Terror Attack In West Bank, Ukraine Uses ATACMS Against Russia

THE WAR NEWSLETTER — DEC 12 2024

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

1 - ISRAEL

1 thing to know

A boy was killed and several people were wounded in a terror attack in the West Bank.

The context 

The attack took place on a bus. An armed Palestinian man fired at the bus as it passed. The terrorist later turned himself in, likely due to the large Israeli military presence in the area.

More from the region

The fighting between Israel and Hamas terrorists in Gaza continues. Hamas’ casualty figures for the day give a death toll of 58 killed after Israeli airstrikes.

The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) continue to allow truckloads of humanitarian aid into war-torn Gaza. The IDF tries to target terrorists planning to hijack aid vehicles before they can do so.

Israel also announced today that it has achieved total air superiority over Syria after several days of intense air raids destroyed the majority of the military equipment left behind my Bashar Assad’s retreating forces.

The IDF is reportedly considering strikes on Iran’s nuclear development sites next, now that Iran is left without its Syrian ally - and after Israel destroyed the Iranian air defense network earlier this year.

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TECH SPOTLIGHT: M2 BRADLEY

The M2 Bradley is a fighting vehicle used by the U.S. Army. It’s designed to transport infantry while providing heavy fire support. Its armaments can include a 25mm M242 Bushmaster cannon, a TOW anti-tank missile system, and a 7.62mm M240C machine gun, weapons that are effective against infantry, light vehicles, and armored targets.

Powered by a 600 horsepower diesel engine, it can attain speeds of up to 40 mph and has a range of about 300 miles. The Bradley is equipped with advanced fire control systems, including thermal optics.

What it’s used for

The M2 has seen extensive combat since its introduction in the early 1980s. It was used in the US-led push into Iraq during the Gulf War. It was also used extensively during the Iraq War, often operating alongside M1 Abrams tanks.

The vehicle has also served in peacekeeping and combat operations, including in Afghanistan and now Ukraine.

2 - UKRAINE

1 thing to know

Ukraine struck several Russian military and Infrastructure targets with ATACMS Missiles.

The context

On December 10-11, Ukrainian forces launched a series of missile strikes, including targeting an aircraft repair plant in Taganrog, Rostov Oblast, and an oil depot in Bryansk Oblast.

The strike on Taganrog’s military airfield damaged Russian aircraft repair facilities that support long-range radar and transport aircraft. Russian authorities reported that six ATACMS missiles were launched at the airfield, but claimed to have intercepted most of the missiles, with fragments causing damage to some buildings and vehicles.

In Bryansk, Ukrainian forces hit the Druzhba oil pipeline loading point, a critical fuel supply route for Russian forces, causing a massive fire.

More from the region

In response to Ukraine’s missile and drone strikes, reports indicate Russia is likely preparing to escalate its own attacks, and may launch a second "Oreshnik" ballistic missile against Ukrainian targets.

The missile, first used in November in a strike against Dnipro, is part of Russia's strategy to demonstrate its military capabilities in an attempt to deter Western support for Ukraine.

US intelligence has warned that such an attack could occur in the near future, especially as Russia seeks to apply pressure on the West and Ukraine by targeting critical infrastructure and military assets.

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!