27 November 2019 Military News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

U.S. Forces Reset in Syria, ISIS Struggles to Re-form DoD News 27 Nov 2019 -- U.S. forces are reset and repostured in Eastern Syria and have restarted operations with the Syrian Democratic Forces aimed at defeating ISIS, Army Lt. Gen. Robert White, the commander of Combined Joint Operation Inherent Resolve, said today in Baghdad.

Tehran Hosts Taliban Leaders for Afghan Peace Talks VOA 27 Nov 2019 -- Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has hosted leaders of Afghanistan's Taliban insurgency and discussed efforts aimed at finding a negotiated settlement to the Afghan war.

Defense Policy / Programs

Milley Says Middle Eastern Nations Want U.S. Involved in Region DoD News 27 Nov 2019 -- Everywhere the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff went during his trip to the Middle East, he reassured allies of the United States' commitment to the region.
Navy's Newest Littoral Combat Ship USS Indianapolis Arrives in Mayport NNS 27 Nov 2019 -- The newest littoral combat ship, the Freedom-variant USS Indianapolis (LCS 17), arrived at its homeport, Mayport, Florida Nov. 26. after completing its maiden voyage from the shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin.
Statement From Acting Navy Secretary on Remaining Trident Reviews NNS 27 Nov 2019 -- As Acting Secretary of the Navy, I have directed the Chief of Naval Operations to terminate the Trident Reviews for three Naval Special Warfare officers. Given the unique circumstances of these three remaining cases, I have determined that any failures in conduct, performance, judgment or professionalism exhibited by these officers be addressed through other administrative measures as appropriate, such as letters of instruction or performance observations on their officer fitness reports.

Secretary General marks $1 billion contract to modernise NATO's fleet of AWACS aircraft NATO 27 Nov 2019 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the President of Boeing International, Sir Michael Arthur, met at Melsbroek Airport in Brussels on Wednesday (27 November 2019) to mark a major investment in the Alliance's fleet of AWACS surveillance aircraft. NATO's 1 billion dollar contract with Boeing will modernise the AWACS fleet, ensuring they continue to support the Alliance's missions to 2035.
Bosnian Presidency Chairman Visits Pentagon Amid NATO Membership Signals RFE/RL 27 Nov 2019 -- The chairman of Bosnia-Herzegovina's tripartite presidency made a working visit to the Pentagon amid a push by the United States for the Western Balkan country to join NATO.
Stoltenberg Says NATO Can Protect All Its Allies Amid Reports on Turkey's Pass on Baltics Sputnik 27 Nov 2019 -- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday commented on media reports about Turkey's alleged blockage of collective defence in the Baltic states by saying that the alliance has the capability to protect all its members.

I'll Show You Mine: Russian Military Presents New Avangard Nuclear Missile to US Inspectors Sputnik 27 Nov 2019 -- The Russian Defense Ministry officials explained that the new weapon's demonstration was conducted in order to help ensure the "viability and effectiveness" of the New START treaty.
Russia Suggests US Extend New START for 5 Years or Less - Deputy Foreign Minister Sputnik 27 Nov 2019 -- Russia has suggested that the United States extend the New START treaty for five years or for a shorter period if desired, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Wednesday.

S. African navy hosts Russia, China for maritime exercise People's Daily 27 Nov 2019 -- The South African navy is hosting the Multinational Maritime Exercise with Russia and China in Cape Town.

Iran, China, Russia to hold joint drills IRNA 27 Nov 2019 -- The Islamic Republic of Iran's Navy Commander announced the installation of perpendicular missile launchers on Navy destroyers, saying that Iran, China, and Russia's trilateral drills will be held in the near future in the northern Indian Ocean.
Navy cmdr says Iran, China, Russia to stage tripartite drills soon IRNA 27 Nov 2019 -- Navy Commander Rear-Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said on Wednesday that Iranian, Chinese and Russian Naval forces are to conduct a tripartite maneuver in the north Indian Ocean in the near future.
Iran Navy to equip destroyers with vertically-launched missiles Press TV 27 Nov 2019 -- Iran's Navy commander says the country's destroyers are all to be outfitted with missiles that use the vertical launching system (VLS), a technology that can be used to destroy cruise missiles.
Iran Fits All Warships With New Vertical Launching System as Mideast Freeze Shows No Sign of Thaw Sputnik 27 Nov 2019 -- Iran has been building up its defence capabilities in light of a massive pressure campaign by the United States, which has ramped up its military presence in the Middle East markedly during the past year.

North Korean Artillery Drill Seen as Start of Stepped-up Pressure Campaign VOA 27 Nov 2019 -- Analysts say a provocative North Korean artillery exercise near its border with the South may be the beginning of a stepped-up campaign to try and force the United States to end what it sees as hostile policies ahead of its self-declared year-end deadline.

India's Electric Eye: ISRO Successfully Launches Cartosat-3 Satellite into Space Sputnik 27 Nov 2019 -- Cartosat-3 is a third generation agile advanced satellite which features a high-resolution imaging capability. The satellite will provide an edge to Indian armed forces to locate any troops and detect the movement of adversaries' military hardware along the border.
India Opts for Advanced Akash Prime Missile to 'Protect' Its Airspace From China, Pakistan Sputnik 27 Nov 2019 -- The Indian defence ministry claimed that by introducing the basic version of the Akash missile system, the country had saved $5.3 billion with more orders in the pipeline from the army and the Indian Air Force (IAF).
India Equips All its Aircraft with Underwater Beacon After Failed Attempt to Locate AN-32 Sputnik 27 Nov 2019 -- The underwater locator beacon provides an electronic signal at a particular frequency for up to a month. This locator feature was not equipped in the AN-32 transport aircraft that went missing over the Bay of Bengal in 2016.
India to Set up New Defence Agency to Tackle Emerging Cyber Threats Sputnik 27 Nov 2019 -- The agency will be established in order to protect the Indian defence establishment from becoming vulnerable to cyber attacks.

China Against US Withdrawal From INF Treaty - Vice Foreign Minister Sputnik 27 Nov 2019 -- Beijing is opposed to Washington withdrawing from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and to the deal becoming multilateral, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said on Wednesday.

Entire Fleet Grounded After Israel Chopper Catches Fire in Mid-Air Sputnik 27 Nov 2019 -- The Israeli Air Force is keeping all its Yasur heavy-lift helicopters firmly on the ground after one burst into flames in mid-air on Tuesday with more than a dozen soldiers aboard.

Pakistani Court Pressures Government To Explain Move To Extend Army Chief's Term RFE/RL 27 Nov 2019 -- Pakistan's top court has given the government one more day to explain why it had decided to extend the term of current army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa by three years.
Pakistan Court Challenges Legality of Army Chief Extension VOA 27 Nov 2019 -- In a historic first, Pakistan's Supreme Court Wednesday raised questions about the legality of extending the term of the army chief, sending shock waves through a country that has been ruled by the military for more than half its 72-year existence and in which the military is considered the most powerful institution.

Russian-Made S-400 Systems Vital for Turkish Defence Capabilities – Ankara Sputnik 27 Nov 2019 -- Ankara will continue to negotiate with Washington, but will not bow to the United States' pressure over the use of Russian-made S-400 air defence systems which are vital for Turkish defence capabilities, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Wednesday, as reported by Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah.

London-based research group says UK cannot fight Russia Press TV 27 Nov 2019 -- The British army is no match for Russia's armed forces, according to research by a prestigious London-based think tank.

Foreign Drugs, Rebels Give Philippines New Causes to Bolster Defense VOA 27 Nov 2019 -- The dispatch of two Philippine coast guard ships to the Sulu Sea might normally register as a quick blip on the radar of world maritime movement. But shipments of illegal drugs and support for violent Muslim rebels cross that sea from other countries into the Philippines, which struggles to contain both. The Chinese navy is growing stronger not far away, too, and China disputes tracts of sea with the Philippines.

Senior State Department Officials Previewing Secretary Pompeo's Upcoming Trip to The United Kingdom, Morocco, and Portugal US Dept. of State 27 Nov 2019
Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams US Dept. of State 27 Nov 2019 -- Special Briefing by Elliott Abrams, U.S. Special Representative for Venezuela

Defense Industry

Contracts For Nov. 27, 2019

Other Conflicts

27 November 2019 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 27 Nov 2019

Nearly dozen African refugees killed in Saudi artillery shelling in Yemen's Sa'ada Press TV 27 Nov 2019 -- Nearly a dozen African refugees have lost their lives and many more sustained injuries when artillery shelling targeted an area in Yemen's mountainous northwestern province of Sa'ada, as Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies press ahead with their military aggression against the crisis-hit Arab country.
Assistant Secretary of State Says State Dept, Pentagon Probing Reports of US Arms Diversion in Yemen Sputnik 27 Nov 2019 -- The US State Department and Pentagon are investigating reports that American-made armored vehicles may have fallen into the hands of terrorist groups in Yemen via Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, a newly published letter to a lawmaker showed.

Syrian forces, Takfiri militants exchange heavy fire as army advances in Idlib Press TV 27 Nov 2019 -- Clashes have broken out between Takfiri militants and Syrian government forces in the embattled northwestern province of Idlib, the last stronghold of the extremists.

Turkish Ally Accused of Widespread Rights Abuses in Syria VOA 27 Nov 2019 -- The New York-based Human Rights Watch claims it has "damming evidence" showing the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army is engaged in summary executions, pillaging, seizing properties, and preventing the return of people to their homes.
Turkish Offensive in Syria to Continue Until Achievement of Its Goals - Security Council Sputnik 27 Nov 2019 -- Turkish military operation Peace Spring in northern Syria will continue until all its goals are achieved, a statement adopted following a meeting of the Turkish National Security Council chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held on Tuesday.

Israel conducts fresh air raids on Gaza after anti-settlement protests across Palestine Press TV 27 Nov 2019 -- The Israeli military has conducted fresh air strikes on the Gaza Strip after Palestinians in the blockaded enclave and the occupied West Bank marked a "day of rage" in protest against the US's contentious declaration of support for the regime's land grab policy.

Tibetan Religious Figures Reject Chinese Role in Dalai Lama Reincarnation Radio Free Asia 27 Nov 2019 -- Top Tibetan religious leaders gathered in Dharamsala, India this week have resolved that the choice of successor to the Dalai Lama will be made according to tradition and left to the 84-year-old spiritual leader, with no interference from China.

Group Says 92,500 Civilians Displaced by Fighting in Myanmar's Rakhine State Radio Free Asia 27 Nov 2019 -- More than 92,500 civilians have been displaced by armed conflict in Myanmar's Rakhine state, where hostilities between Myanmar forces and the rebel Arakan Army have raged for a year, according to a tally issued Wednesday by a nonprofit organization that promotes ethnic rights.

U.S. Support for Ukrainian Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity US Dept. of State 27 Nov 2019

Indian Government Claims Chinese Troops Transgress Over 700 Times in Two Years Sputnik 27 Nov 2019 -- The agreed to resolve the border dispute after the 73-day Doklam stand-off at the crossroads between China, India and Bhutan in 2017, which began after Indian troops objected to road construction by the Chinese PLA in Doklam.
Indian Minister Contradicts Its Army Chief Claiming Balakot 'Terror Camps' Reactivated in Pakistan Sputnik 27 Nov 2019 -- On 27 February, the purported terror camp in the Balakot area of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province was bombed by Indian Air Force fighter jets in a predawn aerial strike.

South Sudan Criticizes US Recall of Ambassador VOA 27 Nov 2019 -- The South Sudanese government said Wednesday that it was disappointed with the State Department's decision to recall the U.S. ambassador to the country.

News Reports

Report: Trump Aware of Whistleblower Complaint Before Releasing Ukraine Aid VOA 27 Nov 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump learned about a whistleblower complaint regarding his relations with Ukraine before he decided to unfreeze nearly $400 million in military aid, according to a New York Times report published Tuesday.

Kremlin-Friendly Tycoon Deripaska Reportedly Stripped Of Cypriot Citizenship RFE/RL 27 Nov 2019 -- Cyprus has stripped Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska, a 51-year-old billionaire with close ties to the Kremlin, of his Cypriot citizenship, local media in the EU country report.
Possible New Doping Sanctions Loom for Russia VOA 27 Nov 2019 -- Top Russian officials decried the recommendations by a World Anti-Doping Agency committee to suspend Russia from international competition over tainted athlete doping probes – the latest in a drawn out saga over accusations of Russian state sponsored doping that has roiled global sport since 2014.

CBP Officers Thwarts Chinese Citizen's Attempt to Collect Sensitive Data CBP 27 Nov 2019 -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from the Detroit Metropolitan Airport denied the entry of a Chinese research scholar, traveling on an exchange visitor visa. Officers questioning, determined the visitor was not admissible to the United States due to engaging in deceptive business practices.
Self-proclaimed Chinese spy confesses to fraud involving $17,000, court video shows Global Times 27 Nov 2019 -- The self-proclaimed Chinese spy Wang Liqiang who applied for political asylum in Australia confessed his fraud case involving 120,000 yuan ($17,000) in a Chinese court in 2016, admitting he had "a weak legal awareness," a video the court exclusively sent to the Global Times on Wednesday showed.

Russia's FSB Exposes Man Who Tried to Sell Military Secrets to Foreign Special Services Sputnik 27 Nov 2019 -- The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has exposed an attempt by a resident of the western city of Izhevsk to sell information about national secret military space developments to foreign special services, the FSB's department for the Udmurt Republic said on Wednesday.
Public Defender Says Butina Asks US Court for Voluntary Dismissal of Appeal Sputnik 28 Nov 2019 -- Russian national Maria Butina who had served a prison term in the United States asked a US court for voluntary dismissal of the appeal, her public defender A.J. Kramer said in a court filing.
Spy Fiction? The Soviet Spook Who Foiled A Nazi Plot -- Real Or Imagined -- To Save The Allied War Effort RFE/RL 27 Nov 2019 -- In 1943, with World War II raging, a petite 17-year-old was among a team of Soviet agents credited by Moscow with thwarting a Nazi plot and saving the lives of the "Big Three" Allied leaders.

Netanyahu Hints Mossad Intelligence Sharing With London Could End if Corbyn Elected Sputnik 27 Nov 2019 -- The relationship between the two intelligence communities is a fairly intimate one, with Benjamin Netanyahu previously claiming cooperation between the Mossad spy agency and MI6 and MI5 "has saved many lives - many Israeli lives and many, many British lives".

Iran Intelligence forces arrest CIA agents IRNA 27 Nov 2019 -- Managing Director of counter-espionage department of Iranian Intelligence Forces said some of the elements affiliated with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) who were trying to gather information from recent riots and transfer them abroad have been arrested.
Iran arrests eight people linked to CIA during recent riots Press TV 27 Nov 2019 -- Iranian security forces have arrested eight people linked to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) during the recent riots over gasoline price hikes.
Iran Detains 8 People Linked to CIA in Connection With Protests in Country - Report Sputnik 27 Nov 2019 -- Protests broke out in several provinces earlier in November over the government's decision to suddenly increase the price of gasoline, with some of the rallies turning violent and leading to casualties among protesters and security forces.

Senior IRGC commander: US sanctions, war threats against Iran doomed to failure Press TV 27 Nov 2019 -- A senior Iranian commander says both the sanctions and threats of a military confrontation with the country have proved worthless and are doomed to failure.
President Rouhani hails Iranians for holding nationwide rallies, foiling enemies' plots Press TV 27 Nov 2019 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has hailed the nation for frustrating enemies' plots and throwing their weight behind the establishment in the wake of violent riots that recently hit several cities.
Iran's minister details scale of damage in recent riots Press TV 27 Nov 2019 -- Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli has detailed the scale of damage inflicted on public and private property during violent riots that recently hit several cities.
Watchdog Says Iran Covering Up Protest Clampdown RFE/RL 27 Nov 2019 -- Iran has been "deliberately covering up" the extent of the repressive measures taken against those who took part in days of unrest over fuel-price hikes, Human Rights Watch (HRW) says in a new report.
Iran believes in strong neighborhood policy: Zarif Press TV 27 Nov 2019 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the Islamic Republic believes in strong neighborhood policy and aims to pursue the objective.
Oil sales to account for %7 of Iran's revenues next year Press TV 27 Nov 2019 -- Iran's oil sale, once a staple of the country's yearly budgets, would account for a tiny portion of government's projected revenues in the next Persian calendar year beginning in late March.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on November 27, 2019 PRC MofA 27 Nov 2019
Trump Signs Bills Backing Pro-democracy Protesters in Hong Kong VOA 27 Nov 2019 -- President Donald Trump has signed two separate bills backing pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong, despite a trade deal in the balance and threats from Beijing.
Statement from the President on S. 1838 and S. 2710 The White House 27 Nov 2019
Statement by the President The White House 27 Nov 2019
US President Trump Signs Hong Kong Human Rights And Democracy Act Radio Free Asia 27 Nov 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a bill which requires an annual review of Hong Kong's human rights situation and related trade status, and would apply sanctions against officials linked to rights abuses in the city.
HK political battle to intensify Global Times 27 Nov 2019 -- After pan-democratic groups scored a big win in the district council elections on Sunday, a leading adviser of Beijing's top think tank on Hong Kong affairs predicted that the political battle would further intensify in the city. The opposition may gain 40 percent of seats at the Election Committee, but they won't be able to decide who will be the chief executive as the majority is still in the hands of the pro-establishment camp.
Signs emerge of unrest subsiding in Hong Kong Press TV 27 Nov 2019 -- The crucial Cross Harbour Tunnel in Hong Kong, which had been blocked by anti-government protesters, has been reopened, and a lockdown of the nearby Polytechnic University (PolyU) in the north of the semi-autonomous Chinese city has also practically ended.
Xinjiang Kazakhs Urge Authorities To Help Release Relatives In 'Reeducation Camps' RFE/RL 27 Nov 2019 -- Dozens of ethnic Kazakhs from China's northwestern region of Xinjiang have urged Kazakhstan to help secure the release of relatives, who they say are being kept in so-called "reeducation camps."
Li: New 5-Year Plan to focus on growth People's Daily 27 Nov 2019 -- Premier says improving livelihoods, preventing risks will be highlighted

Brooklyn Man Arrested for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS US Dept. of Justice 27 Nov 2019 -- Zachary Clark Allegedly Disseminated ISIS Propaganda and Bomb-Making Instructions in an Effort to Incite Acts of Terrorism and Violence In New York City and Elsewhere

Iranian Consulate In Iraq Torched Amid Anti-Government Protests RFE/RL 27 Nov 2019 -- Iraqi protesters have set fire to Iran's consulate in the southern city of Najaf.

Sturgeon goes on the offensive against Tories Press TV 27 Nov 2019 -- The leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Nicola Sturgeon, has launched a blistering attack on the Tories, as her party launched its election manifesto.

Ukraine's Central Bank Accuses Kolomoyskiy Of Campaign To 'Create Chaos' RFE/RL 27 Nov 2019 -- Ukraine's central bank has accused tycoon Ihor Kolomoyskiy of organizing an attack on it and spreading "lies" in the media to "create chaos" at the institution.
Naftogaz CEO Touts Ukraine's First Receipt Of U.S. Liquefied Gas RFE/RL 27 Nov 2019 -- The head of the state-owned Naftogaz oil and gas conglomerate, Andriy Kobolyev, has lauded the fourth consecutive year that Ukraine hasn't imported natural gas from its neighbor, Russia.
Ukraine's Zelenskiy Offers Award For 'Godfather' Of Smugglers RFE/RL 27 Nov 2019 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy acknowledged on November 26 that an Odesa businessman and reputed trafficker managed to evade capture during a police roundup of 10 suspects related to a corruption case in the State Customs Service.

Chile police committed serious rights violations during protests: HRW Press TV 27 Nov 2019 -- Human Rights Watch (HRW) says Chile's police committed "serious human rights violations" during weeks of anti-government protests that claimed the lives of at least 25 people.

Bolivia's exiled Morales says US opposes his return Press TV 27 Nov 2019 -- Former Bolivian president Evo Morales, who has been in exile in Mexico since his forced resignation, says the United States opposes his return to Bolivia.
Bolivia's Interim Government Appoints First US Ambassador in Over a Decade Sputnik 27 Nov 2019 -- Bolivia's interim government has appointed the country's first ambassador to the United States in 11 years, the interim foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

Kyrgyz Prosecutors Seek Lengthy Prison Terms For Former Top Officials At Corruption Trial RFE/RL 27 Nov 2019 -- Prosecutors in the high-profile corruption trial of several former top Kyrgyz officials have asked the court to sentence the defendants to prison terms of between 7 1/2 and 17 years.

270 million people are migrants, who send home a staggering $689 billion UN News 27 Nov 2019 -- The number of international migrants in 2019 is now estimated at 270 million and the top destination remains the United States, at nearly 51 million, the UN migration agency said on Wednesday.

From Europe, Exiles Keep Eye on Ethiopia's Fledgling Democracy VOA 27 Nov 2019 -- Dozens of Ethiopian activists, journalists and politicians have lived in exile for many years, having fled their country when dissident voices were repeatedly suppressed and jailed over the past few decades. Ahead of elections set to take place in their homeland in six months, the first since the previous government collapsed in 2018, the exiles are closely watching the current unrest and are contemplating how they can help.

Guinea-Bissau Presidential Elections Head to Second Round VOA 27 Nov 2019 -- Guinea-Bissau voters go to the polls for a second round of voting in December to decide on their next president. Results of the first round show that no candidate garnered the 50 percent needed to win outright.

Kenya Debates Reforms after Decades of Electoral, Political Violence VOA 27 Nov 2019 -- A Kenyan task force has recommended sweeping governmental changes, including restoring the post of prime minister, establishing a mixed cabinet, and devoting more resources to avoid future election unrest. The report by the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) comes two years after Kenya's heated 2017 election that almost split the country.

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