16 February 2018 Military News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

OIR Officials Report Details of Defeat-ISIS Strikes in Syria, Iraq AFPS 16 Feb 2018 -- Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve and its partners continued to strike Islamic State of Iraq and Syria targets in designated parts of Syria and Iraq between Feb. 9-15, conducting 43 strikes consisting of 63 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

'Afghans file 1.7 million war crime complaints with ICC' Press TV 16 Feb 2018 -- A human rights group says the International Criminal Court (ICC) has received over one and a half million statements of alleged war crimes from Afghan citizens in a span of three months.
Karzai: US in Afghanistan Because of Rivals, No Need for So Many Bases Sputnik 16 Feb 2018 -- Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai has warned Washington against "deceiving" Kabul, pointing out that his country's interests should be respected by the White House.

Defense Policy / Programs

Nuclear Review Ushers in Strategic Environment Change, Stratcom Chief Says AFPS 16 Feb 2018 -- From a warfighter's stance, the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review changes the strategic environment as a threat-based approach, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command said here today.
Policy Official: Posture Review Emphasizes Capabilities, Deters Use of Nukes AFPS 16 Feb 2018 -- The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review emphasizes the capabilities needed to correct adversary miscalculations, and in doing so, it deters the use of nuclear weapons, the deputy undersecretary of defense for policy said today at National Defense University here.
Readout of Secretary Mattis' Meeting with French Minister of Defense Florence Parly DoD 16 Feb 2018
Small Unmanned Aircraft Prove Worth in Battlefield Reconnaissance Role AFPS 16 Feb 2018 -- Small drone aircraft the Army is using are proving their worth as a useful tool for battlefield reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.
Northcom Ready to Defend North America, Support Civil Authorities AFPS 16 Feb 2018 -- The commander of U.S. Northern Command told the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday that her command is ready to defend the United States today.
Guantanamo 'prepared' for new inmates, says US admiral Press TV 16 Feb 2018 -- A high-ranking US military official says the Guantanamo Bay military prison is "prepared" to receive new detainees, echoing a departure from Obama-era policies to shut-down or sideline the infamous detention camp.
Southcom Commander: Modest Investments Needed to Build Security Network AFPS 16 Feb 2018 -- U.S. Southern Command has focused on building a "regional security network of principled, inclusive partnerships," Navy Adm. Kurt W. Tidd, Southcom's commander, told the Senate Armed Services Committee here yesterday.
Officials Highlight Work of Special Operations Forces in House Hearing AFPS 16 Feb 2018 -- The global successes of the U.S. Special Operations Command and the services' special operations forces are due to their extraordinary people and the support from Congress, senior special operations officials told lawmakers yesterday on Capitol Hill.
Pentagon Releases New Policy on Nondeployable Members AFPS 16 Feb 2018 -- The Defense Department has released a new policy on military retention for nondeployable service members as it seeks to provide more ready and lethal forces, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness told Congress yesterday.
Army Air and Missile Defense Command prepares for Exercise Roving Sands Army News 16 Feb 2018 -- In preparation for Roving Sands 2018, the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, and its brigades, unloaded incoming vehicles Feb. 12, 2018 at the rail yard on Fort Bliss.
Vice chief testifies how Army is addressing threats through modernization, other capabilities Army News 16 Feb 2018 -- The last time a Soldier was killed by enemy aircraft on the battlefield was in 1953, during the Korean War, said Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James C. McConville.
Training scenario with ground and air forces work together with a bang Army News 16 Feb 2018 -- There are possible enemy troops in the area, Soldiers are injured and black smoke signals mark the extraction site as the 1st Battalion, 244th Aviation Regiment (Assault), 449th Combat Aviation Brigade medical evacuation helicopters approach.
Soldiers receive hands-on training for proper aviation operations Army News 16 Feb 2018 -- The blades of a UH-60 Black Hawk start to swirl as Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 244th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division prepare to train 60 Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment on hot and cold loading procedures of a Black Hawk Feb. 10, 2018.
U.S. and Kuwaiti Marines share best practices USMC News 16 Feb 2018 -- Logistics Marines from the Command Element and Logistics Combat Element of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command organized a three-day Tactical Resupply Subject Matter Expert Exchange at the Kuwait Naval Institute to share best practices in logistics with the Kuwaiti Marine Battalion, Dec. 18-20, 2017.
Carl Vinson Strike Group Arrives in Manila NNS 16 Feb 2018 -- Aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) arrived in Manila, Feb. 16, for a routine port visit during a Western Pacific deployment.
U.S. Navy Maps Downed C-2A Greyhound NNS 16 Feb 2018 -- A Navy-led mission aboard research vessel RV Petrel has mapped the wreckage of a C-2A Greyhound aircraft that crashed into the Philippine Sea en route to USS Ronald Reagan, Nov. 22, 2017.
Navy's Premier Numerical Modeling Center Launches Program to Fortify Link Between Warfighting Support Team and Ships NNS 16 Feb 2018 -- Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC), the Navy's premier numerical modeling center, launched a program intended to strengthen the relationship between its warfighting support team and the ships they support and to capture valuable fleet input on services they provide.
US Seeks Hypersonic Weapons as China Zooms Ahead Sputnik 16 Feb 2018 -- The US is facing an emerging threat in the form of hypersonic weapons, leading to calls for the US to develop its own defensive and offensive hypersonic capabilities.
US Army Makes Massive Artillery Orders to Train for Conventional War Sputnik 16 Feb 2018 -- The US is buying 150,000 artillery shells, about 825 percent more than the previous year's purchase of 16,500 shells, for "training to fight a decisive-action conflict," a US Army general said this week.

Remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the opening session of the Munich Security Conference NATO 16 Feb 2018 -- Wolfgang Schneiderhan: So, without further ado, may I ask Jens Stoltenberg to address his audience. Jens, you have the floor.
NATO defense ministers agree to US demand for larger Iraq deployment Press TV 16 Feb 2018 -- NATO has agreed to deploy a larger military mission to Iraq after the US urged the Western military alliance to look into a long-term stay in the Arab country only after the defeat of the Daesh terror group there.

EU's new military pact poses no threat to NATO: Mogherini Press TV 16 Feb 2018 -- The European Union has dismissed a call by the United States "to include in written EU documents" that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) role in protecting Europe would not be threatened by the EU's newly-established massive military pact.

NATO Chief Urges Russian Transparency On Nuclear Treaty Compliance RFE/RL 16 Feb 2018 -- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is calling on Russia to address the alliance's concerns about what the United States has determined is Moscow's violation of a landmark Cold War arms treaty.

Ministry of Defence expands counter-poaching training into two new parks in Malawi UK MOD 16 Feb 2018 -- The Ministry of Defence is ramping up its efforts to stop animals being cruelly hunted in Malawi by expanding its counter-poaching training into two further parks in the country.

Military plane crashes in western Turkey, 2 pilots killed Press TV 16 Feb 2018 -- Two pilots have been killed when a Turkish military plane crashed in western Turkey during a training mission.
Turkish Warplane Crashes, Killing Both Pilots Sputnik 16 Feb 2018 -- The reported incident in Turkey's Izmir province comes as Ankara is carrying out its Olive Branch campaign against Kurdish forces in Syria, whom it considers terrorists.

US Navy: China Militarizing South China Sea With 7 New Bases Sputnik 16 Feb 2018 -- Beijing has expanded its military presence in the South China Sea with the construction of seven new military bases, the head of the US Pacific Command told Congress this week.

Iran naval flotilla docks at Colombo Port in Sri Lanka Press TV 16 Feb 2018 -- The Iranian Navy's 50th naval fleet has docked at the Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka as the Islamic Republic seeks to expand its naval presence and boost its power in international waters.
Iran's Navy flotilla docks in Sri Lanka IRNA 18 Feb 2018 -- Iranian Navy's 50th flotilla docked in Sri Lanka in a training mission and to bolster professional relations.

Pakistan To Send Troops To Saudi Arabia RFE/RL 16 Feb 2018 -- Pakistan is sending a "contingent of troops" to Saudi Arabia, the military announced late on February 15.
Pakistan Under Scrutiny for Planned Troop Deployment in Saudi Arabia VOA 16 Feb 2018 -- Pakistan's decision to deploy troops to Saudi Arabia has sparked domestic criticism the country is taking sides in the Yemeni conflict in violation of a parliamentary resolution, and it's a move some say likely will upset neighboring Iran.

Korean nuclear crisis, Middle East quagmire eroding global security, UN chief tells Munich summit UN News 16 Feb 2018 -- A nuclear threat on the Korean Peninsula and a quagmire in the Middle East are "two qualitative changes" that further eroded global security over the past year, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told an annual conference on international security policy in Munich, Germany.
World At Risk Of 'Nuclear Confrontation,' UN Chief Warns RFE/RL 16 Feb 2018 -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that for the first time since the end of the Cold War, the world faces the "threat of a nuclear confrontation" in light of North Korea's nuclear activities, while NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said the international community must apply "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang to give up its nuclear and weapons program.

Defense Industry

DoD News: Contracts for February 16, 2018
India's State-Run Aviation Behemoth Allows ToT of Its Advanced Light Helicopters Sputnik 16 Feb 2018 -- Besides the current orders, Dhruv is envisaged to have potential demands in domestic as well as foreign markets due to the flexibility of configuration for different roles, according to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Other Conflicts

16 February 2018 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 16 Feb 2018

34 Turkish troops, 177 pro-Turkey militants killed in Syria IRNA 16 Feb 2018 -- Thirty four Turkish troops and 177 pro-Turkey militants have been killed in Syria since the start of Turkey's military operation 'Olive Branch' in Afrin region, according to an entity called Syrian Human Rights Watchdog affiliated to dissident groups.
Turkey, US to work together in Syria occupation: Cavusoglu, Tillerson Press TV 16 Feb 2018 -- Ankara and Washington have reached an agreement to work together in their occupation of Syria, where the two NATO allies have been on a collision course over the US's support for the Kurdish militants operating at Turkish doorstep.

Syria to deploy troops to Afrin under deal with Kurdish militants: Reports Press TV 16 Feb 2018 -- The Syrian government is reportedly set to deploy troops to the northern district of Afrin, which has been the target of a month-long Turkish offensive, as part of an agreement with the Kurdish militants operating there.
US Aims to Separate Part of Syria to Create Kurdish-Dominated Autonomy - Lavrov Sputnik 16 Feb 2018 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has commented on the situation in the war-plagued Syria, including the issue of US military presence in the country and its support of Kurdish factions.
Syrian Kurdish YPG Denies Damascus' Joining Battle in Afrin Against Turkey Sputnik 16 Feb 2018 -- As Turkish forces continue to pound the Kurdish militias entrenched in Syria's Afrin, the latter refute claims about making arrangements with the Syrian government in order to solve their current predicament.
UN development agency remains committed to support Lebanon, says agency head UN News 16 Feb 2018 -- Reverberations of the Syrian conflict – which has now lasted longer than World War II – are being felt throughout the region, including in Lebanon, which shares most of its land border with the war-torn country, and hosts hundreds of thousands of its refugees, the head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warned on Friday.

After Syria Deaths, Creeping Anger - And Kremlin Silence - Over Mercenaries RFE/RL 16 Feb 2018 -- Combat was not Ruslan Gavrilov's primary motivation in signing up to go to Syria with a shadowy private military company. But the 34-year-old Russian also wasn't "going to Syria to build houses," he told relatives.

Israel Believes Destroyed Up to 50% of Syrian Air Defenses in Strike - Source Sputnik 16 Feb 2018 -- The Israeli military believes that it had managed to destroy up to a half of the Syrian Air Defense Forces during Saturday's airstrike, an army source told Sputnik.
Syria's downing of Israeli warplane 'very big' achievement, Hezbollah chief says Press TV 16 Feb 2018 -- The secretary general of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement has praised the recent downing of an Israeli F-16 fighter jet by the Syrian air defense systems as a "very big military achievement."

Bangladesh hands over list of Rohingya repatriation to Myanmar Press TV 16 Feb 2018 -- Bangladesh has formally handed over to Myanmar's Home Minister Lieutenant General Kyaw Swe a list of more than 8,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees as Dhaka moves to launch their repatriation under an agreement signed between the two countries last year.
Canada imposes targeted sanctions against Myanmar general Press TV 16 Feb 2018 -- Canada has imposed "targeted sanctions" against a Myanmar general who led an army crackdown that forced over hundreds of thousands of minority Rohingya Muslims to flee to neighboring Bangladesh.
Process to Repatriate Myanmar Rohingyas Stalled VOA 16 Feb 2018 -- A month since the Myanmar and Bangladesh governments reached an agreement to begin the repatriation of mainly ethnic Rohingya refugees to northern Rakhine State, the process appears to have stalled.

Poroshenko Accuses Moscow Of 'World Hybrid War,' Denounces 'Russian World' RFE/RL 16 Feb 2018 -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had delivered a fierce denunciation of Russia before a high-profile security conference, accusing Moscow of waging a "world hybrid war" and urging the West to ratchet up pressure on the Kremlin over its expansionism in Ukraine.

China voices firm opposition to Indian PM's visit to disputed area People's Daily 16 Feb 2018 -- China on Thursday expressed firm opposition to the visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a disputed area, urging the Indian side not to take action that could complicate the boundary issue.

Pakistan 'hits Indian military post in Kashmir, kills 5' Press TV 16 Feb 2018 -- The Pakistani army says it has targeted and destroyed an Indian military post in the disputed region of Kashmir, killing five soldiers stationed there in retaliation against alleged Indian sniper fire that killed a civilian.

Troika Statement on Phase 2 of the High Level Revitalization Forum for South Sudan US Dept. of State 16 Feb 2018 -- "The members of the Troika (Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States) welcome the parties' constructive efforts toward compromise for the benefit of the people of South Sudan at the High Level Revitalization Forum (HLRF) over the last two weeks in Addis Ababa. The Troika expresses its appreciation for and fully supports the continuing effort by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to restore peace through the HLRF, and commends the tireless efforts of the IGAD Special Envoy Ambassador Ismail Wais and the mediation team. "
South Sudan Opposition: Government Lacks Will to Work for Peace VOA 16 Feb 2018 -- The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Friday adjourned the South Sudan peace talks for three weeks. An IGAD envoy did not say why, but opposition parties questioned the government delegation's commitment to finding solutions.

In crisis-torn eastern DR Congo, UN food relief agency expands operations to stem hunger UN News 16 Feb 2018 -- Escalating violence, daunting logistical challenges and insufficient funding have prompted the United Nations food relief agency to broaden its emergency operation in the war-ravaged Kasai region in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

News Reports

Grand Jury Indicts Thirteen Russian Individuals and Three Russian Companies for Scheme to Interfere in the United States Political System US Dept. of Justice 16 Feb 2018 -- "The Department of Justice announced that a grand jury in the District of Columbia today returned an indictment presented by the Special Counsel's Office. The indictment charges thirteen Russian nationals and three Russian companies for committing federal crimes while seeking to interfere in the United States political system, including the 2016 Presidential election. The defendants allegedly conducted what they called "information warfare against the United States," with the stated goal of "spread[ing] distrust towards the candidates and the political system in general.""
U.S. Special Counsel Indicts 13 Russians, Three Firms For Vote Meddling RFE/RL 16 Feb 2018 -- A U.S. grand jury has indicted 13 Russians and three Russian companies, including one known informally as the "Troll Factory," for meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections, and on charges including bank fraud, conspiracy, and identity theft.
Moscow Slams US' New "Meddling" Allegations as Absurd Sputnik 16 Feb 2018 -- The United States has filed charges against 13 Russian individuals and three entities for purportedly breaking the law with the intention to meddle in the 2016 presidential election. The US deputy attorney general said that indictment includes no allegation that purported Russian meddling altered the outcome of the vote.
13 Russian Nationals Indicted in US Election Meddling Probe VOA 16 Feb 2018 -- The special counsel investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election announced charges against the first group of Russians it says were behind the effort, unsealing an indictment against 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities.
Details on Russian Indictees VOA 16 Feb 2018 -- A federal grand jury investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election has indicted 13 Russian nationals including 12 employees of a St. Petersburg, Russia-based company that carries out online influence operations on behalf of Moscow. Below are some details from the indictment.
Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding the Russia Indictments The White House 16 Feb 2018

Trump says 'no collusion' with Russia after indictment Press TV 16 Feb 2018 -- President Donald Trump denies that his campaign colluded with Russia hours after thirteen Russians and three Russian companies were charged with conspiracy to interfere with the 2016 US presidential election.
Special Counsel Mueller interviews former top advisers to Trump Press TV 16 Feb 2018 -- US Justice Department's Special Counsel Robert Mueller has interviewed two former advisers to President Donald Trump as investigators tighten the noose around the incumbent over his campaign's alleged collusion with Russians in the 2016 presidential election.

Al-Qaeda Operative Sentenced to Life in Prison for Terrorism Offenses Targeting Americans Overseas US Dept. of Justice 16 Feb 2018 -- Earlier today, Al-Qaeda operative Ibrahim Suleiman Adnan Adam Harun, aka Spin Ghul, 47, was sentenced to life in prison following his March 16, 2017 trial conviction of multiple terrorism offenses, including conspiracy to murder American military personnel in Afghanistan, conspiracy to bomb the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, and providing material support to al-Qaeda.

Turkish Foreign Minister Says Ankara at Critical Stage in Ties With Washington Sputnik 16 Feb 2018 -- The Turkish foreign minister said that Erdogan and Tillerson held constructive talks in Ankara and agreed to normalize relations.
Press Availability With Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu US Dept. of State 16 Feb 2018 -- Remarks by Rex W. Tillerson, Secretary of State
Tillerson in Turkey in Bid to Mend Relations VOA 16 Feb 2018 -- Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has met with senior Turkish officials amid rising tensions between the two NATO allies. The countries remain at loggerheads in part over Washington's support of a Kurdish militia in Syria, which Ankara accuses of being a terrorist organization.
Report: Turkey Nationalism on Upsurge Again VOA 16 Feb 2018 -- Turkey is undergoing a new nationalist wave led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a study by the Center for American Progress (CAP) concludes.

U.S. Calls For UN Action, Citing Report Of Iranian Arms Embargo Violations RFE/RL 16 Feb 2018 -- U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley says it is "time for the Security Council to act" following the release of a UN report finding that Iran violated a UN arms embargo on Yemen's Huthi rebels.
U.S. Calls On Iran To Release Detained Opposition Leaders RFE/RL 16 Feb 2018 -- The U.S. State Department late on February 15 called on Iran to release three opposition leaders who have been under house arrest for seven years.

EU divided on Balkan expansion in face of Russia fears Press TV 16 Feb 2018 -- European Union foreign ministers have failed to reach agreement on a proposal to expand into the Western Balkans, citing problems such as ethnic wars and alleged criminal activities there.

EU Upbeat On Macedonia Name, Urges Reforms In Balkans RFE/RL 16 Feb 2018 -- A senior official says the European Union is "very confident" that a 27-year-old dispute over Macedonia's name, which has hampered the former Yugoslav republic's progress toward NATO and EU membership, will be resolved by the end of June.

New South African President Hails 'New Dawn' for Country VOA 16 Feb 2018 -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa hailed a "new dawn" for the country Friday and promised to fight corruption following the resignation of his predecessor, Jacob Zuma, who was plagued by corruption scandals.

South African Faces Death Penalty in South Sudan Espionage Case VOA 16 Feb 2018 -- A South African man is facing a possible death sentence in South Sudan, after none of the key defense witnesses showed up at his trial on espionage charges and conspiracy to overthrow the government.

Little Change Expected in Ethiopia Despite PM Resignation VOA 16 Feb 2018 -- Sources in Ethiopia's ruling party tell VOA they expect the country to declare a state of emergency in the wake of the prime minister's surprise resignation this week. However, it is unlikely Hailemariam Desalegn's departure will trigger substantial political change.
Ethiopia Declares State of Emergency After PM Resignation VOA 16 Feb 2018 -- Ethiopia's Council of Ministers has declared a three-month state of emergency for the country, effective immediately.

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