Today’s latest military stories include several significant developments:

  1. U.S. Extends Military Presence in Qatar: The United States has secured a deal to extend its military presence at a base in Qatar for an additional 10 years. This agreement underscores the strategic importance of Qatar in the U.S. military’s operations in the Middle East.
  2. Six More Ukrainian Pilots Train on F-16s in Denmark: In an ongoing effort since July, when the U.S. permitted European allies to export F-16s to Ukraine, six more Ukrainian pilots are currently undergoing training in Denmark to fly F-16 fighter jets. This group represents the third batch of pilots to receive such training. Prior to this, they sharpened their English language skills in the United Kingdom, as stated in a press release by the U.K. Defense Ministry.
  3. RAND Report Tallies Economic Toll of Ukraine Invasion on Russia: A recent study by RAND Corporation has analyzed the financial impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As of September 2022, the research estimates that Russia’s military expenditures have reached approximately $40 billion. In terms of the broader economy, Russia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) suffered losses ranging from $81 billion to $104 billion throughout 2022. Additionally, the destruction of financial capital is valued at around $322 billion.Experts from RAND suggest that Russia could manage these financial burdens for several years, mainly due to its continued revenue from oil and gas exports. However, they warn that, in the long term, even if the conflict remains at a stalemate, the Russian economy is expected to face a downturn, which will likely affect the standard of living of the Russian populace.
  4. Ukraine Strikes Again: Russian Landing Ship Destroyed in Crimea: In a recent display of military prowess, Ukrainian forces launched a cruise missile attack that successfully targeted and destroyed a large Russian landing ship at the eastern Crimean port of Feodosia on Tuesday. This strike adds to Russia’s growing list of naval losses, which, since the onset of President Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, includes at least 20 vessels. The tally, comprising warships, a submarine, and landing craft, has been confirmed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and corroborated by independent analysis from Oryx, a notable open-source intelligence platform.The Ukrainian attacks forced Russia to adopt “a more permanent basing pattern along the eastern Black Sea coast as it transfers assets away from Crimea,” the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said in a report.
  5. US Treasury Sanctions Support Networks for Yemen’s Houthi Forces: The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Thursday announced sanctions targeting financial networks aiding Yemen’s Houthi forces. The action is aimed at disrupting funding channels to the Houthis, who have increasingly threatened international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden with their aggressive actions.The Houthis, who control parts of Yemen, have escalated regional tensions with attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, posing a significant threat to international trade and maritime safety. OFAC asserts that these actions violate international law.

    The Treasury’s sanctions include designating one individual and three entities involved in facilitating Iranian financial support to the Houthis. These entities, exchange houses in Yemen and Turkey, have been instrumental in transferring millions of dollars under the guidance of Sa’id al-Jamal, who is linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force.Following these sanctions, all properties and interests in the U.S. belonging to the designated individuals and entities are frozen and must be reported to OFAC. The regulations prohibit all transactions involving these parties in the U.S. and carry implications for financial institutions and others engaging in transactions with the sanctioned parties, risking similar sanctions or enforcement actions.

    The sanctions, enacted under Executive Order 13224, seek to disrupt the financial networks that support the Houthis, cut off illicit funding, and secure vital shipping routes. This move by the U.S. Treasury is a key step in protecting global shipping interests and maintaining regional stability, highlighting the need for international cooperation in upholding maritime security and the rule of law in strategic areas like the Red Sea.

  6. Iranian Warship Alborz Sails into Tense Red Sea Waters: Iran’s warship, the Alborz, has made its way into the Red Sea, as reported by the semi-official Tasnim news agency on Monday. This development comes amidst heightened tensions in the critical maritime corridor, coinciding with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and a series of vessel attacks linked to forces associated with Tehran.