Institute for the Study of War’s Post

#Lviv and #KryvyiRih. Following a vicious attack on #Poltava, Russia targeted two more cities in #Ukraine tonight. Using missiles, Russian war criminals struck civilian infrastructure – killing 7 people in Lviv, including 2 children, and injuring over 40 others. In Kryvyi Rih, at least 5 people were injured. Russia’s terror won’t stop until it is stopped, and there are two ways to prevent it. First, strengthen the air shield over Ukraine with additional air defense systems and missiles. Second, allow Ukraine to strike legitimate military targets in Russia without limitations. Give Ukraine more ability to defend itself. #LetUkraineStrikeBack

My recent article for Young Australians in International Affairs!

💔 This is the war's deadliest single attack this year. I hope that the world sees the systematic nature of such attacks and read the cruel logic of the Russian government and military. As for me such attacks serve as: ✔ Part of PSYOP and informational warfare aimed at intimidating the civilian population of Ukraine, creating an atmosphere of despair and panic, particularly against the backdrop of the intense Russian military offensive on the strategically important city of Pokrovsk (Donetsk region). ✔ Pressure on the Ukrainian government, particularly President Volodymyr #Zelensky, to accept #Russia’s demands for ending the war. ✔ A signal to #Ukraine's Western partners, as a demonstrative disregard for moral values and international law. Moreover, Russia perceives the West’s indecisiveness and demonstrates what can happen to any city in any part of the region. Ukraine must receive permission to use long-range Western weapons against targets deep within Russia, from where missiles and bombs are being launched at Ukrainian cities ❗ #Poltava #LetUkraineStrikeBack

Key Takeaways: Israeli forces clashed with Palestinian fighters in eastern Jabalia on January 20. A local Gazan activist also reported that an Israeli armor convoy reentered eastern Jabalia from the Gaza “envelope.” The IDF 7th Armored Brigade continued clearing operations in Khan Younis City on January 20. Palestinian fighters clashed with Israeli forces three times across Nablus Governorate in the West Bank on January 19. Lebanese Hezbollah (LH) conducted three attacks from southern Lebanon into northern Israel targeting Israeli military facilities. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq—a coalition of Iranian-backed Iraqi militias—claimed responsibility for a missile attack targeting US forces at Ain al Asad Airbase in Anbar Province, Iraq, on January 20. The IRGC announced on January 20 that Israel killed five IRGC “advisors” in an airstrike on Al Mazzah, Damascus, Syria. US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted two separate preemptive airstrikes on January 19 and 20 targeting anti-ship missiles that the Houthis had prepared to launch from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen towards the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

Targeted eliminations, no matter how senior the Hezbollah terrorists, will have no substantial impact on the situation in the North, I told i24NEWS last night. Hezbollah's capabilities remain in place and they were used yesterday to unleash a deadly wave of rockets and drones. The people of Israel's north deserve strategic clarity. I also discussed the original mistake of letting terror armies on our borders build up capabilities for decades without interference. This can never happen again. What would a full-scale war with Hezbollah look like? Unprecedented Israeli firepower unleashed against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, a rapid ground maneuver. Unprecedented Hezbollah firepower (its arsenal larger than that of most NATO armies) targeting strategic civilian and military sites in Israel, as well as the Israeli civilian population in northern and central Israel. Sign up to my Patreon for direct updates: https://lnkd.in/dt2tvegF

THE MIDDLE EAST IS CLOSE TO A MELTDOWN 🔥 An Iran-backed militia group in Iraq claimed responsibility Monday for a drone strike against a base in eastern Syria used by U.S. troops that killed six American-allied Kurdish fighters The attack, which caused no American casualties, appeared to be the first significant response from what the U.S. calls Iran's proxy groups to U.S. airstrikes against the militias in the region. -CBS #US I have a hard time seeing a de-escalation in the region and I think we will slowly move towards a big war where the US and Iran will be active. There are many countries and groups that want the US to become involved in a new big war in the Middle East. This means that the US must direct large military resources to the Middle East. Resources that they would otherwise have placed elsewhere.#China

Israel-Hamas War: Operational Update Day 100 Maghazi IDF troops identified 2 armed terrorists. In response, ground troops directed an aircraft to neutralize the terrorists—thwarting their attempted attack. Atatra IDF troops located and destroyed a number of active launch pits used to launch rockets at Israelis. Khan Yunis IDF troops identified 2 armed terrorists, and directed an IDF aircraft, neutralizing the threat. In addition, IDF tanks eliminated 5 terrorists and located an underground tunnel shaft. During additional activity, IDF troops neutralized 9 terrorists.

The strikes were a carefully calibrated set of attacks on command and control operations, logistic hubs and drone storage units linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force and affiliated militia groups. Seven locations were hit - four in Syria and three in Iraq - with more than 85 targets being struck in 30 minutes. The US has no plan to bomb Iran, which would only lead to a huge escalation, allowing Trump to denounce Biden for being a warmonger. The US needed to respond swiftly. Any delay would risk diminish its impact and not creating the desired deterrent on the Iranian-backed militia groups in the region. It remains to be seen whether the strikes would serve as a deterrence in the future.

AKE’s #MOTW demonstrates a resurgence in intense clashes between ethnic #Amhara #Fano militia fighters and federal forces across Amhara region. There are reports of Tigray militia forces joining the conflict against Fano, indicating the spread of the conflict and a worsening security environment. Fano militia joined federal forces to combat #Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) forces during the two-year Tigray war. Fano militia have also conducted sporadic attacks against #Oromo civilians. Clashes between military forces and Fano have resumed in Amhara region’s capital, #BahirDar, and a struggle for control over the territory is ongoing. Fano continue to target infrastructure including power lines, which have caused widespread power outages beyond Amhara region. Clashes are set to continue and are likely to intensify in the coming weeks.