17 November 2019 Military News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

Afghanistan Blames Taliban For Delay In High-Profile Prisoner Swap RFE/RL 17 Nov 2019 -- Kabul has blamed the Taliban for a delay in the exchange of three extremist prisoners held in Afghanistan for two Western hostages that the militant group has been holding.

Defense Policy / Programs

US, South Korea Postpone Joint Military Drills as 'Act of Goodwill' Toward North Korea VOA 17 Nov 2019 -- The U.S. and South Korea said Sunday they are postponing joint military drills.
Training Event Postponed to Encourage North Korea to Return to Negotiations DoD News 17 Nov 2019 -- The U.S. and South Korea are postponing a combined flying training event that was scheduled to start tomorrow in South Korea, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said yesterday.
US, S Korea to Postpone Military Drills to Bolster N Korea Peace Effort - US Defence Secretary Sputnik 17 Nov 2019 -- Last year, the Vigilant ACE drills were suspended amid dialogue with Pyongyang on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Readout of the Bilateral Engagement With India Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh DoD 17 Nov 2019

Chinese Carrier Group Sails Through Taiwan Strait, Trailed by US, Japanese Ships Sputnik 17 Nov 2019 -- Earlier this week, the US guided-missile cruiser Chancellorsville transited the Taiwan Strait between China and the island of Taiwan marking it the ninth transit through the strait by the US Navy this year.
China's first locally-made aircraft carrier transits Taiwan Strait CNA 17 Nov 2019 -- China's first domestically-built aircraft carrier sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, the same day Taiwan's independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) announced its presidential ticket for the 2020 election.
China's homemade carrier sails through Taiwan Straits, commissioning imminent Global Times 17 Nov 2019 -- China's first domestically built aircraft carrier, the second in total, sailed through the Taiwan Straits and headed from north to south on Saturday, media reported on Sunday, with experts saying the warship is now technically mature and could be commissioned into military service soon, as a base in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province, could host large naval vessels.
China, US defense ministers to meet Global Times 17 Nov 2019 -- China-US military relations have served as an important stabilizer for the overall relations between the two countries since the start of the trade war despite the US' frequent provocations in the Taiwan Straits and South China Sea, and Chinese experts look forward to more exchanges and cooperation as the Chinese Defense Minister is expected to meet US Defense Secretary soon.

Russia: S-400s sold to Turkey to go operational in 2020 Press TV 17 Nov 2019 -- A Russian military official says the S-400 missile defense systems sold to Turkey will be operational in spring 2020, adding that the training of Turkish personnel to work with the advanced weapons is almost complete.
Turkey's S-400 Systems to Be 'Ready for Combat' by Spring - Russian Gov't Agency Sputnik 17 Nov 2019 -- Earlier, the head of the Turkish Defence Industry Directorate, Ismail Demir, said that Turkey purchased S-400 missile defence systems from Russia to make use of them, not just store them away.

Moscow, Abu Dhabi Continuing Talks on Su-35 Delivery to UAE - Russian Gov't Agency Sputnik 17 Nov 2019 -- Russia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are continuing talks on the delivery of SU-35 fighter jets to the Middle Eastern country and the joint development of a 5th generation light combat fighter for UAE, Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation said Sunday.

Nepal's Prime Minister Vows To Remove India Troops From Border Region Sputnik 17 Nov 2019 -- Protests erupted in the Himalayan nation after New Delhi released a political map on 31 October that placed the region of Kalapani inside the Indian border. Nepal claimed that Indian border forces have been illegally occupying Nepali territory since the 1962 India-China War.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

Two Saudi soldiers killed in clashes with Yemeni army in border areas Press TV 17 Nov 2019 -- Yemeni army soldiers and fighters from allied Popular Committees have killed at least two Saudi soldiers during separate attacks in the kingdom's southwestern border regions as part of their retaliatory raids against the Riyadh regime's deadly campaign against their crisis-hit country.

Unknown gunmen assassinate high-profile HTS terrorist in Syria's Idlib: SOHR Press TV 17 Nov 2019 -- The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says unidentified armed men have a high-ranking member of the Takfiri Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) terrorist group in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, where the terror outfit holds sway.

Turkey arrests Syria bomb attack suspect Press TV 17 Nov 2019 -- Turkey says it has arrested the suspect in a deadly bomb attack in Syria's northern province of Aleppo, alleging that the assailant is a member of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militant group.

Rocket hits Iraqi capital's Green Zone: Report Press TV 17 Nov 2019 -- A rocket has reportedly struck the heavily fortified Green Zone in the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad.
Iraq: Baghdad's Green Zone Hit by Rocket - Report Sputnik 17 Nov 2019 -- In recent weeks the Iraqi capital has been rocked by several rocket attacks, with one instance of projectiles targeting the US Embassy in the city's Green Zone and other missiles hitting the area near Taji Camp where US military personnel are stationed.

Libya government seizes plane from rival camp Press TV 17 Nov 2019 -- Libya's internationally-recognized government, based in the west of the country, has seized a Libyan Airlines aircraft operating from Benghazi in the east.

India Accuses Pakistan of Running a 'Terrorist Industry' Sputnik 17 Nov 2019 -- The move comes just days after India accused Pakistan of having 'terrorist DNA' during a UNESCO conference. The nuclear armed nations have been embroiled in a serious conflict since February when Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed killed 42 Indian soldiers.

Kremlin Adviser Says Summit On Ukraine Conflict May Happen In 2019 RFE/RL 17 Nov 2019 -- A senior Kremlin adviser said that a major summit aimed at resolving the more-than-five-year-old conflict in Ukraine could be held before the end of the year.
Impounded Ukraine Vessels Held By Russia Disembark For Handover RFE/RL 17 Nov 2019 -- Russia plans to return three seized Ukrainian naval vessels sometime within the next 24 hours, the press service of the border-security unit of the Federal Security Service (FSB) told Interfax.
Russia Never Denied It Could Return Ukrainian Warships Seized During Kerch Strait Incident - Moscow Sputnik 17 Nov 2019 -- On November 25, 2018, Russia's Federal Security Service seized three Ukrainian Navy ships after the vessels illegally entered Russian territorial waters in the Kerch Strait and proceeded to engage in dangerous manoeuvres while on route from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov port of Mariupol.

News Reports

Week 2 of Trump Impeachment Hearings: Diplomat Sondland at Forefront VOA 17 Nov 2019 -- Impeachment hearings targeting U.S. President Donald Trump are heading into a second week, with key witnesses set to testify about how he pushed Ukraine to investigate one of his chief 2020 Democratic challengers, former Vice President Joe Biden, while temporarily withholding military aid Kyiv wanted.
Trump attacks Pence aide amid impeachment over Ukraine scandal Press TV 17 Nov 2019 -- US President Donald Trump has lashed out at an aide to Vice President Mike Pence amid the Ukraine scandal.
Pence aide: Trump's Ukraine phone call 'unusual and inappropriate' Press TV 17 Nov 2019 -- The phone call between US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart was "inappropriate," a top national security aide to Vice President Mike Pence has told House impeachment investigators.
Aide Says White House Security Adviser Pushed Trump To Release Ukraine Money RFE/RL 17 Nov 2019 -- A top White House aide has said that national-security adviser John Bolton pushed President Donald Trump to release nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine, but Bolton failed to persuade him to do so before resigning.

Pressure Mounts on Boris Johnson to Release Russian Meddling Report VOA 17 Nov 2019 -- A senior official from Britain's main opposition Labour Party says that leaks from a parliamentary report on Russian interference in British politics raises important questions about the fairness of next month's general election.
UK Security Minister Lewis: We Will Publish Report on "Russian Meddling" After Election Sputnik 17 Nov 2019 -- Earlier, Dominic Grieve, the chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament, accused UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson of stalling a publication of a dossier on the alleged Russian interference during the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Tokyo, Seoul Fail to Agree to Renew Intelligence Sharing Deal Week Before Expiry - Reports Sputnik 17 Nov 2019 -- The defence ministers of Japan and South Korea failed to agree to extend the bilateral intelligence sharing pact on Sunday at their first meeting since October 2018, but reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation with the US on Pyongyang's missile and nuclear program, the Kyodo news agency reported.

Freed Norwegian Spy Frode Berg Returns Home - Reports Sputnik 17 Nov 2019 -- Convicted Norwegian spy Frode Berg, who was released from Russia into Lithuania earlier this week, arrived at Oslo airport in the early hours of Sunday, Norvegian tabloid VG reported.

DPRK Foreign Ministry Spokesman Denounces Anti-DPRK "Human Rights Resolution" KCNA 17 Nov 2019 -- A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea issued the following statement on Nov. 17:
Rodong Sinmun on Great National Pride of Korean People KCNA 17 Nov 2019 -- Rodong Sinmun Sunday says in an article that the national pride is the one that regards one's own nation as not inferior to other nations, the mindset to defend and glorify the dignity of the nation and the noble feelings that is expressed as the will to carve out its destiny with one's own efforts.
North Korea rejects UN rights resolution Press TV 17 Nov 2019 -- North Korea has dismissed a United Nations (UN) resolution on the country's human rights record as a scheme orchestrated by the United States to undermine Pyongyang.

Iran Shuts Down Internet as Protests Continue VOA 17 Nov 2019 -- Iran's supreme leader backed Sunday a government decision to increase fuel prices which sparked deadly protests over the weekend.
Leader says petrol price rise aimed to reduce consumption IRNA 17 Nov 2019 -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said on Sunday that the government's petrol price hike plan aimed to reduce consumption, putting weight on the decision to that effect made by the heads of three branches of Government.
Intelligence Ministry says will counter lawbreakers IRNA 17 Nov 2019 -- Intelligence Ministry said on Sunday that it will strongly deal with disruption of law and order by lawbreakers and that the Ministry will spare no efforts to fulfill its legal obligation to safeguard national security.
US supports anarchists, not Iranian people: Spokesman Press TV 17 Nov 2019 -- Iran has denounced US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's support for rioters who rode the tide of fuel price hike-related protests in the country during the past few days, saying that the US is not sympathetic toward the Iranian people, but supports spread of chaos.
Iranians entitled to protest, insecurity not tolerated: President Rouhani Press TV 17 Nov 2019 -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says his administration recognizes people's right to hold protests against a recent government decision to ration gasoline, emphasizing, however, that nobody will be allowed to spread insecurity in the society.
Iran's parliament steps in to mitigate gas price hike Press TV 17 Nov 2019 -- On Friday, the Iranian government began rationing gasoline and raised pump prices by at least 50 percent in an attempt to contain and manage increasing fuel consumption in the country which is facing a significant drop in income from exports due to US economic sanctions.
Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding Protests in Iran The White House 17 Nov 2019
Iranian Authorities Warn Of Crackdown As Gas-Price Protests Continue RFE/RL 17 Nov 2019 -- The authorities in Iran have warned of a harsh response to the massive protests that have reached a reported 100 towns and cities across the country.
Forty Detained in Central Iran During Protests Against Petrol Price Spike - Reports Sputnik 17 Nov 2019 -- Iran's Supreme leader Ali Khamenei has voiced support for the government's decision to raise petrol prices, accusing 'foreign-backed thugs' of violence at the protests across the country.
Iranian Supreme Leader Warns of 'Foreign-Backed Thugs' Inciting Unrest Amid Fuel Price Spike Sputnik 17 Nov 2019 -- Tehran introduced quotas for petrol sales on Friday and subsequently increased fuel prices. The decision sparked protests across Iran in Mashhad, Shiraz, Ahvaz and several other cities.
Iran's Minister Says Only Way to Counter US Sanctions Is to Boost Defence Power Sputnik 17 Nov 2019 -- Iran's defence minister Brigadier-General Amir Hatami said on Saturday that the sanctions of the US "will not fade away and the only way to counter them is improving the power in every vital field", especially in the military field.

Central govt sends strongest signal over ending violence in HK Global Times 17 Nov 2019 -- A daily prime-time news program in China that delivers the most important political signals to the public on Saturday spent one third of its time broadcasting four separate pieces that are related to President Xi Jinping's remarks on the current situation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Police, protesters clash at university in Hong Kong Press TV 17 Nov 2019 -- Clashes have broken out in Hong Kong between police forces and protesters at the Polytechnic University (PolyU) in the north of the semi-autonomous Chinese city.
Besieged Hong Kong Students Call For Aid As Police Warn of Live-Fire Shootings Radio Free Asia 17 Nov 2019 -- Students at a university besieged all weekend by Hong Kong police have called for international help after police warned they might use live fire to add to tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon already deployed against protesters, local residents and bystanders.
Hong Kong Police Storm University Held by Protesters VOA 17 Nov 2019 -- Hundreds of Hong Kong student protesters who had barricaded themselves at a university attempted to flee the besieged campus early Sunday, after an overnight standoff.As the students made what appeared appeared to be a concerted effort to leave the campus of Hong Kong Polytechnic University, they were chased by police who fired tear gas. VOA saw police arrest dozens of students, who were detained with plastic wire ties around their wrists. Some were marched in front of reporters as they were taken away.
Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Camp Eyes Big Gains in Local Elections VOA 17 Nov 2019 -- Over the past five months, millions have marched through Hong Kong, demanding democratic reform in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory. On Sunday (November 24), Hong Kongers will finally get a chance to express their opinion, albeit in a limited way, by casting votes.
Hong Kong Protesters Set Harbour Tunnel Bridge on Fire as Police Prepare to Move In - Reports Sputnik 17 Nov 2019 -- This comes amid an increase in the number of clashes between police and protesters within the past week which prompted the Hong Kong Education Bureau to announce school closures until 18 November.

Tsai picks former premier as running mate for 2020 re-election bid CNA 17 Nov 2019 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Sunday picked former Premier Lai Ching-te (賴清德) as her running mate for the 2020 presidential election.
Tsai-Lai presidential ticket formally formed CNA 17 Nov 2019 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party announced Sunday that former Premier Lai Ching-te (賴清德) will be her running mate in her re-election bid in January 2020.

China sends two global multimedia satellites into planned orbit Global Times 17 Nov 2019 -- Two global multimedia satellites were sent into planned orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Sunday.

Russia's Space Agency Creates Rocket-Monitoring System Using Technology Found in Smart Homes Sputnik 17 Nov 2019 -- The patented method works by collecting information on the status of rocket parts with the help of the Zigbee-based communication protocol.

Deadly Anti-Government Protests Continue in Iraq VOA 17 Nov 2019 -- One Iraqi protester was killed and more than 30 others were wounded Sunday amid renewed clashes on a key bridge in Baghdad.
Iraqi Protesters Seize Strategic Bridges In Baghdad, Move Closer To Green Zone RFE/RL 17 Nov 2019 -- Anti-government protesters have seized control of a strategic square and two bridges in central Baghdad as they moved closer toward their goal of seizing the heavily fortified district that is the seat of the Iraqi government.

US Imposes Sanctions on Cuban Interior Minister in Connection With Venezuela - Pompeo Sputnik 17 Nov 2019 -- Washinton has repeatedly put pressure on Havana for what it sees as ''repression of the Cuban people'', as well as its support for ''the corrupt former Maduro regime in Venezuela''.

Lukashenka Confirms He Will Seek Another Presidential Term As Belarusian Legislative Elections Wind Down RFE/RL 17 Nov 2019 -- As Belarusian voters cast their ballots in elections for the country's rubber-stamp parliament, strongman leader President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has confirmed that he will seek another term in the country's 2020 presidential election.

Saudi Aramco to Sell 1.5% of Shares on Local Stock Exchange Starting at $8 per Share Sputnik 17 Nov 2019 -- The much-anticipated move will make a total of about three billion shares available, making Saudi Aramco's initial public offering worth up to $25.6 billion.

Thousands Protest in Lebanon as Politicians Trade Barbs VOA 17 Nov 2019 -- Lebanon slipped deeper into a political crisis Sunday as politicians struggled to form a government.
After a Month of Protests in Lebanon, What is Next? VOA 17 Nov 2019 -- Protesters in Lebanon came out en masse on Sunday, marking a full month of demonstrations against corruption and a host of other grievances.

Bolivia's unrest cripples ordinary people's lives in capital: Report Press TV 17 Nov 2019 -- With political chaos gripping Bolivia after the forced resignation of the country's President Evo Morales, people in the Andean nation are standing in long lines on the streets of the capital La Paz to provide their families with food and other basic needs.

Sri Lanka's former defense chief claims victory in presidential race Press TV 17 Nov 2019 -- Sri Lanka's former defense chief Gotabaya Rajapaksa has claimed victory in the country's presidential election, and his main challenger has conceded defeat.

Anti-government protesters stage huge rally in Czech capital Press TV 17 Nov 2019 -- People have staged a huge rally in the capital of the Czech Republic on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the so-called Velvet Revolution, which ended communist rule in the former Czechoslovakia.

Thousands Rally Outside Georgian Parliament After Failure Of Electoral Reform Measure RFE/RL 17 Nov 2019 -- Thousands of Georgians have jammed the streets outside parliament as demonstrators voiced anger over lawmakers' rejection of a new electoral reform measure.
Protesters From Georgian Opposition Block All Entrances to Parliament in Tbilisi Sputnik 17 Nov 2019 -- Representatives of the Georgian opposition, who are protesting in the centre of Tbilisi demanding the resignation of the government, have blocked all entrances to the parliament, the leader of the New Georgia opposition party, Giorgi Vashadze, told reporters on Sunday.

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