2024: Wednesday, August 21

THE WAR NEWSLETTER — AUGUST 21 2024

Good morning. Today’s update is low on action - but in the world of warfare, that’s often a good thing.

Welcome to your daily international conflict update.

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1. 🇭🇹 Extreme gang violence in Haiti

2. 🇮🇱 Israel recovers bodies of 6 hostages from Gaza

3. 🇺🇦 Ukraine presses onward into Kursk Oblast

1 - HAITI

Currently, more than 80% of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, is controlled by heavily armed gangs, who joined forces in February against the state. Over 360,000 people have fled their homes now as the capital has become a war zone.  

Kenyan police were deployed in June as part of a multinational force to eradicate the gangs, but so far have done little to help the situation. In response, Jimmy Chézier, a gang leader, ex-police officer, and arguably the most powerful man in Haiti, said "if a multinational police force is deployed, there will be a genocide."

Read more on Local10 or Time

2 - ISRAEL

Yesterday, terrorist group Hezbollah fired 115 explosive rockets at Israel. Hezbollah, an Iran-supported terrorist group, is based in Lebanon, a small country to the north of Israel. Hezbollah has been continuously attacking Israel from the north, mainly with rocket and other projectile fire, since Hamas’ initial October 7 attacks from Gaza in Israel’s south.

Negotiations for a ceasefire deal between Israel and terrorist group Hamas continue. Hamas is currently refusing to agree to the deal, claiming it isn’t what they initially agreed to, and that the US is taking Israel’s side. 

More key facts:

• The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) called up 15,000 previously released reservists for action due to troop shortages caused by having to fight terrorist groups on multiple fronts.

• Israeli forces were able to recover the bodies of 6 hostages from Hamas. They were Avraham Munder, Alex Dancyg, Yagev Buchshtav, Chaim Peri, Yoram Metzger, and Nadav Popplewell, all found dead in a terrorist tunnel in Gaza. Causes of death have not yet been released.

• Top Iranian military commander Ali Fadavi threatens that Iran will attack Israel in retaliation “at the right time and place,” and that Israel will be “punished more severely than before.”

Read more on Times Of Israel, AP, or ISW

3 - UKRAINE

Ukrainian forces are continuing their advance into Russian Kurst Oblast, pressing about 25 miles deeper, and striking pontoon bridges on the Seim River. Commander-in-Chief Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi said that the invasion aims to force the re-deployment of Russian troops, as well as create a buffer zone between the countries. Despite the incursion, Russian forces still advanced toward Toretsk, Pokrovsk, and Donetsk City. 

Read more on ISW

THE REST OF THE WORLD…

• Protests continue in Bangladesh against Sheikh Hasina’s deposed regime [AP]

• Maduro rejects the idea of holding new elections after widely contested Venezuela election [Venezuelanalysis]

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!