2024: Friday, August 9

THE WAR NEWSLETTER — AUGUST 9 2024

Good morning, folks. Welcome to your daily international conflict update.

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1. US forces pull out of Niger

2. Congo government issues death sentences

3. Houthi terrorist attacks resume

1 - NIGER

All U.S combat troops have been ordered to withdraw from Niger by the Pentagon. The withdrawal ruins years of counter-terrorism work in the region, and allows Russian influence to grow.

The withdrawal is planned to be completed in mid-September, with the military removing anything hazardous, lethal or classified. Any equipment too expensive to fly out will be left for the Niger military, along with all infrastructure that has been built over the years.

Read more on Politico

2 - CONGO

Twenty-five people were sentenced to death after a televised trial, including the leader of the Congo River Alliance (a coalition of military groups seeking to overthrow the government of the the Democratic Republic of the Congo), who was found guilty of war crimes, treason, and insurrection. All but six of the defendants are on the run and were missing from the trial.

Read more on The Washington Post

3 - YEMEN

Yesterday, there were two attacks against a ship in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait (the thin strip of sea linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean).

Houthi militants are the suspected culprits. Houthi attacks in the Red Sea had calmed for two weeks, but after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh last week, terrorist activity seems to be ramping up.

• Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi warns that attacks aren’t going to stop.

• Houthi terrorist attacks against commercial shipping in the area have been ongoing since November.

• US Navy vessels have been deployed to the Red Sea to help mitigate the threat.

Read more on AP or USNI

THE REST OF THE WORLD…

• Bangladesh military still in control [Euractiv]

• Nigerian security forces kill 22 people during protest [ABC]

P.S. If you have a source, tip, or piece of information we missed, please reply to this email and tell us about it. Thank you!