Further Reading

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Iraqi Militia Leader Says US Military Forces Should Go Home - Report Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- The head of a powerful Shia militia group says he is "certain and confident" Iraqi lawmakers will vote on a resolution demanding the withdrawal of US military forces from the oil-rich nation, according to a new report.
• Trump Says Afghanistan Peace Talks 'Proceeding Well' RFE/RL 30 Jan 2019 -- President Donald Trump has expressed cautious satisfaction over the progress of peace talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan, following six days of talks between the U.S. special envoy for the conflict-wracked country and Taliban negotiators last week.
• Afghan president accuses Islamabad again, says 'keys to war' in Pakistan Press TV 30 Jan 2019 -- Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has once again accused Pakistan of providing a safe haven for militants in three major cities.
• Taliban: US to Help in Afghan Reconstruction After Troop Withdrawal VOA 30 Jan 2019 -- The United States and the Taliban have agreed to establish two "technical teams" to determine details for the eventual withdrawal of all American and NATO troops from Afghanistan and for preventing terrorists from using Afghan soil against America and its allies, the insurgent group said Wednesday.
• Soldiers see Afghan security forces taking lead with new capabilities Army News 30 Jan 2019 -- After an insider attack killed the police chief of Kandahar Province and wounded two U.S. Soldiers, the Afghan government had a defiant response, a senior Army officer said Wednesday.
• Pentagon Preparing to Send More Troops to Border - Defence Secretary Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- The US has ordered the deployment of active duty military forces to the Mexican border to install surveillance cameras and reinforce existing barriers with concertina wire, Under Secretary of Defence for Policy John Rood disclosed in Congressional testimony on 29 January.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Senator Warren, Chairman Smith Unveil Legislation to Establish "No-First-Use" Nuclear Weapons Policy Senator Elizabeth Warren 30 Jan 2019 -- United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today introduced the bicameral No First Use Act, to establish in law that it is the policy of the United States not to use nuclear weapons first.
• 418th FLTS completes 'banner' year, now begins KC-46A Phase III testing US Air Force 30 Jan 2019 -- The 418th Flight Test Squadron and Global Reach Combined Test Force had a busy and successful 2018.
• 97 AMW boom operators prepare for future KC-46 students US Air Force 30 Jan 2019 -- The 56th Air Refueling Squadron has been training the past few months to ensure they are ready for the arrival of the KC-46 Pegasus. While simulators are useful, scheduling and usage can create delays that slow the process of training. That is where part-task trainers, or PTTs come into play.
• Navy to Commission Submarine South Dakota DoD 30 Jan 2019-- The Navy will commission its newest fast attack submarine, the future USS South Dakota (SSN 790), during an 11 a.m. (EST) ceremony Saturday, Feb. 2, at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut.
• Keel Authenticated for Twelfth Expeditionary Fast Transport NNS 30 Jan 2019 -- The U.S. Navy held a keel laying and authentication ceremony for its 12th Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessel, Newport (EPF 12), at Austal USA's shipyard., Jan. 29. The keel was said to be "truly and fairly laid" as it was authenticated by Charlotte Dorrance Marshall, signing her initials into the keel plate.
• In Romania, Secretary General praises deepening NATO-EU cooperation NATO 30 Jan 2019
• 'Under Pressure': Trump Twists Copenhagen's Arm to Up Defence Spending Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- Regardless of a substantial DKK 4.5 billion ($690 million) hike, Denmark's defence expenditure still falls short of the 2 percent target stipulated by NATO.
• US nuclear bombs cause of concern Global Times 30 Jan 2019-- US President Donald Trump's "usable" low-yield nuclear weapons could cause misjudgments and put the world at risk of a nuclear war, experts warned Wednesday as the US began production of such nukes.
• US Development of New Warhead Increases Risk of Nuclear War - Lavrov Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- The statement by the Russian Foreign Minister comes two days after the National Nuclear Security Agency announced that the US had begun manufacturing an undisclosed number of W76-2 Initial Operational Capability [IOC] warheads.
• New low-yield US nukes make nuclear conflict more likely: Lavrov Press TV 30 Jan 2019 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that the United States' decision to produce a low-yield nuclear warhead will only make a nuclear war more likely.
• Five Nuclear Powers Meeting In Beijing As U.S. Calls For Transparency RFE/RL 30 Jan 2019 -- The United States has called for more transparency from Russia and China regarding their nuclear programs, as diplomats from five major nuclear powers meet in Beijing.
• Iran unveils newest drone 'Kaman-12' IRNA 30 Jan 2019 -- Iran has unveiled the newest version of a drone called 'Kaman-12' in defensive achievements exhibition which started work in Tehran's Grand Mosalla Prayers Ground on Wednesday.
• Iran's Armed Forces unveil drones, missiles Press TV 30 Jan 2019 -- Iran's Armed Forces have unveiled new military hardware, including drones and missiles, during an exhibition ahead of the 40th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
• Indian Shipyard to Deliver Two Russian Designed Frigates With BrahMos by 2026 Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- The two frigates constructed with a partial transfer of technology from Russia would make these platforms the largest fleet of ships in a class showcasing domestically-produced equipment such as the BrahMos missile system, sonar system, and combat management system.
• Iraq, NATO sign military training MoU IRNA 30 Jan 2019 -- Iraqi Chief of staff of the army, General Othman al-Ghanmi and the NATO mission head General Curtis and NATO chief General Stuart Beg, signed a memorandum of cooperation to develop the capabilities of the Iraqi army, dinardaily reported.
• Republic of Korea Air Force receives first Airbus A330 MRTT Airbus 30 Jan 2019 -- The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has taken delivery of its first Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft.

Defense Industry

• Contracts for January 30, 2019

Other Conflicts

• 30 January 2019 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 30 Jan 2019
• 68 Saudi forces killed, injured in Saada attack IRNA 30 Jan 2019 -- Yemeni Armed Forces spokesman said that 68 Saudi forces were killed or injured in a conflict with Yemeni army and popular committees in Saada province.
• Syria's rebuilding must be considered in agenda: Iran's Jahangiri ISNA 30 Jan 2019 -- "Rebuilding Syria must be considered in Tehran's agenda", Iran's first Vice-President Es'haq Jahangiri said, during his visit to Damascus.
• 8 civilians killed as US-led jets bombard Syria's Dayr al-Zawr Press TV 30 Jan 2019 -- At least eight civilians have lost their lives and nearly a dozen others sustained injuries when the US-led coalition purportedly fighting the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group conducted a series of airstrikes in Syria's embattled eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr.
• Kurdish Militia Blocks Aid Convoy to Syria's Hajin on US Orders - Russian MoD Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- The Kurdish militia units on Wednesday blocked a convoy of humanitarian aid sent by the Syrian authorities to the city of Hajin, forcing the vehicles to turn around, Lt. Gen. Sergei Solomatin, head of the Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation said.
• UN relief chief urges Security Council to back aid delivery, more funding for millions of Syrians hit by harsh weather UN News 30 Jan 2019 -- With people in Syria "suffering a cold, hard winter", the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator on Wednesday appealed for international funding, backed by UN Security Council support for safe aid delivery, to alleviate the conditions faced by millions struggling for survival amidst rain, snowfall and freezing temperatures across the still war-torn nation.
• EU Again Urges Moscow To Release Ukrainian Sailors RFE/RL 30 Jan 2019 -- The European Union has again called on Russia to immediately and unconditionally release the 24 Ukrainian Navy sailors seized along with their three naval vessels last year near the Kerch Strait, which links the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
• IRGC General Vows to Defend Disputed Islands in the Gulf, Slams US Presence Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- Four islands, located near the Strait of Hormuz, have been the subject of a territorial dispute since Iran claimed them in the 1970s. The strait itself is of significant strategic importance to regional oil exporters, with Tehran threatening to close the waterway in response to US sanctions.
• 4 Persian Gulf islands integral part of Iran: IRGC cmdr. Press TV 30 Jan 2019 -- The chief commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the four islands lying close to the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf are an integral part of the country's territory.
• 'Open, cordial, and frank discussions' held over future Somalia-UN relationship UN News 30 Jan 2019 -- Discussions described in a joint statement as "open, cordial and frank", took place on Wednesday, between Somalia's top two politicians and the UN political and peacebuilding affairs chief, in the capital Mogadishu.
• Mass-graves found of at least 535 killed during 'organized and planned' inter-communal attacks in western DR Congo UN News 30 Jan 2019 -- A preliminary UN investigation into a massacre reportedly carried out in western Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) last month, reveals that "at least 535 civilians were killed in four attacks", the UN Mission in the country, MONUSCO, said on Wednesday.
• Security Council unanimously agrees to extend UN Cyprus Mission amid political impasse UN News 30 Jan 2019 -- The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has been extended for 6 months, as a result of a Security Council Resolution unanimously adopted on Wednesday. The move comes at a time when reunification talks between the two divided halves of the island are at an impasse, following the collapse of talks in July 2017.
• UNICEF Asks for $180 Million to Feed South Sudanese VOA 30 Jan 2019 -- The United Nations children's agency is appealing for $180 million to meet the humanitarian needs of more than 800,000 women and children in South Sudan.

News Reports

• Trump, Guaido to Collaborate on Efforts to Restore Democracy to Venezuela VOA 30 Jan 2019 -- The White House says President Donald Trump reinforced his "strong support" for efforts to restore democracy in Venezuela during a conversation Wednesday with oppositon leader Juan Guaido, who has proclaimed himself as the country's president.
• Trump, Colombian mafia conspiring to kill me: Maduro Press TV 30 Jan 2019 -- Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro says President Donald Trump of the United States and the Colombian mafia are conspiring to assassinate him.
• Lima Group opposes military intervention in Venezuela Press TV 30 Jan 2019 -- A group of Latin American countries that includes Canada and that is largely opposed to the Venezuelan government has nevertheless expressed opposition to any military intervention in Venezuela, amid speculation that the United States is preparing to invade the country to overthrow the government of President Nicolas Maduro.
• Venezuela Targets Opposition Leader With Travel Ban, Bank-Account Freeze RFE/RL 30 Jan 2019 -- Venezuela's Supreme Court has ordered a travel ban on the opposition leader Juan Guaido and frozen his bank accounts.
• Trump Phones Juan Guaido to Express Support as US Ramps Up Pressure on Maduro Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- The US president broke his almost week-long silence on Venezuela after recognizing Guaido as interim president with a phone call, in which he reiterated his support for the opposition leader, whom Washington recognizes as the interim president of the Bolivarian Republic.
• 'Extremely Foolish': US Envoy Warns Maduro of Acting Against Guaido - Reports Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- US Special Envoy for Venezuela Elliott Abrams warned on Wednesday the Venezuelan Authorities of any actions against the self-proclaimed interim country's president Juan Guaido, Reuters reported.
• US Sanctions Nicaragua's Albanisa, Joint Venture With Venezuela's PDVSA - Bolton Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- On Monday, the US imposed sanctions on Venezuela's state-owned oil company PDVSA as part of an effort to transfer power away from President Nicolas Maduro to country's opposition leader Juan Guaido.
• Venezuela Must Free Itself from 'Dollar Blackmail' - Maduro Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- Venezuela needs to free itself from blackmail by the US dollar, as it has enough resources in other currencies and the petro cryptocurrency, President Nicolas Maduro said on Wednesday.
• Lima Group Seeks Contact With Russia, China on Venezuela Crisis – Guaido's Envoy Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- The Lima Group of countries would like to establish contact with Russia and China to discuss the crisis in Venezuela, the country's opposition ambassador to the Lima Group, Julio Borges, told Sputnik on Wednesday.
• Venezuelan Opposition Won't Have Any Dialogue With Maduro - Guaido's Envoy to US Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- In an interview with CNN, the self-proclaimed interim president of Venezuela previously stated that the opposition movement in the country was capable of achieving a peaceful transition of power and free elections.
• Maduro: Military Defectors in Colombia Planning Coup Attempt Against Venezuela Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Wednesday that a group of servicemen who arbitrarily left the Venezuelan army are conspiring in Colombia to sabotage Colombian armed forces.
• Lima Group Wants No Military Intervention in Venezuela - Peruvian Minister Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- The Lima Group regional bloc does not support any military intervention in Venezuela, Peruvian Foreign Minister Nestor Popolizio stated, amid the escalating political crisis in Caracas.
• Maduro: Bolton Prohibited Trump From Initiating Dialogue With Me (EXCLUSIVE) Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has given an exclusive interview to Sputnik, discussing relations with Russia, the ongoing crisis in the Latin American state and prospects for negotiations with the Guaido-led opposition, as well as US policy toward Caracas, including new sanctions on state oil company PDVSA.
• US Activity in Venezuela Mainly Aimed at Getting Country's Oil - Maduro Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- The primary goal of the United States in dealing with Venezuela is to get the country's oil and other natural resources, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro told Sputnik in an interview.
• Protected by Armor: US Sanctions Pose no Risk for Russia-Venezuela Ties - Maduro Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- New US sanctions against Venezuelan state-owned PDVSA energy company pose no risks for the cooperation of Venezuela and Russia, country's President Nicolas Maduro told Sputnik in an interview.
• No Warrant Out for Guaido's Arrest, Prosecution Will Decide Instead - Maduro Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has told Sputnik in an interview that Juan Guaido's actions are pushing forward coup d'etat in Venezuela.
• Pence Expresses US Support For Guaido, Meeting With Venezuelan Diplomats - WH Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- US Vice President Mike Pence during talks with Venezuelan diplomats expressed that the United States strongly supports the National Assembly and self-declared interim president Juan Guaido, the White House said in a press release.
• Venezuelan Supreme Court Bans Guaido From Leaving Country Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- According to media reports, the Venezuelan Supreme Court also blocked all of the self-proclaimed interim president's bank accounts and financial transactions within the country's jurisdiction on Tuesday.
• Guaido Appoints Venezuelan Diplomatic Reps in US, Canada, Lima Group Countries Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- Head of Venezuelan National Assembly and self-proclaimed country's interim president Juan Guaido said Tuesday he would appoint diplomatic representatives in a number of countries, including the United States, Canada, Argentina, Colombia, and the Lima Group.
• US Denounces Venezuela's Attorney General as 'Illegitimate' - Bolton Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- White House National Security Adviser John Bolton in a statement on Tuesday said that the United States condemns Venezuelan prosecutors for threatening opposition leader Juan Guaido.
• Trump Warns Congressional Negotiators to Consider Border Wall Funding VOA 30 Jan 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump cautioned congressional negotiators Wednesday they would be "wasting their time" if they don't consider funding for his proposed border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, an issue that triggered a five-week partial government shutdown.
• Trump Chides 'Naive' U.S. Spy Chiefs Over Iran Threat Assessment RFE/RL 30 Jan 2019 -- President Donald Trump has chided U.S. intelligence heads for being "extremely passive and naive" on Iran after their Congressional testimony went against his views.
• Intelligence Community 'Wrong' About Iran, 'Should Go Back to School' - Trump Sputnik 30 Jan 2019 -- US intelligence on Iran is both naive and passive at a time when the Islamic Republic is destabilising the Middle East and continuing to test missiles, President Donald Trump charged in Twitter statements on 30 January.
• Trump Takes Aim at Intelligence Chiefs Via Tweet-Storm VOA 30 Jan 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump took to Twitter on Wednesday, appearing to reignite his long-standing feud with the country's intelligence agencies by belittling their assessments on Islamic State, North Korea and Iran.
• US intelligence chiefs contradict Trump on Daesh, North Korea Press TV 30 Jan 2019 -- US intelligence chiefs have contradicted President Donald Trump's assertions related to national security, underlining a persistent division in his view of the world and theirs.
• U.S. Lawmakers Seek Treasury Records On Deripaska Sanctions Decision RFE/RL 30 Jan 2019 -- Congressional Democrats are pushing to get documents from the U.S. Treasury Department about its decision to lift financial sanctions on companies connected to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska.
• Justice Department Announces Court-Authorized Efforts to Map and Disrupt Botnet Used by North Korean Hackers US Dept. of Justice 30 Jan 2019 -- The Justice Department today announced an extensive effort to map and further disrupt, through victim notifications, the Joanap botnet – a global network of numerous infected computers under the control of North Korean hackers that was used to facilitate other malicious cyber activities.
• Washington Post: Russia Offered To Build Nuke Plant For North Korea RFE/RL 30 Jan 2019 -- The Washington Post is reporting that Russian officials have made a secret proposal to build North Korea a nuclear power plant in exchange for dismantling its weapons programs.
• U.S. Counterterror Envoy Travels To Europe To Discuss 'Iran-Backed Terrorism' RFE/RL 30 Jan 2019 -- The U.S. State Department says its coordinator for counterterrorism is traveling to the three Scandinavian countries this week to discuss matters including "Iran-backed terrorism" in Europe.
• Blame The U.S. - Not The Government - For Iran's Problems, Rohani Says RFE/RL 30 Jan 2019 -- The United States, not the Iranian leadership, should be blamed for the country's economic difficulties, Iran's President Hassan Rohani has said.
• Iran Security Official: No Intention To Increase Range Of Missile Systems RFE/RL 30 Jan 2019 -- A top Iranian security official said his country does not intend to increase the range of its missile systems.
• FM Zarif stresses contradictions in US admin over Iran IRNA 30 Jan 2019 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a message underlined the contradictions in statements of US President Donald Trump and other officials in the US administration as regard Iran.
• Iran still adhering to 2015 nuclear deal: CIA chief ISNA 30 Jan 2019 -- Iran is still abiding by the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal despite the US pullout from the multinational agreement, CIA chief Gina Haspel said.
• 30-ton yellowcake consignment sent to Isfahan IRNA 30 Jan 2019 -- The 2nd yellowcake shipment weighing 30 tons was loaded in Shahid Rezai Nejad industrial complex and was sent to Isfahan uranium installations.
• Iran transfers 30 tons of yellow cake to Uranium Conversion Facility in Isfahan Press TV 30 Jan 2019 -- Iran has transferred the second shipment of yellow cake weighing 30 tons from the central Yazd province to the Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF) in Isfahan.
• Trump should have listened to EU, UN, ex-US officials on Iran: Zarif Press TV 30 Jan 2019 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif is highlighting confusion within the US political system in Trump era, asserting that even the American intelligence agencies "contradict" the US commander in chief and the rest of war hawks under his rule.
• Syria, Iran set up non-dollar payment channel Press TV 30 Jan 2019 -- Iran and Syria have enabled their banks to conduct transactions in their local currencies and non-dollar foreign currencies, lifting a key hurdle to their trade and investment.
• China eyes further opening-up in updated draft foreign investment law People's Daily 30 Jan 2019 -- The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) on Tuesday started reviewing a new draft of the foreign investment law, the latest move to promote the country's opening-up initiative.
• EU rejects UK's new push for changing Brexit deal Press TV 30 Jan 2019 -- The European Union leaders have roundly rejected a fresh push by Britain to change the country's withdrawal agreement.
• UK parliament OKs Brexit amendment on replacing Irish backstop Press TV 30 Jan 2019 -- British lawmakers have voted on seven amendments to Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal with the European Union, calling for alternatives to the contentious Irish backstop plan and pushing to avoid a no-deal exit.
• EU Rejects British Bid to Change Brexit Deal VOA 30 Jan 2019 -- The European Union on Wednesday rebuffed Britain's efforts to renegotiate the terms of its exit from the EU.
• The Gift Of Graft: Kyrgyzstan Giving Bucks Back To Bribe Busters RFE/RL 30 Jan 2019 -- Kyrgyz authorities hope it's an offer potential corruption whistle-blowers can't refuse: a cut of the dirty money returned as a result of their efforts.
• With Name Change Out Of The Way, Macedonia Looks To Start EU Talks Soon RFE/RL 30 Jan 2019 -- Macedonia says it is ready to accelerate accession talks to join the European Union after agreeing with Greece on a name change to end a decades-long dispute.