Biden Orders Strike

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Global Recap
December 26, 2023 • Read in: 9 minutes

Hi Global Recap readers,

Boxing Day is also behind us now. 😔

Was it just me, or did this year’s December holidays breeze past quicker than usual?

While we were letting the alarm ring for a bit longer for the past few days, the leader of the free world was busy retaliating on behalf of American servicemen injured from a drone attack.

More on that & more. 👇

🌐 Around the world:

  • 🚀 Biden orders strike to kill.

  • 🇮🇳 India deploys warships.

  • 🇵🇸 Hamas refuses ceasefire.

  • ☢️ Russia finishes delivering nukes.

  • 🇨🇳 Chinese propaganda hit by Community Notes on X.

Let’s get into today’s news.

🚀 Biden Orders Strike

President Joe Biden commanded a swift counterstrike in response to Monday’s drone attack by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.

  • Injuries: The drone attack left three US service members injured, with one being critically wounded.

  • Targeted Assault: Three facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups were destroyed and “likely killed a number of Kataib Hezbollah militants.”

Biden is walking a real fine line here.

Leading up to the 2024 presidential election, will we see more military actions from the Biden administration?

  • Note: After 9/11, President George W. Bush’s approval rating shot up to a peak of 92%.

🚢 India Deploys Warships

India’s navy is on high alert, deploying three missile destroyers to the Arabian Sea.

Why? A drone attack hit a vessel named MV Chem Pluto, which had 21 Indians and one Vietnamese citizen.

  • US: On Saturday, the Pentagon reported that a drone from Iran struck the vessel.

  • Denial: Iran refutes the accusation, calling it “baseless.”

Just when we anticipate a lull in regional tensions, another nation steps in, flexing its military muscles.

🇵🇸 Hamas Refuses Ceasefire

Abu Ubaida, spokesperson for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades - the military wing of Hamas.

Gaza’s two power players, Hamas and Palestine Islamic Jihad, rejected Egypt’s ceasefire offer.

  • Egypt’s Plan: In short, Egypt proposed forming a new transitional government of experts to rule Gaza and the West Bank, which will eventually make way for democracy in Palestine. Hostages and prisoners will be exchanged until a complete ceasefire is eventually achieved.

  • Rejection Rationale: Hamas insists on stopping the “aggression and massacres” before any talk of hostage release can proceed.

Maybe Hamas is hesitant about a possible leadership shakeup?

☢️ Nukes Delivered to Belarus

Belarusian President Lukashenko (L) up close with Russian President Putin (R).

Belarusian President Lukashenko confirmed that Russia has completed its nuclear delivery to Belarus. The tactical nukes, now stationed in Belarus, mark a chilling milestone since the Cold War’s end.

  • Summit Scoop: Lukashenko spilled the beans when he was in St. Petersburg, without mentioning any specifics on the arsenal’s quantity.

  • NATO’s Nightmare: Lukashenko warned the West that he is ready to retaliate against any NATO aggression with his new toys.

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China

Chinese Propaganda Hit by Community Notes on X

China’s state-run media, Global Times, posted a video on X, praising the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s role in maritime safety off the Horn of Africa.

🎥 Propaganda? This 2-minute propaganda video was produced to celebrate “15yrs of escort missions in the Gulf of Aden,” claiming protection against piracy for thousands of vessels.

“The Horn of Africa”

But of course, this is where the Yemeni Houthis rebels have been firing rockets. Just above the horn is… Yemen.

⬟ Pentagon Says. The US Department of Defense begs to differ. Last month, three PLA Navy warships in the region allegedly ignored a distress call from a merchant ship under attack by Somali pirates. The ship was later hit by Houthi rockets as well.

The US eventually had to intervene to stop the pirate attack.

From the off-camera, on-the-record press briefing of the Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder.

🇨🇳 But That’s Not All. They also ignored desperate pleas for help by other vessels in the Red Sea, amid Houthi missile threats.

📢 Inconsistency Called Out. And of course, users on X were quick to point out the PLA navy’s “inconsistencies” - namely regarding the above-mentioned Somali pirate attack and China’s silence during Houthi attacks near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

  • Global Times may be able to control the narrative in China, but they might be quickly finding out it’s not so easy to do outside of its borders.

🇨🇳 Defense. In the comments section of the post, there were also people like this who defended the PLA Navy:

Looks totally legit.