Missile Strike

• France is seeking to join a joint British-German initiative to develop long-range missiles capable of striking deep into Russian territory, according to the Financial Times. • Trilateral negotiations regarding Paris' accession to the missile program are expected to take place soon to strengthen European defense capabilities. • Separately, Norway's Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård has expressed interest in a plan to facilitate the rapid transfer of military personnel and equipment across the EU during crises.

Widespread nature of attacks prompts warnings that Moscow is trying to overwhelm air defence systemsRussian missiles and drones are pounding Ukraine for a second day, as almost continuous heavy attacks hit the country, with Kyiv bearing the brunt of an assault that has killed at least eight people, including a 13-year-old, and injured 44 in the capital.The overnight attacks followed heavy daylight raids with missiles and drones across the country on Wednesday, one of the longest single attacks of the war. Continue reading...

Two killed, including a child, in Kyiv with another death in the city of Dnipro amid strikes across the countryRussian forces attacked Kyiv and other cities early on Thursday, killing three people, including a 12-year-old child, injuring more than 20 and badly damaging buildings, officials said.Moscow has fired hundreds of drones on its neighbour almost nightly since the beginning of the four-year war, and recently expanded daytime strikes. Continue reading...

• Russia launched a major barrage of cruise and hypersonic missiles targeting Ukrainian power plants and industrial facilities on April 12, damaging critical energy infrastructure across multiple regions. • Ukrainian air defense systems intercepted approximately 60% of the incoming missiles, but strikes on Kharkiv and Dnipro left thousands without electricity and damaged a major steel production facility. • The escalation comes as Russian forces advance in eastern Ukraine, with military analysts warning the campaign aims to weaken Ukraine's ability to sustain military operations through summer.

• Israeli warplanes conducted targeted strikes against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon on April 9, resulting in significant structural damage to militant infrastructure, prompting retaliatory rocket fire across the Lebanese-Israeli border into northern Israel. • The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported 12 cross-border missile launches from Lebanon and three Israeli air sorties within a 24-hour period, marking the most intense exchange since last month's ceasefire agreement. • Regional diplomatic channels convened emergency talks through US and French intermediaries, with UN Secretary-General expressing concern that "uncontrolled escalation could trigger wider Middle Eastern conflict" involving additional state and non-state actors.

• The Israeli Defense Force conducted widespread strikes targeting Iran's missile and nuclear infrastructure on Thursday, marking escalation in the month-long Operation Roaring Lion with strikes on facilities including the Arak Reactor. • Oil prices surged and US stock markets fell sharply Thursday amid renewed uncertainty about potential conflict resolution, with investors expressing doubt over prospects for ending the Iran war. • The escalation coincides with Houthi forces joining the conflict through attacks on Israel and a critical April 6 deadline for potential wider regional military engagement.

• Houthi forces backed by Iran have initiated their first direct attacks on Israel since the broader conflict with Iran escalated, marking a significant expansion of regional hostilities. • The strikes represent Iran's strategy to broaden the conflict through proxy forces, testing Israeli air defenses and expanding the geographic scope of the war. • The US is responding by deploying additional military forces to the region while Secretary of State Rubio emphasized the conflict is expected to conclude within weeks.