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Turkish Airstrikes, Sudan Massacres
Tech spotlight: the Abrams Reactive Armor Tile
THE WAR NEWSLETTER — OCT 29 2024
Good morning. Today’s update covers updates from the wars in Syria and Sudan.
1 - ISRAEL
1 thing to know
Turkey continues to attack sites in northern Syria.
The context
Turkey is attacking in Syria’s north, where a large chunk of territory is controlled by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. Turkish forces are targeting factories and infrastructure with airstrikes. Targets range from oil facilities to plastic and food factories.
More from the region
Skirmishes continue to break out between the SDF (part of the Autonomous Administration) and Iranian proxy groups, as well as between the SDF and the Assad regime, which controls most of Syria.
Assad regime forces continue to fight against the numerous rebel groups, shelling rebel villages with heavy artillery, mainly in the northwest.
In the news
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TECH SPOTLIGHT: THE ARAT
Soldiers installing ARAT tiles
The Abrams Reactive Armor Tile (ARAT) is a defensive armor upgrade designed to protect M1 Abrams tanks from explosive threats like rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and other anti-tank explosive charges. Made by Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company, ARAT uses “reactive armor” technology: each tile contains a layer of explosive material sandwiched between two metal plates.
When hit by an incoming threat, these tiles “react” by exploding, deflecting the blast away from the tank and minimizing penetration.
Lightweight and modular, ARAT tiles are mounted on the tank’s hull and turret, upgrading the tank’s armor without sacrificing speed or mobility. ARAT blasts can launch shrapnel and injure nearby infantry, so they need to be used with care and infantry units operating nearby need to be warned of its use.
What it’s used for
ARAT is deployed on Abrams tanks, especially in urban or close-quarter battlefields. ARAT-equipped tanks are used by the U.S. Army and have been used in operations in Iraq and Eastern Europe.
2 - SUDAN
1 thing to know
The death toll from massacres in the Gezira state has risen to 300, with another 200 injured.
The context
Since the defection of a top commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to the Sudanese army, the RSF has set out to retaliate by destroying civilian villages, killing civilians and looting and burning properties.
The combined death toll of the RSF attacks is currently 300 and counting. Rescue workers report that they’re unable to reach victims because of heavy sniper fire and continued RSF bombing .
Farmland has also been set on fire and thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes. The RSF imposes levies on fleeing civilians, charging up to 3 million Sudanese pounds (about $1500) per truck to help with the evacuation.
More from the region
The humanitarian crisis resulting from the ongoing civil war continues to worsen, exacerbated by the abuses perpetrated by the RSF. Malnutrition remains a dire issue, with six more children dying this week because of it, and an impending famine expected. Violence against women is also at a reported all time high, with even the UN calling attention to the crisis.
In the news
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