Operations

Nearly 40% of cancellations could be avoided, researchers sayAbout one in 10 operations in England are cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice or postponed, according to research..A study of elective surgery at 91 English NHS trusts found that 10% of operations were cancelled the day before the planned surgery date; while 9% were postponed when patients had their pre-op appointment. Continue reading...

• Russian forces launched coordinated attacks across multiple fronts in Donetsk and Luhansk regions on April 17-18, capturing several villages and pushing Ukrainian defenses back by up to 3 kilometers in key sectors. • Ukraine's military command reports increased use of glide bombs and artillery strikes, with casualty figures on both sides rising significantly; Ukrainian officials estimate Russian forces have committed 50,000 additional troops to the spring campaign. • Military analysts warn the offensive marks Russia's most sustained push since winter 2023, potentially threatening critical Ukrainian supply lines and regional logistics hubs.

• Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Uganda formalized a coordinated military command structure on April 8 at a summit in Nairobi to strengthen counterterrorism operations against Al-Shabaab, which claimed responsibility for recent attacks in the region. • The joint task force will deploy approximately 8,500 personnel across border regions, with integrated intelligence-sharing platforms and unified rules of engagement for cross-border pursuit of militant cells. • The initiative marks a significant shift in regional cooperation following a series of coordinated insurgent attacks that killed over 400 civilians and security personnel in the past six months, with international donors pledging $127 million in support.

• Zencoder (For Good AI Inc.) unveiled Zenflow Work, expanding its AI orchestration platform to automate planning, coordination, and engineering in business units like product, marketing, sales, finance, and HR. • The platform addresses tasks beyond coding agents, targeting everyday business workflows. • This launch positions Zencoder as a comprehensive AI solution for enterprise efficiency in US tech sectors.

Information on drones and other threats being shared but defence chief confirms crew taking ‘active steps’ to only contribute to defensive actionsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralian personnel operating a state-of-the-art surveillance plane are filtering information gleaned from the Middle East war to ensure intelligence is not shared with the United States for offensive purposes, the defence force chief says.As the federal government extended the deployment of the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft on Thursday, the chief of Defence, Admiral David Johnston, said the crew were taking active steps to only contribute to defensive operations. Continue reading...

Israeli military announces further action against Hezbollah, contradicting statements from Pakistan and IranMiddle East crisis – live updatesIsrael said its military operations in Lebanon would continue despite Donald Trump’s ceasefire announcement, with Israeli forces carrying out strikes and telling civilians in the south of the country to leave the areas they are targeting.The office of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said that Trump’s two-week pause “does not include Lebanon” amid reports of continued artillery and drone strikes, directly contradicting statements made by Iran and Pakistan, which has been mediating in the conflict. Continue reading...

• Russia launched a major offensive across multiple fronts in eastern Ukraine on April 7, with forces advancing in the Donbas region and attempting to encircle Ukrainian positions near Pokrovsk. • The US State Department announced a $1.2 billion military assistance package including air defense systems, artillery ammunition, and counter-drone equipment to bolster Ukrainian defenses. • Ukrainian officials report heavy casualties but say their forces are holding key defensive lines; NATO allies expressed concern about Russian momentum and pledged additional support.

• The EU imposed sanctions on three Chinese technology firms and one individual on April 6, accusing them of conducting sophisticated espionage operations targeting European telecommunications infrastructure and government networks. • The targeted companies are suspected of exploiting vulnerabilities in 5G networks; the EU cited evidence of stolen intellectual property and unauthorized access to classified communications. • EU officials stated the move signals zero tolerance for state-sponsored cyber operations; Chinese officials denied accusations and called the sanctions "groundless and provocative."

• NeuBird AI launched its autonomous production operations agent, expanding beyond incident response to prevent IT issues and optimize cloud and on-premises environments. • New features include Preventive Risk Insights, Advanced Context Map for infrastructure dependencies, NeuBird Desktop CLI tool, and FalconClaw skills hub preview. • The company also announced $19.3 million in new funding led by Xora Innovation to drive enterprise adoption.

• Russian forces launched a coordinated offensive across multiple sectors of the Ukraine-Russia border on Wednesday, deploying additional mechanized units and intensifying artillery bombardment in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. • Ukrainian military sources report significant casualties on both sides, with Russia concentrating forces near Pokrovsk and attempting to break through defensive lines established by Ukrainian forces. • The escalation comes amid ongoing Western military aid debates and signals Moscow's commitment to maintaining momentum despite previous setbacks and NATO reinforcements in Eastern Europe.

• Tensions between the United States and Turkey reached new levels on Wednesday following Turkish military incursions into northeastern Syria targeting Kurdish militant groups, operations the US opposes due to potential civilian casualties and disruption to counter-terrorism efforts. • US Secretary of State issued a formal statement urging Turkey to exercise restraint, while Turkish officials countered by questioning US commitment to NATO and threatening to restrict American military access to Incirlik Air Base absent policy changes. • The dispute reflects broader disagreements over Syria strategy, regional stability priorities, and the role of Kurdish armed groups in counter-ISIS operations, complicating US military logistics and diplomatic coordination in the Eastern Mediterranean.

• President Trump told allied nations to "go get your own oil" and stated it is not America's responsibility to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, shifting burden of regional security to countries dependent on the waterway. • Trump reiterated the US military could conclude its Iranian operations within two to three weeks and said America will have no further involvement in Middle East strait security following withdrawal. • The statements reflect Trump's isolationist stance on Middle East commitments, placing responsibility for maintaining critical shipping routes on regional allies rather than continuing US military presence and protection.

• The Pentagon is preparing plans for weeks of ground operations in Iran involving conventional infantry and special operations elements, with decisions now resting with President Trump, according to the Washington Post. • Trump raised the idea of U.S. forces seizing Iran's Kharg Island, the country's main oil terminal in the Persian Gulf, telling The Financial Times "Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don't. We have a lot of options." • Trump also claimed Iran agreed to allow 20 ships carrying oil through the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday morning as a "sign of respect," while the White House emphasized no final decision has been made on military operations.

Conflict shows signs of entering new, more dangerous phase as additional 3,500 US troops arrive in the Middle EastUS lawmakers responded to reports that the Pentagon is preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, as thousands of US troops assemble in the Middle East and the conflict showed signs of entering a new, more dangerous phase.Officials told the Washington Post that a ground operation in Iran could be limited to raids by Special Operations forces and infantry troops, but it was unclear whether Donald Trump would approve any of the Pentagon’s plans. Continue reading...

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the US conflict with Iran would extend another two to four weeks, while signaling no immediate plans for a ground operation into Iranian territory. • Rubio identified preventing Iran from imposing tolls on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz as the biggest post-conflict challenge, characterizing such action as illegal and dangerous to global commerce. • The statement comes as the US deploys additional troops to the region following an Iranian missile and drone attack that injured 12 American service members at a Saudi base.

• Stryker, a major US medical device manufacturer, suffered a cyberattack causing widespread business disruption, reported on March 27, 2026. • The company stated operations are steadily improving toward full capacity after the incident. • This incident highlights ongoing cybersecurity vulnerabilities in US healthcare tech supply chains.

• The US Department of Defense designated Palantir's Maven Smart System as a core program for operations planning, per a March 9, 2026 memorandum by Deputy Secretary Steven Feinberg. • The status ensures stable long-term funding and permanent AI integration across all US armed forces branches. • Maven has supported thousands of strikes in the Middle East, including Iran, in recent weeks.

• Israel announces ground operations targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, escalating the multi-front conflict. • Iran launches a new wave of drone and missile strikes across the Gulf, including damage to Iraq's Al-Rasheed Hotel and attacks on Kuwait and Qatar. • U.S. President Trump receives regular options to end the Iran war, per sources, amid concerns of wider regional involvement.

• Meta is planning a significant workforce reduction of 20%, marking another major restructuring at the social media and technology company. • The layoffs signal ongoing cost-control measures within the company as it navigates evolving market conditions and competitive pressures. • The reduction would represent a substantial change to Meta's organizational structure and headcount across its global operations.

• Israel has expanded its ground operations in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah as the air campaign has already displaced more than one million people in the country. • The escalating military operations mark a significant expansion of the conflict beyond direct Iran-Israel exchanges and represent humanitarian consequences of unprecedented scale in the region. • The displacement crisis threatens to create a major humanitarian emergency while expanding the geographic scope of the conflict beyond the Iran-U.S. military confrontation.

• NPR reports on the US using artificial intelligence in the ongoing war in Iran, with insights from Lauren Kahn of Georgetown University's Center for Security and Emerging Technology. • The discussion, aired March 15, 2026 at 7:09 AM CDT, explores AI's role in modern warfare tactics and decision-making. • This development raises questions about ethical implications and escalation risks in US-Iran conflicts.

A U.S. military aircraft crashed in western Iraq on March 14, 2026, killing its entire crew of six, as disclosed by U.S. Central Command, bringing total confirmed American deaths in Iran operations to 13. The incident follows a prior refueling plane crash that killed four, heightening scrutiny on operational safety during escalated regional tensions. Pentagon officials cite mechanical failure pending investigation, while congressional calls grow for briefings on mission risks. Families demand transparency as recruitment challenges intensify.