What are Leopard 2 and M1 Abrams battle tanks and what armoured vehicles are NATO countries sending to Ukraine?
After weeks of indecision, Germany has announced it will send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and allow other countries to do the same.
Ukraine has pleaded for months for Western nations to send modern tanks to give its forces the firepower they need to retake territory occupied by Russia.
Kyiv is widely expected to mount another counteroffensive in the spring after hugely successful drives last year that seized big chunks of territory around Kharkiv in the east and liberated Kherson in the south.
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Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, says his forces need more and heavier weapons – in particular Western tanks – to push the Russians back.
After the UK led the way in promising 14 of its Challenger 2 tanks, Germany has now agreed to send 14 of its own Leopard 2 tanks as well as authorise other countries to do the same as it owns the export licence.
The US is understood to be preparing to announce that it will supply Kyiv with a number of its M1 Abrams tanks – perhaps as part of an agreement with Berlin.
So what are the Leopard 2, M1 Abrams and Challenger 2 tanks, and which other Western armoured vehicles are being sent to Ukraine?
Leopard 2 – Germany’s main battle tank used by various NATO countries
Ukraine has long urged the West to send tanks to help its forces fight Russia, and at the top of the list has been the Leopard 2.
Considered a main battle tank in the same way as the Challenger 2 and first introduced in 1979, it offers good protection against armour-piercing rounds and anti-tank guided weapons.
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It has been reported that the Leopard 2 was estimated to be able to penetrate frontal armour of the Soviet-made T-72 tank from 2,000 metres away and that of the T-62 from more than 4,000 metres – both of which are in use by the Russian military in Ukraine.
M1 Abrams: Highly manoeuvrable but poor fuel efficiency
After weeks of discussion, the Biden administration is preparing to send Abrams tanks to Ukraine, according to three senior US officials.
It has a 1,500-horsepower turbine engine – notoriously low on fuel efficiency – and a 120mm main gun.
The tank can make a difference on the battlefield through “lethal firepower, unparalleled survivability, and audacious manoeuvre”, the US army says.
Any agreement to supply Ukraine with Abrams tanks is likely to be perceived as an effort to persuade Germany to authorise donation of the Leopard 2, which uses less fuel and is widely available in Europe.
The M1 Abrams tank could be headed for Ukraine. Pic: AP
Challenger 2: British tank buster that has ‘never’ been destroyed
The British Challenger 2 is a main battle tank that has been used on operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Iraq.
First introduced into service with the British Army in 1994, a number of Challenger 2s are deployed in Estonia as part of NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence in the Baltic States.
It features a main 120mm rifled gun and has a crew of four – commander, gunner, loader/operator and a driver.
The British Army says it has “never experienced a loss at the hands of the enemy”.
British soldiers patrol in two Challenger 2 tanks in the desert near Basra, Iraq in 2006. Pic: AP
Bradley fighting vehicle: Armoured infantry transport from the US
Earlier this month, the White House announced that it will be delivering dozens of its Bradley fighting vehicles to Ukraine as well as hundreds of the anti-tank missiles they can fire.
While not a tank, strictly speaking, Pentagon press secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder said they provide “a level of firepower and armour that will bring advantages on the battlefield”.
Bradleys are armoured vehicles that can transport infantry in combat zones and are often equipped with a 25mm M242 Bushmaster chain gun as their main weapon along with an anti-tank missile system.
Mr Zelenskyy hailed the move: “For the first time, we will get Bradley armoured vehicles – this is exactly what is needed.
“New guns and rounds, including high-precision ones, new rockets, new drones. It is timely and strong.”
American soldiers drive a Bradley fighting vehicle in Syria in 2021. Pic: AP
Marder infantry fighting vehicles from Germany
Before the decision on the Leopards, Germany had said it wanted to deliver around 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine before the end of March.
Resembling a light tank in some ways, the Marder can carry five or six troops and is one of the largest and heaviest of its type.
Germany has large numbers of Marders in storage and vice chancellor Robert Habeck said Berlin could ultimately send its entire functioning fleet of the weapons.
Soldiers follow a Marder infantry fighting vehicle during a demonstration event in 2011. Pic: AP
AMX-10 RC: France’s ‘light tank’ designed for recon missions
The French defence ministry said it will hold talks with its Ukrainian counterpart to arrange for the delivery of armoured combat vehicles.
Designated as “light tanks” in French, the AMX-10 RC carries a 105mm cannon and two machine guns.
It’s primarily designed for reconnaissance missions and has enough armour to protect against light infantry weapons, according to the French defence ministry.
It has wheels rather than tracks, allowing it to be more mobile than heavy tanks.
French-made AMX-10 RC light tanks have wheels rather than tracks. Pic: AP/French Army
World
UK condemns Israel’s approval of plans for new West Bank settlement to ‘erase’ idea of Palestinian state
The UK has condemned Israel’s approval of plans for a new West Bank settlement, which has been hailed as “erasing” the idea of a Palestinian state by an Israeli minister.
David Lammy said the settlement, planned to be built east of Jerusalem, “would divide a Palestinian state in two”.
In a post on the X social media platform, the foreign secretary called the settlement in the West Bank “a flagrant breach of international law”, which “critically undermines the two-state solution”, and urged the Israeli government to reverse the decision.
The approval of the plans was announced by Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s finance minister, on Wednesday after they received the final go-ahead from Israel’s higher planning committee.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich shows the planned settlement on a map. Pic: Reuters/Ronen Zvulun
Mr Smotrich, an ultra-nationalist in the ruling right-wing coalition, said in a statement that the government was delivering with the settlement what it had promised for years: “The Palestinian state is being erased from the table, not with slogans but with actions.”
He said last week that the settlement would “finally bury the idea of a Palestinian state, because there is nothing to recognise and no one to recognise”.
The settlement is set to be built in E1, an open tract of land east of Jerusalem, and includes around 3,500 apartments to expand the existing settlement of Maale Adumim.
E1 has been eyed for Israeli development for more than two decades, but plans were halted due to pressure from the US during previous administrations.
A view of part of the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim. Pic: Reuters/Ronen Zvulun
Peace Now, which tracks settlement activity in the West Bank, said if the bureaucratic process moves quickly, infrastructure work on E1 could start in the next few months, with the construction of homes to follow in about a year.
“The E1 plan is deadly for the future of Israel and for any chance of achieving a peaceful two-state solution. We are standing at the edge of an abyss, and the government is driving us forward at full speed,” Peace Now said in a statement last week.
It added that the planned settlement was “guaranteeing many more years of bloodshed”.
‘Stake through the heart of the two-state solution’
A two-state solution to the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict would see a Palestinian state in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza existing side by side with Israel, but campaign groups fear the new settlement could undermine a future peace deal with the Palestinians.
The UN condemned the decision to approve the settlement, with spokesperson Stephane Dujarric saying that it “will drive a stake through the heart of the two-state solution”.
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The Palestinian foreign ministry added that the settlement would isolate Palestinian communities living in the area and undermine the possibility of a two-state solution.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet commented on the plans.
But during a visit to a West Bank settlement on Sunday, he said: “I said 25 years ago that we will do everything to secure our grip on the Land of Israel, to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, to prevent the attempts to uproot us from here. Thank God, what I promised, we have delivered.”
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Today, an estimated 700,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. There is also a growing movement of Israelis wanting to build settlements in Gaza.
Settlers make up around 5% of Israel’s population and 15% of the West Bank’s population, according to data from Peace Now.
Settlements are illegal under international law and have been condemned by the UN. They are, however, authorised by the Israeli government.
The family of a father who disappeared with his three children nearly four years ago in New Zealand have broken their silence to appeal for him to return home.
In December 2021, Tom Phillips vanished into the wilderness with his two daughters and son – but his family have said they still remain hopeful “today will be the day you all come home”.
Phillips, along with Jayda, now aged 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, nine, were last believed to have been seen in a “credible sighting” last October hiking through a bush area near Marokopa on the country’s North Island.
For the first time, his family have directly appealed to Phillips in the hope that “just maybe, he’s going to see this” and “that we are here for him”.
In an interview with New Zealand journalist Paddy Gower, his sister Rozzi Phillips said she missed being part of her brother’s life, adding “I really want to see you” and “you’re very special to me”.
She also read out a handwritten message from Phillips’ mother, Julia, which came from her “heart, just to her son”.
“Tom, I feel really sad that you thought you had to do this, not considering how much we love you and could support you,” she said.
“It hurts every time I see photos of the children and of you and see some of your stuff that is still here, thinking what could have been if you’d not gone away.”
Tom Phillips. Pic: New Zealand Police
According to New Zealand news site, Stuff, the letter ended with a message for the three children.
“We love you so much and really miss being part of your lives,” it read.
“Every day we wake up and hope that today will be the day you all come home.”
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Ms Phillips said her brother is a skilled builder and would have constructed a shelter.
Police believe his actions could be linked to a custody battle.
There have been numerous reported sightings since December 2021.
The most recent last October was said to be from a distance when the group were seen wearing camouflage gear and carrying large camping backpacks.
Israel will call up 60,000 reservists as it prepares to launch an expanded military operation in Gaza City.
The military said the country’s defence minister Israel Katz has approved plans to begin a new phase of operations in some of the most densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli forces will operate in areas of Gaza City where they have not yet operated and where it believes Hamas is still active, a military official said.
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The city is the main military and governing stronghold of Hamas and Israeli troops will target the group’s vast underground network, the official added.
Although Israel has targeted and killed much of Hamas’ senior leadership, parts of the group are actively regrouping and carrying out attacks, including launching rockets towards Israel, the official said.
It remains unclear when the operation will begin, but it could be a matter of days.
Palestinians at the site of a house struck by Israel in Gaza City. Pic: Reuters
The official said 60,000 reservists will be called up in the coming month and the service of an additional 20,000 reservists currently serving will be lengthened.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the objectives of the war are to secure the release of the remaining hostages and destroy Hamas.
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Gaza hospitals ‘overwhelmed with malnutrition cases’
International criticism of Israel increased after the planned offensive was announced earlier this month amid fears of another mass displacement of Palestinians.
The families of the hostages and former army and intelligence chiefs oppose an expanded operation in Gaza City, with most of the families of hostages wanting an immediate ceasefire.
They worry an expanded assault could threaten prospects of bringing the 50 remaining hostages home. Israel believes 20 of those are still alive.
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Parachutes drop aid supplies in Gaza. Pic: AP
Palestinians rush to collect airdropped humanitarian aid packages. Pic: AP
The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing some 1,200 people and abducting 251.
Many of the hostages have been released in ceasefires and other deals, with Hamas saying it will only free the remainder in exchange of a lasting ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal.
More than 62,000 people have been killed during Israel’s 22-month counteroffensive, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says women and children make up around half of those killed.
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Earlier this week, the ministry said 154 adults had died of malnutrition-related causes since the ministry began counting such deaths in late June, and 112 children have died of malnutrition-related causes since the war began.
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