US News

• In 2021, between 41,000 and 48,000 American prisoners were placed in solitary confinement. Nearly 1,000 people have been in solitary for over a decade. Reason
• A US appeals court upheld the ban on smoking in federally subsidized housing. Reuters
• The Pentagon says it will establish a “Civilian Protection Center of Excellence” to curb civilian deaths. VOA
• General Atomics wins a contract worth at least $135 million to provide eight MQ-9A Extended Range drones for the US Marine Corps. Defense Post

Russia

• The Army selects General Dynamics Land Systems to provide 250 Abrams tanks to Poland for $1.1 billion. Defense News
• Biden plans to name the military operation in Ukraine. RS
• Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition William LaPlante said the US wanted to increase the production of HIMARS to aid Kiev. LaPlante made the statement after visiting Lockheed Martin facilities. Newsweek  AWC
• The State Department confirms an American volunteer died fighting for Ukraine. Newsweek
• Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, ZNPP,  has been disconnected from Ukraine’s energy grid. Russia controls ZNPP. AJ AWC
• The New York Times reports Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is facing pressure on multiple fronts to launch a counter-offensive and bring the war to a military end. Russia is planning a series of referendums, and likely annexations, of captured territory in the coming months. A former defense minister is publicly warning Kiev that war fatigue could set in. AWC
• In response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine, US President Joe Biden vowed to isolate and “cripple” the Russian economy. However, Moscow has been able to maintain its economic strength, in part by exporting over $1 billion per month in wood, metals, food and other goods to the US. The Institute 
• Hungary announces a $12 billion contract with a Russian firm to build two nuclear reactors. Guardian
• Russia plans to increase the size of its military force by 137,000 troops. AP
• NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said, “NATO must increase its presence in the Arctic.” Politico
• Turkey claims Greek air defense locked on to one of its aircraft while it was in interaction airspace. Greece denies the charge. Bloomberg

China 

• Reuters reports Senator Marsha Blackburn arrived in Taiwan on Thursday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to Taipei in August, setting off a massive escalation with China. Blackburn is the third Congressional delegation to visit Taiwan this month. The Institute AWC
• Taiwan on Thursday unveiled plans to increase its military budget by 13.9% after China launched its largest-ever military exercises around the island that were a response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei. AWC
• Five Chinese fighter planes crossed the Taiwan Strait median line. Reuters
• Taiwan claims 15 Chinese warplanes again crossed the median line. Reuters
• Two US warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait. WSJ
• The State Department approved selling $2 billion in attack helicopters to Australia. Defense News

Afghanistan 

• The Taliban accused Pakistan of allowing American drones to access Afghanistan through Pakistani airspace. DW
• In Kosovo, the US opened Camp Liya next to the US Army base Camp Bondsteel. When Liya opened on August 29, 2021, the Pentagon said it would close in 365 days and act as a “lily pad” for Afghan refugees. The migrants were told they would only remain in Kosovo for a short time before receiving permission to enter the US or a third country. But many Afghans remain at Liya, and the DoD has scrapped plans to close the camp. The Institute

Middle East

• Mossad director David Barnea will travel to the US to meet with officials about the Iran nuclear deal. Axios
• Australian diplomats were targeted by an explosion near the entrance to Baghdad’s green zone. No injuries were reported. AP
• The US launched more airstrikes in Syria on Thursday, marking the third day of violence since President Biden ordered the bombing of facilities in Deir ez-Zor, Syria on Tuesday night. AWC
• After three days of airstrikes against Shia groups allied with the Syrian government, some members of Congress are taking aim at the White House. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy called for rethinking American troop presence in the Middle East. Republicans capitalized on the fighting to call for an end of nuclear talks with Iran. AWC
• Satellite imagery is coming in to assess the substantial damage done in western Syria after Israel’s Thursday night attack. Israel hit two sites in the area, wounding two, and starting fires. AWC
• Syrian Kurds raided the al-Hol prison and refugee camp, claiming to arrest suspected ISIS members. New Arab

Africa

• Fighting resulted in Libya, leaving over 30 dead on the first day. AP
• Morocco recalls its ambassador from Tunisia because Tunesian Presidnt Kais Saied met with the head of the independence movement in Western Sahara. Morocco claims Western Sahara is rightly its territory, a position affirmed by the US when Morocco signed the Abraham Accords. Reuters