Hoplite Group

To all our friends celebrating Ramadan... Ramadan Kareem. #Ramadan #Peace

#Ukraine / #WhiteHouse - Ukrainian President Zelenskiy and U.S. President Trump clashed repeatedly on Friday, with Zelenskiy urging Trump to be cautious with Russia & Trump accusing him of being disrespectful, as simmering differences spilled into the open. From Reuters: The two leaders met in the Oval Office prior to an event at which they were expected to sign a deal for U.S. participation in Ukraine's mineral industry. But Zelenskiy openly challenged Trump over his softer approach toward Russian President Putin. Zelenskiy pushed back on Trump's claims that Ukrainian cities have been reduced to rubble by three years of war. Trump stressed that Putin wants to make a deal. "You are gambling with World War III," Trump told Zelenskiy at one point, urging him to be more thankful. VP Vance interjected that it was disrespectful of him to come to the Oval Office to litigate his position, a point Trump agreed with. "People are dying ... you're running low on soldiers," Trump told Zelenskiy as their meeting degenerated into a shouting match. Trump told Zelenskiy he either needed to make a deal or the US was out. Zelenskiy urged?Trump?to make "no compromises with a killer," referring to Russia's leader. Zelenskiy, who gained billions of dollars' worth of U.S. weaponry and moral support from the Biden administration for its fight against Russia, is facing a sharply different attitude from Trump. Trump wants to quickly wind down the three-year war, improve ties with Russia and recoup money spent to support Ukraine. Earlier, Trump welcomed Zelenskiy on his arrival at the White House before they headed for talks, lunch and then a joint press conference where they were to sign the agreement... Trump told Zelenskiy that his soldiers have been unbelievably brave and that the United States wants to see an end to the fighting and the money put to "different kinds of use like rebuilding." Trump has adopted a much less committed stance toward European security, a change in tone that has sent shockwaves across Europe & stoked fears in Kyiv and among its allies that it could be forced into a peace deal that favours Russia. The agreement?negotiated in recent days would open Ukraine's vast mineral wealth to the US but does not include explicit US security guarantees for Ukraine, a disappointment for Kyiv. Trump says the presence of Americans in business would serve as a form of guarantee. How much the deal would be worth to the US is not spelled out. Trump has said he expects to gain hundreds of billions of dollars. Zelenskiy has said he would not sign an agreement that would put his country in debt for generations. Ukraine would contribute 50% of "all revenues earned from the future monetization of all relevant Ukrainian Government-owned natural resource assets" to a reconstruction fund jointly owned and managed by the US and Ukraine. https://lnkd.in/e5deTKay

#Russia / #Ukraine / #InformationOperations - Russian state media outlet Tass removed from Oval Office - from multiple, this #BreakingNews from NBC News: Russian state media outlet Tass was removed from the Oval Office after White House staff learned that one of the outlet's staffers was present for a bilateral meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, a White House official told NBC News. "TASS was not on the approved list of media for today’s pool. As soon as it came to the attention of press office staff that he was in the Oval, he was escorted out by the Press Secretary," the official said. https://lnkd.in/eMEkQXP9

How seven years of Hamas planning resulted in IDF’s Oct 7 failure - ‘Overconfidence’ among senior commanders and ‘flawed intelligence culture’ hampered Israeli Defense Forces response, report finds. From The Telegraph and The Associated Press: Israel’s military has formally apologised for the?“historic failure” of October 7,?as it revealed Hamas had been planning the massacre for at least seven years. The army’s internal inquiry into the disaster concluded on Thursday that its senior leadership was comprehensively duped by the terror group into thinking it lacked the intent?and capacity to launch a full-scale attack. It also revealed how opportunities to thwart?the terror operation were missedon the night before it began, with officers judging the warning signs “not time-critical”. The report criticised a “flawed intelligence culture that was based on assumptions of certainty and fact, with commanders becoming ‘addicted’” to certain types of intelligence. The result was several hours in which?Hamas and its affiliates were able to run amok?among Israeli communities, killing nearly 1,000 civilians, more than 400 security personnel, and abducting 251 hostages. The detailed lessons-learned exercise found that the IDF’s Gaza division was “overwhelmed” for much of the day and that it took until approximately 12pm for any reinforcements to arrive on the scene. Story continues... https://lnkd.in/e6h2_-_Q Also from The Associated Press: An investigation by the Israeli military has determined that Hamas was able to carry out the deadliest attack in Israeli history on Oct. 7, 2023, because the much more powerful Israeli army misjudged the militant group’s intentions and underestimated its capabilities. The findings, released Thursday, could pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to launch a widely demanded broader inquiry to examine the political decision-making that preceded the attack, which triggered?the war in Gaza. Many Israelis believe the mistakes of Oct. 7 extend beyond the military, and they blame Netanyahu for what they view as a failed strategy of deterrence and containment in the years leading up to the attack. That strategy included allowing Qatar to send?suitcases of cash?into Gaza and sidelining Hamas’ rival, the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority. The prime minister has not taken responsibility, saying he will answer tough questions only after the war..The military’s main findings were that the region’s most powerful and sophisticated military misread Hamas’ intentions, underestimated its capabilities and was wholly unprepared for the surprise attack by thousands of heavily armed militants in the early morning hours of a major Jewish holiday. Story continues: https://lnkd.in/ex3QqdFe

#Pakistan / #BBIED - Haqqania madrassa's top official among seven killed in Nowshera suicide blast - from Geo Tv Network (Pakistan-based): A top official of Darul Uloom Haqqania was among seven people killed, while at least 18 others sustained injuries in a suicide blast that targeted the historic seminary’s mosque in Nowshera, officials confirmed on Friday. The bomb exploded in the front row soon after Friday prayers as worshippers were leaving the congregation at the Darul Uloom Haqqania mosque in Akora Khattak, located about 60 kilometres (35 miles) east of Peshawar. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General Police (IGP) Zulfiqar Hameed told Geo News that Maulana Hamid-ul-Haq Haqqani, the son of Maulana Sami-ul-Haq Haqqani, was the target of the attack. Maulana Hamid, the vice administrator of Darul Uloom Haqqania and emir of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S), succumbed to his injuries as he was undergoing emergency medical treatment, the top cop said. Hameed added that police teams were present at the site of the explosion, and a search operation was also underway in the surroundings. Forensics and investigation teams had been dispatched to the incident site, and the district police officer was also present there, the IGP said. This was the last Friday congregation before Ramadan, drawing a large crowd of worshippers. The mosque is located inside the compound of the madrassa, whose students were set to go on leave, as it marked the final day of their academic year. The sprawling campus is home to roughly 4,000 students who are fed, clothed and educated for free. Security arrangements at the mosque include the presence of several policemen and a police mobile van, while seminary workers monitor visitors. The mosque is situated at the centre of Darul Uloom Haqqania, with Dar-ul-Hadees adjacent. It is a large building where senior students pursue their studies. Nearby, there are hostels and residential quarters. The administration and medical staff of Peshawar's Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) — which is around 45 minutes away from the blast site — were directed to remain prepared for receiving casualties. The hospital spokesperson said a high alert and emergency had been declared at the medical facility to deal with any situation. The latest reports suggest that the blast took place near the gate of the mosque from where Maulana Hamid was returning to his residence, which is a stone throw away from the mosque. The bodies of four deceased have been kept at the Qazi Hussain Ahmed Medical Complex, while the other injured are receiving treatment. Meanwhile, Hamid's body is at Nowshera CMH. Separately, a powerful explosion rocked Sama bazaar in the Mamozai area of Upper Orakzai on Friday, killing one person and injuring several four others. https://lnkd.in/eWUehBkQ

#Job #Opportunity #Research #Analysis - Middle East Analyst - Publicly Available Information Analyst (Research and Analysis). START: Immediate LOCATION:?Hoplite Group Regional Office (in the Middle East) ACCOMMODATION & TRAVEL:?Provided POSITION DESCRIPTION:?Looking for U.S. citizens with strong academic background and prior experience in research and analysis focused on the Middle East. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to join the Hoplite Group team, in our flagship Publicly Available Information atmospherics project, focusing on public sentiments and media analysis in the greater Levant. The position is responsible for the daily correlation of media information, triangulation of reporting, and production of analytical reports, and work with a world class local team of local national analysts focused on Iraq, Northeast Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. The position is based in our Fusion Cell in the Middle East. If you are an analyst interested in specializing in the Middle East, this is the perfect opportunity. JOB REQUIREMENTS:? - U.S. citizen with three (3) years of combined academic and professional experience of Publicly Available Information research and analysis covering any of the following countries: Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan.? - Bachelors or Masters Degree in something related to the Middle East a must. - Demonstrated experience and exposure to the Middle East, with an understanding of the security, social/cultural, and political environments.? - Experience conducting media analysis and/or social media analysis. - Excellent writing and communications skills, able to produce finalized written products and deliverables, ready to send to clients. - Experience with open geospatial apps is a plus (e.g. Google Earth, Arc GIS, etc.). - High-level proficiency (to allow speed when producing deliverables) using Microsoft Office tools; specifically, PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.??? - Strong organizational skills and project management to be able to leverage a team of analysts and build reports on time while meeting tight deadlines.? - Excellent attention to detail. - Works well with teams or independently, with minimal oversight, able to provide thorough and completed products. Feels comfortable working with local nationals and managing local national teams of analysts. DESIRED: Recent travels: Worked / traveled in the last few years to the Middle East. Arabic language proficiency is a strong advantage. https://lnkd.in/eMyfJPRd

#Philippines / #China / #Espionage - Exclusive: Alleged Chinese spies gave Philippine city and police cash and motorbikes - Reuters Four Chinese nationals accused by the Philippines of espionage led Chinese Communist Party-affiliated groups that made donations of cash to a Philippine city and vehicles to two police forces, according to photos, videos and online posts... Wang Yongyi, Wu Junren, Cai Shaohuang, & Chen Haitao were among five Chinese men detained by Philippine investigators in late January for allegedly gathering images and maps of Philippine naval forces near the South China Sea. The 5 men had flown drones to spy on the Philippines' navy, said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), adding that it had found photos and maps of sensitive sites and vessels on their phones. A senior NBI official told Reuters that the men had been charged with espionage, which carries a prison term of up to 20 years. The 4 men were leaders of civic groups overseen by the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) foreign influence network, according to Reuters' review of articles and multimedia posted by the 2 groups & in Philippine media. China's foreign ministry, in a statement to Reuters, said China required its citizens to abide by local laws and that the civic groups "spontaneously formed and self-managed by the relevant Chinese citizens ... have no affiliation with the Chinese government". Wang, Wu and Cai made the donations to the city of Tarlac and to the police forces via the Chinese-backed groups in 2022 and continued to host officials at events through 2024. Reuters could not establish the reason for the donations. Tarlac is home to major military bases, including one used by the Philippines and the United States for live-fire exercises during annual military drills. Photos of bases in the area were not among the sites that NBI said were found on the men's devices. All 5 detained men also met China's military attaché in Manila, Senior Col. Li Jianzhong, at least once in the weeks before their arrest, Reuters found. Images and videos additionally show Wang, Wu, and Cai meeting the attaché at least three times in 2024, including in May, when he opened the civic groups' office in Manila. Details of the donations made by the men, their interaction with Li, and their association with the CCP have not previously been reported. The ties revealed by Reuters go beyond public statements made by Philippines investigators, who have said the men disguised themselves as "harmless" members of a legitimate organization. The NBI said the men were apprehended after "hot-pursuit" operations. It did not specify who the men were suspected of working for. But Beijing has denied the accusations of espionage, which state media has branded the "smear tactics" of a nation whose Chinese policy "is slipping into an impulsive and irrational abyss." https://lnkd.in/eygnq2X4

#Ukraine / War Update - President Zelenskyy to meet with President Trump at the White House amid peace talk efforts and possible minerals deal - from NBC News: President Donald Trump will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday for their first meeting since the United States began direct negotiations with Russia to secure an agreement that would end the yearslong war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy's visit is expected to focus in large part on a potential U.S.-Ukraine deal on the European country's rare-earth minerals, which are used to make a variety of tech products. Trump previewed the visit during a gathering of his Cabinet members Wednesday, signaling the two countries had made progress on an agreement that would grant the United States a significant ownership stake in Ukraine’s rare-earth minerals as a form of repayment for Washington’s continued support of Kyiv since Russia invaded in February 2022. “We’re going to be signing an agreement, which will be a very big agreement,” Trump said. Zelenskyy?last met?with Trump in December, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, ahead of an event celebrating the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Months earlier, the two met in New York. The Ukrainian Embassy in Washington said that was where Zelenskyy?first presented?Trump a "Victory Plan" that included the exchange of the country's "natural resources and critical metals." U.S. officials?initiated peace talks?with Russian negotiators this month in Saudi Arabia, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio leading the U.S. delegation. It was the first time Russian and American officials had met in person during the Trump administration with the express intent of bringing an end to the war in Ukraine. Trump has long accused Zelenskyy of taking undue advantage of the United States and goading former President Joe Biden into spending billions of U.S. dollars on a war that “couldn’t be won.” The mineral agreement, Trump argues, would serve as reimbursement for the nearly $66 billion in military assistance the United States has provided Ukraine over the past three years, and it could create an “economic partnership” between the two countries. “The minerals agreement will provide the basis for a more sustainable future relationship between the United States and Ukraine and thus stimulate the long-term prosperity that will help the Ukrainians rebuild their country,” Trump said Wednesday. Ukraine has some of the world’s largest?reserves of titanium?and?iron ore. Many of the minerals, however, are in areas controlled by Russian troops, according to U.S. officials. Story continues: https://lnkd.in/e2cvDyGf

#Kosovo / #Hague - Hague Court Upholds 15-Year Sentence for Kosovo’s ‘Commander Cali’ - from Prishtina Insight: Judges of the Supreme Court at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers war crimes court announced on Wednesday that they have upheld the 15-year prison sentence for former Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA commander Salih Mustafa, who was found guilty of arbitrary detention, torture and murder. The court “rejected the requests for protection of legality, submitted by both Mustafa and the SPO [Specialist Prosecutor’s Office]. These requests were filed in connection with the Court of Appeals’ ruling from September 10 of the previous year [2024], which had imposed a new 15-year sentence on Mustafa,” the Specialist Chambers said. “The panel determined that Mustafa failed to identify how the 15-year sentence constitutes a violation of the criminal law. Regarding the SPO’s request, the panel concluded that only mere disagreements with particular decisions do not meet the rigorous standards required for a successful request for protection of legality,” the court added. It said the judgment was made on Tuesday, In December 2022, Mustafa was found guilty of three war crimes, including the arbitrary detention and torture of at least six detainees and the murder of one prisoner. The judges said Mustafa personally participated in the torture of two detainees. They also said his failure to order the release of one prisoner when retreating from Serbian forces, who was mistreated by Mustafa’s subordinates for almost three weeks, along with denial of medical care, directly led to his death. The court found that he committed crimes against civilian prisoners at a KLA detention centre in the village of Zllash/Zlas while he was a commander in the KLA’s Llap Operation Zone in north-east Kosovo. Mustafa, the first KLA officer ever convicted of war crimes by the Hague-based court, was initially sentenced to 26 years in prison in December 2022. In December 2023, the sentence was cut to 22 years after judges found that people convicted in similar cases in Kosovo were being given shorter sentences. In July 2024, Kosovo’s Supreme Court ruled that 22 years was also higher than sentences in similar cases, returning the case to the appeals judges. In September 2024, the Appeals Panel at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers reduced the jail sentence handed down to Mustafa, known as “Commander Cali”, to 15 years, cutting the penalty by seven years. This was the second time that Mustafa’s sentence was reduced... The Specialist Chambers were established in 2015 by the Kosovo Assembly and investigate the alleged crimes of members of the KLA, committed against ethnic minorities and political rivals in the years 1998-2000, and are part of Kosovo’s judicial system but are located in the Netherlands and staffed by internationals... Story continues: https://lnkd.in/eZa7z9eW

#Romania / #Elections / #Judicial - Romania Opens Criminal Case Against Ultranationalist Politician. Prosecutors said Calin Georgescu, whose win in the first round of a presidential election was annulled, is the subject of “criminal proceedings” linked to incitement. The New York Times: Prosecutors in Romania have opened a criminal case against Calin Georgescu, an ultranationalist politician who in November won the first round of a presidential election only to have his?victory annulled?when the Constitutional Court ordered a redo of the vote. The start of criminal proceedings against Mr. Georgescu, a fierce critic of NATO and the European Union, was announced by prosecutors on Wednesday. The move came just two weeks after?Vice President JD Vance cited Romania in a speech at a Munich security conference?as an example of what he said was Europe’s “retreat” from free speech and democracy. Romania’s Constitutional Court canceled the election last year just two days before a December runoff vote that Mr. Georgescu had been seen as well positioned to win. It said it wanted “to ensure the correctness and legality of the electoral process.”... Mr. Georgescu stunned Romania’s political establishment by winning a first round of voting on Nov. 24, aided by a flood of videos on TikTok and other social media. A former soil expert with the United Nations, Mr. Georgescu was largely unknown in Romania at the start of the election campaign last year. The videos promoting Mr. Georgescu ahead of the November vote were not labeled as campaign material, a violation of Romania’s election law, and it has not been explained how his campaign managed to dominate social media so suddenly and thoroughly. The cancellation of the vote result in November made Mr. Georgescu a martyred hero to anti-establishment political forces in Romania and also right-wing Americans, including Mr. Vance and Elon Musk, who has taken to social media several times to denounce his treatment... Mr. Georgescu has not been arrested but placed under “judicial control,” a status that bars him from leaving Romania and using social media. Police officers on Thursday visited his home near Bucharest, Romania’s capital, to check on his whereabouts and activities. Mr. Georgescu was on his way to register as a candidate for the upcoming redo of the canceled election when police stopped his vehicle in traffic in Bucharest on Wednesday morning and said he needed to report to prosecutors. After hours of questioning,?prosecutors said in a statement?that they had started “criminal proceedings” against him for six crimes. Those include “incitement to actions against the constitutional order,” the “communication of false information” and involvement in the establishment of an organization “with a fascist, racist or xenophobic character.” https://lnkd.in/ee_QNj2A