17 February 2013 Military News

All Afghan interrogation centers to be equipped with video cameras: Karzai Iran Press TV 17 Feb 2013 -- President Hamid Karzai has ordered all interrogation facilities in Afghanistan to be equipped with video cameras in order to prevent the torture of detainees.
NATO promises to comply with Hamid Karzai's air raid decree Iran Press TV 17 Feb 2013 -- The commander of US-led forces in Afghanistan has said he would comply with President Hamid Karzai's recent decree banning Afghan security forces from seeking assistance from foreign troops in conducting air raids.
Afghanistan not to Call for Residential Air Strikes RIA Novosti 17 Feb 2013 -- Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai has said he will issue a decree on Sunday to ban his country's security forces from urging foreign air strikes in residential areas, media reported.

CAB Marines build new roads, expands training ranges USMC News 17 Feb 2013 -- During the field training portion of exercise Cobra Gold 2013 in Ban Chan Krem, Kingdom of Thailand, from Feb. 11 to 22, the primary focus is bilateral training between Royal Thai and U.S. Marines.
CCP exercises its capabilities during Cobra Gold 2013 USMC News 17 Feb 2013 -- As a rapidly deployable headquarters element, U.S. Army Pacific's Contingency Command Post, based at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, is capable of providing command and control of small-scale contingency operations at any location throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Kearsarge ARG Completes COMPTUEX NNS 17 Feb 2013 -- Sailors from the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and Marines from assigned to the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) completed Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) Feb. 17.

'Syria Army deals heavy blow to militants' Iran Press TV 17 Feb 2013 -- The Syrian Army says it has inflicted heavy losses on foreign-sponsored militants who are fighting against the government of President Bashar al-Assad in several parts of the country.
'UNHCR yet to receive funds for Syrians' Iran Press TV 17 Feb 2013 -- The United Nations refugee agency says it has not received the recently-pledged funds for the Syrians displaced during nearly the two year of violence in the Arab country.
Brahimi Urges Syria's Government, Opposition to Meet at UN Offices VOA 17 Feb 2013 -- International peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is urging Syria's government and opposition to meet on U.N. premises to discuss a political solution to the two-year rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad.

N chief urges India, Pak to exercise restraint IRNA 17 Feb 2013 -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and resolve issues peacefully after a Pakistani soldier who intruded into the Indian territory was killed by the Indian Army along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
French, Mali troops seize Bourem town: France's military officials Iran Press TV 17 Feb 2013 -- French and Malian troops have seized Mali's town of Bourem, after they launched operations against fighters, France's military officials say.
Kosovo President Says Independence Is 'Irreversible' RFE/RL 17 Feb 2013 -- President Atifete Jahjaga has said in a televised address that Kosovan independence was "irreversible" and that "the republic of Kosovo is an irrefutable reality."

Australia Asks Israel to Explain Death of 'Spy' VOA 17 Feb 2013 -- Israel's Mossad spy agency is at the center of a scandal that is testing relations with Australia.

President renews allegiance to Supreme Leader IRNA 17 Feb 2013 -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday renewed allegiance to Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
MPs apologize to Supreme Leader for controversial impeachment session IRNA 17 Feb 2013 -- Some 256 Majlis representatives in a statement on Sunday apologized to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution for the controversial impeachment session which ended in disarray after the president accused Majlis speaker's brother of financial corruption.
'Majlis shrugs off offer to close Fordo' Iran Press TV 17 Feb 2013 -- Iran's Majlis (Parliament) has shrugged off the West's offer to ease some sanctions in return for the closure of the Fordo nuclear facility plant, Press TV reports.
Iranian warships to dock at Chinese ports: Navy cmdr. Iran Press TV 17 Feb 2013 -- Iran Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari says a fleet of Iranian warships will be docking at the Strait of Malacca and China in the near future.
Fordow will be never closed: Iran MP Iran Press TV 17 Feb 2013 -- An Iranian lawmaker has rejected the Western proposal for Iran to close its Fordow nuclear facility in exchange for the relaxation of restrictions on the Islamic Republic's gold-for-gas trade.

Pakistan rallies condemn Quetta attack which killed 84 people IRNA 17 Feb 2013 -- Rallies across Pakistan on Sunday strongly condemned the deadly bomb attack in the Southwestern city of Quetta yesterday which killed nearly 84 people, almost all Shia Muslims.
Death Toll Rises In Quetta Market Bombing RFE/RL 17 Feb 2013 -- The death toll from a bomb attack on a market on the edge of Quetta in southwestern Pakistan at the weekend has risen to 85.
Bomb Targeting Minority Shiites a Failure of Pakistan Security VOA 17 Feb 2013 -- The governor of Pakistan's Baluchistan province has lashed out at the country's security forces for failing to adequately protect the area's minority Shi'ite Muslims. Analysts tell VOA that extremists are taking advantage of a lack of national consensus on how to deal with militant groups.

Lavrov, Kerry Talk Syria Settlement, North Korea Test RIA Novosti 17 Feb 2013 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his US counterpart John Kerry discussed measures to end the Syrian crisis, and also Pyongyang's third nuclear test, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.

UN envoy strongly condemns terrorist attacks on civilians in Iraqi capital UN News Centre 17 Feb 2013 -- The top United Nations envoy in Iraq has strongly condemned the series of bombings that struck several neighbourhoods in Baghdad on Sunday, killing and injuring dozens of people.

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