Hezbollah Rocket Attacks, US Sanctions

THE WAR NEWSLETTER — OCT 31 2024

Good morning. Today’s email brings you news from Israel and Ukraine again.

1 - ISRAEL

1 thing to know

There have been 7 casualties reported so far today from Hezbollah rocket attacks in northern Israel.

The context 

Five Israeli civilians, working in an orchard in Metula, were killed by a rocket launched from Lebanon by the Hezbollah terror group.

Outside the city of Haifa, two people were killed by falling shrapnel from Hezbollah rockets. The 7 deaths were the only casualties from a 25-rocket barrage launched into northern Israel.

Hours later another barrage of at least 30 rockets was fired by Hezbollah, though there were no casualties.

More from the region

In the Gaza Strip, terrorist group Hamas has refused to accept any ceasefire deal that does not involve a permanent end to the war.

Israeli negotiators proposed a month-long stop to the fighting and the release of 100 Palestinian prisoners, if Hamas would release 14 Israeli hostages. Hamas refused.

In the news

• Hamas refuses ceasefire

• 7 casualties from rocket attacks

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TECH SPOTLIGHT: S-400 TRIUMF

The S-400 Triumf is a Russian air defense system. Approved for service in 2007, the S-400 is a significant upgrade from its predecessor, the S-300.

The S-400 system is made up of multiple launch and radar vehicles. It can detect up to 20 targets at once from up to 210 miles away, and uses different types of interceptor missiles to take down targets.

What it’s used for

S-400 systems are currently deployed by Russia in strategic locations like Moscow, Syria, and along its own borders. The system has also been sold to countries like China, Iran, Turkey, and India.

In conflicts like the Syrian Civil War and the ongoing Ukraine invasion, the S-400 has demonstrated its capability to create significant no-fly zones.

Israeli forces recently destroyed a large portion of Iran’s S-400 defense system, leaving Iran vulnerable to future airstrikes.

2 - UKRAINE

1 thing to know

The United States imposed sanctions on over 350 firms across more than a dozen countries that have been accused of helping Russia evade sanctions.

The context 

The US accused a number of countries, including China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Malaysia, and Thailand, of aiding Russia in evading Western sanctions. In an effort to curb such evasions new sanctions were imposed on individuals and entities in over a dozen countries.

To date, it is one of the largest concerted efforts to deal with Russian evasions through the use of third parties, with a total of 398 firms being sanctioned. The new sanctions in addition to thousands of other sanctions already in place against Russia, despite the effectiveness of such sanctions being questioned.

More from the region

A small number of North Korean troops are already reportedly in Ukraine, according to intelligence officials. The number is expected to grow due to the large number of North Korean troops known to be training within Russia.

US diplomats will meet South Korean officials this week to discuss the growing relationship between North Korea and Russia, and Ukrainian President Zelensky has also indicated working more closely with South Korea as well.

In the news

• US sanctions

• North Korean deployments

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!