The Press Roundup

 

The Press Roundup

Curated Summary

February 2, 2024 (Friday)

Iran tries to avoid war with U.S. after stoking Mideast conflicts (The New York Times)

• Iran's Supreme National Security Council held an emergency meeting to discuss how to respond to the killing of three American soldiers by an Iran-aligned militia in Iraq. The council decided to avoid direct war with the United States but to prepare for retaliation if the US strikes Iran.
• Iranian officials, including the foreign minister and ambassador to the United Nations, publicly proclaimed Iran's stance of avoiding war with the US while preparing for it. They tried to reassure Iranians and temper President Biden's promised retaliation.
• Iran has placed all armed forces on high alert, activated defense systems, and positioned ballistic missiles along the border with Iraq in preparation for a potential conflict.
• Iran has been conducting a balancing act by supporting allied militias in conflicts against Israel and the US without direct confrontation. However, clashes have not yet reached Iranian soil. Iran's relationship with its proxies was designed to provide plausible deniability. 

US approves plan to strike Iranian target in Syria and Iraq, officials say (RNZ)

• The US has approved plans for a series of strikes on Iranian targets in Syria and Iraq, likely to be launched based on weather conditions.
• The US blamed an Iranian-backed militia group, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, for a drone attack that killed three US soldiers in Jordan near the Syrian border.
• The Islamic Resistance in Iraq is believed to consist of multiple militias that have been armed, funded, and trained by Iran's Revolutionary Guards force.
• Iran has denied any role in the attack that injured 41 other US troops at the military base.
• US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the US will not tolerate attacks on American troops and will take necessary actions to defend the United States, its interests, and its people.

Experts react: The EU just approved a 50 billion Euro aid package for Ukraine. How will it impact the war? (Atlantic Council)

• The European Council has approved a fifty-billion-euro aid package to Ukraine through 2027, making the EU Ukraine's leading supporter. This decision comes at a critical time as Russia's invasion of Ukraine approaches its two-year mark and prospects for additional aid from the US Congress look bleak.
• The aid package aims to stabilize Ukraine's government services and war-torn economy in the short term, while also providing predictability and support for domestic reforms necessary for Ukraine's eventual EU membership in the long term.

Analysts: Yemen’s Houthi targeting of Red Sea shipping may have larger aims (VoA)

• Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been targeting ships in the Red Sea, disrupting shipping lanes, and harassing U.S. and British vessels, possibly to maintain and expand their power in Yemen.
• The Houthi attacks may be a strategy to position themselves as a regional supporter of Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation and cement their political authority in Yemen.
• Some analysts suggest that the Houthi rebels are trying to divert attention from their responsibilities towards the Yemeni people and prioritize symbolic sympathy from the Arab and Islamic world.
• The attacks by the Houthis are not helping the Palestinians and are complicating the movement of vital supplies into Gaza.The Houthis have shown no signs of backing down despite airstrikes on Yemen's military installations.
• The conflict in Yemen is causing concern among Saudi Arabia, who sees the dangers of the conflict expanding.

America’s shuttle diplomacy to wind down the war in Gaza (The Economist)

• American officials are working towards securing a long humanitarian pause in the Israel-Hamas conflict, with the aim of exchanging Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners and eventually achieving a permanent ceasefire and regional peace deal.
• The immediate goal is to calm the situation before Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting.

How to fix British defence (The Economist)

• Britain's armed forces are facing challenges despite being one of the largest military spenders in the world and the largest in Europe.
• The navy operates fewer frigates and destroyers compared to other countries, and the army is at its smallest size in centuries. The country's ammunition holdings are also a matter of concern. Cash shortage is identified as the first problem in British defense. 

Pakistan under threat: Why ISKP’s online campaign against Pakistan is a global concern (Global Network on Extremism and Technology)

• The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) has been focusing on Pakistan in its online propaganda campaigns, posing a substantial and ongoing threat to the country.
• ISKP has claimed responsibility for multiple violent attacks in Pakistan, including a suicide bombing in the Mastung District and a suicide attack at a political rally for the Jamait Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) party.
• The ISKP published a manifesto expressing its intent to attack the JUI-F for its participation in local elections, and it has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks targeting the party in Bajaur.
• Tech companies can play a role in addressing these threats by taking action against ISKP's online activities.

US greenlights $4 billion sale of drones, missiles to India (Bloomberg)

• The US has approved the sale of attack drones, Hellfire missiles, and laser-guided bombs to India, as part of its efforts to reduce India's defense ties with Russia. This move is seen as a strategic victory for the US, as it aims to strengthen its relationship with India in the defense sector.
• The deal, which has been in the works for at least three years, includes the sale of up to 31 MQ-9B Sky Guardian drones, up to 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, and 310 GBU-39BB Laser Small Diameter Bombs, among other equipment.
• The sale of these weapons will enhance India's military capabilities, particularly in terms of unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance patrols in sea lanes of operation. It will also contribute to India's ongoing military modernization efforts.

Biden’s generals in Pakistan (Middle East Monitor)

• The Biden administration supported Israel's actions in Gaza and was also involved in a regime change operation in Pakistan in March-April 2022.
• The military establishment in Pakistan, particularly in the province of Punjab, has been recognized as corrupt and violent. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August of the previous year on false charges.
• Imran Khan and former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi have been sentenced to ten years in jail due to the alleged cypher-gate scandal, which involved a secret diplomatic cable from Pakistan's ambassador in Washington stating the American desire to remove Khan from power. The military establishment in Pakistan, with the support of the US embassy, orchestrated a vote of no-confidence in parliament to achieve this.

Ahead of election, Pakistan seals plan to sell national airline (Reuters)

• Pakistan's caretaker administration is making plans to sell loss-making Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) ahead of the upcoming elections, as part of the reforms under the IMF bailout package.
• The decision to privatize PIA was made just weeks after signing the IMF agreement, as the government aims to overhaul loss-making state-owned enterprises.
• The caretaker administration, empowered by the outgoing parliament, is finalizing the plan to sell PIA, which will be presented to the cabinet for approval.
• The plan, prepared by transaction adviser Ernst Young, will be presented to the cabinet for approval before the tenure of the administration ends. The cabinet will decide whether to sell the stake through a tender or a government-to-government deal.
• PIA has significant liabilities and accumulated losses, making progress on privatization a key issue if the incoming government seeks further assistance from the IMF after the current bailout program expires.