03 December 2018 Military News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

US missiles raid Syrian army in al-Sukhnah town IRNA 03 Dec 2018 -- The US-led coalition carried out a missile attack on some of the Syrian army's positions in al-Sukhnah town in the central parts of Syria.

Pakistan Says Trump Asks Khan To Help Bring Taliban To Peace Talks RFE/RL 03 Dec 2018 -- Pakistan said U.S. President Donald Trump has written a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan to ask for help with Afghan peace talks.
Trump Writes to Pakistan's Khan to Seek Cooperation on Afghan Peace VOA 03 Dec 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking Pakistan's cooperation in bringing the Taliban to the table for negotiating peace in Afghanistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

Hurricane Hunters close out active 2018 hurricane season AFNS 03 Dec 2018 -- The 2018 hurricane season, which ended Nov. 30, was an active one for the Air Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters, who flew more than 655 hours and 83 missions into 12 named storms over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Luke AFB stands up new F-35A lightning II fighter squadron AFNS 03 Dec 2018 -- The 308th Fighter Squadron was reactivated in a ceremony at Luke Air Force Base, Nov. 30. The squadron will house the Royal Netherlands Air Force's and the Royal Danish Air Force's F-35A Lightning IIs, in a training partnership.
Remarks to press by Secretary Mattis prior to an advanced honor cordon welcoming Indian Minister of Defense Sitharaman to the Pentagon DoD 03 Dec 2018 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis
Remarks by Secretary Mattis at an advanced honor cordon welcoming Indian Minister of Defense Sitharaman to the Pentagon DoD 03 Dec 2018 -- Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis; Indian Minister of Defense Nirmala Sitharaman; Ajay Kumar, Secretary, Department Of Defence Production, India; Ken Juster, U.S. Ambassador to India; John Rood, U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy; Lieutenant General Charles Hooper, Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency; Richard Spencer, Secretary, U.S. Navy; Michael Griffin, U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering; Joe Kernan, U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Staff
USS Thomas Hudner brought to life in Boston NNS 03 Dec 2018 -- The Navy commissioned its newest surface combatant, USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), Dec. 1 during a ceremony in Boston.
USS Detroit Begins Operational Testing of LCS Surface-to-Surface Missile Module NNS 03 Dec 2018 -- USS Detroit (LCS 7) began initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) of the Surface-to-Surface Missile Module (SSMM) Nov. 17, two months ahead of schedule.
Alaska National Guard immediate aerial survey reduces earthquake havoc Army News 03 Dec 2018 -- In the cold and dark early-morning hours Friday, an Alaska Air National Guard C-130J "Combat King II" aircraft taxied out to the runway, filled with presents, school supplies and other Christmas goodies for school children in the remote Bering Sea community of Gambell.
US Hasn't Yet Notified Russia About Withdrawal From INF - Kremlin Sputnik 03 Dec 2018 -- Moscow has repeatedly called US plans to abandon the INF very dangerous, saying it might draw entire regions of the world into an arms race.

Trump Eyes Talks With Putin, Xi To Halt 'Uncontrollable Arms Race' RFE/RL 03 Dec 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump says he is certain that "at some time in the future" he, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin "will start talking about a meaningful halt to what has become a major and uncontrollable Arms Race."

NATO Foreign Ministers to address key security challenges NATO 03 Dec 2018 -- NATO Foreign Ministers are meeting this week to address a wide range of security challenges, including Russia's destabilising behaviour, violent extremism in the Middle East and North Africa and continuing instability in Afghanistan.

Standoff Over INF Treaty Enters New Phase As U.S. Reveals Details Of Russian Missile RFE/RL 03 Dec 2018 -- The United States' top intelligence official has quietly revealed key new details about Russia's alleged violations of a bedrock Cold War nuclear treaty, an unexpected move that comes as U.S. officials push to build new support from European allies.
NATO Supports Arms Control, Ready for Dialogue With Russia - Stoltenberg Sputnik 03 Dec 2018 -- In late October, the Russian Armed Forces said in a statement that it had observed a noticeable increase in NATO reconnaissance activity on its borders in recent months.

UK changes military leadership amid row over US jet import Press TV 03 Dec 2018 -- The British military has changed its top commanders amid a widening row over the import of F-35 fighter jets from the United States.
UK-US defence partnership to reach new heights in years ahead UK MOD 03 Dec 2018 -- The UK and USA will work closer together than ever before to tackle shared threats as Britain expands its horizons across the globe, the Defence Secretary has affirmed.

Logistic Sharing Agreement With Russia in the Offing - Indian Navy Chief Sputnik 03 Dec 2018 -- If the agreement is concluded, Russia would be the fourth country with which India will have such agreement with. India has already signed militarily logistics sharing agreements with the US, France, Oman, and Singapore. Australia too has sent a draft agreement.
Chinese Submarine Tracked in the Indian Ocean in October - Indian Navy Chief Sputnik 03 Dec 2018 -- China has maintained that its deployment of warships in the Indian Ocean is primarily to support anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. However, ever since October, when a Chinese submarine was spotted for the first time since the Doklam stand-off last year, India has chosen to view its activity with caution.
US, India to 'Sort Out' Sanctions Waiver for S-400 Purchase - Mattis Sputnik 04 Dec 2018 -- US and Indian officials in coming days will sort out all issues related to the United States possibly waiving sanctions against India for its purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems, Secretary of Defense James Mattis said at the Pentagon.

Chinese standby peacekeeping force passes U.N. assessment People's Daily 03 Dec 2018 -- A spokesman for the Chinese military on Thursday said that China's standby peacekeeping force had passed an assessment by the United Nations.

Iran to be present in Atlantic Ocean in near future: Commander IRNA 03 Dec 2018 -- Commander of the Naval Force of the Iranian Army announced that Iran will be in the Atlantic Ocean in the near future and will do great works.
Iran rules out talks on defense issues IRNA 03 Dec 2018 -- Iran will not talk with any party on defense or domestic issues, the country's Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday.
Iran Says Will Continue Ballistic Missile Tests Despite U.S. Objections RFE/RL 03 Dec 2018 -- The Iranian military says it will keep conducting missile tests despite U.S. condemnation of them.

S.Korea's air force launches 5-day drill People's Daily 03 Dec 2018 -- South Korea's air force on Monday launched a five-day air combat readiness drill after the halt of the joint air combat training with the United States this year, local media reported citing Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

Senior State Department Official Previewing Secretary Pompeo's Trip to Brussels, Belgium US Dept. of State 03 Dec 2018

Defense Industry

DoD News: Contracts for December 03, 2018

Other Conflicts

3 December 2018 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 03 Dec 2018

Evacuation of wounded Yemenis from rebel-held capital may bolster fresh peace talks UN News 03 Dec 2018 -- A United Nations chartered aircraft has transported some fifty badly injured Yemenis from the capital Sana'a to hospitals in Muscat, the capital of Oman, for treatment, the UN envoy for the war-torn country has announced.
Houthi Fighters Evacuated From Yemen VOA 03 Dec 2018 -- Wounded Houthi fighters in Yemen's rebel-held Sana'a are being evacuated Monday before peace talks set to begin this month in Sweden.
Riyadh submits to Houthi demand to evacuate injured ahead of peace talks Press TV 03 Dec 2018 -- Saudi Arabia has submitted to Yemen's demands to evacuate 50 wounded Houthi fighters to Oman for treatment ahead of new UN-brokered peace talks.
Halting arms exports to aggressors facilitates Yemen peace: Iran Press TV 03 Dec 2018 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry says halting arms exports to parties involved in the aggression against Yemen will facilitate the achievement of peace in the war-torn country as belligerent sides are heading for renewed UN-brokered peace talks in Sweden.
Saudi-led coalition continues to use banned munitions in Yemen: Military official Press TV 03 Dec 2018 -- The spokesman for Yemeni Armed Forces says the Saudi-led military coalition continues to use internationally-banned weapons, particularly cluster bombs, in its aerial bombardment of residential neighborhoods in Yemen despite a global outcry against the use of such munitions by Saudi Arabia and its allies.
Saudi airstrike kills 3 civilians in northern Yemen IRNA 03 Dec 2018 -- Three civilians were killed in Saudi air attack on Saada Province, northern Yemen, Yemeni TV Channel 'Al-Masirah' reported.
Joint Forces Command of Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: "At request of the Special Envoy of the Secretary General for Yemen, and following consultations with the legitimate Yemeni government, Joint Forces Command of Coalition facilitates evacuation of 50 wounded Houthi combatants to receive treatment." SPA 03 Dec 2018 -- The Official Spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, Col. Turki Al-Malki states that the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition has received a request from the Special Envoy of the Secretary General for Yemen, Mr. Martin Griffiths, to facilitate evacuation procedures of (50) wounded Houthi combatants to (Muscat). For humanitarian reasons, and under building confidence between Yemeni parties leading up to Sweden peace talks sponsored by the SESGY (Mr. Martin Griffiths).

Briefing With Special Representative for Syria Engagement Ambassador James F. Jeffrey US Dept. of State 03 Dec 2018 -- Special Briefing by James F. Jeffrey, Special Representative for Syria Engagement
Syrian Army Kills Over 270 Daesh Militants During Al-Suwayda Province Offensive Sputnik 03 Dec 2018 -- Syrian Army has killed over 270 Daesh terrorists during an offensive in Syrian Al-Suwayda province, the command of the Russian forces in Syria reported.
Fateh al-Sham obtains 100 drones for chemical attacks in Syria: Report Press TV 03 Dec 2018 -- Terrorists from the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham Takfiri terrorist group, formerly known as al-Nusra Front, have reportedly gained access to 100 unmanned aerial vehicles through a Turkish merchant to use them in chemical attacks against Syrian government forces in the country's northwestern province of Idlib.

November 2018 marks lowest casualty figures in Iraq in 6 Years IRNA 03 Dec 2018 -- United Nations announced on Monday that the death toll of violent and armed conflicts in Iraq hit the lowest in the past six years in November.

'Genocide' Evidence in Case of Myanmar's Rohingya Growing VOA 03 Dec 2018 -- The U.S. Holocaust Museum says it has found "compelling evidence of genocide" in Myanmar against the Muslim Rohingya minority, calling on the U.S. government and international governments to hold the Burmese military accountable.

NATO Set to Meet as Ukraine Seeks Support Against Russian Attacks VOA 03 Dec 2018 -- Russia's recent attack on Ukrainian naval vessels will likely top the agenda at a NATO meeting this week as the alliance searches for a robust response in the wake of the Kremlin's latest act of aggression on Europe's borders.
Kremlin rejects Ukraine's 'absurd' accusation about plan to seize Azov Sea ports Press TV 03 Dec 2018 -- The Kremlin has denounced as "absurd" a Ukrainian accusation that Russia is planning to seize major ports in the Sea of Azov in order to build a land corridor between the Crimean Peninsula and eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russia forces.
NATO Chief Demands Russia Release Ukrainian Ships, Sailors RFE/RL 03 Dec 2018 -- The head of NATO has demanded that Russia release Ukrainian sailors and naval vessels it seized in a confrontation at sea, while Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman says concerns that Moscow could seek to create a "land corridor" linking Russia to Crimea are "absurd."
Ukrainian Sailors Face Up to 6 Years in Prison for Border Crossing - Lawyer Sputnik 03 Dec 2018 -- All 24 Ukrainian sailors who were detained for illegally crossing the Russian maritime border in the Azov Sea have had charges brought against them by Russian investigators and now face up to six years in prison, lawyer Nikolay Polozov told Sputnik on Monday.

Philippine president likely to extend martial law in Mindanao island People's Daily 03 Dec 2018 -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is likely to extend martial law in the entire Mindanao island in the southern Philippines, his chief legal counsel said on Monday.

Israel increased airstrikes, abductions, demolitions in November: PLO report Press TV 03 Dec 2018 -- There has been an escalation of Israel's aerial aggression against the besieged Gaza Strip, Israeli soldiers' attacks against Palestinians across the occupied territories, demolitions of Palestinians' properties in the West Bank, and abductions, a PLO report says.

South Sudan: UN condemns 'brutal' sexual assaults on roads to Bentiu UN News 03 Dec 2018 -- The United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan has condemned a series of brutal sexual assaults on women and girls, travelling on the road to Bentiu, a town in the north of the war-ravaged country.

News Reports

Czech Spy Agency Blames Russia For Cyberattacks On Foreign Ministry, Diplomats RFE/RL 03 Dec 2018 -- The Czech spy agency said it is "obvious" that Russia was behind two recent cyberattack campaigns against the Foreign Ministry and the country's diplomats.

British Spy Chief Warns Russia Against Covert Activity After Nerve-Agent Attack RFE/RL 03 Dec 2018 -- The head of Britain's foreign intelligence service has warned the Kremlin "not to underestimate" the West following a nerve-agent attack on a retired double agent in England that he attributed to covert Russian activity.
Britain warns Russia not to underestimate its intelligence capability Press TV 03 Dec 2018 -- The head of Britain's MI6 intelligence service, which is focused on foreign security threats, has warned Russia that it should not underestimate London's ability to deal with complicated sabotage cases, saying that the country is launching a new generation of espionage activities that could take the adversaries by surprise.

Possibility for DPRK leader's visit to Seoul left open: Moon People's Daily 03 Dec 2018 -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in has said that a possibility for the visit by Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), to Seoul was left open, local media reported Monday.
North Korea Studies Vietnam for Development Ideas VOA 03 Dec 2018 -- Vietnam, a fast-growing country that's liberal on trade and has friends in multiple countries, is offering to help advance North Korea, a fellow communist state that's impoverished as well as distrusted by the West.

Briefing on Iran US Dept. of State 03 Dec 2018 -- Special Briefing by Brian Hook, Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary of State and Special Representative for Iran
US Urges EU to Enact Sanctions After Iran Missile Test VOA 03 Dec 2018 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reaffirmed the strength of U.S.-Israel alliance and reiterated America's resolve in confronting Iran's threats through maximum pressure during a dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday.
U.S. Urges EU Sanctions On Iran Over 'Escalating Missile Threat' RFE/RL 03 Dec 2018 -- The U.S. special representative for Iran has urged the European Union to impose new sanctions targeting Iran's ballistic-missile program, calling it a "grave and escalating threat."
All members of JCPOA on same page against US sanctions: Araqchi IRNA 03 Dec 2018 -- Senior Iranian diplomat says all members of Joint Compressive Plan of Action (JCPOA), including Europe, China and Russia are on the same page against the US unilateral sanctions on Iran with an aim to protect the landmark nuclear deal.
Araqchi: JCPOA members compensate US withdrawal IRNA 03 Dec 2018 -- Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi said on Monday that other members of the G5+1 are now planning to compensate the US withdrawal from the internationally-recognized Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) treaty.
Iran says talks with Europe on creating SPV continuing ISNA 03 Dec 2018 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Bahram Qassemi announced that negotiations and efforts over creating the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), a special payment channel between Iran and EU are continuing.
US Scolds Iran for Violating UN Resolution Washington Breaches Itself - Zarif Sputnik 03 Dec 2018 -- Earlier, Iran rejected accusations by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that Tehran conducting a ballistic missile test allegedly violates a UN Security Council resolution that bans all activity related to "nuclear-capable" weapons.

Xi, Trump reach consensus, agree not to impose new additional tariffs People's Daily 03 Dec 2018 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump held a "highly successful meeting" here Saturday, reaching important consensus and agreeing not to impose new additional tariffs.
'China, US working to remove all tariffs after trade truce' Press TV 03 Dec 2018 -- China and the United States have started working toward removing all the tariffs they have imposed on each other in a trade war, the Chinese Foreign Ministry says, shortly after Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump agreed to temporarily suspend the months-long trade war.
Trump Boasts of Relations with Xi, New Trade Deal with China VOA 03 Dec 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump boasted Monday of his "very strong and personal relationship" with Chinese President Xi Jinping, declaring a new U.S.-China trade deal would immediately allow American farmers to sell more of their products to Beijing.

Trump Offers Khan to Renew US-Pakistani Partnership - Islamabad Sputnik 03 Dec 2018 -- The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday that US President Donald Trump had offered Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to renew the US-Pakistani partnership.

Threat from Islamic State-Affiliated Group Reason DRC US Embassy Closed VOA 03 Dec 2018 -- A threat from a group affiliated with Islamic State was responsible for the closing of the U.S. Embassy in Democratic Republic of Congo for more than a week, a U.S. official tells VOA.

Manned Soyuz Spacecraft 'Successfully Docks' At ISS RFE/RL 03 Dec 2018 -- The first manned Soyuz flight since an aborted launch in October has "successfully docked" at the International Space Station (ISS), Russian space agency Roskosmos says.

May's Brexit Deal Appears Doomed in House of Commons VOA 03 Dec 2018 -- Embattled British Prime Minister Theresa May has just eight days before the House of Commons votes on a contentious deal that would have Britain locked in a customs union with the European Union for several years while it negotiates a more permanent, but vaguely defined, free-trade settlement with its largest trading partner.

UN Chief Says Political Will To Fight Climate Change Has Waned RFE/RL 03 Dec 2018 -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the world's political will to fight global climate change has waned since a 2015 conference in Paris that set ambitious goals for reducing carbon-dioxide emissions.

Qatar Quitting OPEC to Focus on Exports of Liquefied Natural Gas VOA 03 Dec 2018 -- Qatar says it is quitting the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) from January 2019 to focus on exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
In surprise move, Qatar says to quit OPEC in Jan. Press TV 03 Dec 2018 -- Qatar in a surprise announcement says it will leave the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) next month in a move that appears to have been meant to take a swipe at the group's de factor leader Saudi Arabia.

Nigeria's president rejects rumors of his death Press TV 03 Dec 2018 -- Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari has denied claims spread on social media that he has died and been replaced by a double.

Bosnia Set For New Move Toward NATO Membership This Week RFE/RL 03 Dec 2018 -- NATO will take a step toward offering membership to Bosnia-Herzegovina this week, as the alliance formally votes to "activate" the country's Membership Action Plan.

Accent And All: Zurabishvili Wins War Of Words, And The Georgian Presidency RFE/RL 03 Dec 2018 -- Just three days before Georgia's presidential runoff vote, former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said he found candidate Salome Zurabishvili's accent "quite charming."

EU's Hahn Tells Kosovo To 'Unblock Regional Trade' RFE/RL 03 Dec 2018 -- The European Union's enlargement commissioner has urged Kosovo's government to revoke a recent decision to impose a 100 percent tariff on imports from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

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