08 January 2019 Military News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

Pentagon rejects any troops withdrawal timetable for Syria Press TV 08 Jan 2019 -- The United States Department of Defense has rejected any timetable for its allegedly finalized plan to withdraw troops from Syria.

Taliban Calls Off Peace Talks In Qatar With U.S. Officials RFE/RL 08 Jan 2019 -- Afghan Taliban representatives say they have called off two days of peace talks with U.S. officials in Qatar, just hours after they had announced the talks would take place without any delegates from Afghanistan's government.
The US is greatly downplaying the size of the Afghan Taliban TRT World 08 Jan 2019 -- Official estimates of the Afghan Taliban's manpower are wildly off the mark and the Taliban is likely as strong now as it was at the start of the Afghan war in 2001.

Pentagon Denies Reports US Military Witnessed Prisoner Torture in Yemen VOA 08 Jan 2019 -- The Pentagon is denying allegations that U.S. military members were involved in or witnessed torture of jailed terror suspects in Yemen.

Defense Policy / Programs

U.S. Will Pick Up Pace in Race to Space With China, DOD Official Says AFPS 08 Jan 2019 -- The United States isn't out of the game yet when it comes to space, but if it wants to remain on top, it will need to do more and do it faster, a senior Defense Department official said today.
First female F-35 test pilot completes flight mission AFNS 08 Jan 2019 -- A routine F-35 Lightning II flight test mission recently marked a significant event in Air Force history at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
Pentagon let $27.7b in funds expire in 2018, watchdog says Press TV 08 Jan 2019 -- The US Department of Defense (DoD) allowed $27.7 billion in funds to expire last year, a new government watchdog report says, boosting calls by Democrats that Pentagon dollars should be trimmed.
USS to Hold Joint Exercises With Romanian Frigate in Black Sea - Romanian Navy Sputnik 08 Jan 2019 -- US amphibious assault ship USS Fort McHenry arrived at the Romanian port of Constanta for three days to conduct joint exercises with the Romanian frigate in the international waters of the Black Sea on January 10, Romanian Navy reported on Monday.
Information exchange prepares Djiboutian Soldiers for deployment to Somalia Army News 08 Jan 2019 -- Four U.S. Army Soldiers from the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa communications directorate held an Africa Data Sharing Network (ADSN), version two, information exchange with Djibouti Armed Forces (FAD) soldiers Dec. 26, at FAD Headquarters in Djibouti.

US Team to Visit Turkey Soon to Clarify Concerns Over S-400 – Turkish Official Sputnik 08 Jan 2019 -- The United States will send a team to Turkey in the coming weeks to clarify their concerns about Ankara's purchase of the Russian S-400 air defence systems, Turkish Defense Industry President Ismail Demir said.

Mobile howitzers help Tibet border defense People's Daily 08 Jan 2019 -- The People's Liberation Army (PLA) stationed in Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region has been equipped with new vehicle-mounted howitzers, which aims to boost their high-altitude combat capability to improve border security.

No Reason for setting up US military base in Brazil: Defense minister Press TV 08 Jan 2019 -- Brazil's Defense Minister General Fernando Azevedo e Silva says he sees no reason to allow the United States to establish a military base in the South American country, in direct defiance of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who said he would be open to the idea.

Indian Defence Forces Lost 334 Men to Suicide and Fratricide Since 2016 Sputnik 08 Jan 2019 -- The state defence minister, speaking to the Indian parliament currently in session, said that the government has taken major steps to boost a healthy environment that includes yoga and meditation.

Iran's ground forces turned offensive, rapid reaction units: Cmdr IRNA 08 Jan 2019 -- The commander of the Ground Forces of the Islamic Republic Army says the Islamic Republic Army's ground force units have turned into 'offensive mobile' and 'rapid reaction' units.

Taiwan Proposes Ramping Up Biowar Defense Research With New Labs Sputnik 08 Jan 2019 -- Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense has proposed a five-year program to improve the autonomous island's biological warfare defense capabilities, including upgrading existing labs to compete with new facilities opened on the Chinese mainland.

Overseas bases might be just wishful thinking for UK People's Daily 08 Jan 2019 -- The UK is working on plans to build two new military bases in the Caribbean and Southeast Asia, said Britain's Secretary of State for Defense Gavin Williamson in an interview. Gavin Williamson claimed that "where we have economic interests, where we should have military presence".
President did not use "welcome" for British base: Presidential Office CNA 08 Jan 2019 -- The Presidential Office issued a statement on Monday to clarify a report by a foreign media that stated President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) "welcomed" a British military base in the South China Sea.

Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo And Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi At a Press Availability US Dept. of State 08 Jan 2019 -- Remarks by Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State

Defense Industry

DoD News: Contracts for January 08, 2019

Other Conflicts

8 January 2019 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 08 Jan 2019

Chinese military warns off US warship and keeps alert to situation People's Daily 08 Jan 2019 -- Naval and air force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command conducted whole-process monitoring of a US warship that trespassed into Chinese territorial waters off the Xisha Islands without permission, and warned it to leave, a spokesperson of the command said on Monday.

'Houthis agreed to Sweden peace deal over deepening humanitarian crisis in Yemen' Press TV 08 Jan 2019 -- A high-ranking Yemeni official says delegates from the Houthi Ansarullah movement agreed to sit at the negotiating table with representatives loyal to former Yemeni president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi during the latest round of UN-sponsored peace negotiations in Sweden, and struck a peace deal only because of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the crisis-hit Arab country.

Erdogan Rejects U.S. Request For Assurances On Kurdish Fighters RFE/RL 08 Jan 2019 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the U.S. national-security adviser of making "a very serious mistake" by demanding that Turkey not harm Kurdish fighters in Syria as President Donald Trump plans to withdraw U.S. troops from the war-torn country.
Turkey Criticizes US Demands for Syrian Kurds' Safety VOA 08 Jan 2019 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday White House National Security Adviser John Bolton was making "a very serious mistake" in demanding that Ankara guarantee the safety of Kurdish fighters in northeastern Syria before the United States pulls its troops out of the country.
Bolton's Turkey Visit Ends in Acrimony Over Syria Withdrawal VOA 08 Jan 2019 -- U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton ended a visit to Turkey in acrimony Tuesday with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan refusing to meet him. Erdogan dismissed Bolton's calls for the protection of the YPG Syrian Kurdish militia as a precondition to a U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria.
U.S. security adviser arrives in Turkey for Syria talks People's Daily 08 Jan 2019 -- U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton and his delegation arrived in Ankara on Monday to discuss security arrangement as the U.S. troops withdraw from Syria.
Erdogan rebukes Bolton's 'unacceptable' comment on Syrian Kurdish YPG forces Press TV 08 Jan 2019 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has censured as "unacceptable" and a "grave mistake" latest comments made by US National Security Adviser John Bolton about the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which forms the primary component of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), in northern Syria.
Turkey Reportedly to Ask US to Hand Over Military Bases in Syria Sputnik 08 Jan 2019 -- White House National Security Adviser John Bolton earlier arrived in the Turkish capital of Ankara to hold talks with senior Turkish officials on US troop withdrawal from Syria, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed the pull-out as "the right call".
Erdogan Calls Bolton's Remark on Kurdish Militias 'Serious Mistake' Sputnik 08 Jan 2019 -- US National Security Adviser John Bolton spent 7 January in Israel discussing the US troop withdrawal, stating that the country's forces would not leave Syria until Turkey agrees not to attack US-allied Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria and until the remaining Daesh* terrorists have been defeated.
Bolton Slams Erdogan's Article in NY Times on US Withdrawal From Syria - Reports Sputnik 08 Jan 2019 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier had an article on the US withdrawal from Syria published in the New York Times. The Turkish president, while describing the Trump's move as "the right call", noted that the withdrawal must be planned "carefully".
Erdogan Says Only Turkey Can Protect US Interests in Syria Amid Troop Pullout Sputnik 08 Jan 2019 -- In mid-December, US President Donald Trump announced the pull-out of American troops from Syria, having declared victory over Daesh - the sole reason, he said, for the soldiers presence in the Arab country. He subsequently tweeted that Turkey had promised to wipe out the remaining terrorists in Syria.
Trump right on Syria, US pullout must be done with right partners: Erdogan Press TV 08 Jan 2019 -- The Turkish leader says US President Donald Trump's plan to pull military forces out of Syria should be put into action carefully and with the "right partners," saying Turkey is the only country that can help its NATO ally get the job done.

Daesh suicide attack kills 5, injures 8 in northern Syria IRNA 08 Jan 2019 -- The suicide attack conducted by Daesh (ISIS) terrorists in the city of Raqqa, northern Syria has claimed the lives of 5 and injured 8 more.
Syria's return to Arab League depends on political progress: Egypt's FM Press TV 08 Jan 2019 -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry says the incumbent Damascus government needs to implement a number of measures toward the political settlement of the ongoing Syrian crisis in order for the conflict-plagued country to reinstate its membership in the Arab League.
It is Vital to Maintain Dialogue With US on Pullout From Syria - French Minister Sputnik 08 Jan 2019 -- Paris believes it is vital to maintaining close contact with Washington on conditions of the US troops' withdrawal from Syria, French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly has stated, following her first meeting with US Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan.
Pompeo: US Pullout From Syria Doesn't Change 'Counter-Iran Strategy' Sputnik 08 Jan 2019 -- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the planned US withdrawal of troops from Syria won't change the mission of destroying the Daesh terror group and stopping Iran from influencing the region.
Syrian Army Arrive in Northwestern Provinces to Repel Nusra Attacks - Reports Sputnik 08 Jan 2019 -- Additional forces of the Syrian army arrive in the provinces of Idlib, Aleppo and Hama and are ready to repel the attacks of the terrorists from the Hayat Tahrir Ash-Sham group (former Jabhat al-Nusra, banned in Russia), the pro-government Syrian newspaper al-Watan reported on Monday, citing local sources.
US Syria Withdrawal Must Be Planned in Cooperation With Right Partners - Erdogan Sputnik 08 Jan 2019 -- The United States must closely coordinate its planned pullout from Syria with the "right partners" in order to protect itself and the Syrian people, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday in an op-ed published by the New York Times.

News Reports

President Donald J. Trump’s Address to the Nation on the Crisis at the Border The White House 08 Jan 2019
Trump prepares border visit as wall funding still hangs in air People's Daily 08 Jan 2019 -- The White House said Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump plans to visit the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday, as the partisan fight over his demand for funding a border wall has left the federal government partially shut down for more than two weeks.
US Counterterror Officials See No Signs of IS, al-Qaida on Southern Border VOA 08 Jan 2019 -- U.S. counterterrorism officials are sticking by their assessment that terror groups like Islamic State and al-Qaida are not actively trying to sneak operatives into the country from Mexico, despite claims by the White House and Homeland Security officials that "the threat is real."

Trump Campaign Chairman's 'Misstatements' Were 'Unintentional,' His Lawyers Say VOA 08 Jan 2019 -- Lawyers for U.S. President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman say in a new court filing that any "misstatements" he made to prosecutors in their long-running investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election were "unintentional" and that he won't contest the prosecutors' claim that he lied.
Russian Lawyer at Heart of Trump Tower Meeting Indicted VOA 08 Jan 2019 -- Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya, who attended the infamous 2016 Trump Tower meeting with members of then-candidate Donald Trump's campaign, has been charged with obstruction of justice in a case that is unrelated to the special counsel probe but underlines her ties to the Kremlin.
US Supreme Court Rules Against Foreign Company Fighting Subpoena VOA 08 Jan 2019 -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled against a mystery foreign corporation fighting a subpoena believed to have been issued by a grand jury in the special counsel investigation of Russian election meddling.
Russian lawyer at Trump Tower meeting charged in money laundering case Press TV 08 Jan 2019 -- US federal prosecutors have charged Natalia Veselnitskaya, the Russian lawyer who attended a controversial meeting with officials of Donald Trump's presidential campaign in 2016, with obstruction of justice in connection with a separate money laundering and forfeiture case.
Russian Lawyer Who Met With Trump's Son Charged By U.S. In Money Laundering Case RFE/RL 08 Jan 2019 -- U.S. prosecutors have charged a Russian lawyer who met with President Donald Trump's son and top campaign officials during the 2016 presidential election with obstruction of justice in a separate, but parallel case that focused on Russian money laundering.

EU Imposes Sanctions On Iranian Intelligence Service, Two Iranian Citizens RFE/RL 08 Jan 2019 -- The European Union has voted to impose sanctions on the Iranian intelligence service and two Iranian citizens following accusations of Iranian attack plots in Denmark and France.
Iran Sanctions Won't Clear EU 'Responsibility For Harbouring Terrorists' - Zarif Sputnik 08 Jan 2019 -- Denmark earlier called for a new series of sanctions against Tehran, accusing the Iranian intelligence service of an alleged assassination plot on Danish soil, purportedly targeting the exiled leader of a separatist group that had carried out attacks in Iran.

North Korea's Kim in China for 4th summit with President Xi Press TV 08 Jan 2019 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has arrived in China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, only days after warning he would take an "alternative path" if the United States kept his country under pressure and sanctions.
Kim Jong-un Accompanied by N Korean US Negotiator in Beijing Visit - Reports Sputnik 08 Jan 2019 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, during a visit to Beijing, is being accompanied, apart from his wife Ri Sol-ju, by North Korea's Vice Chairman Kim Yong-chol, who is in charge of the nuclear talks with the United States, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Tuesday.
North Korea's Kim Visits Beijing Amid US-China Trade Talks VOA 08 Jan 2019 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is in Beijing this week, his fourth visit in a less than a year. The trip comes as Chinese and U.S. officials held a second day of trade talks and as Kim prepares for a second possible meeting with President Donald Trump.
Kim Jong Un Makes Visit to China at Beijing's Invitation Sputnik 08 Jan 2019 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in China on Monday at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking his fourth summit with Xi. This visit is expected to last from January 7 to January 10, according to state media.

Slamming bans, Zarif says accusing Iran won't absolve EU responsibility for housing terrorists Press TV 08 Jan 2019 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has lambasted the European Union (EU) for harboring notorious MKO terrorists, warning that "accusing" Iran and imposing sanctions against the Islamic Republic will not "absolve" Europe of responsibility for housing members of the terror outfit.
US pure obsession with Iran like attitude of failing psychotic stalkers: FM Zarif Press TV 08 Jan 2019 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the United States has a "pure obsession" with Iran which is very much like the attitude of "persistently failing psychotic stalkers."
Turkey resumes importing Iranian crude oil under US sanctions waiver Press TV 08 Jan 2019 -- Turkey has resumed imports of crude from Iran under waivers granted by the United States to almost all Iranian oil clients after Washington re-imposed the "toughest" sanctions ever against Tehran, trading and shipping sources say.
India begins commercial activity at Chabahar port Press TV 08 Jan 2019 -- India has started its commercial activities in Chabahar within the framework of a trilateral deal, also including Afghanistan, aimed at developing the southern Iran port into a regional trade hub.
Iranian Deputy Makes Unprecedented Call For Foreign Policy Changes RFE/RL 08 Jan 2019 -- An Iranian lawmaker says Tehran's foreign policy has "a lot of unnecessary costs" which can "leave us paralyzed on the streets of Tehran."
Turkey Turns Back to Iranian Crude Imports Using US Wavier – Report Sputnik 08 Jan 2019 -- The US imposed sanctions on Iranian oil exports in November 2018 following its unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal. At the same time, Washington issued temporary waivers to several countries, allowing them to continue importing Tehran's crude.
Iran Not Going to Wait for EU to Develop Ways to Bypass US Sanctions - Zarif Sputnik 08 Jan 2019 -- Iran will focus on cooperation with its traditional partners such as China, India and Russia instead of waiting for the European Union to develop financial mechanisms bypassing US sanctions, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has stated.

CPC leadership hears work reports People's Daily 08 Jan 2019 -- The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Monday held a meeting to hear a series of work reports.

White House urges Beijing to end coercion and talk with Taipei CNA 08 Jan 2019 -- A senior White House official on Monday called on China to stop its coercion of Taiwan and resume dialogue with Taiwan's government after Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) recently reasserted China's right to use force against Taiwan.

Contrasting Trump, Pompeo vows to punish Saudi over Khashoggi murder Press TV 08 Jan 2019 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says his country will punish Saudi Arabia for the "heinous" murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, contrasting President Donald Trump's statements that doing so would hurt American interests.
Saudi forces conduct deadly raid in Qatif village Press TV 08 Jan 2019 -- Qatif region in Saudi Arabia has been the scene of fresh bloody violence. Saudi forces have stormed a small village in the Shia-populated region, killing five people and injuring an unspecified number of others.

Gabon Coup Attempt May Have After-Effects VOA 08 Jan 2019 -- The three uniformed, armed men who took over Gabon state television before dawn Monday had a stern message – and neatly followed a script that has become typical for military-led coups in West and Central Africa.
Gabon Closes Border With Cameroon After Failed Coup Attempt VOA 08 Jan 2019 -- Gabon has closed border crossings with Cameroon since Monday's attempted coup against President Ali Bongo, halting trade and leaving Gabonese unable to return home. Goods and passengers destined for Gabon are stranded in Cameroon's border town of Kiossi.

US imposes fresh sanctions against Venezuelan finance sector Press TV 08 Jan 2019 -- The United States has imposed fresh sanctions against individuals who allegedly worked in a network transferring billions of dollars for the Venezuelan government.
US Issues New Venezuela-Related Sanctions on 7 Individuals, 23 Entities Sputnik 08 Jan 2019 -- The United States has designated seven individuals and numerous entities over Venezuela-related sanctions, the US Department of Treasury said on its website on Tuesday.
Treasury Targets Venezuela Currency Exchange Network Scheme Generating Billions of Dollars for Corrupt Regime Insiders US Treasury 08 Jan 2019 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Venezuelan individuals and companies involved in a significant corruption scheme designed to take advantage of the Government of Venezuela's currency exchange practices, generating more than $2.4 billion in corrupt proceeds.

DR Congo: Ebola response resumes despite 'risky environment' UN News 08 Jan 2019 -- Despite a precarious security environment and continuing pockets of mistrust on the part of affected populations, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Tuesday that all Ebola-affected areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) North Kivu Province are now accessible to health workers.

EU's Mogherini, Kosovar Delegation Discuss Normalizing Relations With Serbia RFE/RL 08 Jan 2019 -- EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on January 8 met with Kosovo's recently appointed negotiators for Pristina's dialogue with Belgrade and urged them to revoke customs tariffs imposed on Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina last year.

Madagascar: UN chief commends leaders, State institutions following 'historic milestone' election UN News 08 Jan 2019 -- Following a run-off election for the Presidency of Madagascar which saw former leader Andry Rajoelina declared the winner on Tuesday, the UN chief has commended all those who contributed to the "peaceful and orderly" voting process that began at the end of November.

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