U.S. to deploy stealth fighter jets to Caribbean, Russia launches largest aerial attack on Ukraine since start of war, and new Navy leader to focus on quality of life for sailors.
1. The United States will deploy stealth fighter jets to the Caribbean, according to a government official, after two Venezuelan military aircraft flew over an American naval vessel in the area, reflecting rising tensions between the two adversaries. Venezuela’s fly-by on Thursday followed a U.S. strike on a speedboat purportedly carrying drugs from the country. “This highly provocative move was designed to interfere with our counter-narcotics operations,” the Pentagon said. It said the “cartel” running Venezuela is “strongly advised” not to interfere with any other operations by the U.S. Ten Marine Corps F-35s will be dispatched to an air base in Puerto Rico, the U.S. official said Friday, to bolster Washington’s fight against illegal narcotics. The deployment was first reported by Reuters. The Pentagon didn’t offer any further information on Thursday’s incident, such as how close the jets got to the U.S. ship or where exactly the vessel was located at the time. Venezuela’s information ministry didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. CBS News said the planes were armed F-16 fighter jets.
2. Russia hit Ukraine’s capital with drone and missiles Sunday in the largest aerial attack since the war began, killing four people across the country and damaging a key government building. Russia attacked with 810 drones and decoys, Ukraine’s air force said, adding it shot down 747 drones and four missiles. Associated Press reporters saw a plume of smoke rising from the roof of Kyiv’s government headquarters. It was not immediately clear if the smoke was the result of a direct hit or debris, which would mark an escalation in Russia’s air campaign, which has so far spared government buildings in the city center. The building is the home of Ukraine’s Cabinet and its ministers. Police blocked access to the building as fire trucks and ambulances arrived.
3. The Navy’s new top officer pledged to bring free barracks Wi-Fi, off-ship housing for every sailor and a payroll review as part of a broad effort to improve quality of life across the fleet. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle outlined the initiatives in his second fleetwide message since assuming the role Aug. 25. “I am committed to the well-being of our Sailors and their families — providing them with state-of-the-art platforms, world-class facilities and dependable support through our Total Sailor and Family Action Plan,” he wrote in an administrative message. The message was the first of Caudle’s “C-Notes,” administrative updates intended to maintain transparency, provide guidance and unify efforts across the service.
4. A drone fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels breached Israel's multilayered air defenses on Sunday and slammed into the country's southern airport, the Israeli military said, blowing out glass windows, wounding one person and briefly shutting down commercial airspace. The damage to Ramon Airport appeared limited and flights resumed within hours. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the strike. The attack follows Israeli strikes on Yemen's rebel-held capital that killed the Houthi prime minister and other top officials in a major escalation of the nearly 2-year-old conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group in Yemen. In Gaza City, the Israeli military on Sunday leveled another high-rise tower that housed hundreds of displaced Palestinians and urged people to move south as it intensified its offensive on the city.
5. The Pentagon has changed its drug screening policy to test service members for psilocin, indicating the use of psilocybin mushrooms. Psilocin will be added to drug testing panels for troops as of Oct. 1, “due to the risk of impairment and subsequent deterioration of security, military fitness, readiness, good order and discipline,” according to the memo. Psilocybin mushrooms, commonly known as magic mushrooms, produce hallucinogenic effects when consumed. After being ingested, psilocybin within the mushrooms is metabolized by the body and transformed into the active drug psilocin. High doses of psilocybin mushrooms can trigger strong physical reactions, including vomiting and disorientation, as well as psychotic behavior due to hallucinations, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
- Security