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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• US Military Plane Conducts Reconnaissance Near Russian Base in Syria's Hmeimim Sputnik 05 Jan 2019 -- The plane spent two hours near a Russian Air Force base in Syria.
• Some US Troops Could Remain in South Syria After Pullout - Reports Sputnik 05 Jan 2019 -- US national security adviser John Bolton reportedly plans during his trip to Israel to discuss maintaining US presence in Syria to counter the Iranian threat.
• Iran supports peace process, democracy in Afghanistan: Deputy FM Press TV 05 Jan 2019 -- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi says the Islamic Republic will continue to support the peace process and the promotion of democracy in Afghanistan.
• Taliban Says Peace Talks With US Are on Track VOA 05 Jan 2019 -- The Taliban has said that its engagement with the United States for negotiating an end to "the war and illegitimate occupation" of Afghanistan remains on track, ruling out once again any direct peace talks with the government in Kabul
• Pentagon Denies Scaling Back Operations in Somalia VOA 05 Jan 2019 -- The U.S. Defense Department is denying a media report the U.S. is planning to reduce its operations in Somalia.
• US deploys military troops to Gabon over Congo violence Press TV 05 Jan 2019 -- US President Donald Trump says the Pentagon has deployed 80 US troops to Gabon to secure American citizens and the US embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after a presidential election there last week.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Australia's First Aegis Destroyer Completes Weapons Evaluations Sputnik 05 Jan 2019 -- The Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) HMAS Hobart, the country's first destroyer to sport the US-made Aegis combat system, has completed its weapons and systems evaluations, the service announced earlier this week.
• Xi orders armed forces to enhance combat readiness People's Daily 05 Jan 2019 -- President Xi Jinping Friday ordered the Chinese armed forces to enhance their combat readiness from a new starting point and open new ground for developing a strong military.
• China's Xi orders army to be battle-ready amid US tension Press TV 05 Jan 2019 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered the country's armed forces to get prepared for a "comprehensive military struggle" amid escalating tensions with the United States.
• China's Xi Commands Armed Forces to be Battle-Ready – Report Sputnik 05 Jan 2019 -- An armed conflict between Beijing and Washington could possibly ignite over Taiwan or the South China Sea, while some have suggested that US may use these sensitive spots as a bargaining chip in a trade standoff.
• Brazil military at odds with President Bolsonaro's openness to US base: Official Press TV 05 Jan 2019 -- The Brazilian military is at odds with Brazil's new far-right President Jair Bolsonaro's comments that he would be open to discussing the possibility of hosting a US military base on the South American country's soil, a top army official says.
• Iran navy to send flotilla to Atlantic ISNA 05 Jan 2019 -- Iran's navy says it is to dispatch a flotilla, including the country's most advanced destroyer, to the Atlantic Ocean on a five-month mission.
• Iran says to send naval fleet to Atlantic for 5-month mission People's Daily 05 Jan 2019 -- The deputy commander of Iran's Navy said an Iranian naval fleet will be sent to the Atlantic Ocean for a five-month mission in early 2019, official IRNA news agency reported Friday.
• IRGC to showcase new underwater systems: Commander Press TV 05 Jan 2019 -- Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) is planning to unveil new sophisticated systems and weapons used in underwater warfare, says a top commander, as the force seeks to expand its activities in the previously untested military field.
• Iran navy to send flotilla to Atlantic on 5-month mission Press TV 05 Jan 2019 -- Iran's navy says it is to dispatch a flotilla, including the country's most advanced destroyer, to the Atlantic Ocean on a five-month mission.
• Iran Navy To Send Warships To Atlantic RFE/RL 05 Jan 2019 -- The Iranian Navy will send warships to the Atlantic Ocean after March, a top commander said.
• Pakistan Navy Flotilla to visit Iran southern port IRNA 05 Jan 2019 -- In line with Pakistan's maritime tradition and to bolster the existing warm and cordial bilateral ties, a Pakistan Navy Flotilla comprising four Navy Ships will dock at Iran's Persian Gulf port city of Bandar Abbas, from 6 - 9 January.
• Kapitan's Last Stand? Tajik Army Sticks With Russian Terms For Now RFE/RL 05 Jan 2019 -- Tajikistan's state language committee has recommended that the former Soviet country's army stop using Russian military terms and replace them with pure Tajik-Persian words.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Yemen army accuses Saudis of frequent violations of truce IRNA 05 Jan 2019 -- Yemeni Armed Forces spokesman has accused the Saudi-led coalition of repeatedly breaching cease fire agreement in Yemen, saying it violated the truce 214 times in one day.
• Yemen targets Saudi forces with missiles IRNA 05 Jan 2019 -- Yemen has targeted Saudi forces' positions in Najran and Jizan, southern Saudi Arabia with missiles, Yemeni media 'Al-Masirah' reported.
• Griffiths visits Sana'a to push Hudaydah ceasefire amid reported clashes Press TV 05 Jan 2019 -- The UN envoy for Yemen has arrived in the capital Sana'a to discuss a recent UN-sponsored peace agreement on the country's lifeline port city of Hudaydah amid reported clashes between the warring parties.
• Yemeni troops hit Saudi bases in retaliation for air raids Press TV 05 Jan 2019 -- Yemen's army, backed by Houthi forces, has launched fresh retaliatory attacks against Saudi forces inside the kingdom, leaving an unspecified number of them killed or injured.
• Yemeni Government Accuses Houthis of Misleading International Community by Publishing False Information about Humanitarian Situation SPA 05 Jan 2019 -- The Yemeni government has accused the Houthi militia of misleading the international community and international organizations by publishing false information and inaccurate information on the humanitarian situation and the nature of the humanitarian crisis caused by the coup and the war in Yemen.
• Syrian Army responds to breaches by terrorists in Hama, Idleb IRNA 05 Jan 2019 -- Syrian Arab Army units conducted concentrated strikes against terrorist groups located in Hama northern countryside and Idleb western countryside, while they attempted to infiltrate towards military points on the outskirts of the demilitarized zone and its surroundings.
• Continued US-led coalition raids in Syria show disregard for UN Charter, intl. law: Damascus Press TV 05 Jan 2019 -- The Syrian government says continued airstrikes by the US-led coalition against ordinary people and civilian targets show the alliance's reckless disregard for the UN Charter as well as international law.
• Syrian Kurds seek deal with government regardless of US pullout Press TV 05 Jan 2019 -- Syrian Kurdish leaders seek a Russian-mediated deal with President Bashar al-Assad's government regardless of US plans to withdraw from their region, a senior official has said.
• Brazil's president confirms Jerusalem al-Quds embassy move Press TV 05 Jan 2019 -- Brazil's new President Jair Bolsonaro has reaffirmed his plan of relocating the country's embassy in the Israeli capital to the occupied Jerusalem al-Quds.
• Burkina Faso: Dozens killed in clashes, UN chief condemns attacks UN News 05 Jan 2019 -- More than 40 civilians have been reportedly killed during intercommunal clashes this week in northern Burkina Faso, prompting UN Secretary-General António Guterres to issue a statement on Friday night condemning the violence and "deteriorating security situation" in parts of the West African country.

News Reports

• Trump digs in on border wall, as partial shutdown continues People's Daily 05 Jan 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he's prepared for a partial government shutdown to last for months or years, after his meeting with Congressional leaders yielded no deal on funding for a U.S.-Mexico border wall.
• U.S. national Whelan detained in Moscow holds British citizenship People's Daily 05 Jan 2019 -- Russia says it is too early to discuss a swap of individuals with United States after the two countries detained citizens of the other in alleged espionage-related cases.
• Russia Says Too Early To Consider Swap After Mutual Arrests RFE/RL 05 Jan 2019 -- Russia says it is too early to discuss a swap of individuals with United States after the two countries detained citizens of the other in alleged espionage-related cases.
• Days After Whelan Arrest, Moscow Claims U.S. Has Detained A Russian Citizen RFE/RL 05 Jan 2019 -- Days after Moscow arrested the former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan on spying charges, Russia has accused the United States of detaining a Russian citizen.
• Coal Production on Increase in DPRK KCNA 05 Jan 2019 -- In hearty response to the New Year Address made by Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, coal mines in the DPRK are seething with zeal for increased production.
• Iran finds new oil customers despite US sanctions Press TV 05 Jan 2019 -- Iran's deputy oil minister for trade and international affairs says despite US pressure, the number of potential oil customers of the Iranian oil has increased significantly due to "a competitive market and greed of more profits."
• Terrorist attack injures six in NW Pakistan IRNA 05 Jan 2019 -- At least six people including two women were injured in a powerful blast in Pakistan's north western city of Peshawar on Saturday.
• US State Department says Saudi version of Khashoggi murder 'not credible' Press TV 05 Jan 2019 -- The United States says Saudi Arabia's version of the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi is not credible and Riyadh must identify and punish the perpetrators and planners of the killing.
• Russia demands official explanation for US revoking visit by space agency chief Press TV 05 Jan 2019 -- Russia's space agency has demanded an "official explanation" from its American counterpart NASA after it postponed indefinitely a planned visit to the US by its director, Dmitry Rogozin.
• Russian Space Agency Demands NASA Explanation After Rogozin Visit Called Off RFE/RL 05 Jan 2019 -- Russia's space agency says it is demanding an explanation after NASA called off the planned visit to the United States by Dmitry Rogozin, the chief of Roskosmos who is subject to U.S. and European Union sanctions.
• Roscosmos Expects NASA to Explain Position on Rogozin's Visit to US Sputnik 05 Jan 2019 -- The planned visit by Dmitry Rogozin, the director general of the Russian state space corporation Roscosmos, to the United States may not just be postponed but cancelled, a source in the rocket and space industry has told Sputnik.
• NASA Postpones Roscosmos Chief's Visit to US - Space Agency Sputnik 05 Jan 2019 -- NASA has notified Roscosmos that Director General Dmitry Rogozin's planned visit to the United States will need to be postponed, Press Secretary Megan Powers told Sputnik.
• China's lunar rover drives smoothly on moon's far side People's Daily 05 Jan 2019 -- Lunar rover Yutu-2 has been driving on the far side of the moon after separating from the lander and scientific devices on both the lander and rover are currently gathering data, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said late Friday.
• Turkey says ready to give all documents to US probe team on Gulen Press TV 05 Jan 2019 -- Turkey's justice minister says Ankara is ready to give all the necessary documents to an American judiciary delegation currently in the country for its ongoing investigation into the activities of the outlawed Fethullah Gulen movement, which is branded by the Turkish government as the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).
• Bartholomew Signs 'Tomos' Granting Independence To New Orthodox Church In Ukraine RFE/RL 05 Jan 2019 -- Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople has signed a decree granting autocephaly, or independence, to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine, ending more than 330 years of Russian religious control in Ukraine.
• Mexico urges Lima Group not to meddle in Venezuela affairs Press TV 05 Jan 2019 -- Mexico has called on the Lima group of Latin American countries to refrain from interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs, after the block refused to recognize President Nicolas Maduro as the nation's legitimate leader.
• Lima Group says won't recognize Maduro as Venezuela president Press TV 05 Jan 2019 -- Foreign ministers from the 14-member Lima Group said they will not recognize Nicolas Maduro as Venezuela's president when he takes office for a new six-year term on January 10.
• Disempowered Venezuelan Parl't Rejects Legitimacy of Maduro's 2nd Term - Reports Sputnik 05 Jan 2019 -- Earlier in the day, the Lima Group, which is composed of 12 countries in North and South America, urged Maduro to hand over power to the Venezuelan parliament and schedule new presidential elections.
• Lima Group Refuses to Recognize Maduro's New Term Sputnik 05 Jan 2019 -- The Lima Group of countries seeking an end to the Venezuelan crisis said in a declaration on Friday they do not recognize President Nicolas Maduro's new term starting next week.
• Swearing in of Venezuela's New National Assembly President US Dept. of State 05 Jan 2019 -- Today the United States celebrates the swearing-in of the new Executive Board of Venezuela's National Assembly led by Deputy Juan Guaidó as its President. Chargé d'Affaires James Story attended this important event.
• Serbs Protest Against Vucic For Fifth Week, Demand End To Attacks RFE/RL 05 Jan 2019 -- Thousands of people marched in the cold and snow through Belgrade to protest against Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and demand an end to attacks against journalists and opposition figures.
• DRC Delays Results of December Election VOA 05 Jan 2019 -- Democratic Republic of the Congo officials said Saturday that they were delaying results of its presidential election, originally to be released Sunday, until next week.
• UN: Bangladesh Mired in Election Violence and Repression VOA 05 Jan 2019 -- The U.N. human rights office is calling on Bangladeshi authorities to clamp down on party sympathizers allegedly behind violent, deadly attacks against political opponents protesting the results of the country's recent parliamentary elections.
• Europe's Populist Fever Reaches Spain VOA 05 Jan 2019 -- Germany has Alternative for Germany, France has the National Front, Italy has The League and Spain now has VOX, the latest far-right actor to emerge on Europe's political scene after an unexpectedly strong showing in local elections last month in Andalusia, the Spanish southern region until now considered a Socialist bastion.