Biden says the US will “begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week” after the Senate passed the national security supplemental.

BREAKING: Senate passes $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel & Taiwan by a vote of 79-18, bringing Congress’ months-long standoff over Ukraine aid to an end.

Iran-backed militias conducted two 'unsuccessful' attacks on US forces in Iraq and Syria yesterday, Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder says. It marked the first attacks on coalition facilities since early February.

Can confirm this figure via U.S. officials familiar with the issue. About $1 billion expected in the anticipated weapons package, with an emphasis on air defenses and artillery, they say.

Russia has threatened to step up its attacks on logistics centres and storage facilities for western weapons in Ukraine, in Moscow’s first direct response to the passage of US military aid for Kyiv.

the latest, with Christopher Miller ft.com/content/5dd821…

The other front in Israel's war. 'Since Oct. 7, at least 378 people have been killed in Lebanon, mostly Hezbollah fighters but also 70 civilians.... Israel says 11 soldiers and eight civilians have been killed on its side of the border.' today.lorientlejour.com/article/141136…

New: Rishi Sunak to announce largest-ever military aid package to Ukraine on visit to Poland.

Includes: long-range Storm Shadow missiles, air-defense munitions, small arms ammo, armored vehicles, raiding boats, and more👇
gov.uk/government/new…

U.S. forces at Al Asad air base in Iraq were attacked earlier today, two U.S. defense officials tell me. It is the first U.S. assessment of an “attack” on U.S. forces in Iraq, Syria or Jordan since February. Two one way attack drones were shot down, a defense official added.

Sailors aboard a German warship that was recently deployed to the Red Sea were on watch for 12 hours a day, and in the 'worst' situations, they might've only had seconds to respond to the deadly Houthi threats.
businessinsider.com/german-warship…

SCOOP: The Biden administration is preparing a larger-than-normal package of military aid for Ukraine that will include Bradley Fighting Vehicles, in addition to urgently needed artillery and air defenses. Lara Seligman

politico.com/news/2024/04/2…

'The last two weeks have exposed the real threat to world stability,' Israel's president in an interview via Jake Epstein businessinsider.com/best-for-peopl…

Israel's lone strike on an Iranian military base last week raised questions about the scope of the damage and exactly how the attack was carried out.

Over the weekend, the Israeli president said 'the best thing would be for everybody to stay puzzled.' businessinsider.com/best-for-peopl…

Russian oil refining is near an 11-month low as flooding hampers operations and repairs to plants hit by drone attacks slow down
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…


MOSUL, Iraq, April 21 (Reuters) - At least five rockets were launched from Iraq's town of Zummar towards a U.S. military base in northeastern Syria on Sunday, two Iraqi security sources told Reuters.

First reported attack on US forces since Feb.

Not to brag, but

Yes: „Ukraine faces tough weeks ahead in its fight to stem Russian battlefield advances despite this weekend’s passage of a long-awaited US funding bill, according to Ukrainian officials, soldiers and military analysts.“ h/t Christopher Miller on.ft.com/3W66GQQ

“The world is still watching. Lives are still on the line. America's long-term security is still at stake,” Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III says in statement on House passing the national security supplemental.

Zelensky tweeted this within minutes of the vote, underscoring how closely the Ukrainians have been watching the political wrangling in DC, trying to make sense of it and hoping that it gets resolved in their favor.

For months, the Biden administration promised and promised and promised the aid would be passed. I’d say a month ago no one in Europe still believed that. There will be absolutely huge relief. Let’s see if Europe is galvanised by this to do more and do it faster.

⚡️🇺🇦 BREAKING: US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APPROVES $60 BILLION IN MILITARY AID FOR UKRAINE AFTER MONTHS OF DELAY BY FAR-RIGHT REPUBLICANS.

Representatives waved Ukrainian flags and chanted “U-KRAINE!”