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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• US airstrike kills 20 civilians in Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar: Officials Press TV 15 Dec 2018 -- At least 20 women and children have been killed in an airstrike conducted by US warplanes in Afghanistan's eastern province of Kunar, local officials say.
• US Says Airstrike in Somalia Killed 8 Militants VOA 15 Dec 2018 -- The U.S. military said it conducted an airstrike Saturday in Somalia, killing at least eight al-Shabab militants.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Under Secretary of the Navy Enhances Partnerships with Vital Ally in Romania NNS 15 Dec 2018 -- Under Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly visited Romania Dec. 13-14 as part of a multination trip to the European region focused on strengthening partnerships and cooperation.
• US Spy Plane Conducted Flight Near Syria Above Waters Closed for Russian Drills Sputnik 15 Dec 2018 -- American spy planes often circulate along Syria's borders, especially close to Russia's Hmeymim air base and naval base in Tartus, which houses the Russian Navy and serves as a logistics centre.
• US, South Korea fail to reach deal on military cost-sharing Press TV 15 Dec 2018 -- The United States and South Korea have failed to reach a new agreement on sharing the cost of maintaining a US military presence in the country following multiple rounds of negotiations.
• Russian lawmakers push for greater internet security against US cyber warfare Press TV 15 Dec 2018 -- Amid a rising threat of cyber warfare from the United States, a draft law pushing for greater Russian internet security has been presented to Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma.
• Moscow Says Strategic Bombers Return To Russia After Stay In Venezuela RFE/RL 15 Dec 2018 -- Russia says two nuclear-capable bombers whose flight to Venezuela prompted criticism from the United States and other countries in the Americas have returned to their home airfield.
• Washington Doesn't Believe Russia Serious About Readiness to Preserve INF Treaty Sputnik 15 Dec 2018 -- Washington does not believe that Moscow is seriously committed to preserving the Russian-US Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty since the latter does not recognize having violated the treaty, White House National Security Council (NSC) Spokesperson Garrett Marquis told Sputnik.
• Russia Introduces Draft UNGA Resolution on Preservation of INF Treaty Sputnik 15 Dec 2018 -- Russia has introduced to the UN General Assembly a draft resolution in support of the preservation of the Russian-US Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in the wake of Washington suspending its obligations under the deal, Fyodor Strzhizhovsky, the spokesman of the Russian mission to the United Nations, said.
• Russian Tu-160 Strategic Bombers Return to Home Base After Visit to Venezuela Sputnik 15 Dec 2018 -- Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers returned to their home airbase after their flight to Venezuela, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.
• UK to establish military base in Kuwait: Report Press TV 15 Dec 2018 -- The UK government has reached an agreement with Kuwait to establish a military base in the tiny Persian Gulf country, local Kuwaiti media reports claim.
• UK to Open Another Military Base in Mideast – Reports Sputnik 15 Dec 2018 -- Slightly over a month ago, British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson announced that a new training base would open in Oman in order to boost the UK's clout in the region after Brexit is delivered.
• Iran's 58th naval flotilla returns to Iran IRNA 15 Dec 2018 -- The 58th naval flotilla of the Navy Force of the Iranian Army docked in Bandar Abbas in southern Iran on Saturday morning after a 53-day voyage and was welcomed by the navy commanders.
• Iran's 58th naval fleet docks at Bandar Abbas ISNA 15 Dec 2018 -- Iran's 58th naval fleet, containing Bayandor destroyer and Tonb warship docked at Iranian Navy's first region in the port city of Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf after 53 days, traveling 3970 Nautical miles and docking at Salalah port in Oman.
• Iran says missile program defensive, not up for negotiations Press TV 15 Dec 2018 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the country's missile program is solely for defensive purposes and is not up for negotiations.
• Israel's Chief of General Staff traveled to UAE twice last month: Report Press TV 15 Dec 2018 -- The president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) says the chief of staff of the Israeli military, Gadi Eisenkot, secretly traveled twice in November to the United Arab Emirates, where he met with senior officials, as a number of Arab countries in the Persian Gulf region are warming their relations with the Tel Aviv regime after clandestine contacts.
• Japan plans to upgrade Izumo destroyer into aircraft carrier with fighter jets People's Daily 15 Dec 2018 -- Japan's ruling camp has approved the final draft of the new defense guidelines, which includes plans to transform the Izumo flat-top destroyer from a mere "helicopter carrier" into an aircraft carrier capable of launching fighter jets, local media reported Friday.
• Canadian Military to Launch 3-Satellite System to Track Vessels Sputnik 15 Dec 2018 -- Canada is preparing to launch a group of three satellites to track ships near the nation's coast and also track vessels in parts of the world where Canada conducts military operations with allied nations, the Department of National Defense (DND) announced in a press release.
• Erdogan's Adviser Doubts US Will Ditch F-35 Deal With Turkey Amid S-400 Row Sputnik 15 Dec 2018 -- The US Congress has for some time been considering to halt F-35 shipments to Turkey since Ankara signed a contract for Russian S-400 air defence systems in December 2017. Despite pressure from Washington, Turkey has refused to abandon the deal with Russia.
• Ukrainian Air Force Pilot Dies In Fighter Jet Crash RFE/RL 15 Dec 2018 -- A Ukrainian air force pilot was killed when his fighter jet crashed during a landing attempt on December 15, the country's military announced.
• Ukrainian Su-27 Crashes in Zhytomyr Region, Pilot Killed - General Staff Sputnik 15 Dec 2018 -- General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported on 15 December about a crash of the Su-27 fighter jet in the Zhytomyr region, adding that the pilot was killed in the incident.
• China, Afghanistan, Pakistan agree on joint anti-terror efforts Press TV 15 Dec 2018 -- China has pledged to help Afghanistan and Pakistan put into effect a memorandum of understanding signed by the three sides on security cooperation aimed at curbing militancy and ending longstanding suspicions between Kabul and Islamabad over security issues.
• Afghanistan Hosts Pakistan, China For Talks RFE/RL 15 Dec 2018 -- The foreign ministers of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China met on December 15 in the Afghan capital to discuss trade, development, and security.
• Serbia slams US, threatens Kosovo with military action Press TV 15 Dec 2018 -- Serbia has threatened a possible armed intervention in Kosovo whose parliament on Friday overwhelmingly approved the formation of an army.
• Serbian President Accuses US, UK, Germany of Helping Create Kosovo Army Sputnik 15 Dec 2018 -- Earlier, the Serbian president requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting on the issue of the self-proclaimed Kosovo Republic creating its own army. He stated that Pristina's actions could disrupt peace in the western Balkans.
• Netherlands to Buy More F-35 Jets for Following NATO Demands Sputnik 15 Dec 2018 -- The Netherlands announced on Friday it will increase its defence spending in the coming year to buy more F-35 fighter jets and boost its Special Forces and cyber capabilities.
• Bulgaria Considers to Replace Russian MiG-29s With F-16 Jets Sputnik 15 Dec 2018 -- In June 2018 Bulgarian Parliament approved a plan to spend around $2 billion on its Air Force modernization. It planned to purchase 16 fighter jets to replace its existing air fleet of MiG-29s.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Reopening of Port of Hodeida is Good News for Starving Yemenis VOA 15 Dec 2018 -- The World Food Program says reopening the Yemeni Port of Hodeida is crucial in efforts to stave off famine in that country, which has been at war for more than three years. The United Nations warns some 14 million people are on the verge of starvation in Yemen.
• Iranian Foreign Minister Reiterates Tehran Never Sent Arms to Houthis in Yemen Sputnik 15 Dec 2018 -- Human Rights in the Islamic Republic
• Saudis violate Hudaydah truce 21 times in 24 hours: Yemen army Press TV 15 Dec 2018 -- Yemen's army, which is allied with the Houthi movement, says Saudi Arabia and its allies have conducted 21 airstrikes on Hudaydah over the past 24 hours in violation of a truce reached on Thursday.
• Yemen's Houthis dismiss UN claims about final truce in Hudaydah Press TV 15 Dec 2018 -- The spokesman of Yemen's ruling Houthi Ansarullah movement has expressed doubts about United Nations' assertions about a recent peace deal on the war-torn city of Hudaydah, saying the agreement for implementing a ceasefire in the northwestern port city is yet to be finalized.
• EU calls on Turkey to refrain from any unilateral action in Syria Press TV 15 Dec 2018 -- European Union's top foreign policy official has called on Turkey to avoid taking any unilateral action in Syria that could destabilize the Arab country.
• Turkish, US Presidents Discuss Future Operation in Syria - Erdogan's Aide Sputnik 15 Dec 2018 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, discussed over the phone Ankara's future military operation in the east of Syria, Erdogan's aide Ibrahim Kalin told reporters on the sidelines of the Doha Forum.
• Analysts: Uighur Jihadis in Syria Could Pose Threat VOA 15 Dec 2018 -- Analysts are warning that the jihadi group Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) in northwestern Syria could pose a danger to Syria's volatile Idlib province, where efforts continue to keep a fragile Turkey-Russia-brokered cease-fire between Syrian regime forces and the various rebel groups.
• US Coalition Unable to Complete Defeat of Daesh Near Syria's Hajin - Russian MoD Sputnik 15 Dec 2018 -- The Russian Defence Ministry has commented on the disagreements with the United States over the landmark INF Treaty, as well as the situation in Syria, particularly in areas, controlled by the US-led coalition and its allies.
• Turkey vows to continue attacks on PKK militants in Iraq Press TV 15 Dec 2018 -- Turkey says it will continue its attacks on the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group in northern Iraq despite Baghdad's protest at repeated violations of its airspace.
• Turkey Vows to Continue Airstrikes in Iraq Despite Baghdad's Protest Sputnik 15 Dec 2018 -- The Iraqi Foreign Ministry summoned Turkey's Ambassador Fatih Yildiz on December 14 to protest against a violation of the country's airspace by Turkish aircraft and them conducting airstrikes on several sites in northern Iraq, which allegedly caused "loss of life and property".
• Australia Recognises West Jerusalem as Israeli Capital Sputnik 15 Dec 2018 -- Australia recognised West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
• China firmly opposes U.S. act on Tibet: Foreign Ministry People's Daily 15 Dec 2018 -- China on Friday expressed firm opposition to a Tibet-related act passed by the U.S. Senate recently, and urged it not to be signed into law.
• 7 Kashmir civilians shot dead by Indian troops Press TV 15 Dec 2018 -- Seven civilians have been killed and nearly two dozen injured when Indian troops fired on protesters in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
• More Than 1 Million People Without Shelter in DR Congo at Risk of Diseases VOA 15 Dec 2018 -- The U.N. refugee agency warns an estimated 1.5 million homeless people in Democratic Republic of Congo are destitute and vulnerable to diseases and exploitation.
• Cameroon Frees English Speakers Accused of Separatist Activity VOA 15 Dec 2018 -- More than 100 people in Cameroon, who had been arrested for attempting to create an English-speaking state, were freed Friday. President Paul Biya had ordered legal proceedings against them to be stopped a day earlier.

News Reports

• Russian Spy's Guilty Plea Illustrates Danger Facing US VOA 15 Dec 2018 -- Former top U.S. intelligence officials are warning the guilty plea by a former Russian graduate student and self-proclaimed gun-rights advocate should serve as a wake-up call about the Kremlin's brazen desire and ability to interfere with the American political system.
• Trump: US 'in no hurry' to reach denuclearization deal with North Korea Press TV 15 Dec 2018 -- US President Donald Trump has downplayed any hopes for an imminent deal to persuade North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons, claiming he's in "no hurry" to reach a denuclearization deal.
• Trump Says US 'In No Hurry' in Negotiations With North Korea Sputnik 15 Dec 2018 -- The United States is not rushing in consultations with Pyongyang and believes North Korea's Leader will take advantage to boost his country's economy, US President Donald Trump said in a statement on Friday.
• Is Trump on Path to 'Strategic Patience' on North Korea? VOA 15 Dec 2018 -- President Donald Trump could find himself embracing "strategic patience" on North Korea, an Obama administration approach he once denounced, as nuclear talks with Pyongyang have stalled, analysts say.
• Zarif: US in no position to talk about UN Resolution 2231 IRNA 15 Dec 2018 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif referred to US withdrawal from Iran deal, and said the US is in no position to talk about the UNSC Resolution 2231.
• US sanctions will fail to change Iran policies: FM Zarif Press TV 15 Dec 2018 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says economic sanctions imposed by the United States against Iran will fail to have any impact on the policies of the Islamic Republic at home or abroad.
• Xi underlines continuous reform on national supervisory system People's Daily 15 Dec 2018 -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, stressed consistent efforts to reform the national supervisory system and improve law-based and procedure-based anti-graft work.
• Chinese pres. announces 'overwhelming victory' in his anti-corruption campaign Press TV 15 Dec 2018 -- China's President Xi Jinping has declared victory in his anti-graft fight, saying that the campaign to root out inherent corruption within the ruling Communist Party will continue.
• China Conducts Successful Tests of Deep Water Location System Sputnik 15 Dec 2018 -- The system renders it possible to map equipment placed as deep as 15,133 metres below sea level, with a nearby research ship unremittingly keeping track of incoming signals.
• Ukraine Announces Creation Of Independent Church, Selects Leader RFE/RL 15 Dec 2018 -- Ukrainian Orthodox leaders have agreed on the creation of a new national Orthodox church and elected a leader to head that church, a move that Ukraine's leaders say is vital to the country's security and independence but could raise tensions further with Moscow.
• Poroshenko Announces Creation of 'Local Ukrainian Autocephalous Church' Sputnik 15 Dec 2018 -- Metropolitan of non-canonical Pereyaslav and Bila Tserkva Epiphany Dumenko has been elected the head of a new church structure in Ukraine and introduced in this capacity by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. The Moscow Patriarchate has called the situation around the autocephaly the "legalisation of schism".
• Qatari FM: Saudi-led GCC group 'has no tooth' Press TV 15 Dec 2018 -- Qatar's foreign minister has called the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) a "toothless" organization incapable of holding its members to account.
• Outcome of the 24th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP24) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) US Dept. of State 15 Dec 2018 -- "The United States participated in COP24 to protect U.S. interests, advance a level playing field for U.S. business, and promote the U.S. balanced approach to economic growth, energy security, and environmental protection."
• At COP24, world nations agree on a concrete way forward to bring the Paris climate deal to life UN News 15 Dec 2018 -- After two weeks of crunch negotiations – with overtime – the almost 200 parties gathered in Katowice, Poland, for the United Nations COP24 two-week climate change conference, adopted on Saturday a "robust" set of implementing guidelines for the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement, aimed at keeping global warming well below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels.