Updated 9:53 AM ET, Thursday, December 7, 2023
The Cipher Brief curates open source information from around the world that impacts national security. Here's a look at today's headlines:
THE TOP STORIES
Republicans in U.S. Senate Block Ukraine, Israel Aid Legislation As Tensions over Border Restrictions Rise. As expected, Republicans Senators on Wednesday blocked legislation that would have provided billions of dollars of security aid for Ukraine and Israel, as tensions escalated among lawmakers over proposed immigration reforms. Republicans have been pushing towards stricter restrictions and tighter control at the U.S. border with Mexico, with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell stressing the importance of “meeting America's national security priorities” first “right here at home.” The foreign aid bill, if passed, would have given Ukraine $50 billion in new security aid, as well as funds for economic and humanitarian assistance. Israel would have received $14 billion to aid in its conflict with Hamas. The vote was 41-50, and failed to meet the 60 votes necessary to permit consideration of the proposal. Hours before the vote, U.S. President Joe Biden urged support of the bill, asserting that history would “judge harshly those who turned their backs on freedom’s cause.” Biden is urging Congress to approve the aid by Christmas and says he is willing to consider changes to immigration policy to secure a deal, drawing praise from Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), the Republicans’ top immigration negotiator. Reuters New York Times The Hill Bloomberg
U.S. Military Grounds Entire Osprey Fleet After Japan Crash. The U.S. military announced yesterday that it is grounding its fleet of Osprey V-22 helicopters following a crash off the coast of Japan that killed eight Air Force service members last week. The Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps took the action after a preliminary investigation found that a material failure rather than a mistake by the crew led to the crash. Japan announced it had grounded its fleet of 14 Ospreys as well. Last week’s crash renewed concerns over the safety of the somewhat controversial Osprey, a tilt-rotor aircraft which has been involved in several fatal accidents since it went into service. The Marine Corps has as many as 400 Ospreys, Air Force Special Operations Command has 51, and the Navy 27. AP
UN Chief Invokes Rarely Used Article 99 to Raise Alarm on Global Security Threat from Gaza War. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres took the rare step of invoking article 99 yesterday to warn the Security Council that the war in Gaza presents a threat to security worldwide. Arab countries sought to use Guterres’ warning to push the Security Council to call for a ceasefire. The United Arab Emirates submitted a draft resolution calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” and diplomats said the UAE aims to put the resolution to a vote tomorrow when Guterres is to brief the security council on Gaza. Deputy U.S. Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood said the U.S. does not support further action by the council at this point. Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan said Guterres had reached “a new moral low” by sending his letter to the Security Council, adding that Guterres’ call for a ceasefire is “actually a call to keep Hamas’ reign of terror in Gaza.” Reuters
Russia's Putin, Saudi Crown Prince Call on OPEC+ Members to Join Oil Cuts. A Kremlin spokesman said that during a meeting yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) discussed continued cooperation on oil prices as members of OPEC+. The hastily arranged meeting in Riyadh followed a rare visit by Putin to the United Arab Emirates. In televised remarks before the meeting, Putin said nothing “can prevent the development of our friendly relations.” A Saudi account of the meeting said MBS praised joint cooperation between the two countries “that helped remove tensions in the Middle East.” Analysts say that Putin’s visit to the region was also meant to demonstrate that despite western sanctions, Russia maintains relationships with wealthy allies who are still willing to work with Russia. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, both important allies to the U.S., have remained neutral in their stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine. Reuters
U.S. Raises Concern Over Chinese Naval Vessels in Cambodia. The U.S. has requested more information about a naval base in Cambodia following a visit by Chinese naval vessels, the first known foreign vessels to dock at the Ream Naval Base. The visit comes amid U.S. concerns that China wants to establish a military presence in Cambodia. A U.S. Embassy spokesman in Phnom Penh said today the U.S. and countries in the region “have consistently expressed concern about the intent, nature and scope of construction” at the base. When asked about the warships’ visit, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said only that China and Cambodia “enjoy a deep friendship” and engage in “productive cooperation.” The ships, including the Wenshan, a Type 056A corvette, were seen at the base in photos posted by General Tea Seiha, Cambodia’s deputy prime minister and defense minister. The U.S. has said that a military facility at Ream would be China’s first overseas base in the Indo-Pacific. Cambodia has dismissed the allegation that China is building a naval facility in Cambodian territory. Bloomberg
ISRAEL AND HAMAS WAR
Israel Approves New Settlement in Occupied East Jerusalem Amid Ongoing War. The Israeli government has reportedly approved the construction of more than 1,700 homes in a new settlement in the occupied territory of East Jerusalem, according to the Israeli NGO Peace Now. A spokesperson for the group claims the Israeli government was using the war as a diversion to allow for the quiet announcement of the project. Presently, the construction of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories is illegal under international law. The announcement comes just a day after the Palestinian foreign ministry stated its belief that Israel intended to settle the areas in and around Jerusalem to “separate it from its Palestinian surroundings.” The proposed settlement would cross the boundaries of the 1949 Armistice Line, which had formerly divided Jerusalem into east and west. Israel - which controlled west Jerusalem - occupied east Jerusalem in 1967, a move never formally recognized by the U.N. France24 Al Jazeera
Israel Agrees to Allow More Fuel Deliveries Into Gaza. The Israeli Security Council has approved the increase of fuel deliveries into Gaza after weeks of shortages. The move is designed “to prevent a humanitarian collapse and the outbreak of disease,” according to Prime Minister Netanyahu. Since mid-November, fuel deliveries have been restricted to two trucks per day. The new delivery allowance has yet to be announced but will reportedly be adjustable based on humanitarian needs in Gaza. Al Jazeera
THE UKRAINE UPDATE
Ukraine Requests New Weapons, Including THAAD Air Defenses, F-18s, Drone Tech. Documents viewed by Reuters reveal that Ukraine has requested an assortment of weapons from the U.S., including drones, F-18 "Hornet" fighter jets, Apache and Blackhawk helicopters, and high-tech air defense systems. During a session of a gathering in Washington on Wednesday, which was attended by defense industry heads and government officials, authorities from Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense set forth a list of “armaments to meet the needs of defense forces of Ukraine.” Kyiv has requested more Abrams tanks, 155 millimeter artillery, F-16s, long-range ATACMS missiles, and drones, all of which they already have in stock. But the list also includes newer weaponry, such as Boeing’s C-17 Globemaster transport jets, and Lockheed Martin’s C-130 Super Hercules, as well as Apache and Black Hawk helicopters. Kyiv is looking to secure the Lockheed-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) air defense system and General Atomics’s F-18 "Hornet" fighter jets, including the MQ-9B Sky Guardian. Western military assistance is essential to Ukraine’s war efforts, and officials continue to stress the importance of securing aid. The U.S. Senate on Wednesday blocked legislation that would have permitted the provision of billions of dollars in security aid for both Ukraine and Israel. Ukraine’s Washington embassy did not respond to requests for comment. Reuters Kyiv Indepedent
Ukraine Claims to have Downed 15 out of 18 Shahed Drones Fired Overnight. The Ukrainian Air Force on Thursday says it intercepted and destroyed 15 out of 18 Shahed "kamikaze" attack drones launched overnight by Russia. The assaults were reportedly launched by Russia from withinthe annexed Crimean Peninsula. The Air Force reported that the drones attacked in the direction of Odesa and Khmelnytskyi regions, and Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper said Izmail’s Danube port infrastructure was struck, resulting in the death of a van driver close to a warehouse. Local reports say residents heard explosions overnight in Khmelnytskyi Oblast. Ukrainian authorities have cautioned that Russian forces would intensify the frequency and severity of attacks as winter deepens, and so far such predictions have been validated, with Moscow in recent days launching several waves of drone assaults on Ukraine. On Tuesday, Russia fired 48 Shahed drones, 41 of which were downed by Ukraine’s air defense systems. Kyiv Independent Ukrinform
Russian Assaults Across Ukraine Kill 1, Wound 8. Ukrainian officials said today Russia launched attacks across 11Ukrainian regions over the past day, killing one person and wounding at least eight others. Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said Russian forces attacked the Danube infrastructure in Izmail, killing one person. The Donetsk Oblast Military Administration reported Russian attacks wounded two people in Avdiivka, one in Andrivka and another in Nelipivka. Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov said Russian strikes injured two women in the village of Podoly. The regional military administration in Sumy Oblast said two people were wounded by rocket strikes in the Seredyna-Buda area. Attacks were reported in seven other oblasts but local officials reported no casualties. Ukrainian defenses reported shooting down 15 of 18 “kamakazi” drones launched by Russia overnight. Kyiv Independent
Former Ukrainian Lawmaker Tied to Russia Assassinated Outside Moscow. Former Ukrainian lawmaker Illia Kyva was assassinated in Moscow Oblast in an operation by the Security Service of Ukraine, according to a Kyiv Independent source within law enforcement. Kyva had formerly stated his support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and been charged with treason. Kyva then fled Ukraine after filing for Russian citizenship. A spokesperson for Ukraine’s military intelligence service stated on a TV program that a similar fate would “befall other traitors of Ukraine.” Kyva was an unpopular figure, having been associated with a now-banned pro-Russia party within parliament. Before his death, Kyva made a post on Telegram stating his hope that Ukrainian President Zelensky would commit suicide. Kyiv Independent- EF
Putin's Spy Chief Tells U.S: Ukraine Could Become ‘Your Second Vietnam’. Russian Foreign Intelligence Service chief Sergei Naryshkin said yesterday that continued Western support for Ukraine could turn the conflict into a “black hole, absorbing more resources and people” Naryshkin reportedly wrote in the SVR’s in-house journal called “The Intelligence Operative”. He added that the U.S. “risks creating a ‘second Vietnam' for itself,” something every new American administration will have to deal with. The Vietnam war has been called a cold war conflict, pitting the U.S. and South Vietnam against North Vietnam, which had support from Russia and China. U.S. President Joe Biden, and others have repeatedly warned that if Russia is successful in Ukraine, that Russian President Vladimir Putin will continue aggressive actions in Europe, threatening the security of NATO and the West and increasing the risks of a wider conflict. Reuters
THE CYBER AND TECH RUNDOWN
Navy Ship Builder Subsidiary Reports ‘Data Incident,’ No Classified Data Accessed. The U.S. subsidiary of Australian shipbuilder Austal notified federal authorities of a “data incident” that apparently stemmed from a ransomware attack. Austal executive Larry Ryder said the incident was quickly mitigated and had no impact on operations. The company stressed that “no personal or classified information was accessed or taken by the threat actor.” The Hunters International ransomware group added Austal to its dark web victims list over the weekend. Austal has built naval vessels for Australia, Oman and the U.S. as well as commercial firms around the world. TheRecord
Software Vulnerability Found that Could Affect Entire Fleet of Vehicles. A security analyst for the Xebia cybersecurity firm has reported a “major vulnerability” that could allow hackers to control an entire fleet of vehicles. According to the analyst, the flaw has been ignored by the vendor, which the researchers have decided not to name, for months. The uncovered vulnerability affects software used by vehicle fleet management companies, which raises the threat that hackers could exploit weaknesses impacting thousands of vehicles. The Xebia researcher explained that “in some of the worst cases, you can literally see people driving or you can even stop the car if you want, and you can do this on the fleet scale.” A flaw in the Syrus4 IoT gateway from Digital Communications Technologies (DCT) gives access to software and commands used to manage up to thousands of vehicles. According to the research, with just an IP address and a bit of python, a hacker could access a Linux server through the gateway and access a suite of tools and execute arbitrary code on vulnerable devices. Xebia staff contacted the CERT Coordination Center, a federally funded vulnerability disclosure coordination organization, but it also was unable to connect with the vendor. Just before Thanksgiving CERT/CC gave the green light to Xebia to publish the details of its findings. DCT did not respond to multiple requests for comment. An emailed response to CyberScoop noted that the company “escalated the matter internally and if we have any further feedback we’ll notify you.” CyberScoop
Volunteer Group Claims Mass Production of Kamikaze Drones for Russian Forces . A Russian volunteer group, Sudoplatov, claims that its members are producing 1,000 FPV (first person view) kamikaze drones daily. Russia’s defense ministry reportedly is assisting the volunteer effort, reversing an earlier policy opposed to private initiatives. Samuel Bendett, an expert on Russian drones, told Forbes “it looks like the MoD is partnering up with some of the largest efforts like Sudoplatov and Project Archangel.” Sudoplatov claims its drones have “destroyed” nearly 50,000 enemy personnel and hit over 3500 enemy positions over a three-month period. Sudoplatov requires that drone operators provide videos of their drone missions to help learn from actual use. Sudoplatov’s primary VT-40 drone is capable of carrying a payload of up to seven pounds to a range of five miles or more. Bendett notes that the Defense Ministry is promoting FPV use as well — “soldiers are getting trained, there are more FPV piloting schools opening up across the country, the military is definitely interested in keeping this going.” Bendett notes Russian officials have appeared in recent news coverage of Sudoplatov, signaling that the group is now accepted. Bendett believes the ministry is working with other volunteer drone producers such as the Archangel group, but the relationship cannot be confirmed. Forbes
Measure to Accelerate U.S. Semiconductor Production Fails. Sources say a measure to accelerate construction of semiconductor projects in the U.S. has been stripped out of the Defense Authorization Act following objections from House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans. The provision would have exempted projects that receive funding from the 2022 Chips Act from federal environmental permitting reviews. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-WA) opposed the measure because she does not want to give away leverage on chips-specific permitting exemptions while she is seeking broader reform, according to two sources familiar with the matter. One of those sources said there remains residual frustration among Republicans who were unhappy with the final version of the Chips Act. The permitting exemption provision, a key priority of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, continues to enjoy bipartisan support in Congress, however. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) issued a statement yesterday expressing his hope that Republicans who favor permitting reform “see the light and we’ll soon get this into law.” Bloomberg
ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD
The U.S. Army Plans to Develop High-Altitude Spyware for 2025 Fiscal Year. Brig. Gen. Ed Barker stated on Wednesday that the U.S. Army plans to develop high-altitude technology capable of deep sensing during the 2025 fiscal year. The military hopes to use the sensors in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations. Baker told reporters on Tuesday that this equipment would likely be attached to “balloon(s), solar, and fixed-wing aircraft.” Last year, the Army Requirements Oversight Council approved projects to begin attempting the creation of high-altitude balloons and aircraft with payloads capable of deep sensing. The army is now seeking approval for four additional payloads like navigation warfare sensors, which would aid in identifying possible interference with target interception. Also still needing approval are sensors for assured positioning, navigation, and timing. Multidomain task forces around the world are participating in experimentation. A Pacific-based task force used deep-sensing, high-altitude capabilities during naval exercises, and a group in Europe used high-altitude balloons as targeting sensors in 2021 exercises. DefenseNews-
Four Killed in Las Vegas Shootings. Authorities reported a shooter opened fire on the main campus at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas yesterday, killing three people and wounding another before being shot dead by police. Police would not immediately identify the assailant or any of the victims. Police also declined to comment on a possible motive for the attack or disclose the type of firearm used. Sheriff Kevin McMahill said the surviving victim was listed in stable condition. Reuters
Former Peruvian President Released From Prison after 25 Years. Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori was released from prison on Wednesday after a 25-year sentence for several human rights violations during his decade-long presidential stint. Fujimori was charged with the murder of 25 individuals by death squads in 2009 and was offered a pardon in 2017. The pardon was revoked by lower courts. The former president served 16 years before being released after the highest court ruled in favor of the pardon on humanitarian grounds. The release had been surrounded by controversy as firm supporters celebrated the man who pulled the country out of hyperinflation, and critics recalled the atrocities committed by the Fujimori government during the battles with the Shining Path guerrillas. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called Fujimori’s release a “worrying setback.” Associated Press Reuters-
Germany’s Saxony-Anhalt State Says Citizenship Applicants must Recognize Israel. An official from the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt on Wednesday announced that individuals seeking to become naturalized citizens must support the state of Israel. Tamara Zieschang, Interior Minister of Saxony-Anhalt, said that individuals must confirm in writing that they "recognize Israel's right to exist” and denounce “any efforts directed against the existence of the State of Israel." Zieschang also called on Germany’s 15 other states to take similar measures. She has said previously that in November, the ministry sent an official notice to all Saxony-Anhalt municipalities about the new policy. The decree, which asserts that "obtaining German citizenship requires a commitment to Israel's right to exist,” also orders officials to notice if an applicant displays antisemitic attitudes. Naturalization will be denied if applicants refuse to sign the declaration of support, and authorities have been instructed to note the refusal in the individual's application for future reference. Deutsche Welle Washington Post The New Arab
Helicopter carrying 5 senior Guyana military officials is missing near border with Venezuela. A military helicopter with seven people inside vanished near Guyana’s border with Venezuela. Authorities reported bad weather conditions in the area and emphasized there was no indication that the aircraft may have been hit by hostile fire as tensions escalate between the two countries. Five senior Guyanan officers were on board the aircraft alongside two crewmen. The group was conducting an inspection of troops guarding a border area that Venezuela claims as its own, according to Army Chief Brig. Gen. Omar Khan. When asked about the possibility that the helicopter was shot down, Khan said that there was no indication that they were. There has been speculation of an imminent invasion of Guyana by Venezuelan forces, as troops with heavy equipment have amassed on the border in recent weeks. The aircraft disappeared east of the Venezuelan border and comes as tensions rise between Guyana and Venezuela over the mineral rich Essequibo region. On Sunday, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro held a referendum where many Venezuelans agreed with his claim of sovereignty over Essequibo. On Tuesday, Maduro said he would grant licenses for exploration and exploitation in Essequibo and ordered local subsidiaries to be created from Venezuelan public companies. Guyana is hoping to bring up the issue at Wednesday’s U.N. Security Council meeting. AP News Bloomberg
Australia and Papua New Guinea Sign Defense Agreement. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister James Marape signed an agreement yesterday to cooperate on domestic security and military training. The agreement, similar to a pact the U.S. signed with the PNG in May, is seen as part of Australia’s effort to contain China’s influence in the region. Marape said the agreement is not about choosing a side and that his country’s foreign policy is to be “friends to all, enemies to none.” Bloomberg
The data cutoff for this product was 8:00 a.m. E.T.
Brad Christian, Ethan Masucol, Bruce Wilmot, Ken Hughes, Ryan Simons and Katharine Campbell contributed to this report.
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