Today’s Headlines and Commentary

On Tuesday, North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles off its eastern coast, according to the South Korean military, Yonhap News Agency reports. The incident, the fourth in two weeks, appears to be a response to U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises which began on Monday.

U.S. officials plan to present a final offer to the Turkish government in negotiations over Syrian Kurdish fighters to prevent an otherwise imminent Turkish military incursion into northeastern Syria, the Washington Post writes.

The Trump administration expanded its sanctions against Venezuela into a complete economic embargo against the country’s government, per the Wall Street Journal. The new measures threaten to sanction any foreign or American entity doing business with any affiliates of the Maduro regime.

The U.S. government is rebranding its international coalition to protect merchant vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz, formerly known as “Operation Sentinel,” to attract more participation from other states fearful of being drawn into a conflict between the U.S. and Iran, Politico writes. Representatives from more than 30 countries attended a briefing on the proposal and the British government announced it would join the coalition force.

The U.S. and the Taliban have resolved differences in their peace negotiations, according to a Taliban official, the Associated Press reports. The U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said on Twitter that the parties had made “excellent progress.” Khalilzad also said that he expects a final agreement by Sept. 1 that would allow U.S. and NATO forces to leave Afghanistan.

ICYMI: Yesterday on Lawfare

Alden Fletcher explored how a country could use disinformation to affect scientific research.

Daniel Byman offered recommendations for creating a terrorism designation process useful to technology companies.

Quinta Jurecic compiled a primer on right-wing extremism, domestic terrorism and de-platforming, including links to Lawfare’s previous coverage on the subjects.

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