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This is a significant announcement but details are scant. 

The timing reflects the urgency of the humanitarian situation but it’s also about politics.

Here’s what we know so far.

President Biden has “directed” the US military to lead an emergency mission to establish a port on the Gaza coast.

The word “lead” is important. It suggests other nations will be involved.

Cyprus will be the coordination point for this mission and for the sea bridge of aid once it’s flowing.

The island, more than 200 miles northwest of Gaza, has a significant British military presence so perhaps there will be UK involvement in the aid operation.

“Port” is a somewhat misleading word to describe what the Americans intend to construct.

It will take the form of a temporary pier or causeway that will allow aid to be offloaded from ships to trucks for distribution.

We are told it will take “a number of weeks to plan and execute” and that the forces required to complete the mission are either already in the region or will be moved there soon.

Palestinian children wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen amid shortages of food supplies, in Rafah
Pic: Reuters
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Palestinian children wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen amid shortages of food supplies in Rafah. Pic: Reuters

Importantly, American officials tell us that US boots will not be on the ground in Gaza.

A senior White House official said: “We’re not planning for this to be an operation that would require US boots on the ground but issues in terms of the dates – the timelines, etc – those are all things that we’re working through.

“The concept that’s been planned involves the presence of US military personnel on military vessels offshore but does not require US military personnel to go ashore to install the pier or causeway facility that will allow the transportation of humanitarian assistance ashore.”

Packages dropped from a military aircraft fall towards northern Gaza, as seen from Israel.
Pic: Reuters
Image:
Packages dropped from a military aircraft fall towards northern Gaza, as seen from Israel. Pic: Reuters


All of this leaves plenty of unanswered questions and exposes deep failures in diplomatic leverage the US has over Israel.

On that second point first, the Israeli government agency responsible for the flow of aid across the borders into Gaza, COGAT, has told Sky News that it could open up more land crossings but “that needs to be a decision made by the government and if they were to make such a decision then we would find a way to facilitate their decision”.

It added: “If the directive came from the [Israeli] government, then COGAT would find a way to fulfil that mission.”

That statement alone shows what the Israeli government could do but is unwilling to do, despite US pressure.

A US official said today that Israel has now agreed for a crossing into northern Gaza to be opened.

That said, there has been pressure for many weeks without success. It is not clear when this crossing will open.

It’s worth adding that Israel has been using numerous crossings to move its military in and out of Gaza.

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Gaza on brink of ‘desperate situation’

On the first point – the unanswered questions – there are plenty.

Who will build the infrastructure that will be needed on the land end of the pier?

Who will distribute the aid once it is offloaded?

Who will manage crowd control and prevent stampedes (which will be inevitable without considerable policing of a mass of desperate people)?

How long will all this take?

Read more:
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As I mentioned at the start, there is a political dimension to all this, too.

President Biden will announce this emergency mission at his annual State of the Union address in Washington tonight.

It’s being billed as a make-or-break moment for him as he tries to counter significant criticism of his suitability to run for president again.

His polling is terrible. Gaza is a key challenge for him. He needs to show that he has got a grip on it.

Like the airdrop announcement last week, the port announcement represents a desperate policy decision that President Biden hoped never to have to make.

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Ukraine: How powerful are the Storm Shadow missiles donated by Britain?

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Ukraine: How powerful are the Storm Shadow missiles donated by Britain?

Storm Shadow cruise missiles made in the UK and donated to Ukraine have once again been used to strike targets inside Russia.

The long-range weapons – which cost roughly £2m each – have been used to devastating effect in the Black Sea, sinking or damaging several Russian ships, and now against a chemical plant.

Last year, Ukraine’s allies lifted restrictions on Storm Shadows and other long-range missiles, meaning Kyiv’s military can use them against targets across the border.

Follow latest: Storm Shadow missiles used in ‘massive’ attack on Russia

A Storm Shadow missile system. Pic: Gary Dawson/Shutterstock
Image:
A Storm Shadow missile system. Pic: Gary Dawson/Shutterstock

What are Storm Shadow missiles?

Storm Shadows are cruise missiles developed by the UK and France in the 1990s.

Launched from aircraft, they have a range more than 155 miles, manufacturer MBDA says, and can travel at speeds exceeding 600mph.

The missiles can be used with high precision for deep strikes while evading detection, the manufacturer says.

They have been used by the RAF and French air force and in the Gulf, Iraq and Libya, and more recently have been used by Ukrainian forces.

What sets them apart from some other projectiles is they use terrain mapping to navigate to their target, rather than relying just on GPS, military analyst Sean Bell says.

A Tornado GR4 with Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Pic: Crown copyright
Image:
A Tornado GR4 with Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Pic: Crown copyright

How have they been used in Ukraine?

Back in May 2023, the UK government announced it would provide Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles – the first country to do so.

Since then they have been used by Kyiv’s defenders to strike Russian targets inside Ukraine and also inside Russia.

Read more:
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While operational details of their use do not always emerge, it has been reported Storm Shadows have been used against targets including military headquarters and ships.

Storm Shadows can likely be operated entirely from within Ukraine, though probably with the assistance of intelligence gathered by Western surveillance planes over international waters.

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Police helicopter targeted with lasers by ‘mob intent on violence’ in Dublin

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Police helicopter targeted with lasers by 'mob intent on violence' in Dublin

A police officer has been injured after a night of violent protests outside an asylum hotel in Dublin – with six arrests made.

Bricks were thrown and fireworks were discharged outside the Citywest Hotel – with glass bottles used as missiles and a police van set on fire.

A Garda helicopter was also targeted with lasers, and the police service says some of those on the streets were seen carrying garden forks.

Pic: PA
Image:
Pic: PA

Pic: PA
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Pic: PA

Commissioner Justin Kelly added: “This was obviously not a peaceful protest. The actions this evening can only be described as thuggery. This was a mob intent on violence.

“We will now begin the process of identifying those who committed crimes and we will bring those involved in this violence to justice.”

It is the second night of demonstrations after an alleged sexual assault in its vicinity in the early hours of Monday morning.

Some of the crowd threw stones and other missiles at the public order officers as they moved the protesters back – and water cannon was deployed at the scene.

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A line of officers was preventing the protesters from approaching the hotel.

Police officers block protesters outside the hotel. Pic: PA
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Police officers block protesters outside the hotel. Pic: PA

This protest felt different

There had been a small protest on Monday outside the former Citywest Hotel, now an asylum centre, but last night’s felt very different.

The 26-year-old man who allegedly attacked the young girl had appeared in court yesterday morning, charged with sexual assault. He can’t be named but an Arabic translator was requested. Anger grew online, and another protest was called.

It’s hard to get a clear estimate of numbers, partly due to the street geography around the former hotel, but it’s thought up to 2,000 attended. Most were peaceful, some were not. After a Garda van was torched, a major policing operation began.

The smell of fireworks hung in the air as youths hurled missiles at the Gardai. A Garda water cannon truck was deployed for the first time in the Republic of Ireland, parked visibly behind the riot officers.

I spoke to local residents who had reasonable concerns about the influx of asylum seekers to the community in recent years. Most did not approve of violent protest, but they articulated the anger and pain felt by many here after the attack on the young girl.

Although it has not been confirmed officially that the accused is an asylum seeker, most of the local residents had the same message: the enemy is not necessarily those who come to Ireland, rather it’s the perceived open-doors policy of the Irish government.

‘Those involved will be brought to justice’

Ireland’s premier, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, paid tribute to the officers who were on the frontline of the protests.

“There can be no justification for the vile abuse against them, or the attempted assaults and attacks on members of the force that will shock all right-thinking people,” he said.

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said those involved in the violence will be brought to justice.

“The scenes of public disorder we have witnessed at Citywest must be condemned,” he said.

“People threw missiles at Gardai, threw fireworks at them and set a Garda vehicle on fire.

“This is unacceptable and will result in a forceful response from the Gardai.

“Those involved will be brought to justice.”

‘No excuse’ for violence

The minister said a man had been arrested and had appeared in court in relation to the alleged assault in the vicinity of the hotel.

He added: “While I am not in a position to comment any further on this criminal investigation, I have been advised that there is no ongoing threat to public safety in the area.”

He said attacks on officers would “not be tolerated”, adding: “Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. Violence is not.

“There is no excuse for the scenes we have witnessed.”

The demonstration on Monday night passed without a significant incident.

It comes two years after anti-immigrant demonstrators triggered a major riot in the centre of Dublin after three young children were stabbed.

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Violent protests at Dublin hotel housing asylum seekers after alleged sexual assault

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Violent protests at Dublin hotel housing asylum seekers after alleged sexual assault

A police van has been set on fire and missiles have been thrown at officers as protesters gathered outside a hotel used to house asylum seekers in Dublin.

It is the second night of demonstrations outside the Citywest Hotel after an alleged sexual assault in its vicinity in the early hours of Monday morning.

A large crowd has gathered in the area and members of the Garda’s public order unit have been deployed.

Footage from the scene showed a Garda vehicle on fire as well as several protesters displaying Irish flags.

Many protesters carried Republic of Ireland flags
Image:
Many protesters carried Republic of Ireland flags

Some of the crowd threw stones and other missiles at the public order officers as they moved the protesters back.

A Garda helicopter hovered overhead and a water cannon was deployed on the scene.

Ireland’s justice minister, Jim O’Callaghan, said those involved will be brought to justice.

“The scenes of public disorder we have witnessed at Citywest tonight must be condemned,” he said.

“People threw missiles at Gardai, threw fireworks at them and set a Garda vehicle on fire.

“This is unacceptable and will result in a forceful response from the Gardai.

“Those involved will be brought to justice.”

The minister said a man had been arrested and had appeared in court in relation to the alleged assault in the vicinity of the hotel.

He added: “While I am not in a position to comment any further on this criminal investigation, I have been advised that there is no ongoing threat to public safety in the area.

He said attacks on gardai will “not be tolerated”, adding: “Peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy. Violence is not.

“There is no excuse for the scenes we have witnessed tonight.”

It was the second night of protest outside the hotel, which is being used as state accommodation for people seeking international protection. The demonstration on Monday night passed without a significant incident.

It comes two years after anti-immigrant demonstrators triggered a major riot in the centre of Dublin after three young children were stabbed.

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