Hezbollah Drone Strikes, Congo UN Exit Plans

THE WAR NEWSLETTER — OCT 30 2024

Good morning. Today you get news from Israel and Congo.

1 - ISRAEL

1 thing to know

Hezbollah continues to launch drones and rockets into northern Israel from Lebanon.

The context 

Hezbollah hasn’t stopped launching rockets into Israel for over a year now, forcing Israeli citizens to remain evacuated from their homes in northern Israel. Just this morning Hezbollah launched three drones into Israel. One drone was intercepted and the others exploded without causing any damage.

The IDF continues to attack Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, using strikes from the air and soldiers on the ground. Israel’s furthest push into Lebanese territory is now some four miles from the border.

More from the region

Hezbollah’s new leader, Naim Qassem, claims that though Netananyahu survived the drone attack on his house, he “may yet be killed.”

US diplomats are also traveling to Israel again with the goal of brokering some form of ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

In the news

• US diplomats want a ceasefire

• Hezbollah drone attacks

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TECH SPOTLIGHT: MK242 CHAIN GUN

The M242 Bushmaster is a 25 mm single-barrel automatic cannon, driven by a chain and a one horsepower electric motor instead of gas or recoil. The system feeds, loads, fires, then ejects rounds.

The weapon has the ability to destroy lightly armored vehicles, as well as helicopters and other aircraft. Its standard rate of fire is 200 rounds per minute, with an effective range of 6,600 feet, and it supports six main types of ammunition: two types of armor-piercing, two types of high-explosive incendiary, and two types for target practice.

The gun is used by armies and navies all around the world, mounted on various fighting vehicles such as armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, and light tanks, as well as naval platforms like corvettes and destroyers.

What it’s used for

The M242 Bushmaster has seen action in conflict zones around the world, including in the Gulf War, where it was utilized by U.S. forces against armored targets.

It has also been deployed in peacekeeping missions in the Balkans, as well as in operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, where it was used as support against insurgent threats and armored vehicles. It has also been used in maritime operations, with naval forces using to it to defend against air and surface threats in various theaters of operation.

Read more here.

2 - CONGO

1 thing to know

The Congolese government, as well as citizens, want the UN peacekeeping force to leave.

The context 

Despite the instability of the mineral-rich eastern regions of Congo, both the government and the local people are ready for the longtime force of UN peacekeepers to leave the country. 

The government because of political friction and because of their desire for greater control of security, and local citizens because, despite their presence, the region is still extremely unsafe. Many of the Congolese people have become angry with the UN force over their lack of influence in the region, have protested against the force in recent years.

The UN Security Council voted unanimously last year to reduce the UN force, at the request of Congo. The plan was to gradually hand over the security responsibilities to the Congolese government by December 2024, but due to increased violence, the departure has been delayed.  They are also working to train Congolese soldiers to help fill the inevitable security void once they leave.

More from the region

The conflict between M23 rebel force and Congo in the east of regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo resurged in late 2023 after violent elections. M23 is ethnically Tutsi, and backed by the Rwandan government, while the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) is a militia force affiliated with ISIS. 

Clashes between the two forces dramatically increased in 2024, displacing over 7 million people. The conflict has also recently spread to surrounding regions, sparking concerns of a wider war.

In the news

• Congo wants the UN gone

• Background on the war in Congo

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