US & Iran Meet in Rome + Israel Has not Ruled Out Strike On Iran's Nuclear Sites + Russian President Putin Declares Easter Truce + Japan Installs Rail Gun on Test Ship + More
For review:1. US Strikes Houthi Oil Terminal. The US military said it had destroyed Ras Isa terminal "to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue". 2. WSJ Report: Anti-Houthi militias are planning ground offensive against the terror organization. American officials said the United States is “open to supporting a ground operation by local forces” but “a decision on whether to back the effort hasn’t been made yet.” 3. US & Iran Meet in Rome. A second round of negotiations between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program ended Saturday after several hours of talks, Iranian and American officials said. 4. Israel Has not Ruled Out Strike On Iran's Nuclear Sites. Attack plans include a mix of airstrikes and commando operations that vary in severity and could set back Tehran’s ability to weaponize its nuclear program by just months or a year or more, sources said. 5. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio: US may move on from trying to secure a Russia - Ukraine peace deal if there is no progress in the coming days.6. Russian President Putin Declares Easter Truce. “Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 18:00 to 00:00 from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce. I order that all military actions be stopped for this period,” the Russian President said. 7. Serbian Leaders plan to attended Russian Victory Day Parade in Moscow, despite warnings from EU Foreign Affairs and Security Representative Kaja Kallas. Ms. Kallas: “Any participation in the May 9th parades or celebrations in Moscow will not be taken lightly on the European side".8. UK Army defeats drone swarms using radio-frequency, direct energy weapon. Radio-frequency directed energy weapon systems can defeat airborne targets at ranges of up to 1 kilometer.9. Japan Installs Rail Gun on Test Ship. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) released an image of its state-of-the-art railgun currently undergoing testing aboard the test ship JS Asuka. The railgun systems are expected to be employed as naval or land-based artillery.
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NYT Report: President Trump Suspended Attack on Iranian Nuclear Sites Planned for May + US Secretary of State Traveling to Paris to Discuss Ukraine & Middle East + Turkey Hosts Black Sea Security Talks in Event of Ceasefire + More
For review:1. NYT Report: President Trump Suspended Attack on Iranian Nuclear Sites Planned for May.2. IDF continues pressure on Hamas during Gaza Strip operations with three Divisions. No deadline for major offensive yet.3. US Secretary of State Traveling to Paris to Discuss Ukraine & Middle East. Separately, on Thursday, French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu will travel to Washington to meet with his counterpart, U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.4. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani will discuss efforts to find a possible peace deal (Russia - Ukraine), when they meet in Moscow tomorrow. 5. Turkey Hosts Black Sea Security Talks in Event of Russia - Ukraine Ceasefire.According to an official statement by the Turkish Ministry of National Defence, the meeting includes military representatives from several countries, including Ukraine, France, the United Kingdom and Turkey.6. Opinion Article via Breaking Defense. In order to defend its' air and sea approaches more effectively, Australia should invest in long-range strike systems via air power- more specifically USAF B-2A Spirit Bombers.7. Latest on US Space Command Headquarters final location- either Colorado Springs or Huntsville.
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President Trump On Iran's Nuclear Ambition: "I'll solve that problem" + New Ukraine Capability Coalition: Electromagnetic Warfare + Armor Not Dead: US M1E3 Tank Variant in 24 - 30 Months + More
For review:1. President Trump On Iran's Nuclear Ambition: "I'll solve that problem." US President Donald Trump vowed Monday to “solve” the issue of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, even if it means taking “very harsh” actions to thwart them.2. Israel - Hams Hostage Negotiations. The Haaretz daily, citing Palestinian sources involved in the talks, reported that Cairo and Doha are working with the US toward a potential additional stage of the ceasefire-hostage release deal reached in January that would also include talks to end the 18-month war. 3. New Ukraine Capability Coalition: Electromagnetic Warfare. The goals include protection of friendly communication and disruption of the enemy’s, persistent reconnaissance, drone defense, and effectiveness of weapon systems. 4. Ukraine troops provide feedback on German weapons employed in war with Russia. 5. Switzerland plans to buy four or five IRIS-T SLM medium-range air-defense systems from Germany’s Diehl Defence, as part of the European Sky Shield Initiative.6. Armor Not Dead: US M1E3 Tank Variant in 24 - 30 Months. Desired characteristics for the new variant included making it lighter, better protected and giving it an autoloader. 7. President Trump on April 9 signed into law, a policy aimed at revitalizing the American shipbuilding industry. Navy officials in March 2024 stated the service’s goal is to grow the fleet of battle force ships to 381 over the next 30 years.
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US & Iran Talks in Oman: "Productive and Positive" + Germany & UK-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group Pledges $23.8 Billion + US Senate Confirms New Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff + More
For review:1. US & Iran Talks in Oman: "Productive and Positive". Both countries agreed to hold a second round next week.2. Rafah cut-off from rest of Gaza between two IDF Security Corridors. The IDF said Rafah was now surrounded by its forces, with the 36th Division holding the Morag Corridor and the Gaza Division operating in the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egypt-Gaza border area.3. US Envoy Steve Witkoff met in St. Petersburg with Russian President Putin for more than 4 hours on Friday. Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev as described the talks as "productive". 4. Former US intelligence official (unnamed) told Reuters that Chinese military officers have been present behind Russian lines with Beijing’s approval to observe and draw tactical lessons from the war.5. Germany & UK-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group Pledges $23.8 Billion.6. US Senate Confirms New Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff. General Dan Caine's experience includes numerous roles in the special operations community, director of joint operations and training on the Joint Staff, and — most recently — three years as the CIA’s associate director for military affairs before his retirement in 2024. General Caine is also a former F-16 pilot.7. US Secretary of Navy John Phelan pledges a focus on shipbuilding and expanding the industrial base.8. Upcoming US Navy Submarine and Aircraft Carrier efforts are facing delays.The lead Columbia-class submarine vessel (USS District of Columbia SSBN-826), is 12-18 months behind schedule.The future aircraft carrier (USS Enterprise CVN-80), is estimated to be 28 months behind schedule, with delivery now anticipated to be in the 2028-29 timeframe.
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Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) Arrives in CENTCOM AOR + Israeli and Turkish Delegations Meet in Azerbaijan to Discuss Syria Deconfliction + President Trump's Executive Order Calls for Modernization Review of Programs & Processes + More
For review:1. Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) Arrives in CENTCOM AOR. The USS Carl Vinson — which is armed with F-35C stealth warplanes — is now working alongside the USS Harry S. Truman in the region, US Central Command says.2. The Commander of Iran’s Army Ground Force revealed plans to set up the new unmanned-focused facilities in country's border regions.3. Israeli and Turkish Delegations Meet in Azerbaijan to Discuss Syria Deconfliction.4. France and UK Co-lead "Coalition of the Willing" Discussion in Brussels.5. France to develop tactical (150 kilometer range) rocket artillery system and test by mid-2026.6. Speaking at SASC Hearing on Thursday, US Forces Korea Commander (Army General Xavier Brunson) supports current US Troop levels on the Korean Peninsula.7. President Trump's Executive Order Calls for Modernization Review of Programs & Processes.
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