North Korean General Hit, IDF in Lebanon

THE WAR NEWSLETTER — NOV 22 2024

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

1 - ISRAEL

1 thing to know

The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) has expanded its ground operations in southern Lebanon, pushing into what military officials call the "second line" of villages.

The context 

As of November 22, 2024, Israeli troops have been operating approximately 4-5 miles from the border, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure and weapon depots. 

In the past 24 hours, Hezbollah launched around 30 rockets at Western Galilee and Haifa, with some causing damage to a factory in Nahariya. 

During recent operations, an Israeli researcher and a soldier were killed in a gun battle with Hezbollah operatives.

More from the region

The IDF has systematically dismantled Hezbollah's infrastructure in border-adjacent towns in Lebanon, destroying buildings used by the group and removing roadblocks that previously prevented civilian travel. The threat of rocket fire remains significant, with Hezbollah launching around 100 rockets daily from areas deeper within southern Lebanon. 

In Gaza, the IDF killed five Hamas terrorists involved in the October 7 massacre, including two senior commanders from the Nukhba Force. 

The UN nuclear watchdog (IAEA) has once again censured Iran for failing to cooperate with its investigations into undeclared nuclear sites. Nineteen IAEA board members voted to condemn Iran, which responded by announcing plans to launch advanced centrifuges for uranium enrichment. 

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TECH SPOTLIGHT: THE VULCAN

The M61 Vulcan is a six-barrel rotary cannon. Developed by General Electric in 1946 and now produced by General Dynamics, it fires 6,000 rounds per minute - that's 100 rounds every single second. Weighing between 202-248 pounds, the Vulcan has been the primary cannon for U.S. military aircraft for over 60 years.

By spreading shots across six barrels, the Vulcan reduces heat and barrel wear, making it incredibly reliable. In fact, it can fire an average of 10,000 rounds between jams, which is almost unheard of for such a high-speed weapon.

What it’s used for

The Vulcan is the go-to weapon for air combat, mounted on legendary fighter jets like the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and F/A-18 Hornet. It’s also used on helicopter gunships.

First seeing combat in Vietnam in 1965, the Vulcan quickly proved its worth. U.S. pilots used it to shoot down 39 enemy aircraft, demonstrating its effectiveness in aerial combat.

2 - UKRAINE

1 thing to know

A North Korean general was wounded in a Ukrainian missile strike in Russia's Kursk region.

The context 

Ukraine executed a strike on a Russian Presidential Affairs Directorate sanatorium in western Kursk Oblast using British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which killed 18 military personnel and wounded 33 others, among which was a North Korean general.

Among the killed was Lieutenant General Valery Solodchuk, First Deputy Commander of the Leningrad Military District. The target of the strike was about 20 miles from the Russia-Ukraine border, and so far Russia has been largely silent about it, likely trying to conceal the fact that a North Korean general had been wounded.

More from the region

Reports are suggesting that the 10,000 North Korean troops that have been deployed to aid Russia in their war on Ukraine could grow to as many as 100,000, if the alliance continues to grow between Russia and North Korea. It’s most likely that the troops would be deployed in a rotation of smaller numbers, rather than a single large deployment.

Despite Putin's claims that the US allowing their long range weapons to be used against Russia is an escalation in the war, it only brings Ukraine's striking range closer to that of Russia, while bringing in an Asian military into the war is arguably a larger escalation.

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!