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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• Phase 3 of Operation Roundup Starts in Syria AFPS 11 Sep 2018 -- Syrian Democratic Forces initiated ground operations for Phase Three of Operation Roundup yesterday.
• Suicide attack kills 19, injures 57 in eastern Afghanistan IRNA 11 Sep 2018 -- Afghanistan Health Ministry spokesman announced that the suicide attack on Nangarhar Province has claimed the lives of 19 people and injured 57 more.
• Afghan Taliban set to hold new round of talks with US Press TV 11 Sep 2018 -- The Taliban militant group is preparing to send a delegation for further talks with US officials in an attempt to end a 17-year-old war in Afghanistan.
• About 60 Afghan forces killed in clashes with Taliban Press TV 11 Sep 2018 -- Scores of Afghan security forces and Taliban militants have been killed in separate clashes in northern Afghanistan, officials say.
• At Least 32 Killed In Suicide Attack On Protesters In Eastern Afghanistan RFE/RL 11 Sep 2018 -- At least 32 people have been killed and around 130 wounded in a suicide attack on a gathering of protesters in eastern Afghanistan, officials say.
• Afghanistan: UN condemns latest school bombings as 'repulsive acts of terrorism' UN News 11 Sep 2018 -- Amidst mounting concern over what appears to be a pattern of attacks targeting civilians and schools, a series of bombs on Tuesday morning in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province left more than 21 dead and some 60 others injured, drawing condemnation from the United Nations Assistance Mission in the country (UNAMA).
• National Guard Prepares for Hurricane Florence AFPS 11 Sep 2018 -- The governors of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Maryland declared a state of emergency yesterday as Hurricane Florence approaches the East Coast. The storm is forecast to make landfall along the Atlantic coast Sept. 13 as a major hurricane.
• S.C. Guard preparing to assist during Hurricane Florence Army News 11 Sep 2018 -- As South Carolina residents and emergency responders prepare for Hurricane Florence, the South Carolina National Guard has mobilized approximately 1,600 Soldiers and Airmen to prepare, respond and participate in advance of this major hurricane projected to make landfall near the Carolinas and the East Coast.
• Virginia Guard to support statewide response to Hurricane Florence Army News 11 Sep 2018 -- The Virginia National Guard is planning to initially bring up to 1,500 Soldiers, Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force on state active duty for possible assistance with the state's response operations for Hurricane Florence. Gov. Ralph Northam has authorized up to 6,000 personnel for response operations and those individuals are alerted and on standby.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Media Availability with Secretary Mattis at the Pentagon DoD 11 Sep 2018 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis
• Arleigh Burke Arrives in Halifax, Canada NNS 11 Sep 2018 -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) arrived in Halifax, Canada for a scheduled port visit, Sept. 7.
• NATO welcomes new Supreme Allied Commander Transformation NATO 11 Sep 2018 -- General André Lanata took over as Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) today (11 September 2018) from General Denis Mercier at a change of command ceremony at Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia.
• US Pushes NATO States to Renege on Outer Space Agreements – Moscow Sputnik 11 Sep 2018 -- The United States is exerting pressure on the NATO countries so that they roll back previously reached agreements on outer space, the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control said.
• Russia to kick off largest drill in decades; China, Mongolia to participate Press TV 11 Sep 2018 -- Russia is set to kick off its largest military maneuver in almost four decades in the country's Far East, with forces from China and Mongolia also participating.
• Russia Holding Massive Military Drills, As Putin Meets Xi RFE/RL 11 Sep 2018 -- Russia has begun massive military exercises across its central and eastern regions, starting weeklong war games the Defense Ministry says will involve some 300,000 personnel -- twice as many as the biggest Soviet maneuvers of the Cold War era.
• Spain to hold talks with Saudi Arabia on differences over bomb deal: Defense chief Press TV 11 Sep 2018 -- Spain says it will discuss with Saudi Arabia ways to resolve their differences over the sale of laser-guided bombs to the kingdom just days after blocking the shipment, in a move observers say is aimed at appeasing the Riyadh regime and maintaining other lucrative contracts with it.
• Chinese troops take part in Russia's huge military exercise People's Daily 11 Sep 2018 -- Russia's largest military drills in over three decades, also attended by the Chinese military forces, kicked off at the Tsugol training range in Russia's Trans-Baikal region on Tuesday.
• Taiwan concludes 4-day national security drill CNA 11 Sep 2018 -- A four-day national security exercise that simulates various emergency scenarios, including protection of the country's key infrastructure, came to an end in Taipei on Tuesday.
• Department Press Briefing - September 11, 2018 US Dept. of State 11 Sep 2018

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for September 11, 2018

Other Conflicts

• 11 September 2018 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 11 Sep 2018
• Yemen: UN envoy asks Security Council for more support 'to move back' to the negotiating table UN News 11 Sep 2018 -- United Nations Special Envoy Martin Griffith told the Security Council on Tuesday that he never expected an easy mission when he convened Intra-Yemeni Consultations in Geneva last week, for which the Houthis delegation failed to show up.
• Video shows first Yemeni drone attack on Saudi-led forces in Hudaydah Press TV 11 Sep 2018 -- Yemeni army soldiers, supported by allied fighters from Popular Committees, have reportedly carried out an airstrike against a strategic military target in the country's western coastal province of Hudaydah in retaliation for the Saudi-led devastating military aggression against their impoverished homeland.
• Jizan targeted by Yemen missiles IRNA 11 Sep 2018 -- Yemeni Army's missile unity and popular committees fired missiles at Saudi troop gathering in Jizan, south of Saudi Arabia.
• UN Chief Appeals to Parties to Protect Civilians in Syria's Idlib VOA 11 Sep 2018 -- U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres appealed Tuesday for the parties in Syria to avoid a full-scale battle for Idlib.
• Analysts: Looming Idlib Conflict Threatens Turkey's Syria Strategy VOA 11 Sep 2018 -- Turkey is urging the international community to intervene to prevent Syria from launching an offensive in Syria's last remaining rebel-held Idlib enclave. The latest call for action comes as Syrian government forces mass around Idlib ahead of an expected assault for control of the enclave.
• Terrorists begin filming staged chemical attack in Syria's Idlib: Russian MoD Press TV 11 Sep 2018 -- Russian Defense Ministry says foreign-sponsored terrorists have started filming scenes of a staged chemical attack in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib to facilitate the implication of Syrian government forces and invent a pretext for the United States and its allies to launch airstrikes on army troops.
• US in talks with UK, France for 'much stronger' attack on Syria: Bolton Press TV 11 Sep 2018 -- US National Security Adviser John Bolton says his country has been in talks with Britain and France to orchestrate a military strike on Syria that will be "much stronger" than the joint operation the three allies carried out earlier this year.
• Erdogan: Idlib liberation battle could pose risks to Turkey, Europe Press TV 11 Sep 2018 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned against what he called "the security and humanitarian risks" of an upcoming Syrian army operation to liberate Idlib Province, which holds the largest concentration of militant groups, including those backed by Ankara.
• Turkey Appeals For Idlib Cease-Fire At UN Security Council RFE/RL 11 Sep 2018 -- Turkey has called for international backing for a cease-fire in the last rebel stronghold in Syria, telling the UN Security Council that an all-out assault on Idlib Province will result in a "major humanitarian catastrophe."
• UN Chief: Idlib Must Not Be Transformed Into a 'Bloodbath' Sputnik 11 Sep 2018 -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters Tuesday at UN headquarters that an all-out assault on Idlib "would unleash a humanitarian nightmare unlike any seen in the blood-soaked Syrian conflict."
• UK Promises Harsh Response in Case of Chemical Weapons Use by Damascus Sputnik 11 Sep 2018 -- UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has promised a "strong and united" response in case chemical weapons are used by Syrian government forces.
• Militant Warns Erdogan Against 'Selling Idlib' Ahead of Syrian Army Offensive Sputnik 11 Sep 2018 -- With the Syrian Army continuing to amass troops and military hardware in southern Idlib, militants occupying the province are seemingly beginning to panic, warning Ankara against giving Damascus the greenlight to launch its long-awaited offensive in northwestern Syria.
• US-backed Militants Start Op Against Last Daesh Terrorists in Northeast Syria Sputnik 11 Sep 2018 -- The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces have launched offensive against the remaining Daesh* terrorists (banned in Russia) in northeast Syria, the International Coalition for Operation Inherent Resolve said Tuesday.
• Staged Filming of Mock 'Chemical Attacks' Has Begun in Idlib - Russian MoD Sputnik 11 Sep 2018 -- As the Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation reported, all the fake footage of "chemical attacks," designed to facilitate the implication of Syrian government forces, is expected to be sent to different TV channels before the end of the day.
• Attack on Syria's Idlib Risks a Severe Security Crisis - Erdogan Sputnik 11 Sep 2018 -- In an article published Tuesday in the Wall Street Journal, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the international community to take action to prevent an attack on Idlib, the last rebel enclave in Syria, and warned that "the entire world stands to pay the price" otherwise.
• Save Idlib from 'transforming into a blood bath', UN chief Guterres urges fighters and their allies UN News 11 Sep 2018 -- A full-scale battle for Idlib must be avoided at all costs, the United Nations Secretary-General has stressed, warning that failure to do so would unleash "a humanitarian nightmare unlike any seen in the blood-soaked Syrian conflict" so far.
• U.S. closes PLO office, adding pressure on Palestinians People's Daily 11 Sep 2018 -- The Trump administration on Monday announced its decision to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)'s office in Washington, a move to further press the Palestinians into peace talks with Israel while invoking strong objections.
• U.S. announces closure of PLO office, threatens sanctions against ICC People's Daily 11 Sep 2018 -- The Trump administration announced the closure of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)'s office in Washington on Monday and threatened sanctions against the International Criminal Court if it pursues investigations against the United States, Israel, or other allies.
• Palestinians renew ICC push against Israel over West Bank village Press TV 11 Sep 2018 -- A high-ranking Palestinian official says the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority has submitted a new complaint over an Israeli "war crime" against a village in the occupied West Bank at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
• End of US funding to UNRWA; attack on international law: Palestine's FM Press TV 11 Sep 2018 -- Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki says a decision by the administration of US President Donald Trump to halt funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) was an attack on international law.
• China sends 165 peacekeepers to South Sudan People's Daily 11 Sep 2018 -- A group of 165 Chinese peacekeepers left Zhengzhou, the capital city of central China's Henan Province, for South Sudan Tuesday on a one-year mission.
• Ethiopia, Eritrea reopen border; celebrate Ethiopian New Year together Press TV 11 Sep 2018 -- The leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea have reopened border crossing points and celebrated the Ethiopian New Year together on their shared frontier, where a fierce war had taken place two decades ago.

News Reports

• Attorney General Jeff Sessions Delivers Remarks on the 17th Anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks US Dept. of Justice 11 Sep 2018 -- Remarks as prepared for delivery
• Remarks by President Trump at Flight 93 September 11 Memorial Service The White House 11 Sep 2018
• Remarks by Vice President Pence at a September 11th Observance Ceremony The White House 11 Sep 2018
• France Sides With ICC: Institution Must Be Left to Operate Independently Sputnik 11 Sep 2018 -- France has commented on Washington's threats, voiced by National Security Advisor John Bolton on Monday, to sanction the ICC if it goes ahead with plans to investigate suspected war crimes in Afghanistan carried out by members of the US armed forces and the CIA.
• ICC Defies US Sanctions Threats Over Afghan Inquiry, Will "Work Undeterred" Sputnik 11 Sep 2018 -- Earlier, White House National Security Advisor John Bolton said that the US would not cooperate with, provide assistance to or join the International Criminal Court, and threatened court officials with sanctions if the tribunal investigates suspected war crimes by US military personnel in Afghanistan.
• White House: ICC Investigation Comprises a 'Threat to American Sovereignty' Sputnik 11 Sep 2018 -- The Trump administration's hard-line stance against the International Criminal Court (ICC) stems from the court's announcement that it is considering opening investigations into US soldiers in Afghanistan, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a press briefing.
• ICC responds to threat of US sanctions IRNA 11 Sep 2018 -- International Criminal Court (ICC) said on Tuesday that it would continue to act without fear and concern in response to a US threat to the boycott of the court.
• Explainer: Why Does U.S. Have It Out For International Criminal Court? RFE/RL 11 Sep 2018 -- John Bolton, U.S. President Donald Trump's national-security adviser, threatened on September 10 that Washington would impose sanctions against judges and prosecutors of the International Criminal Court (ICC) if they proceed with an investigation into war crimes allegedly committed in Afghanistan by Americans.
• International Criminal Court Says It Is Undeterred By U.S. Threat Of Sanctions RFE/RL 11 Sep 2018 -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) has said it will "continue to do its work undeterred," responding a day after U.S. national security adviser John Bolton threatened sanctions if the tribunal investigates alleged war crimes by U.S. personnel in Afghanistan.
• Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un Arranges Art Performance and Banquet for Chinese Party, Government Delegation KCNA 11 Sep 2018 -- Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, arranged an art performance and a banquet on Monday for the party and government delegation of the People's Republic of China led by Li Zhanshu, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, who is a special envoy of Xi Jinping, general secretary of the C.C., CPC and president of the PRC.
• S. Korea's Moon Calls for 'Bold Decisions' by US and N. Korea VOA 11 Sep 2018 -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in is calling for the United States and North Korea to "make bold decisions" to achieve the goal of "complete denuclearization" of the Korean peninsula.
• S. Korea, DPRK to hold working-level military talks on Sept. 13 People's Daily 11 Sep 2018 -- South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) agreed to hold the working-level talks on military affairs later this week, Seoul's Defense Ministry said Tuesday.
• White House confirms receiving letter from DPRK's Kim about arranging another meeting People's Daily 11 Sep 2018 -- The White House said on Monday that it has received a letter from Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), about requesting another meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
• Pyongyang Aims to Connect Railways of North, South Korea – Official Sputnik 11 Sep 2018 -- Pyongyang seeks to connect the railways of North and South Korea, North Korean Deputy Railways Minister Kim Yun Hyok said at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).
• India, Afghanistan Seek Ways to Obtain US Waiver on Trade Via Iranian Port Sputnik 11 Sep 2018 -- As the November 4 deadline for the actualization of US sanctions on Iran nears, India and Afghanistan have held their first tripartite meeting with Iran to devise a strategy to secure a sanctions waiver to carry out unhindered trade through Iran's Chabahar Port.
• Iran's Nuclear Chief Vows to Accelerate Atomic Program if JCPOA Collapses Sputnik 11 Sep 2018 -- Speaking in an interview with AP, Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, blasted the Trump Administration for withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal, also known as JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), adding that the US President's decision to do so "put him on the loser's side."
• Beijing rebuts human rights allegation People's Daily 11 Sep 2018 -- Beijing said on Monday that the Human Rights Watch NGO has always been full of prejudice against China and distorted the facts when it accused the Chinese government of suppressing Uygurs.
• Situation Around Hole on Soyuz More Difficult Than Expected - Roscosmos Chief Sputnik 11 Sep 2018 -- The situation around a hole in the fabric of a Soyuz MS-09 spacecraft, docked to the International Space Station (ISS), is more complicated than it was expected, Dmitry Rogozin, the chief of the Russian space agency Roscosmos stated.
• Elon Musk's SpaceX Abandons Reusable Spacecraft Idea Sputnik 11 Sep 2018 -- Reusability of spacecraft was SpaceX's biggest sales pitch. In the meantime, Boeing will stick with the concept.
• UN: Independent Journalism in Myanmar is Under Threat VOA 11 Sep 2018 -- A U.N. report accuses Myanmar of using a host of specious laws to prevent independent journalists from doing their job.
• Belarus 'Continues To Violate Fundamental Human Rights,' Amnesty Tells UN Committee RFE/RL 11 Sep 2018 -- Amnesty International says the Belarusian authorities have "continued to violate a number of fundamental human rights" over the past five years, including the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, association, and expression, as well as the right to liberty and security of the person.
• Hungary's Orban Defiant As EU Debates Disciplinary Action RFE/RL 11 Sep 2018 -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban accused the European Parliament of attempting to "blackmail" Budapest, as lawmakers began considering disciplinary action against his country.
• Armenia's 2008 Crackdown Probe Hit By Wiretapping Scandal RFE/RL 11 Sep 2018 -- Armenian authorities say they have opened a criminal case into the wiretapping of telephone conversations between the chiefs of the National Security Service and the Special Investigation Service in which they discussed an ongoing investigation into the 2008 postelection violence.
• U.S. Blacklists Bosnian Serb Over Involvement In 'Significant' Corruption RFE/RL 11 Sep 2018 -- The United States has imposed sanctions on Nikola Spiric, an ethnic Serb deputy in Bosnia's national parliament, over what the State Department says is his involvement in "significant" corruption.
• Zambia Continues to Borrow as China Debt Concerns Rise VOA 11 Sep 2018 -- Zambia's government has denied that the country faces an economic crisis, despite widespread concerns that the money it owes China is reaching unsustainable levels.