❗ Such actions violate #GenevaConventions and constitute a war crime under the #RomeStatute of the International Criminal Court. 📢 The human rights community in Ukraine believes that the de-occupation of Ukrainian territories and sufficient supplies of weapons and military equipment are necessary to stop the systematic and gross violations of human rights as well as war crimes. Earlier, National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov called on the world to provide Kyiv with more weapons to stop Russian aggression. After the second massive Russian attack in the last four days, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba listed five urgent steps he is expecting from allies: - expedite the delivery of additional air defence systems and ammunition to Ukraine; - provide Ukraine with combat drones of all types; - provide Ukraine with long-range missiles of 300+ kilometer range; - approve the use of frozen Russian assets for assisting Ukraine; - isolate Russian diplomats in relevant capitals and international organizations. Read more in our material: https://lnkd.in/edbBt-eb

Not Backing Down: Houthis vow revenge for U.S., U.K. strike https://lnkd.in/g5v7BsxR FP's Alexandra Sharp: Yemen’s Houthis vowed to continue targeting ships in the Red Sea “whatever the cost” on Friday, mere hours after U.S. and U.K. forces launched a large-scale attack against the Iranian-backed militant group. “All American-British interests have become legitimate targets,” the Houthis’ Supreme Political Council said in a statement. On Thursday, the United States and United Kingdom launched more than 100 precision-guided munitions at the Houthis, hitting more than 60 targets at 16 different locations in Yemen. At least five Houthi fighters were killed. The Biden administration said the targets were strategically chosen to weaken the Houthis’ ability to carry out future attacks on ships. However, the strikes “are unlikely to completely rid the Red Sea shipping lanes from the Houthi threat,” FP’s Christina Lu and Robbie Gramer report, and “in the short term could embolden the Houthis and other Iranian proxies in the Middle East to ramp up their attacks against Israel and the West” at a time when regional tensions continue to worsen. The Houthis have launched at least 27 strikes in the Red Sea in recent months. However, it was a Houthi assault against Red Sea vessels on Tuesday that was the straw that broke Washington’s back, U.S. officials implied, with Navy forces intercepting 21 missiles and drones. The following day, the United Nations Security Council passed a U.S.- and Japanese-led resolution that demanded the Houthis “immediately cease all attacks” and reaffirmed U.N. member states’ right to “defend their vessels from attack.” The U.S. and U.K. operation furthers a U.S.-organized multinational initiative formed in December 2023, known as Operation Prosperity Guardian, that aims to counter Houthi aggression against global shipping. Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands all supported Thursday’s large-scale operation. Saudi Arabia, which has long backed Yemen’s government in a war against the Houthis, urged “restraint and de-escalation.” And Tehran, which supports Houthi forces, condemned the West’s attack. Thursday’s strike and the Houthis’ promise of retaliation hurt confidence in global supply chains. Oil prices rose more than 1 percent (or more than $2) on Friday over fears that deliveries could be disrupted. At least five oil tankers diverted their paths from the Red Sea on Friday, with Danish crude group Torm saying it will pause all voyages through the southern Red Sea. #yemen #bidenadministration #worldwar #iran #iranrevolution #iranian #iraniansstandwithisrael #israelterrorism #israeliwarcrimes #war #worldwar3 #religion #religiousfreedom #palestinianlivesmatter #palestineفلسطين #palestiniangenocide

Near East Observers read in some limited accounts yesterday that a missile or missiles from Hezbollah had reached the vicinity of Acre. Israeli media sources, relying on IDF statements, denied that this had taken place and that it was Hezbollah propaganda. In view of today's actions, it appears that the initial reporting of a strike directed at Acre was accurate and this is intended to restore some sense of deterrence and to ensure that Hezbollah understands that deep strikes, those that exceed the immediate border region, will be responded to with maximum force. We do believe that, while there have been previous strikes against Hezbollah and they do go through period blooms (as we have stated many times here) the number of strikes and their magnitude (the level of munitions being used) appears to have been significantly upgraded which may lead to further escalation on the part of Hezbollah. NEO has long been consistent in stating that the Lebanese tinderbox only needs a single miscalculation to push the front from active but not the main theater to being active and the main theater of action. From our constant monitoring this is the largest single strike and conflict bloom that we have noted and we are watching closely. We do not know if this will be the straw that breaks the camel's back but it certainly does not help lower tensions. Again, we are fully apprised of the principal of deterrence, but there may be times when small-scale deterrence spirals into larger scale war.

Ends, Ways and Means, we have not given Ukraine the most important aspect of war fighting , a victory plan. This is moving in the right direction but is still insufficient . We have asked them to fight a combined arms campaign without air superiority or even air cover. Something we would never do. We give them material support that is to little and hopefully not to late. Imagine fighting a military force where your not allowed to cut off the supply lines, command and control and announcing a safe haven for Russia. Ukraine is fighting NATOs war for them and they are sounding the alarm. The SecDef should be asked a simple question, bring forward a victory plan, then we can decide ways and means.appropriate for victory. Making hard decisions requires real leadership.

On November 3rd the United States announced a new package of weapons and equipment to support the people of Ukraine as they defend their country and their freedom against Russia’s aggression. This package provides up to $125 million of arms and equipment authorized under previously directed drawdowns for Ukraine, and is accompanied by an announcement from the Department of Defense’s Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative on strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses. Until Russia ends this war by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks, the United States and the coalition we have built of more than 50 countries will continue to stand with Ukraine. The U.S. Department of State will continue to work with Congress to advance our national security interests by helping Ukraine defend itself and secure its future – a future in which its people rebuild and live safely in a resilient and thriving democracy. More information:  https://lnkd.in/g78eHQWY #UnitedWithUkraine #DepartmentOfState #USinLT #POTUSBiden

At a societal level, we overvalue consistency in other people. A person who is not consistent in just about any way is generally seen as unreliable or possibly nuts. The ability to change one's heart and mind, however, when confronted with new evidence and upon proper reflection, is always better than maintaining a rigid consistency for the sake of pride and reputation. Of course, in the case of Speaker Johnson, it remains to be seen whether that change came too late for the overall Ukrainean picture or whether history will regard the change he apparently underwent as a redemptive moment (it was certainly too late for the people of Avdiivka who would find it difficult to be philosophical). I think history will regard him as redeemed. Certainly his position here is sound. No restrictions. War and national survival are governed solely by the principle of necessity and persons on the ground are in the best position to judge what is necessary. Where survival is uncertain no secondary or tertiary values could conceivably be relevant to a rational person.

The use of guided weaponry in a contested environment has revealed the advantages and limitations of some types of systems. The latest IISS assessment the ways in which guided weapons have been used in the conflict and explores some of the lessons that Russia and Ukraine – as well as observers – will be able to draw on how to effectively employ and defend against these systems. Authors: William Alberque, Douglas Barrie, Zuzanna Gwadera and Timothy Wright Find out more: https://lnkd.in/ei6bwj8n #MissileDialogueInitiative #ArmsControl #Ukraine

A German Frigate in Red Sea runs out of ammunition!! Militaries must remain focussed on core job & demand what is required by them to competently do their core job. What sounds reasonable in political arguments during peace may bite back when least expected, leading to embarrassment. Militaries have to be and must be seen to be strong, to deter conflict. Many lessons here. https://lnkd.in/ga-xrC2n

Medvedev: We may provide weapons to America's enemies Deputy of the Russian Security Council: Moscow may provide weapons to any of America's enemies, just like what Washington is doing with Ukraine.

#Will the Ukraine war be the undoing for the European Union? https://lnkd.in/gMmmc_Pn The European Union's missed opportunities and self-destructive path. With the ending of the division of Europe, we will strive for a new quality in our security relations while fully respecting each other's freedom of choice in that respect. Security is indivisible, and the security of every participating state is inseparably linked to that of all the others. We therefore pledge to cooperate in strengthening confidence and security among us and in promoting arms control and disarmament. Read More...... https://lnkd.in/gMmmc_Pn