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News Reports

Current Operations

• Update: air strikes against Daesh UK MOD 20 Dec 2018 -- The RAF are continuing to take the fight to Daesh in Syria.
• US Warplanes Keep IS in Crosshairs, for Now VOA 20 Dec 2018 -- Islamic State fighters in Syria should not expect any relief from the pounding of U.S. and coalition airstrikes, at least for now.
• Trump's Syria Withdrawal Announcement Criticized By Allies, Praised By Putin RFE/RL 20 Dec 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has defended his unexpected decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, a move met with concern by members of the anti-Islamic State (IS) coalition, but lauded by Russia.
• Views Differ on Trump Pullout From Syria VOA 20 Dec 2018 -- The Syrian government has applauded U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Kurdish regions in the north of Syria. Meanwhile, Kurds have condemned the decision, and the regional U.S. Arab allies are divided over the move.
• Putin Lauds US Troop Withdrawal From Syria, Calls Presence 'Illegitimate' VOA 20 Dec 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed support for a surprise White House decision to pull 2,000 U.S. troops out of Syria, calling their presence there illegitimate and an impediment to peace in the region.
• Trump Defends Victory Against IS Claim, Syria Troop Pullout VOA 20 Dec 2018 -- In a series of tweets early Thursday, President Donald Trump defended his decision to start withdrawing U.S. troops from Syria, saying the U.S. does not want to be "the Policeman of the Middle East."
• Despite, Critics, Trump Says 'All' U.S. Troops To Leave Syria 'Now' After 'Historic Victories' RFE/RL 20 Dec 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump says in a Twitter video message that "after historic victories" against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria, U.S. troops are "all coming back and they're all coming back now," a plan earlier condemned by many Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
• DOD Releases Report on Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan DOD 20 Dec 2018 -- Today the Department of Defense provided to the Congress the semiannual report “Enhancing Security and Stability in Afghanistan” covering events during the period from June 1 to November 30, 2018. The report was submitted in accordance with requirements in Section 1225 of the Fiscal 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) as amended by Sections 1231 and 1531 of the Fiscal 2016 and Fiscal 2017 NDAA.
• U.S. Envoy Doubts Afghan Taliban 'Genuinely Seeking Peace' RFE/RL 20 Dec 2018 -- The U.S. special peace envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, has questioned the Taliban's determination to end the 17-year war, after the group's representatives refused to meet with an Afghan government-backed negotiating team.
• Pakistan says Afghan peace a shared responsibility IRNA 20 Dec 2018 -- Pakistan says it has played its role in talks between Taliban and the United States in the United Arab Emirates, as part of shared responsibility.
• Reports: Trump Considering Significant Troop Withdrawal From Afghanistan RFE/RL 20 Dec 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump is considering a significant withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, U.S. news media are reporting, citing multiple administration officials.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Pentagon chief Mattis announces resignation, citing differences with Trump Press TV 20 Dec 2018 -- US Defense Secretary James Mattis finally announced his long-anticipated resignation to allow President Donald Trump to have a defense chief whose views are more aligned with the US president, he said in his resignation letter Thursday.
• U.S. Defense Chief Mattis To Leave, Says Views Not Fully 'Aligned' With Trump RFE/RL 20 Dec 2018 -- U.S. Defense Chief Jim Mattis will be leaving his post early next year, saying in his resignation letter that his views are not fully "aligned" with President Donald Trump and citing policies toward Russia and China as among the differences.
• Navy Undersecretary Visits Allies to Build Military-to-Military Ties in Europe AFPS 20 Dec 2018 -- Navy Undersecretary Thomas B. Modly has returned from a trip to Europe in which he visited vastly different countries facing different challenges, but with the same feeling about their alliance with the United States.
• First Joint Light Tactical Vehicles rolling to the field Army News 20 Dec 2018 -- Soldiers are about to get their hands on the Army's new Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), and the first unit will start receiving the trucks as the New Year begins.
• Joining forces: Test team completes fourth Orange Flag of 2018 AFNS 20 Dec 2018 -- In the skies above California, an F-35 Lightning II and F-16 Fighting Falcon from Edwards Air Force Base, are joined by an F-15E Strike Eagle and F-22 Raptor from the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron out of Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, along with a Navy F-18 Hornet from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 out of Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake.
• USNS Big Horn Completes US Fifth Fleet, US Sixth Fleet Deployment NNS 20 Dec 2018 -- Military Sealift Command's fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn (T-AO 198) pulled into Naval Station Norfolk, Dec. 17, signifying the completion of their 10-month deployment in support of U.S. Navy and allied efforts in the U.S. Fifth Fleet and U.S. Sixth Fleet's area of responsibility.
• US Navy Says It Faces Rough Waters If 2020 Defense Budget Stalls Sputnik 20 Dec 2018 -- A document submitted to a recent Senate Armed Services readiness subcommittee hearing suggests the US Navy may be heading for rough waters in the near future if lawmakers are unable to agree on a defense budget by January 2020.
• US Deepens Ties With Poland, Commitment to NATO 'Ironclad' - State Dept Sputnik 20 Dec 2018 -- The United States is strengthening its bilateral ties to Poland, welcomes Warsaw's boost in military spending and has an "ironclad" commitment to NATO, Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan said in Warsaw on Wednesday according to a Department of State readout.
• System of Control Over Arms Falling Apart Across The World - Putin Sputnik 20 Dec 2018 -- The system of arms control is falling apart across the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated at the annual press conference.
• Russia says US raising risk of nuclear war by threatening to leave key arms control treaty Press TV 20 Dec 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says the United States is making nuclear war more likely by threatening to leave an arms control treaty with Moscow and refusing to discuss the future of another such bilateral agreement.
• Russian Military Reveals New Tank Capable of Firing Depleted Uranium Rounds Sputnik 20 Dec 2018 -- The modernisation of the tank, last upgraded in 1985, has allowed it to be armed with kinetic energy anti-tank rounds made of depleted uranium. The latter increases the density of the round's material, making it more effective against steel armour.
• Japan Scrambles to Intercept Russian Su-24 Over International Waters Sputnik 20 Dec 2018 -- The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) scrambled fighters to intercept a Russian Su-24 Fencer ground attack aircraft over the Sea of Japan Wednesday, Tokyo announced shortly after the event. It was the second time in a week Japan rushed to meet foreign planes. Meanwhile, Japan has moved to massively expand its air fleet.
• Indian Air Force Chief Praises Russian Arms, Bilateral Military Cooperation Sputnik 20 Dec 2018 -- Indian Air Force Chief BS Dhanoa has lauded Russian-manufactured military equipment, claiming the armaments have played pivotal roles in various air campaigns undertaken by India.
• China Resumes Bomber Flights Around Taiwan, Ending Six-Month Hiatus Sputnik 20 Dec 2018 -- On Tuesday, Taiwan's air defenses detected Chinese bombers and other aircraft flying near the island for the first time in six months.
• New acquisition plans for 2019 and beyond Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic 20 Dec 2018 -- In a meeting on December 17th, Minister Lubomir Metnar apprised the Czech Government of upcoming defence acquisition public tender plans for the Czech Armed Forces.
• 10-year plan of national defence system development approved Ministry of National Defense Republic of Lithuania 20 Dec 2018 -- On December 20 the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania approved the new 10-year Plan for National Defence System Development which will be in force instead of the one approved in 2014 and made completely irrelevant by the changed regional security environment and increased defence budget.
• North Korea 'not to denuclearize unless US nuclear threat removed' Press TV 20 Dec 2018 -- North Korean state media say Pyongyang will never unilaterally give up its nuclear weapons program unless the United States removes its nuclear threat first, amid a protracted deadlock in nuclear negotiations between the two countries over the sequencing of the denuclearization process in the Korean Peninsula and the removal of international sanctions.
• IRGC to raise its power: Iran cmdr IRNA 20 Dec 2018 -- Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) will enhance its power despite the sanctions, which have brought no effect on Iran's defense power, senior commander said on Thursday.
• S Korean President Urges Further Enhancement of Country's Defenсe Capabilities Sputnik 20 Dec 2018 -- South Korea should continue increasing the country's defence capabilities even in spite of the recent positive dynamics in its relationship with North Korea, since peace was only possible with a strong military, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 20, 2018
• Lockheed Martin Meets 2018 F-35 Production Target with 91 Aircraft Deliveries Lockheed Martin 20 Dec 2018 -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) delivered the 91st F-35 aircraft for the year, meeting the joint government and industry delivery target for 2018 and demonstrating the F-35 enterprise's ability to ramp to full rate production.

Other Conflicts

• 20 December 2018 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 20 Dec 2018
• Taiwan reiterates claim over Diaoyutais amid Japan protest CNA 20 Dec 2018 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) reiterated Thursday Taiwan's claim over the disputed Diaoyutai Islands in the East China Sea after the Japanese government issued a protest to the ministry as it found a record number of Taiwanese fishing vessels operating near the islands that are claimed by both countries.
• 2018 'terrifying' for Yemenis but ultimately a 'year for hope' says UN Special Envoy UN News 20 Dec 2018 -- It has been a "terrifying" year for Yemenis but ultimately one of hope, as December talks in Sweden yielded a ceasefire around a key port city with the promise of further substantive consultations between the warring parties next month, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, told UN News in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.
• MSF: Famine Focus in Yemen Overshadows Health, Medical Needs VOA 20 Dec 2018 -- The charity Doctors Without Borders says the medical and health needs of the Yemeni population are being overshadowed and neglected by the almost single-minded focus on a looming famine in the country.
• China: Syria's future should be determined by Syrians Press TV 20 Dec 2018 -- China says the future of Syria should be independently decided by its people and the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the country respected.
• Syria open to any initiative making way for resolution of country's crisis: Ja'fari Press TV 20 Dec 2018 -- The United Nations Security Council has held a meeting on Syria with a focus on a UN-backed constitutional body for the crisis-hit country, days after the three mediators of a peace process in Syria reached a set of agreements in Geneva, Austria, on the issue.
• UN Special Envoy Says Premature to Assess US Withdrawal From Syria Sputnik 20 Dec 2018 -- It is premature to assess the US decision to withdraw its military presence from Syria, UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura told reporters on Thursday.
• Israeli Prime Minister Vows to Continue Aggressive Actions Against Iran in Syria Sputnik 20 Dec 2018 -- The US announced earlier this week that they had started to pull their troops out of Syria while the country's president Donald Trump said that the Daesh* terrorist group had been defeated.
• US Withdrawal From Syria to Be Major Blow to Kurdish Militia - Syrian Envoy Sputnik 20 Dec 2018 -- The announced withdrawal of the US military from Syria will come as a hard blow for the Kurdish-led militia operating in the northeast of Syria, whose only sensible option now is to return the lands that they have seized back under control of the legitimate Syrian government, Syria's Envoy to China Imad Moustapha told Sputnik.
• UK Foreign Office: Daesh Will Remain a Threat in Syria Sputnik 20 Dec 2018 -- The international coalitions fighting against the Daesh terror group has made huge progress but the terror organization remains a threat and should be defeated, the UK Foreign Office said, commenting on the US announcement of the withdrawal of the forces from Syria.
• Russian FM: US Troops Withdrawal Enables Outlook for Syria Political Settlement Sputnik 20 Dec 2018 -- The decision of the United States to withdraw its troops from Syria creates a real possibility for a political settlement in the crisis-torn Arab Republic, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.
• Remain united for Syrians, UN envoy de Mistura urges Security Council UN News 20 Dec 2018 -- Addressing the problems plaguing Syria and bring years of brutal fighting to an end, requires further "genuine effort" on the part of influential countries, to talk to each other and work constructively, the veteran United Nations Special Envoy for Syria has said.
• US, French Military Withdraw From Manbij Area in Northern Syria - SDF Source Sputnik 20 Dec 2018 -- US and French forces began to abandon their positions near the city of Manbij in northern Syria, a source close to the Arab-Kurdish formations of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) told Sputnik on Wednesday.
• Turkey Promises to 'Bury' Kurds in New Syrian Ops Amid US Withdrawal – Reports Sputnik 20 Dec 2018 -- Previously, Turkey conducted two ops, "Olive Branch" and " Euphrates Shield" in the Arab Republic in a bid to eliminate Kurdish forces there, allegedly tied to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), deemed a terrorist organisation by Ankara.
• IDF Starts Demolition of Hezbollah 'Attack' Tunnels Along Lebanese Border Sputnik 20 Dec 2018 -- The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said on Thursday that they had started destroying attack tunnels discovered close to the Israeli-Lebanese border.
• Putin: Kiev's Provocation in Kerch Strait Likely Helped Poroshenko Rise in Polls Sputnik 20 Dec 2018 -- Kiev's provocation in the Kerch Strait, when Ukrainian Navy ships illegally crossed the Russian border and as a result were seized by Russian border guards, has been successful in terms of boosting Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's ratings ahead of next year's election, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated.
• Libyan army demands UN investigation into 'two weapons shipments from Turkey' Press TV 20 Dec 2018 -- The Libyan National Army has called on the United Nations Security Council to launch an immediate investigation into what it says are two shipments of military hardware from Turkey to the North African country.
• Myanmar launches new 'clearance operations' against Rohingya Press TV 20 Dec 2018 -- Myanmar forces are conducting new "clearance operations" in northern Rakhine state where thousands of Rohingya Muslims have been languishing in internal displacement camps.
• Instability in Africa's Sahel, spreading outwards, Security Council told UN News 20 Dec 2018 -- Efforts to address the multiple challenges facing Africa's Sahel region should be driven by local, regional and national leadership, with the support of international partners as required, the United Nations Special Adviser for the region said on Thursday.
• Somalia's Parliament Drops Impeachment of President VOA 20 Dec 2018 -- Weeks of bickering and negotiation in Somalia's parliament have stopped an effort to remove President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo though impeachment.

News Reports

• Trump Balks at Approving Funding to Avert Shutdown Without Border Wall Money VOA 20 Dec 2018 -- President Donald Trump is not going to sign legislation to avert a partial government shutdown at midnight Friday because it does not include money for the wall he wants built along the U.S.-Mexican border to thwart illegal immigration, top Republican congressional leaders said Thursday.
• US House Intel Committee Votes to Give Roger Stone Transcripts to Mueller Probe Sputnik 20 Dec 2018 -- The House Intelligence Committee voted unanimously on Thursday to hand over transcripts of Roger Stone's congressional testimony to special counsel Robert Mueller. Stone is a longtime ally of US President Donald Trump.
• Treasury Publishes National Illicit Finance Strategy and Supporting Risk Assessments US Treasury 20 Dec 2018 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury today issued the National Strategy for Combating Terrorist and Other Illicit Financing (National Illicit Finance Strategy), pursuant to Sections 261 and 262 of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act of 2017 (CAATSA).
• Two Chinese Hackers Associated With the Ministry of State Security Charged with Global Computer Intrusion Campaigns Targeting Intellectual Property and Confidential Business Information US Dept. of Justice 20 Dec 2018 -- The unsealing of an indictment charging Zhu Hua (??), aka Afwar, aka CVNX, aka Alayos, aka Godkiller; and Zhang Shilong (???), aka Baobeilong, aka Zhang Jianguo, aka Atreexp, both nationals of the People's Republic of China (China), with conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft was announced today.
• Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein Announces Charges Against Chinese Hackers US Dept. of Justice 20 Dec 2018
• US Justice Department charges Chinese nationals for 'extensive' global hacking campaign Press TV 20 Dec 2018 -- The US Justice Department has announced the indictment of two Chinese nationals who allegedly hacked dozens of companies in multiple countries, including the US.
• Joint Statement by Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen: Chinese Actors Compromise Global Managed Service Providers US Dept. of State 20 Dec 2018 -- Since at least 2014, Chinese cyber actors associated with the Chinese Ministry of State Security have hacked multiple U.S. and global managed service and cloud providers.
• UK and allies reveal global scale of Chinese cyber campaign UK FCO 20 Dec 2018 -- The UK government and its allies are holding responsible elements of the Chinese government for an extensive cyber campaign
• US Charges Two Hackers Linked to Chinese Intelligence VOA 20 Dec 2018 -- U.S. prosecutors unsealed charges on Thursday against two hackers linked to Chinese intelligence, accusing them of engaging in a campaign of computer intrusions over a 12-year period targeting technology firms that businesses and government agencies around the world hire to store, process and protect their data.
• US Treasury Sanctions 15 GRU Members for Alleged Election Interference Sputnik 20 Dec 2018 -- The United States has sanctioned 15 members of Russia's Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) for taking part in alleged malign activities, including the 2016 US election meddling, hacking the World Anti-Doping Agency, and the nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter, the US Treasury Department said Wednesday.
• Vladimir Putin’s annual news conference • President of Russia Kremlin.ru 20 dec 2018
• Putin Warns Of Risk Of Nuclear War, Talks Up Russian Economy In Annual Press Conference RFE/RL 20 Dec 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that the risk of a catastrophic nuclear conflict should not be underestimated and criticized the United States for abandoning Cold War-era arms treaties, while casting his country's economy in a positive light but calling for improvements.
• 'Insider' Out: Journalist Who Helped Expose Novichok Suspects Barred From Putin Press Conference RFE/RL 20 Dec 2018 -- The Russian investigative journalist Roman Dobrokhotov was not expecting problems when he showed up for President Vladimir Putin's annual news conference in Moscow. After all, he was on the Kremlin's list of journalists accredited to the December 20 event -- and even had an official badge.
• OSCE Cites Torture, Executions Among 'Grave' Rights Violations In Chechnya RFE/RL 20 Dec 2018 -- Authorities in Russia's Chechnya region have committed torture, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, and other "very serious" human rights violations and abuses, an expert report has concluded.
• Expert Report From the Moscow Mechanism for Human Rights Abuses in Chechnya US Dept. of State 20 Dec 2018 -- "Today the United States welcomes the expert, fact-finding report on human rights violations and abuses in the Russian Federation's Republic of Chechnya and impunity for them, which we believe to be a particularly serious threat to Russia's fulfillment of its Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) human dimension commitments."
• S.Korea, DPRK agree to conduct joint inspection on DPRK's eastern road People's Daily 20 Dec 2018 -- South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) agreed Thursday to conduct a joint inspection on roads along the DPRK's eastern coast ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony next week to modernize and connect railways and roads across the border, Seoul's unification ministry said.
• Iraq gets 90-day Iran sanctions waiver from Washington Press TV 20 Dec 2018 -- The United States has granted Iraq a 90-day extension to an exemption from sanctions re-imposed on neighboring Iran to keep importing electricity and natural gas and meet its energy needs.
• Iranian Intelligence Ministry rejects Israeli PM's 'delusional' claims Press TV 20 Dec 2018 -- Iran's Intelligence Ministry rejects the Israeli premier's claim that Tel Aviv's agents routinely visit the country for spying on its nuclear program, saying such "delusional remarks" are merely meant to ease the pressure on him over recent revelations about the Islamic Republic's successful infiltration of the regime's espionage services.
• Ukraine Lawmakers OK Law To Rename Moscow-Loyal Orthodox Church RFE/RL 20 Dec 2018 -- Ukraine's parliament has approved a bill that would force the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) to change its name.
• Presidential Office thanks U.S. Congress for passing Asia policy bill CNA 20 Dec 2018 -- The Presidential Office on Thursday thanked the U.S. Congress for passing the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018, which includes a section reaffirming U.S. commitment to Taiwan, particularly regarding arms sales.
• Taiwan's former President Ma says independence not possible CNA 20 Dec 2018 -- Taiwan's options for the future lie only between maintaining the status quo tied to the "1992 consensus," a formula endorsing the one China principle, and unifying with China, while independence was not possible, former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said Thursday.
• Three Members Of ISS Crew Return To Earth After 197 Days In Space RFE/RL 20 Dec 2018 -- Three crew members of the International Space Station (ISS) have returned to Earth as they completed their 197-day mission.
• Brazil's President Temer faces new corruption charge Press TV 20 Dec 2018 -- Brazilian President Michel Temer has been charged with corruption and money laundering following an investigation into graft related to alleged concessions in running the country's ports.
• Kuwait holding negotiations with Saudi Arabia to end Persian Gulf diplomatic spat: Official Press TV 20 Dec 2018 -- A high-ranking Kuwaiti official says his country is in talks with Saudi Arabia to help work out a solution to a diplomatic crisis in the Persian Gulf region, which has seen the Riyadh regime and a number of its allies impose a diplomatic and trade boycott against Qatar.
• DR Congo Polls Postponed One Week to December 30 VOA 20 Dec 2018 -- Elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been postponed by one week, to Dec. 30, the country's electoral commission said Thursday.
• Defections Spark Acrimony in Malaysian Government VOA 20 Dec 2018 -- Factional warfare has erupted on both sides of Malaysian politics as a bitter internal feud brings to a close the honeymoon period for the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition government.