North Korea fires two long-range ballistic missile in less than 12 hours, U.S. to press Israel to wind down major combat operations in Gaza, Chinese balloons fly north of Taiwan.
1. North Korea fired a long-range ballistic missile off its eastern coast at 8:34 a.m. Monday, hours after it fired a short-range missile the previous night, according to the South Korean military. The long-range ballistic missile was launched at a lofted angle from the Pyongyang area toward the East Sea, or Sea of Japan, the Ministry of National Defense said in a text message to news reporters. It said the missile traveled over 620 miles. South Korea’s military can “overwhelmingly respond to any provocation” and “keep a close eye on North Korea’s various activities,” the ministry said in its message.
2. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was expected to press Israel to wind down major combat operations in Gaza on a visit Monday, in the latest test of whether the U.S. can leverage its unwavering support for the offensive to blunt its devastating impact on Palestinian civilians. France, the U.K. and Germany — some of Israel’s closest allies — joined global calls for a cease-fire over the weekend, and Israeli protesters have demanded the government relaunch talks with Hamas on releasing more hostages after three were mistakenly killed by Israeli troops while waving a white flag.
3. Two Chinese balloons flew north of Taiwan, the island’s Defense Ministry said Monday, as China increases pressure on the self-ruled territory it claims as its own ahead of a presidential election in January. The balloons crossed the sensitive Taiwan Strait separating the island from China and were detected about 110 nautical miles (204 kilometers) northwest of the northern port city of Keelung on Sunday, the ministry said.
4. A U.S. warship shot down 14 suspected attack drones over the Red Sea on Saturday, and a Royal Navy destroyer downed another drone that was targeting commercial ships, the British and American militaries said. Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, and have launched drones and missiles targeting Israel, as the Israel-Hamas war threatens to spread.
5. The remains of a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant from Massachusetts who was one of eight service members lost when a CV-22 Osprey crashed off the coast of Japan are being returned home. The body of Jacob “Jake” Galliher, 24, was expected to arrive at the Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee on Friday afternoon for transport in a procession to a funeral home in his hometown, Pittsfield.
- News