Today's Headlines and Commentary

The U.N. Security Council condemned North Korea’s missile launch over Japan in an emergency session on Tuesday, the New York Times reported. The Security Council passed a U.S.-drafted resolution calling the tests “outrageous actions” but gave no indication it would take any further action against North Korea. Earlier on Tuesday, President Donald Trump said, regarding North Korea, that “all options are on the table.” The Guardian reported that President Trump nominated an academic expert on North Korea as the U.S. ambassador to South Korea. Victor Cha, a former national security council official and top North Korea expert in the Bush administration, will lead the U.S. diplomatic mission in Seoul. The lack of an ambassador had been a source of embarrassment to the administration as the crisis with North Korea unfolded.

The U.S. tested its missile defense systems off the coast of Hawaii on Wednesday, according to the Times The U.S. Missile Defense Agency and Navy sailors successfully intercepted a medium-range ballistic missile in a pre-planned exercise. Meanwhile, the North Korean missile test has prompted Tokyo to increase pressure on the U.S. to provide advanced ballistic missile defense systems to Japan, according to Reuters. Japanese leaders have pressed the U.S. to let it have advanced radar systems to augment the Aegis ballistic missile defense interceptors it plans to install by 2023. The Pentagon’s missile defense branch has been reluctant to release the advanced technology to an ally before the U.S. deploys it in its own systems.

The Pentagon said that up to 30,000 more national guard troops could deploy to assist the response to Hurricane Harvey, the Washington Post reported. National Guard troops from several states have not been deployed yet but were informed that their support may be needed as Texas deals with record-breaking floods. Already, 1,000 active duty federal service members, Texas national guardsmen, and the Coast Guard are carrying out search-and-rescue missions and medical evacuations with helicopters and boats. The Pentagon said that it is preparing for an extended response to the hurricane’s aftermath.

The Department of Homeland Security warned Charlottesville law enforcement officials were warned about the potential for violence before the deadly rally on August 12, Politico reported. Confidential documents revealed that DHS assessed that tensions between white supremacists and anti-fascist “antifa” would make the confrontation “the most violent to date.” The release raises questions about the Charlottesville and Virginia law enforcement response to the rally, which led to the killing of a protester by a white supremacist.

Defense Secretary James Mattis delayed the implementation of President Trump order changing the rules for transgender military service members pending further study, according to the Post. The current policy will remain in place while a panel of experts studies how to implement the President’s order regarding both current and future service members. Mattis said that the panel will make recommendations and develop a plan to implement President Trump’s memo by February 1, 2018.

The United States criticized a truce between the Lebanese Army and the Islamic State and threatened to bomb a convoy transporting Islamic State fighters across Syria, the Times reported. The U.S.-led military coalition in Iraq denounced the ceasefire and prisoner exchange, which involved the release of 600 Islamic State fighters and their transport to Deir al-Zour, a city in eastern Syria under siege by the Islamic State. U.S military officials suggested the possibility of airstrikes against the transfer convoy if the coalition could determine whether the attack would harm civilians. Lebanon cooperated with the Syrian Army and Hezbollah to arrange the ceasefire and reduce the Islamic State presence along its border with Syria.

Turkish-backed rebels fired on U.S. troops in northern Syria last week, according to CNN. U.S. troops on patrol came under fire from Turkish-backed opposition forces but there were no casualties on either side. As the U.S.-backed and Kurd-led Syrian Democratic Forces increasingly clash with fighters supported by Turkey in northern Syria, U.S. troops have attempted to prevent attacks between rival groups in the area. The U.S.-led coalition lodged a formal protest with Turkey following the incident.

A grand jury in Washington has indicted several Turkish security officials for their role in attacking protesters outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence earlier this year, according to VOA News. Among the 19 charged with conspiracy to commit a crime of violence are 15 Turkish security officials. The charges stem from an incident during a visit by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Washington in May.

European intelligence agencies have released evidence that Russia supported a violent coup to overthrow Montenegro's government, the Telegraph reports. Surveillance photos appear to show agents of Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU, with the leaders of the plot. Serb nationalists disguised as police planned to fire on protesters and kill the country’s democratically elected leader. The Kremlin has denied any involvement.

Fighting in Myanmar caused thousands of Rohingya civilians to flee across the border to Bangladesh this week, the Times reported on Monday. Following clashes between government forces and a Rohingya militant group, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights criticized the Myanmar’s de-factor leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, for statements that implied international organizations supported rebel groups. Over 80,000 Rohingya, a Muslim minority population, have fled to Bangladesh since a crackdown by Myanmar’s security forces in 2016.

Guatemala’s Constitutional Court ruled that Guatemala’s president cannot expel the head of a U.N. anti-corruption panel, reported the Times. President Jimmy Morales attempted to expel Ivan Velásquez, the head of a U.N. commission that has accused Morales of breaking campaign finance laws. The decision is a setback for Morales as the U.N. commission investigates widespread corruption in Guatemala’s political system.

ICYMI: Yesterday, on Lawfare

J. Dana Stuster posted the Middle East Ticker, covering a new player in the Saudi Arabia-Qatar feud, the Trump Administration’s peace process, and the upcoming Kurdish independence referendum.

Shane Reeves and Mark Visger analyzed the implementation of the Military Justice Act of 2016 and its effects on the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Email the Roundup Team noteworthy law and security-related articles to include, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for additional commentary on these issues. Sign up to receive Lawfare in your inbox. Visit our Events Calendar to learn about upcoming national security events, and check out relevant job openings on our Job Board.