Tag: EscalationWatch
Trump Faces War-Funding Standoff in Congress
The US House has approved a $95 billion budget framework for President Donald Trump's priorities – about $60 billion for the Pentagon and $13 billion for intelligence and national security – but the money is far from secured. The 216-214 vote, opposed by every Democrat along with two Republicans and…
US Probes Russian Role in Iran Strikes on CIA Sites
US intelligence officials are investigating whether Russia helped Iran attack CIA facilities by providing targeting intelligence or enhanced drone technology, although no firm conclusion has been reached. Moscow denied involvement.At least two CIA-linked sites were struck in March: the agency’s station inside the US Embassy in Riyadh and another facility…
Trump Approves Saudi Nuclear Enrichment Deal
President Donald Trump has approved a nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia that could allow the kingdom to enrich its own fuel for civilian reactors without adopting the "gold standard" of international oversight, according to CNN. Two U.S. officials and a source familiar with the matter told the network the deal…
Saudi Coalition Threatens Force Over Houthi Blockade
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen threatened to respond with force on Monday after Houthi spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree declared an immediate naval blockade on the kingdom. Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said forces had begun protecting coalition shipping through Bab el-Mandeb and would respond "firmly and forcefully" to any threat…
Russian Frigate Holds Live-Fire Drill Off UK Coast
A Russian Baltic Fleet frigate, the Neustrashimy, carried out a live-fire weapons exercise in international waters roughly 40 nautical miles south of Plymouth on Monday, the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed. The Royal Navy monitored the exercise throughout and continues to track the vessel, according to ITV News.The Russian ship…
China, Philippines Summon Envoys After Shoal Clash
China and the Philippines moved to summon each other’s ambassadors on Tuesday, a day after a confrontation at Second Thomas Shoal left a Filipino sailor with a head injury and damaged a Philippine Navy rubber boat. The reciprocal diplomatic action, unusual despite repeated maritime confrontations, marked a sharper turn than…
Lithuania Warns Putin May Escalate as Ukraine War Stalls
Lithuanian Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas has warned that Russia may seek a new escalation against the Baltic states or Poland, framing the threat as a direct consequence of Moscow's failure to win in Ukraine."The Kremlin, Putin, needs a new escalation, some kind of new win," Kaunas told Lithuania's LRT on…
Iran Strikes Widen to Three Gulf States
Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan all reported military activity linked to Iran overnight Monday, as US strikes on Iranian targets entered a tenth consecutive night and widened the conflict's regional footprint. CENTCOM said it completed another round of strikes against Iran at 9 p.m. ET on July 20, according to CENTCOM's…
Lockheed Unveils Lower-Cost Patriot Interceptor
Lockheed Martin unveiled the PAC-3 Adapted Capability Effector (ACE) at the Farnborough International Airshow on Monday, introducing a lower-cost interceptor for the Patriot air-defense system that the company says will cost less than half as much as the current PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE), estimated at about $4 million per…
US Not Ready for a Wider Iran War
An American official told The Washington Post that the Pentagon is preparing for a wider war with Iran, days after three US service members were killed in Jordan and Iraq, according to The Times of Israel.The official said dwindling stockpiles of air defense and long-range munitions, along with limited troop…
