ISRAEL FINDS ACCOUNTABILITY: Following Israel’s investigation into the World Central Kitchen strike that killed seven aid workers on Monday, the Israel Defense Force briefed the U.S. military's team on the ground in Israel on Thursday, a DOD official told our own LARA SELIGMAN. The U.S. team then informed senior Pentagon leaders about the review’s conclusions. The IDF investigation “was swift, it was thorough,” the official said, noting that “this is a serious recognition on their part.” "The Israelis aren’t trying to cover up, aren’t trying to paper over — they are owning their error, they are moving to hold people accountable,” the official said. After the White House’s condemnation of the strikes on Thursday, “it looks like message received.” While the incident was “a tragic mistake,” the official acknowledged that the U.S. military has made its own share of errors. “We've made our share in Afghanistan, we've had incidents where processes were either not followed or they were not adequate enough to prevent civilian casualties,” the official said. The IDF fired two officers following the investigation, our own ŠEJLA AHMATOVIĆ reports. An internal probe revealed significant errors and protocol violations that led to multiple strikes on an aid convoy. The IDF admitted that it was a mistake and said the soldiers believed the vehicle was carrying Hamas militants, not aid workers. “The investigation determined that a colonel had authorized the series of deadly drone strikes on the convoy based on one major’s observation — from grainy drone-camera footage — that someone in the convoy was armed. That observation turned out to be untrue, military officials said,” per The Associated Press’ JULIA FRANKEL. Calls for an independent investigation have been growing. The food charity today demanded that an independent commission to investigate the killings be created because the IDF “cannot impartially investigate its own actions in Gaza,” it said in a statement today. “Their apologies for the outrageous killing of our colleagues represent cold comfort,” ERIN GORE, CEO of WCK, said in the statement. “It’s cold comfort for the victims’ families and WCK’s global family.” SPACE TALKS WITH RUSSIA: The Biden administration is in talks with Russia and allied nations to try and prevent Moscow from positioning an anti-satellite nuclear weapon in space, a senior Pentagon space official said today, our own MAGGIE MILLER and ERIN BANCO report. American officials are using the United Nations and countries such as China and India to convince Moscow to back down from its plans to test launch its space weapon. Those conversations have accelerated in recent weeks following the public disclosure of Russia’s space developments, according to JOHN PLUMB, assistant secretary of defense for space policy. Plumb said that while there is “no immediate threat” to Earth posed by the deployment by Russia of nuclear anti-satellite weapons, “we are engaging with allies and partners and with Russia, to convince them that this is not responsible.” It marked the first time a Biden official had laid out publicly part of the administration’s approach in handling the situation. WAIT AND SEE ABOUT ISRAEL AID: Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN said the U.S. is “looking to see” if Israel allows more aid into the Gaza Strip following new pressure from President JOE BIDEN on Thursday over the World Central Kitchen strike. “The real test is results, and that’s what we’re looking to see in the coming days and the coming weeks,” Blinken told reporters in Brussels today, noting that one measure of Israel’s commitment is “the number of trucks that are actually getting in on a sustained basis.” The Biden admin is also continuing to talk about the humanitarian situation in relation to Israel's plans for a potential invasion of the southern Gazan city of Rafah. In a virtual meeting with Israeli counterparts this week, national security adviser JAKE SULLIVAN made clear that more has to be done to help civilians. “You’re going to be responsible for the third famine crisis of the 21st century. That is not something we can accept as partners,” Sullivan said, as a U.S. official recounted to our colleagues. “If you don’t have a proper plan for the day after, nothing will help you in dismantling Hamas. Not Rafah, not anything else.” UKRAINE’S BIG STRIKES: Ukraine destroyed six Russian fighter bombers in an attack today on the Morovosk air base, about 217 miles from the frontlines, a Ukrainian law enforcement official familiar with the matter told our own VERONIKA MELKOZEROVA. Ukraine conducted a large attack hitting Russia’s Rostov, Saratov, Kursk and Belgorod regions, the Russian defense ministry said on Telegram. Russian defense forces claimed to have shot down at least 44 drones over the Rostov region — where the air base is located — but didn’t reveal more details. ARMENIA TALKS: European and U.S. officials are pledging new financial support for Armenia in the face of mounting tensions in the South Caucasus. As our own GABRIEL GAVIN reports, European Commission President URSULA VON DER LEYEN said the EU would allocate more than $290 million to support the South Caucasus country’s economy over the next four years. The landmark investment followed high-level talks between von der Leyen, SecState Blinken, USAID Administrator SAMANTHA POWER, E.U. foreign policy chief JOSEP BORRELL and Armenian Prime Minister NIKOL PASHINYAN. The new package from Brussels comes as Armenia navigates ongoing territorial disputes with neighboring Azerbaijan and outrage from long-time ally Russia over its efforts to move closer to Europe and the United States. The Biden administration requested $65 million in development assistance earlier this year for Armenia. It has also pledged aid for refugees from the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. But lawmakers want the State Department to make the release of Armenian prisoners held by Azerbaijan a precondition for future negotiations between the two Caucasus countries. DRINKS WITH NATSEC DAILY: At the end of every long, hard week, we like to highlight how a prominent member of Washington’s national security scene prefers to unwind with a drink. Today, we’re featuring Sen. JEANNE SHAHEEN, who has proudly represented the Granite State for the last 15 years. “Oh, I’m really boring. What I like is Diet Coke,” Shaheen said — though there is absolutely nothing boring about that sweet nectar. As to where she likes to enjoy the carbonated bev, “when the weather's nice, if I can sit on my porch and look at the fields with my Diet Coke, I'm happy.” A getaway to New Hampshire amid the chaos in Washington these days sounds intriguing. We just may be joining her soon. Cheers, senator! IT’S FRIDAY. WELCOME TO THE WEEKEND. Thanks for tuning in to NatSec Daily! This space is reserved for the top U.S. and foreign officials, the lawmakers, the lobbyists, the experts and the people like you who care about how the natsec sausage gets made. Aim your tips and comments at mberg@politico.com and ebazail@politico.com, and follow us on X at @mattberg33 and @ebazaileimil. While you’re at it, follow the rest of POLITICO’s national security team: @alexbward, @nahaltoosi, @PhelimKine, @laraseligman, @connorobrienNH, @paulmcleary, @leehudson, @magmill95, @johnnysaks130, @ErinBanco, @reporterjoe, and @JGedeon1.
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