US News
- The Massachusetts Department of Health reports that about half of people hospitalized with covid have incidental covid infections. [Link]
- The US donated 150,000 doses of the Pfizer covid vaccine to Kyrgyzstan through Covax. [Link]
- Seven sailors were injured during a landing accident on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson. [Link]
- The US deploys two aircraft carrier strike groups to the South China Sea, including the USS Vinson. [Link]
Russia
- Cyber Partisans – a ‘pro-democracy’ hacker group – claims to have carried out a ransomware attack on Belarus’ rail system to prevent the transportation of Russian weapons. [Link]
- Ukrainian separatists warn the government is planning to invade the breakaway Donbas region. [Link]
- Ukraine is unhappy with the US withdrawing staff from its Kyiv embassy. [Link]
- The Department of Homeland Security warns Russia could launch a cyberattack. [Link]
- Without providing details, NATO announced it was moving additional aircraft and warships to Eastern Europe. [Link]
- The US places 8,500 troops on heightened preparedness to deploy. [Link]
Iran
- Iran rules out any preconditions – including releasing American prisoners – for returning to compliance with the JCPOA. The US recently suggested Iran would have to release American prisoners to return to the nuclear deal. [Link]
- Iran says it is willing to engage in direct talks with the US. [Link]
- The Deputy Iran Envoy, Richard Nephew, leaves the nuclear deal negotiation team. [Link]
Middle East
- Airstrikes in Iraq killed ten militants, and three soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb. [Link]
- The US carried out airstrikes on a prison in northeastern Syria. The prison is run by the US-backed SDF but was taken over by IS. Fighting for control of the prison continues. [Link]
- CENTCOM reports it used Patriot missile interceptors to defend the UAE. [Link]
- The UAE-backed Giants Brigades say they have halted their offensive in Marib. [Link]
