BREAKING: @secdef confirms the US is seeing evidence that North Korean troops have gone to Russia. First official U.S. confirmation. "As we continue to look at this, there is evidence that there are DPRK troops in Russia," Austin said told a small group of reporters traveling with him in Rome on Wednesday. "What exactly they're doing? Left to be seen. These are things that we need to sort out. We'll have more for you on that, on that, later."

"This is ISIS-level savagery that we have seen committed against Israeli citizens" -- senior DOD official just now. The Pentagon is surging support to Israel's defense, including air defenses and ammunition, senior DOD official says.

DOD is contacting US industry to expedite shipping of pending Israeli orders for military equipment.

Happening now: @SecDef in Brussels announces that several countries are stepping up with new commitments of critical air defense equipment to help protect Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. -Canada committed another $500M package, including more than 200 air defense missiles
-US, UK, Denmark and Netherlands contributed funds for additional missiles
-Denmark just announced its own nearly $2.6B package for military assistance

"The bombs are aloft for only 70 seconds or less and are much more difficult for Ukraine’s air defenses to track. They are little dots on radar screens that soon disappear after being dropped, Ukrainian officials said, and then they slam into villages."

https://twitter.com/EricSchmittNYT/status/1661683864933224448

A scary new tactic Russia is using in Ukraine -->

"Zooming over Russian-controlled territory, where Ukrainian air defenses don’t reach, the warplanes release the bombs, which glide 20 miles or more, crossing the frontline and then striking Ukrainian territory."

Some more details:

Biden decided to tap Brown for the position over his main competitor, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger, earlier this month, as we first reported, on the recommendation of @SecDef Lloyd Austin. politico.com/news/2023/05/2… Those who know him say Brown is the right man for the job — regardless of his race. A fighter pilot w/ field experience in theaters across the globe, he served as PACAF chief, a job experts say makes him the best person to be chair while China is seen as the mil's primary threat.

Gen. Milley, Joint Chiefs chair, says one of the reasons the U.S. is not providing Ukraine long-range ATACMS missiles is to make sure we maintain enough in our own inventories. Confirms our reporting @paulmcleary @alexbward politico.com/news/2023/02/1… "From a military standpoint, we have relatively few ATACMS. We do have to make sure that we maintain our own munitions inventories as well."

BREAKING: The U.S. gov as detected and is tracking a high altitude surveillance balloon that is over the continental United States right now.

"We do not doubt that this is a PRC balloon," said a senior defense official. President Biden was briefed and asked for military options. @SecDef convened a senior DoD leadership yesterday, and officials discussed shooting it down. Top generals strongly recommended against that "due to the risk to safety and security of people on the ground."

Asked about ongoing joint military drills between Russia and Belarus, NSC spox John Kirby says the US is watching those activities "with concern." However, the U.S. still has seen no indication that Belarus is planning for a "physical entry into Ukrainian territory to assist a Russian troops inside Ukraine," he says

BREAKING: U.S. announces $1.85B in new aide for Ukraine through PDA, plus $850M under USAI. Includes first-ever transfer to Ukraine of the Patriot missile defense system and Joint Direct Attack Munitions guidance kits Big capabilities in this PDA:
-One Patriot battery and munitions;
-HIMARS ammo
-500 precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds;
-10 120mm mortar systems and 10,000 120mm mortar rounds;
-10 82mm mortar systems;
-10 60mm mortar systems;
-37 Cougar MRAPs
-120 HMMWVs
(1/2)

NEW: The US is considering expanding its support for the war in Ukraine, as Kyiv worries that Russia could make a new push to take the capital as soon as January, according to 6 people w/ knowledge. On the table:
-Patriot
-JDAMs
-GLSDB
-expanded training politico.com/news/2022/12/1… A bit more about each.

DOD considering transferring at least one Patriot missile defense system, likely a PAC-3, which is focused on intercepting ballistic missiles.

Qs on training still unanswered. It requires as many as 90 troops to operate and maintain one battery.

Things are really heating up on the Korean Peninsula, reminiscent of the 2017 days of “fire & fury.”

North Korea launched 4 ballistic missiles into the sea on Saturday, as the U.S. sent two supersonic B-1s over South Korea for the first time in five years politico.com/news/2022/11/0… “The North has test-fired more than 30 missiles this week, including an intercontinental ballistic missile on Thursday that triggered evacuation alerts in northern Japan, and flew large numbers of warplanes inside its territory”

All in rxn to joint US-ROK military drills

BREAKING: Senior defense official says US will provide another $1.1B in assistance to Ukraine, including 18 HIMARS - but the weapons will take "a few years" to arrive on the battlefield. Also included:
-150 armored Humvees
-150 tactical vehicles
-40 trucks & 80 trailers to transport heavy equipment
- 20 Multimission radars to track airborne threats, including drones
-a “suite” of counter-UAS capabilities “to detect, track and disrupt unmanned aerial systems”

Senior defense official says Ukraine has been making "excellent use" of the Phoenix Ghost drones. DOD is procuring additional drones from industry that will starting in August ensure "steady delivery" of the system to ensure Ukraine has a continuous supply Senior military official knocks down reports that the Russians have destroyed four HIMARS in Ukraine. As of this morning, all of the HIMARS "continue to really be a thorn in the Russian side"

Just in: POTUS signed out a new $270M package of military aid for Ukraine today, says WH spox John Kirby. Includes 5 more HIMARS and additional Phoenix Ghost drones. On reports of White House disapproval of @SpeakerPelosi planned trip to Taiwan, Kirby says "it is for the national security team to provide context, facts and geopolitically relevant information" but "the Speaker makes her own decisions." read more: politico.com/news/2022/07/2…

JUST IN: White House set to announce a total of $1B in military aid to Ukraine today, a person familiar tells @paulmcleary. Includes $650M from the Ukraine Initiative Fund and $350M from drawdown
-Two Harpoon systems
-36K rounds Howitzer ammo
-18 more Howitzers Note that Denmark has already sent Harpoon anti-ship missile systems to Kyiv

Just in: @USNorthernCmd Gen. Vanherck says nearly 100 percent of eligible Afghan evacuees have been vaccinated against Covid Vanherck also gives an update on measles cases among Afghan evacuees: 24 total cases, including 12 active cases. Vaccination rate is nearing or will be at 100 percent today.

SCOOP: Early this spring, Gen. Miller, then-head of U.S. forces Afghanistan, recommended State shutter the embassy in Kabul by the time the troops departed on Aug. 31. His advice was dismissed.

Now, State & DOD are trading blame over the chaotic evac. politico.com/news/2021/09/3… In a closed session with senators on Tuesday, Gen. Mark Milley, the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reportedly blamed the State Department in blunt comments, saying officials “waited too long” to order the operation, according to Axios.

BREAKING: For the first time, Gen. McKenzie acknowledges that he had a conversation with Taliban leaders in which they offered to let the US military take security for Kabul, first reported by @washingtonpost McKenzie says that was not in his instructions and he did not have the resources to undergo such an operation.

Asked whether this offer was conveyed to the president, he says he does not know. But @US4AfghanPeace was present for the discussion.

Milley now pivots to address the explosive accusations in the latest Bob Woodward/Costa book

Background: politico.com/news/2021/09/1… Milley says the calls on 30 October and 8 January to Chinese Gen. Li "were coordinated before and after" w/ DOD civilians.

Calls spurred by "concerning intelligence" that the Chinese were worried about an attack by the U.S.

Milley up now. He starts off by defending the 20-year war effort.

"There is no doubt in my mind that our efforts prevented an attack on the homeland from Afghanistan, which was our core mission."

He also talks directly to troops who served there: "Your service mattered."

Happening now: @SecDef, Gen. Milley, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, and Gen. McKenzie, commander of @CENTCOM, are testifying on Capitol Hill before the Senate Armed Services Committee on the Afghanistan withdrawal. Watch here: defense.gov/News/Live-Even… Wow, @JimInhofe really goes after @POTUS, tying his decision to leave Afghanistan directly to the deaths of 13 US service members and leaving American citizens behind