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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• US, International Contractors Accused of Paying Taliban for Protection - Report Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- The money paid to the militants might have been used to finance attacks on United States military personnel, the families of fallen and injured American soldiers and contractors say.
• Bomb blast kills 10 soldiers, wounds several in Afghanistan's Helmand: Military Press TV 28 Dec 2019 -- At least 10 Afghan soldiers have been killed and several others wounded in a bomb attack in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand, the military says.
• Ten Afghan Soldiers Killed In Taliban Attack On Military Base In Helmand RFE/RL 28 Dec 2019 -- Ten Afghan soldiers were killed in a Taliban attack on a military base in the southern province of Helmand, officials said on December 28.
• At Least 10 Servicemen Killed in Car Bomb Blast in Southern Afghanistan - Military Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- At least ten servicemen were killed on Saturday after a car with explosives detonated at the security checkpoint in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand, the Afghan National Army said.
• Taliban Assault on Army Base Kills 10 Afghan Soldiers VOA 28 Dec 2019 -- The Taliban has assaulted an army base in southern Afghanistan, killing at least 10 soldiers and injuring four others.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Speed of Russian Kinzhal, Zircon Hypersonic Missiles to Increase to Over 10 Mach - Military Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- Russian developers plan to increase the speed of the Kinzhal and Zircon hypersonic missiles to more than Mach 10, or 7,600 miles per hour, Russian Deputy Defence Minister Aleksey Krivoruchko said.
• Russian Military Reveals When It Will Start Testing New-Gen S-500 Air Defence System Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- The S-500's technical specifications remain shrouded in secrecy, although reports speculate that the system will be capable of destroying targets from distances of up to 600 km away.
• Thirty-Five Foreign Launches of ICBMs Detected By Russian Armed Forces' Unified Space System - MoD Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- Earlier this week, Russia said that it wants the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with the US to be extended without preconditions.
• Russian MoD Says Several Nations Preparing Information Attack to Target Russian Military Leadership Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- According to the country's defence deputy minister, the information attack is aimed to undermine the Russian society's confidence in the Armed Forces' combat readiness as well as discrediting the efforts on boosting the capabilities of the Russian army.
• Iran, China, Russia drill in vital waterways for 2nd day Press TV 28 Dec 2019 -- Joint maritime maneuvers, involving the Russian, Chinese and Iranian Navies, have entered their second day in the Indian Ocean and the Sea of Oman.
• Iran Launches Naval Drills With Russia, China Amid Tensions With U.S. RFE/RL 28 Dec 2019 -- Iran's navy has launched its first joint maneuvers with Russia and China in the northern part of the Indian Ocean, Iranian state TV reports.
• Tories focus on defence instead of much needed investment in northern infrastructure Press TV 28 Dec 2019 -- Barely two days after his election victory, Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, promised a spending bonanza for the north of England. Now it transpires that the first tranche of that money will be spent on developing a "super" defence agency in the north.
• Greece to Pay $280 Mln to Lockheed Martin for Modernisation of F-16 Warplanes – Report Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- In early October, the US and Greece signed a revised defence cooperation pact, described by the American side as critical to responding to new security challenges in the Mediterranean Sea.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Syria repels militant drone attack on army air base in Hama Press TV 28 Dec 2019 -- Syrian air defense forces have reportedly managed to foil an attack by foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants against an air base in the country's west-central province of Hama.
• Syrian Forces Repel Terrorist Attacks In Idlib, Up to 30 Militants Killed, Russian Military Says Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- According to the Russian Reconciliation Center, terrorists attacked Syrian Forces' positions twice in Idlib, with each time involving up to 50 militants. The province remains a major stronghold of militants from various factions.
• Militants Attempt Attack on Syrian Airfield in Hama With Drones – Reports Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- Militants tried to attack a military airfield in the Syrian city of Hama with unmanned aerial vehicles, media reported.
• Russian Military Police Continue Patrolling Syria's Aleppo Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- The Russian military police have conducted patrols of Syria's Aleppo province along two routes, the head of the Russian Defence Ministry's centre for Syrian reconciliation, said on Friday.
• Italian Prime Minister Says Introduction of No-Fly Zone Over Libya Could End Conflict Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- The Libyan crisis could be settled by introducing a no-fly zone over Libya as an option, but not through military intervention, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Saturday.
• LNA Says Set for Major Tripoli Battles After Taking Control of Roads to Capital's Airport Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- The Libyan National Army (LNA) announced on Friday that it had taken control of roads leading to the Tripoli airport and was set for major battles for main areas of the Libyan capital.
• Request to Use Military in Libya May Be Submitted to Turkish Parliament on Monday- Reports Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- The Turkish government's request for using the country's armed forces in Libya is likely to be submitted to the parliament on Monday, media reported on Saturday.
• Libya requested military support from Turkey: Erdogan's aide Press TV 28 Dec 2019 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's communications director says Tripoli has asked for Ankara's military aid, stressing his country's commitment to agreements signed with the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA).
• US drone conducted reconnaissance near Russia's Crimea: Sputnik Press TV 28 Dec 2019 -- A US drone has reportedly conducted a reconnaissance flight off the Crimean Peninsula despite multiple calls by Russia that the Pentagon halt such operations near the country's territory.
• US Drone Conducted Reconnaissance Near Russia's Crimea Airspace Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- Foreign aircraft regularly conduct reconnaissance near Russia's borders. They are often seen in the Crimea and Krasnodar Territory, over the Baltic Sea and near Russian bases in Syria.
• Zelenskiy Says Ukrainian Prisoner Swap 'Supposed To' Happen On December 29 RFE/RL 28 Dec 2019 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said that while a prisoner swap is "supposed to" take place on December 29, the list of individuals to be handed over between central Ukrainian authorities and Russia-backed separatists has not been finalized.
• Donbass Ombudswoman Reveals Date of Prisoner Exchange Between Kiev and East Ukraine Republics Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- The latest prisoner swap between Kiev and Donbass took place at the end of 2017. At that time, the parties agreed to continue the exchange process.
• UN: Israel demolished, confiscated 617 Palestinian structures since January Press TV 28 Dec 2019 -- The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says Israeli authorities have demolished and confiscated hundreds of Palestinian structures in the occupied West Bank since January as the Tel Aviv regime presses ahead with its land expropriation policies in the occupied territories.
• Car bomb explosion hits Somalia capital, killing at least 76 Press TV 28 Dec 2019 -- A massive car bomb explosion has hit a busy security checkpoint in Somalia capital, Mogadishu, killing at least 76 people and leaving dozens of others wounded.
• At least 90 people killed in Mogadishu checkpoint blast SPA 28 Dec 2019 -- At least 90 people were killed and dozens were wounded when a bomb-laden vehicle exploded at a bustling checkpoint in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Saturday, an international organization working in the country said, in one of the most deadly recent attacks.
• Secretary-General condemns 'horrendous' Somalia car bomb attack UN News 28 Dec 2019 -- Perpetrators behind the deadly terrorist attack in Somalia on Saturday must be brought to justice, the UN Secretary-General has said.
• Somalia Bomb Death Toll Rises to at Least 80 VOA 28 Dec 2019 -- The death toll from a suicide bomb attack at a busy checkpoint in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, has risen to at least 80.

News Reports

• Russia says to complete Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Germany before end of 2020 Press TV 28 Dec 2019 -- Russia says it will launched Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Germany before the end of next year, a week after the United States imposed sanctions on major natural gas project, forcing a major contractor to halt work on the last section of the pipe.
• Russia Rubs Its Hands At The Prospect Of Profit From Climate Change RFE/RL 28 Dec 2019 -- When it wasn't burning, Siberia was flooding. The permafrost in the Far North continued to melt, and the Arctic ice kept breaking up. But as a year that underscored the troubles in store for Russia from global warming comes to a close, Moscow is making plans to "adapt" to climate change - and seek to profit from it.
• WADA Vows 'Utmost Vigor' In Defense Against Russia Doping Appeal RFE/RL 28 Dec 2019 -- The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) says it will defend itself with "utmost vigor" after Russia lodged a formal protest over the agency's decision to ban the country from major sporting events for four years over doping violations, including allegedly faking evidence.
• Online News Agency Says Magnitogorsk Blast, Which Killed 39, Was Terrorism, Not Gas Leak RFE/RL 28 Dec 2019 -- Russian investigative journalists claim an explosion last year in the Urals town of Magnitogorsk that killed 39 people was a terrorist attack.
• WADA Chief Vows to Defend Decision on Banning Russia in Court of Arbitration for Sport Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Craig Reedie said that the organization had made the right decision on banning the Russian national team from taking part in major sports competitions and vowed to defend the move in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
• DPRK Premier Inspects Industrial Establishments KCNA 28 Dec 2019 -- Kim Jae Ryong, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, member of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK and premier of the Cabinet, inspected various units.
• North Korean missile misinformation reflects tension Independent of defense system operation VOA 28 Dec 2019 -- Experts in the United States say some of the press and US military recently issued false or false alarms about North Korea's missile launches because of tensions in the Korean peninsula. However, he says the incident has nothing to do with US missile defenses. Reporter Kim Dong-hyun.
• Regional security needs no 'illegitimate' foreign presence: Iran Army commander Press TV 28 Dec 2019 -- The chief of staff of the Iranian Army says joint naval drills among Iran, China and Russia can boost regional convergence and are indicative of the trio's determination to ensure security in the region without the help of any foreign powers.
• Pompeo Accuses Iran Of Using Violence, Censorship To Suppress Memorials RFE/RL 28 Dec 2019 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has slammed Iran for using "violence" and Internet disruption to prevent memorials for those killed during a November state crackdown on anti-establishment protests triggered by a significant hike in the price of gasoline.
• CPC leadership meeting stresses staying true to Party's founding mission Global Times 28 Dec 2019 -- A meeting convened by the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has underlined efforts to always preserve the political character of Chinese Communists and keep forging ahead.
• CPC leadership meeting stresses staying true to Party's founding mission People's Daily 28 Dec 2019 -- A meeting convened by the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has underlined efforts to always preserve the political character of Chinese Communists and keep forging ahead.
• China's largest carrier rocket Long March-5 makes new flight People's Daily 28 Dec 2019 -- China launched the third Long March-5, the largest carrier rocket of the country, from Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province on Friday evening.
• Lebanese protesters call for new PM's resignation Press TV 28 Dec 2019 -- Dozens of protesters have rallied outside the residence of newly-appointed Lebanese Prime Minister, Hassan Diab, in Beirut and called for his resignation less than 10 days after the beginning of his term in office.
• Iraqi resistance groups decry Salih's resignation as submission to US interests Press TV 28 Dec 2019 -- Iraqi resistance groups have denounced President Barham Salih's resignation as a violation of the constitution and have accused him of caving in to pressure from the United States.
• Iraqi Protesters Shut Down Southern Oil Field RFE/RL 28 Dec 2019 -- Protesters in Iraq have shut down a southern oil field and forced a cutoff of electricity at the facility amid ongoing unrest that has wracked the capital and much of southern Iraq since public anger first boiled over nearly three months ago.
• Protesters in Iraq Reportedly Shut Down Southern Nassiriya Oil Field Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- Over 450 people have been killed in Iraq since mass protests started in the country in early October; demonstrators accuse the political system of being "corrupt".
• Zelensky Signs Finalised Election Code of Ukraine Sputnik 28 Dec 2019 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a finalized election code with so-called open regional lists, according to the website of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's unicameral parliament.
• Nicola Sturgeon faces uphill task in her talks with Boris Johnson Press TV 28 Dec 2019 -- The New Year promises to be eventful and all-important for the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Nicola Sturgeon.
• Montenegrin President Signs Controversial Law On Religion RFE/RL 28 Dec 2019 -- Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic signed bitterly contentious legislation on religion and faith into law on December 28, one day after the bill was passed in a raucous parliamentary session in which many opposition lawmakers were forcibly removed from the chamber.
• Czech President Blasts Moscow Over 1968 Invasion Comments RFE/RL 28 Dec 2019 -- Czech President Milos Zeman, who often touts his close relationship with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, has blasted Moscow for protesting against Prague's decision to make the anniversary of the 1968 Soviet-led invasion a memorial day.