Latest news with #tanks
ABC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Australian tanks reach Ukraine after nine months
The first of Australia's retired M1A1 Abrams tanks have arrived in Ukraine, nine months after they were gifted to aid the country's war effort.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
First Australian tanks handed over to Ukrainian army
The first tranche of Australian tanks has been handed over to the Ukrainian army to help its defence against Russia's invasion. Australia pledged to give Ukraine 49 Abrams tanks worth $245m. Defence minister, Richard Marles, said the tanks would aid Ukrainian firepower and complement other military equipment donated by allies to repel Russia's invasion. 'Australia remains steadfast in our support for Ukraine and seeing a just and lasting peace,' Marles said. A majority of the tanks have been delivered and a final tranche will arrive in the coming months, but actual numbers have not been released. Russian missile and drone strikes in Ukraine are targeting civilians in record numbers, according to the United Nations human rights office. June marked the deadliest month for civilians in more than three years, the UN said. Australia will also deploy a Wedgetail aircraft to Europe in August to protect the corridors to Ukraine through which aid is delivered. 'Australia stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine,' defence industry minister, Pat Conroy, said. Australia has committed more than $1.5bn to aid Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022. It comes as the federal government negotiates a non-binding security pact with Ukraine, following more than two dozen other nations that have similar agreements. The agreements are largely vague, are not legally binding and don't include joint security or defence guarantees. Areas of co-operation for Australia and Ukraine likely to be included in such a pact span military assistance and collaboration. A second agreement eliminating double taxation to encourage investment in Ukraine to help it rebuild after the devastating war is also set to be inked. The delivery of tanks also comes as United Nations and humanitarian partners launched an appeal to try and raise hundreds of millions of dollars to protect Ukrainians facing a harsh winter as Russia attacks critical infrastructure. The winter response plan aims to deliver humanitarian assistance to more than 1.7 million people between October 2025 and March 2026.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Australia hands over first tranche of tanks to Ukraine
The first tranche of Australian tanks has been handed over to the Ukrainian army to help its defence against Russia's invasion. Australia pledged to give Ukraine 49 Abrams tanks at a value of $245 million. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the tanks would aid Ukrainian firepower and complement other military equipment donated by allies to repel Russia's invasion. "Australia remains steadfast in our support for Ukraine and seeing a just and lasting peace," Mr Marles said. A majority of the tanks have been delivered and a final tranche will arrive in the coming months, but actual numbers haven't been released. Russian missile and drone strikes in Ukraine are targeting civilians in record numbers, according to the United Nations human rights office. At least 139 civilians have been killed and more than 790 injured as of July 15. June marked the deadliest month for civilians in more than three years, the UN said. Australia will also deploy a Wedgetail aircraft to Europe in August to protect the corridors to Ukraine through which aid is delivered. "Australia stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine," Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said. Australia has committed more than $1.5 billion to aid Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022. It comes as the federal government negotiates a non-binding security pact with Ukraine, following more than two dozen other nations that have similar agreements. The agreements are largely vague, aren't legally binding and don't include joint security or defence guarantees. Areas of co-operation for Australia and Ukraine likely to be included in such a pact span military assistance and collaboration. ❄️As war shatters homes and vital infrastructure, the people in #Ukraine face a harsh winter ensure timely delivery of life-saving winter assistance, humanitarians are appealing for urgent funding to support the most vulnerable: — OCHA Ukraine (@OCHA_Ukraine) July 17, 2025 A second agreement eliminating double taxation to encourage investment in Ukraine to help it rebuild after the devastating war is also set to be inked. The delivery of tanks also comes as United Nations and humanitarian partners launched an appeal to try and raise hundreds of millions of dollars to protect Ukrainians facing a harsh winter as Russia attacks critical infrastructure. The winter response plan aims to deliver humanitarian assistance to more than 1.7 million people between October 2025 and March 2026.
Al Mayadeen
7 days ago
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
Al-Qassam, Al-Quds Brigades target Israeli tanks, vehicles in Gaza
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, announced on Tuesday that it had targeted two Israeli Merkava tanks with Yasin 105 and Tandem charges in the central Khan Younis area in southern Gaza. The brigades also shelled a gathering of enemy soldiers and military vehicles with heavy and medium mortar shells in the al-Baddaw area north of Khan Younis, as part of their ongoing operations to repel Israeli incursions. Meanwhile, Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad movement, declared on Monday that it had destroyed an Israeli military vehicle using a pre-planted anti-armor explosive device. The attack occurred during an incursion by occupation forces in the eastern part of the al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza City. On Wednesday, the al-Qassam Brigades announced that its fighters carried out a raid at dawn against a gathering of Israeli occupation soldiers and military vehicles in the Abasan al-Kabira area, east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. In a statement, the Brigades said that its fighters targeted a Merkava tank and an armored personnel carrier with Yassin-105 anti-armor shells. Two Israeli military excavators were also hit during the same operation using similar munitions. The group added that during the operation, its fighters attempted to capture an Israeli soldier. However, due to battlefield conditions, they were unable to do so and instead neutralized the soldier and seized his weapon. Following the confrontation, al-Qassam fighters observed an Israeli helicopter landing at the site of the operation to carry out an evacuation, underscoring the intensity of the battle in the targeted area. Read more: Hamas seeks full Israeli withdrawal, aid in Gaza truce talks
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Dozens killed in clashes between Druze and Bedouin in southern Syria
The Israeli military on Monday said it had attacked several tanks that it believed were heading towards Suweida. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) wrote on Telegram that the tanks potentially posed a threat to Israel and that it would continue to monitor the situation in southern Syria. Israel's Channel 14 reported the attack came after "suspicious movements" that suggested the tanks were heading toward a Druze-populated area. The prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, has previously vowed to protect the Druze religious minority during outbreaks of sectarian violence in Syria. Sunday's clashes between Bedouin tribesmen and Druze militias began in the al-Maqwas neighbourhood of Suweida city. The area, which is inhabited by Bedouin, was reportedly encircled and later seized by armed Druze fighters. The fighting soon spread into other parts of Suweida province, with tribesmen reportedly launching attacks on Druze towns and villages on the city's western and northern outskirts. SOHR said the towns of Sumay and Mazraah were shelled, and that residents of the village of Tayrah fled after armed men entered the outskirts and set fire to several homes. On Monday, Suwayda 24 reported that another bout of fighting erupted in the western countryside of Suweida after drones attacked villages at the same time as government forces deployed in nearby areas of eastern Deraa province. The violence broke a brief period of calm following a mediation between Bedouin and Druze leaders that reportedly took place on Sunday night. According to Suwayda 24, this resulted in the release of people kidnapped by both sides during Sunday's clashes. Shortly after the fighting began, Syria's interior ministry said: "This dangerous escalation comes in light of the absence of relevant official institutions, leading to worsening chaos, a collapse of the security situation, and the local community's inability to contain the crisis despite repeated calls for calm." It added that interior ministry forces, in co-ordination with the defence ministry, would "begin direct intervention in the area to end the conflict and impose order". The governor of Suweida, Mustapha al-Bakur, called on his constituents to "exercise self-restraint and respond to national calls for reform". Several Syrian Druze spiritual leaders also appealed for calm. At the start of May, more than 130 people were reportedly killed in clashes between Druze gunmen, security forces and allied Sunni Islamist fighters in two suburbs of the capital Damascus and Suweida province. In the wake of that fighting, the government reached an agreement with Druze militias to hire local security forces in Suweida province from their ranks.
