Further Reading

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Remarks by President Trump to the Ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS The White House 06 Feb 2019
• Trump Says Curtain Likely to Fall on IS Caliphate Within Days VOA 06 Feb 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he expected to formally declare victory over the Islamic State terror group's self-declared caliphate in the next week.
• Remarks at the Meeting of Ministers of the Global Coalition To Defeat ISIS US Dept. of State 06 Feb 2019 -- Remarks by Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State and Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Ali al-Hakim
• The Global Coalition - Working To Defeat ISIS US Dept. of State 06 Feb 2019 -- Fact Sheet
• US Pullout From At Tanf in Syria to Be Conditions-Based, Senior Official Says Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- Syria's At Tanf region will be the last place in the country that US troops leave as they implement a planned withdrawal, a senior US administration official told reporters on Wednesday.
• Top US general 'not consulted' before Trump's Syria withdrawal Press TV 06 Feb 2019 -- A top US general – who is in charge of military operations in the Middle East – says he "was not consulted" prior to President Donald Trump's announcement about the US troop withdrawal from Syria.
• Afghan Opposition, Taliban Agree to Back US-Led Peace Process VOA 06 Feb 2019 -- Taliban and influential Afghan opposition leaders concluded a rare two-day "peace meeting" in Moscow on Wednesday, where they jointly declared that a complete withdrawal of U.S.-led foreign forces was key to a lasting peace in Afghanistan.
• Landmine Victims in Afghanistan Increase as Taliban Plants Explosives VOA 06 Feb 2019 -- U.N. de-miners say the number of people being killed and maimed by landmines in Afghanistan is rising due to explosives newly planted by the Taliban.
• Rising landmine blast toll in Afghanistan highlights long-term care needs of survivors UN News 06 Feb 2019 -- The number of casualties in Afghanistan from landmines and other explosives has more than tripled since 2012, the UN said on Wednesday, in support of a call to provide more long-term support for survivors.
• US Promised Taliban to Pullout Half of Troops From Afghanistan by End of April Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- The intra-Afghan consultations in Moscow give a clear message that all the participants in the event are united in the desire to see the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan, Abdul Salam Hanafi, the deputy head of the Taliban's political office in Doha, told reporters on Wednesday.
• US to pull half of troops out of Afghanistan by April: Taliban Press TV 06 Feb 2019 -- The Taliban say the United States has promised them to withdraw half of its troops from Afghanistan by April as part of a peace process in the conflict-stricken country, a report says.
• Taliban hold rare talks with senior Afghan politicians in Moscow Press TV 06 Feb 2019 -- Representatives from the Taliban militant group have attended a meeting with high-ranking Afghan politicians in the Russian capital city of Moscow, where the participants called for an interim government as they negotiated without delegates from the incumbent administration in attendance.
• Taliban Insists On Foreign-Troop Withdrawal At Moscow Talks RFE/RL 06 Feb 2019 -- Taliban representatives and an Afghan delegation led by former President Hamid Karzai have held a second and final day of talks in Moscow, with the militants continuing to insist upon the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan as a first step in the peace process.
• Afghan Taliban Open To Women's Rights… But Only On Their Terms RFE/RL 06 Feb 2019 -- With increased talk of peace in Afghanistan, the Taliban is projecting itself as a more moderate force, pledging to grant women their rights and allow them to work and go to school.
• Taliban Shifts to Talks With Moscow Despite Possible US Peace Deal Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- On Tuesday, senior Afghan officials, including former President Hamid Karzai, met with Taliban representatives in Moscow weeks after the insurgents met with US representatives to discuss an end to the war.

Defense Policy / Programs

• U.S. Army's only forward-stationed multi-component Air Defense Task Force. Army News 06 Feb 2019 -- Soldiers from the Guam Army National Guard's 1-294th Infantry Regiment's Task Force Guahan, and Soldiers from, 17th Combat Service Support Battalion's Task Force Wolf participated in a transfer of authority ceremony on Feb. 4, 2019, at the Guam National Guard Readiness Center.
• Sierra Nevada Corporation Awarded Contract to Deliver 12 A-29s for the Nigerian Air Force SNC 06 Feb 2019 -- Nevada Corporation (SNC) and its partner, Embraer Defense & Security, were awarded a contract to deliver 12 A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft to the Nigerian Air Force.
• Washington National Guard Aviation partners with Royal Thai Army for exchange Army News 06 Feb 2019 -- For more than 30 years, aviation safety has been a critical element of the Washington National Guard. Pilots and crews ensure that standards are met, maintenance is completed and crews receive the best training routinely on new equipment. Last month, members of the 96th Aviation Troop Command traveled to Lopburi, Kingdom of Thailand to share lessons learned with aviation professionals from the Royal Thai Army.
• Ships of Exercise Cutlass Express 2019 NNS 06 Feb 2019 -- Four ships are participating in this year's iteration of Cutlass Express. The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), French patrol ship Le Malin (P 107), Mauritius Kora-class Corvette CGS Barracuda, and Indian Talwar-class frigate INS Trikand (F 51) are operating out of Djibouti, Seychelles and Mozambique.
• US Navy Removes Unreliable Anti-Torpedo Defense Systems From Supercarriers Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- After more than five years' worth of testing, the US Navy parted ways with the Anti-Torpedo Torpedo Defense System (ATTDS) in September 2018 over its poor performance, a Tuesday report released by the Pentagon's Office of the Director of Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) revealed.
• US Army Mulls Buying Israeli Iron Dome Systems for 'Experiment' Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- The Iron Dome air defence system, developed by Israel, is capable of protecting city-scale territories from mortar fire and missiles at ranges of between 5 and 70 kilometres by shooting down incoming threats.
• US, Philippine AF concludes bilateral air contingency exchange US Air Force 06 Feb 2019 -- U.S. and Philippine air forces Airmen marked the successful completion of 12 days of bilateral training and increased mutual cooperation during the seventh iteration of Bilateral Air Contingent Exchange-Philippines, or BACE-P, at Cesar Basa Air Base, Feb. 1, 2019.
• JBER flies through exercises Patriot Grizzly, Winter Fury US Air Force 06 Feb 2019 -- Active duty and Air Force Reserve Airmen from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, Calif., Jan. 15, to conduct in-house and joint training until Feb. 13.
• Total force exercise sharpens combat-ready skills US Air Force 06 Feb 2019 -- Aerial porters, defenders and medical personnel from the 433rd Airlift Wing joined the 502nd Air Base Wing defenders, the San Antonio Military Medical Center doctors and helicopter crews from Texas Army National Guard, 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment in Operation Dust Storm Feb. 1 at Martindale Army Air Field, Texas.
• Helping F-35A pilots operate, survive at Red Flag US Air Force 06 Feb 2019 -- The F-35 Lightning II is lethal and survivable in almost any environment, but it's just a machine, unable to do anything without a skilled pilot. Those pilots need gear to interface with the jet, operate and survive.
• 'Bloated' But Not Adequate: Pentagon's Cyber-Defenders Unfit for Real Threats Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- US cyber defenders are unprepared against real-world threats due to understaffed and underfunded "Red Teams," according to a 2018 annual report published last week by the US Department of Defense's (DoD) Office of the Director of Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E).
• NATO Allies sign Accession Protocol for the future Republic of North Macedonia NATO 06 Feb 2019 -- At NATO Headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday (6 February 2019) the Permanent Representatives to NATO of the 29 members of the Alliance signed the Accession Protocol for the future Republic of North Macedonia. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov.
• NATO, Macedonia Sign Accession Protocol Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- Skopje gained the opportunity to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation after the Lake Prespa Agreement with Athens, which aimed to resolve the name dispute between two countries.
• NATO, Macedonia Sign 'Historic' Pact, Paving Skopje's Way To Membership RFE/RL 06 Feb 2019 -- NATO's 29 members have signed an accession agreement with Macedonia, a key step toward Skopje becoming the military alliance's 30th member.
• NATO Announces Special 70th Anniversary Summit In London In December RFE/RL 06 Feb 2019 -- The leaders of NATO's 29 member states will hold a special summit in London in December to mark the alliance's 70th anniversary, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on February 6.
• Washington Not Contemplating Deploying Nuclear Missiles in Europe - US Official Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- The United States is not considering deploying nuclear-tipped missiles in Europe, US Undersecretary of Defence for Policy John Rood told guests at the Hudson Institute on Wednesday.
• US Will Find Response to Russia's Kalibr Missiles - Under Secretary of State Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- The Trump administration is confident that it will secure the funds needed to respond appropriately to Russia's development of Kalibr missiles, Under Secretary Andrea Thompson said on Wednesday.
• Russia successfully test-fires long-range missile amid tensions with US Press TV 06 Feb 2019 -- Russia has successfully test-launched an RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), amid ongoing tensions with the United States over long-running treaties that control development of new missiles.
• Yars ICBM Test Launched From Plesetsk Space Centre - Russian Defence Ministry Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- Russia has test-launched an RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk space centre, the set tasks have been implemented in full, the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement Wednesday.
• Russian Military Has 'the Muscles', Keeps Training 'the Brain' - Swedish Report Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- Russia has upped its focus from small-scale conflicts to contential-size conflicts and is working to further increase its preparedness, a Swedish report has said.
• India - 777 Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures Self-Protection Suite DSCA 06 Feb 2019 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to India of two (2) 777 Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) Self-Protection Suites (SPS) for an estimated cost of $190 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
• With No Deal for Minesweepers on the Cards, Indian Navy Hunts for Alternative Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- The Indian government has failed to conclude a deal with foreign manufacturers to acquire mine countermeasure vessels since 2005. In the meantime, the last batch of minesweepers retired last year, rendering the Indian Navy devoid of the crucial asset.
• Pyongyang Using 'Civilian Facilities' to Hide Nuclear, Missile Sites - UN Report Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- North Korea is reportedly taking steps to protect its nuclear and missile stockpiles from potential military strikes, a confidential 317-page report to a UN Security Council sanctions committee revealed this week.
• Pakistan Supreme Court says military must stay away from 'politicking' Press TV 06 Feb 2019 -- Pakistan's Supreme Court has called on the military and intelligence agencies to stay out of politics in a country that has been ruled by generals for nearly half its age since 1947.
• S-300 missile system activated in Syria: Israeli company Press TV 06 Feb 2019 -- An Israeli satellite imaging company claims a number of launchers for S-300 missile defense systems provided to Syria by Russia have been seen in an erected position, indicating that they are now ready to use.
• Israeli Satellite PHOTOS Suggest Russian-Made S-300 Operational in Syria Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- Russia completed its delivery of new S-300 air defence systems to Syria last October following a Russian plane's accidental destruction by a Syrian air defence battery that was responding to an Israeli airstrike.

Defense Industry

• Contracts for February 6, 2019

Other Conflicts

• 6 February 2019 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 06 Feb 2019
• UAE funneling Western-supplied arms to notorious militants in Yemen: Amnesty Press TV 06 Feb 2019 -- An investigation by Amnesty International reveals that the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a key party to the Saudi-led coalition waging war on Yemen, has been funneling Western-supplied arms to "out-of-control" militias notorious for committing war crimes against Yemenis.
• Full stability, security in Syria key regional goal for Iran ISNA 06 Feb 2019 -- Iranian President described relations between Iran and Syria brotherly, close and stronger than ever, saying, "One of the important regional goals and foreign policy principles of the Islamic Republic of Iran is establishment of full stability, security and normal conditions in Syria for the return of Syrians' to their normal life".
• Lebanon to rely on Russian strategy for return of Syrian refugees: Minister Press TV 06 Feb 2019 -- Lebanon's minister of state for displaced affairs says his country will stick primarily to the Russian strategy for the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland.
• Joint Statement on Syria US Dept. of State 06 Feb 2019
• Delivery of Humanitarian Assistance to Rukban US Dept. of State 06 Feb 2019 -- Press Statement
• Largest joint UN humanitarian convoy of the war, reaches remote Syrian settlement UN News 06 Feb 2019 -- The largest UN humanitarian convoy of the Syrian civil war reached the remote settlement of Rukban, on the border with Jordan on Wednesday, where it is delivering life-saving assistance to more than 40,000 displaced people, some of whom have been trapped there for years as the eight-year conflict grinds on.
• Iraq won't turn into launch pad for aggression against others, top Shia cleric says Press TV 06 Feb 2019 -- Iraq's most senior Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has fiercely criticized the latest statement by US President Donald Trump that American forces must remain in Iraq so Washington can keep a close eye on neighboring Iran.
• Bangladesh summons Myanmar envoy over new influx of refugees Press TV 06 Feb 2019 -- Bangladesh has summoned Myanmar's ambassador to protest against a new influx of refugees fleeing clashes in the restive Rakhine state.
• Turkey raps French plan to mark Armenian 'genocide' day Press TV 06 Feb 2019 -- Turkey has condemned a decision by French President Emmanuel Macron to declare a national day for the commemoration of the "genocide" of Armenians by Turkish troops in World War I.
• Turkey Slams France Over Armenian-Genocide-Commemoration Day RFE/RL 06 Feb 2019 -- Turkey has denounced French President Emmanuel Macron's decision to set April 24 as a day to commemorate the "Armenian genocide" as political manipulation.
• CAR Peace Deal Reached in Khartoum Signed in Bangui by All Sides - Commissioner Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- A peace agreement between the authorities and armed groups of the Central African Republic (CAR), reached in Sudan's capital of Khartoum, was signed in Bangui by all the participants in the peace talks on Wednesday, Smail Chergui, the peace and security commissioner of the African Union, told Sputnik.
• Senior Somali Military Officer Killed in Roadside Bombing VOA 06 Feb 2019 -- A senior Somali military commander was killed in a powerful roadside explosion near the capital, Mogadishu, Tuesday just two months after his several other senior officers were killed in the same area by an improvised explosive device (IED), military officials confirmed to VOA Somali.

News Reports

• Erdogan Slams Washington Over Venezuela VOA 06 Feb 2019 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is accusing Washington of "imperialism" in its efforts to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
• Washington Offers To Lift Sanctions on Venezuela Officers Shifting to Guiado Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- The US government is offering to end sanctions on senior Venezuela Army officers who switch their allegiance to National Assembly Speaker Juan Guiado, whom Washington recognizes as president, National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Wednesday.
• Trump Defends INF Withdrawal, Condemns Iran In State Of The Union Speech RFE/RL 06 Feb 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump defended his decision to withdraw from a key arms control treaty with Russia, and criticized Iran as a "radical regime," in a major speech to Congress that largely focused on domestic issues.
• Trump Speech Stokes Allies' Fears Over US Troop Withdrawal VOA 06 Feb 2019 -- U.S. allies have given a cautious welcome to the announcement of a second summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, to be held later this month in the Vietnamese city of Da Nang.
• Trump Calls Widening House Probe 'Presidential Harassment' VOA 06 Feb 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump says there is no basis for a powerful legislative committee to investigate his personal finances.
• US House Democrats Reopen Russiagate Probe, Send Mueller Dozens of Transcripts Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- Now that Democrats are in control of the US House of Representatives again, they've reopened the House Intelligence Committee's Russiagate investigation, sending 50 interview transcripts to the Office of Special Counsel and opening a probe into US President Donald Trump's "financial interests," Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced Wednesday.
• No Material Impact From Foreign Interference on 2018 Election - US DoJ Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- In December, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats claimed that Russia and other countries, such as Iran and China, "conducted influence activities" to promote their interests during the midterms.
• Clock Ticking on Efforts to Strike US Border Deal VOA 06 Feb 2019 -- U.S. lawmakers working to avert another partial government shutdown emerged from a closed-door meeting Wednesday asserting that an agreement on border security could be reached in the coming days, but indicated that partisan differences remained on specific elements of a potential deal.
• Trump Says US to Build 'Human Wall' on Mexico Border if Necessary Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United States would build a "human wall" along the border with Mexico if it cannot construct a physical barrier.
• Trump says to meet with DPRK's Kim on Feb. 27-28 in Vietnam Global Times 06 Feb 2019 -- US President Donald Trump said here on Tuesday in his State of the Union address that he will meet with the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Kim Jong Un, on Feb. 27-28 in Vietnam.
• New UN Report Shows North Korea Avoiding Sanctions VOA 06 Feb 2019 -- A new report by the United Nations shown to the Security Council Friday claims North Korea is working to ensure its weapons cannot be destroyed by military strikes.
• Russia, Iran give up dollar in settlement payments ISNA 06 Feb 2019 -- Moscow and Tehran have given up the dollar in settlement payments and plan to shift completely to national currencies, with euro to be used if there are no other options, Russia's ambassador to Iran, Levan Dzhagaryan said in an interview with TASS.
• Balance in JCPOA's implementation disturbed: Iran deputy FM ISNA 06 Feb 2019 -- Iranian deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Abbas Araqchi and the Secretary-General of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Maurice Gourdault-Montagne held the 6th round of Iran-France political dialogues in Paris.
• Iran's president renews call for Middle East free of nukes, other WMDs Press TV 06 Feb 2019 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani renews Tehran's call for a Middle East free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, urging an end to foreign interventions in the region.
• Asians lift more Iran oil but Europe refuses imports Press TV 06 Feb 2019 -- Asian customers of Iranian oil are steady in taking supplies from the country but the Europeans refuse to buy any, despite having received exemptions from US sanctions.
• Chief bankers of Iran, Iraq sign deal on payment mechanism Press TV 06 Feb 2019 -- Governors of the central banks of Iran and Iraq on Tuesday signed an agreement on a payment mechanism which is to facilitate the settlement of Baghdad's debts to Tehran.
• Tiny UK Royal Navy Vessel Chases Spanish Warship Away From Gibraltar Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- As it passed into territorial waters the Spanish national anthem could be heard over a maritime communications frequency. Gibraltar, located on the southern coast of Spain, has been a British Overseas Territory since 1713, when Spain ceded it to the United Kingdom under The Treaty of Utrecht.
• UK Cabinet Secretly Weighs Eight-Week Brexit Delay - Reports Sputnik 06 Feb 2019 -- British Cabinet ministers have held secret talks on how to delay the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union, presently scheduled for March 29, British paper The Telegraph reported Tuesday night. The deal they seek would push Brexit back to May 24.
• Kingdom launches first Saudi communications satellite (SGS-1) successfully, HRH the Crown Prince signed the final piece to be placed on the satellite with the words, "Above the Clouds" SPA 06 Feb 2019 -- The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the King Abdul-Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), announced today that the first Saudi satellite for communications (SGS-1) has been launched successfully from the Guiana Space Centre on an Ariane 5 rocket. HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince, Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Defense, had signed the final piece to be placed on the Saudi satellite before its launch with the words, "above the clouds."
• 'Lies And Hatred': Ukrainian Ex-President Yanukovych Slams Treason Conviction, Blames Europe RFE/RL 06 Feb 2019 -- Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine's pro-Russia former president, has again rejected his conviction by a Ukrainian court on charges of high treason over attempts to quash a 2014 pro-Western uprising known as the Maidan protests.
• Kosovar President Says Russia Will Support Reconciliation With Serbia RFE/RL 06 Feb 2019 -- Kosovo's president said that Russia had promised to support efforts by Belgrade and Pristina to reconcile, a positive sign for the two Balkan nations estranged since Kosovo declared independence in 2008.
• UN Chief: There Is 'Wind of Hope' in Africa VOA 06 Feb 2019 -- U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday that there has been a "quantum leap" in relations between the world body and the African Union and he hopes this can translate into progress on some of the continent's biggest challenges.