• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• US Killed Soleimani Because Iran Planned to Blow Up US Embassy - Trump Sputnik 09 Jan 2020 -- The day before, US President Donald Trump averted fears of World War 3 following Iran's missile attack on US targets in Iraq, pledging to introduce another round of anti-Iranian sanctions instead.
• Trump: Soleimani Was Planning to Blow Up US Embassy in Baghdad VOA 09 Jan 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian general that he ordered killed with a drone strike, had been planning to blow up the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
• Al-Hakim stresses need for withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq Press TV 09 Jan 2020 -- Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammad Ali al-Hakim has stressed the need for US and other foreign troops to leave Iraq as a backlash grows over the recent American assassination of a top Iranian general in Baghdad.
• Esper Says US Military Remains 'Poised And Ready' After Iran's Airstrikes on Military Bases Sputnik 09 Jan 2020 -- US military facilities in Erbil and the Ayn al-Asad Air Base became targets on early Wednesday in what was dubbed as Operation Martyr Soleimani, an act of "revenge" conducted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps' Quds Force for the killing of Iran's top military figure Qassem Soleimani.
• Iran shows calm in attacks Global Times 09 Jan 2020 -- Iran's missile strikes, which targeted US military bases in Iraq to retaliate against the US assassination of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, could have led to further instability, but war was never the purpose of the two sides, and Tehran's goal was to force US troops to leave Iraq, Chinese experts said.
• Taliban Says US-Iran Dispute Will Not Harm Afghan Peace Process VOA 09 Jan 2020 -- The Taliban said Thursday it believes escalating military tensions between the United States and Iran are unlikely to hurt the insurgent group's negotiations with Washington aimed at ending the war in Afghanistan.
• US strike kills Taliban splinter commander in western Afghanistan Press TV 09 Jan 2020 -- A US airstrike has killed a Taliban splinter group commander along with a number of comrades in the western province of Herat in Afghanistan, local officials and military sources say.
• Exclusive: AFRICOM Sends Top Brass to Kenya to Investigate al-Shabab Attack VOA 09 Jan 2020 -- The commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) has ordered an investigation into the al-Shabab attack this week that killed three Americans, dispatching two of his top generals Thursday to Manda Bay, Kenya.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US House Passes Resolution Limiting Military Action Against Iran VOA 09 Jan 2020 -- The U.S. House of Representatives approved a resolution Thursday that would require President Donald Trump to get congressional approve before using the military to engage in hostilities with Iran. The vote was 224-194.
• US defense secretary says Iran launched 16 missiles from 3 locations Global Times 09 Jan 2020 -- US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said on Wednesday that Iran launched 16 short-range ballistic missiles from three locations within Iran in Tuesday's attack.
• US House Speaker Pelosi says Trump's order to assassinate Soleimani has not made America safer Press TV 09 Jan 2020 -- US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she does not believe the administration of President Donald Trump had made America safer by assassinating Iranian Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, calling the US attack "provocative" and "disproportionate."
• Navy's Newest Combat Simulator Trains Its First Ships NNS 09 Jan 2020 -- The Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS) launched its first training event inside the Navy's newest combat simulator, the On Demand Trainer (ODT), onboard Naval Base San Diego and Naval Station Norfolk Jan. 6. The portable AEGIS trainer has been delivered to both coasts and doubles down efforts to increase combat lethality across the waterfront.
• Israeli Ground Attack Missiles Will Fill Gap in US Army Chopper Arsenal Sputnik 09 Jan 2020 -- Following successful tests, the US Army has decided to use the Israeli Spike missile on its attack helicopters until a domestic replacement can be produced.
• Joint press point with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the Prime Minister of Romania, Ludovic Orban NATO 09 Jan 2020
• NATO chief: Troop deployment not always best anti-terror option Press TV 09 Jan 2020 -- The US-led NATO says troop deployment by the military alliance is not always the best anti-terror option as "the best way" is to enable local forces to fight terrorism, a day after US President Donald Trump called on other NATO members to take on a larger role in the Middle East.
• Secretary Michael R. Pompeo's Call with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg US Dept. of State 09 Jan 2020
• Iraq negotiating with Russia to buy S-300 missile system: Top Iraqi lawmaker Press TV 09 Jan 2020 -- A senior Iraqi legislator says Baghdad is in talks with Moscow to purchase Russian-built long-range, surface-to-air S-300 missile defense systems.
• US threatens India with sanctions over purchasing Russia's S-400 missile systems Press TV 09 Jan 2020 -- The United States has warned India not to purchase advanced Russian-made S-400 missile defense systems, urging New Delhi to reconsider purchasing Russia's air shield systems or face the "risk for sanctions."
• Warships in Gulf Region to Ensure Security of Sea Borne Trade - Indian Navy Sputnik 09 Jan 2020 -- Amid the deteriorating security situation in the Gulf region after the attacks on merchant ships in the Gulf of Oman in June 2019, the Indian Navy had commenced Maritime Security Operations, code named Op SANKALP, in the Gulf Region.
• Israel Unveils Laser-Based Missile Interception System to Replace Iron Dome Sputnik 09 Jan 2020 -- The new system will undergo testing in the coming months with the goal of having it operational within a year and a half, replacing Israeli's current Iron Dome anti-missile system.
• Singapore - F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) Aircraft DSCA 09 Jan 2020 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Singapore of up to twelve (12) F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $2.750 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
• Philippines, Japan Discuss Strengthening Indo-Pacific Security Radio Free Asia 09 Jan 2020 -- The Philippines and Japan on Thursday discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation on security in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly the contested South China Sea, as Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi paid his first official visit to Manila in that role.
• South African Military Aircraft Crash-Lands at Goma Airport in Democratic Republic of Congo Sputnik 09 Jan 2020 -- A UN spokesman stated Thursday that a South African military plane crash-landed at Goma airport in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Senior State Department Official On State Department 2019 Successes on Cybersecurity and 5G Issues US Dept. of State 09 Jan 2020 -- Special Briefing
• Secretary Michael R. Pompeo's Meeting with UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab US Dept. of State 09 Jan 2020

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Jan. 9, 2020
• Navy Launches New Anti-Ship Missile From LCS Using General Dynamics Combat System General Dynamics 09 Jan 2020 -- This Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) just got an upgrade to its weapon systems.

Other Conflicts

• 9 January 2020 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 09 Jan 2020
• Secretary-General upholds value of UN Charter for a world in turmoil UN News 09 Jan 2020 -- Amid an era of rising geopolitical tensions and declining trust between nations, the United Nations Secretary-General has encouraged countries to "come home" to a defining document of the international community: the UN Charter.
• Preparing for elections and addressing root causes of conflict in West Africa UK FCO 09 Jan 2020 -- Statement by Ambassador James Roscoe at the Security Council briefing on UNOWAS
• Syrian air defenses down hostile drone in Hama province Press TV 09 Jan 2020 -- Syrian government forces have captured and dismantled an unmanned aerial vehicle launched by "terrorists" in the west-central province of Hama.
• Turkey Says Its Four Soldiers Killed in Car Bombing in Syria - Reports Sputnik 09 Jan 2020 -- The Turkish Defence Ministry has given no further details as to the exact area of the explosion or who is responsible for the attack.
• Haftar's LNA Vows to Continue Tripoli Offensive Despite Russia-Turkey Ceasefire Initiative Sputnik 09 Jan 2020 -- The Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Marshal Khalifa Haftar welcomes the ceasefire initiative by Russia and Turkey, but will continue the fight for Tripoli, the LNA commander said in a statement on Thursday.
• Haftar's Libyan National Army Says Includes Mitiga Airport of Tripoli in No-Fly Zone Sputnik 09 Jan 2020 -- The Libyan National Army (LNA), headed by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, has announced the expansion of a no-fly-zone that now includes Tripoli's Mitiga Airport, LNA spokesman Ahmed Mismari said.
• Libyan Government of National Accord Welcomes Russian-Turkish Statement on Libya Sputnik 09 Jan 2020 -- The Tripoli-based Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) welcomed the Russian-Turkish statement on the situation in Libya.
• Myanmar Military Shrugs Off Western Union Decision to Cut Ties With Army-owned Bank Radio Free Asia 09 Jan 2020 -- Myanmar's armed forces on Thursday said a decision by money transfer company Western Union to cut ties to a military-owned bank over army atrocities against the Muslim Rohingya ethnic minority violates the rights of military families.
• Parliament In Georgia's Breakaway Abkhazia Calls On Separatist Leader To Resign RFE/RL 09 Jan 2020 -- The de facto parliament in Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia has called on the separatist region's leader, Raul Khadzhimba, to step down.
• 20 People, Including UN Peacekeepers, Reportedly Injured in Rocket Attack on Military Base in Mali Sputnik 09 Jan 2020 -- The UN peacekeeping mission was established in northern Mali in 2013 following a Tuareg uprising, seeking independence for the northern portion of the country.

News Reports

• Pelosi Still Holding Impeachment Articles, Wants Clarity on Trial Rules VOA 09 Jan 2020 -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that she probably would soon send two articles of impeachment targeting President Donald Trump to the Senate so his trial can start, but she again demanded that Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell first tell her the rules for the trial.
• Erdogan, Putin issue joint statement on Libya, Iran and Syria People's Daily 09 Jan 2020 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday issued a joint statement on the civil war of Libya, crisis in Iran and developments in Syria after their consecutive meetings in Istanbul.
• Official (and Unofficial) News of Soleimani Killing Spreads in North Korea's Capital Radio Free Asia 09 Jan 2020 -- As news spreads in North Korea's capital about the U.S. drone strike last weekend that killed Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani, citizens are surprised that North Korea's media has been so quick to acknowledge the incident.
• How Will the US and Iran Deescalate? VOA 09 Jan 2020 -- With both Iran and the United States appearing to deescalate tensions, the focus again turns to diplomacy. Last week, a U.S. drone strike killed Iran's most influential military leader, Qassem Soleimani, and Tehran retaliated by firing a volley of missiles at two bases in Iraq that house U.S. troops, without causing casualties. VOA spoke with State Department Spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus on what the next steps might be.
• New IRGC Quds Force chief: Iran dealt US a first slap by striking American bases in Iraq Press TV 09 Jan 2020 -- The newly-appointed head of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)'s Quds Force says Iran dealt the US "a first slap" by striking two American bases in Iraq in retaliation for the assassination of his predecessor, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.
• Persian Might: How Strong Is Iran's Military? RFE/RL 09 Jan 2020 -- With the possibility of a major conflict brewing with the United States since the killing of Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani, the capabilities of the Iranian military are being sharply scrutinized.
• UK rejects Trump's request to pull out of JCPOA IRNA 09 Jan 2020 -- Iran's cutting down its nuclear commitments has concerned the UK but the JCPOA is still a significant agreement to the joint security, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said.
• China: Unilateral US withdrawal from JCPOA root cause of crisis Press TV 09 Jan 2020 -- China says the United States' unilateral withdrawal from Iran's landmark 2015 nuclear deal with six world powers, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), is the root cause of growing tensions.
• Iran tells EU to take independent position far from 'detrimental' US stances Press TV 09 Jan 2020 -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has urged the European Union to adopt independent stances on issues related to cooperation with Iran, especially with regard to the nuclear deal that Tehran signed with six world powers, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), back in 2015.
• EU Council chief urges Iran to comply with nuclear deal Press TV 09 Jan 2020 -- The European Council president says he has spoken to Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and urged Tehran to comply with the landmark nuclear deal it clinched with major world powers in 2015.
• UK Foreign Secretary: 'We Want to See Iran Return to Full Compliance With Nuclear Deal' Sputnik 09 Jan 2020 -- On 5 January, Tehran announced it would no longer comply with the limitations on the nation's nuclear programme specified under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) following tensions with Washington in light of a US drone strike that killed top military commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qasem Soleimani.
• Iran May Have Accidentally Shot Down Passenger Jet VOA 09 Jan 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump is publicly voicing suspicion that Iran may have accidentally shot down a Ukrainian airliner.
• Iranian Investigators: Ukrainian Plane on Fire Before Crash VOA 09 Jan 2020 -- Iranian investigators said Thursday the crew of a Ukrainian passenger jet that crashed shortly after taking off from Tehran's airport had tried to turn back, and that the pilot made no radio communications about any problems.
• Canadian PM Says Evidence Indicates Iran Shot Down Ukrainian Airliner RFE/RL 09 Jan 2020 -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says evidence suggests that an Iranian missile downed the Ukrainian passenger plane that crashed near Tehran.
• Outpouring Of Grief As Iranians, Canadians Mourn Plane Crash Victims RFE/RL 09 Jan 2020 -- A newlywed couple returning from their wedding, a family of three, including a 1-year-old toddler, a doctoral student, and a mother and her 8-year-old daughter are among the victims of a Ukrainian plane crash in Iran that killed all 176 people on board.
• Ukrainians Mourn As Zelenskiy Calls For 'Patience' With Plane Crash Investigation RFE/RL 09 Jan 2020 -- Ukraine observed a day of national mourning on January 9 as aviation authorities frantically searched for answers after the crash of a Ukrainian airliner southwest of Tehran that killed all 176 on board.
• Hard-Hit Canada Seeks Key Role In Iran Crash Probe RFE/RL 09 Jan 2020 -- Canada says it intends to play a key role in investigating the crash of an Ukrainian airliner that killed dozens of its citizens despite not having direct diplomatic relations with Tehran.
• Canadian PM Trudeau Says Has Intelligence From Multiple Sources That Iran Shot Down Ukraine Jet Sputnik 09 Jan 2020 -- The premier added that his government will not rest until it gets "closure, transparency, accountability, and justice" on the accident.
• Iran releases report on crashed Ukrainian passenger plane Global Times 09 Jan 2020 -- Iran on Thursday released a preliminary report about the Ukrainian Boeing 737 passenger plane which crashed in capital Tehran's Parand suburb on Wednesday with all people on board killed.
• Iran refuses to give black boxes to Boeing for plane crash investigation Global Times 09 Jan 2020 -- Iran's civil aviation authority has said it will not hand over two black boxes recovered from an ill-fated Ukrainian airliner with 176 people aboard to the plane's manufacturer Boeing or the United States, but will cooperate with Ukraine.
• Iran, Ukraine urge immediate, precise probe into cause of Ukrainian plane crash IRNA 09 Jan 2020 -- Late on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a telephone conversation with President Hassan Rouhani appreciated relief forces and technical investigators for their efforts, calling for joint collaboration between the two countries' technical teams to look into causes of the crash.
• Iran urges all parties involved to contribute to Ukrainian plane crash probe Press TV 09 Jan 2020 -- Iran has urged all parties involved, including American multinational aviation corporation Boeing, to contribute to a probe into a Ukrainian plane crash near the capital Tehran that killed all 176 people aboard.
• Iran's civil aviation chief dismisses reports of Ukrainian plane being hit by missiles Press TV 09 Jan 2020 -- Iran's civil aviation chief has rejected as "illogical rumors" reports that the Ukrainian plane that crashed south of the capital Tehran was hit by missiles.
• Boeing represented in Iran investigation into Ukrainian plane crash: Official Press TV 09 Jan 2020 -- Iran says American aircraft manufacturer Boeing will be represented in an investigation into the crash of a passenger plane made by the company and operated by an Ukrainian airline which took place on January 8 near Tehran.
• Iran dismisses speculations Ukrainian flight taken down by missile Press TV 09 Jan 2020 -- Iran's minister of road and urban development has dismissed as "untrue" rumors that suggest the Wednesday crash of a Ukrainian airliner was because of a missile attack, as the incident coincided with the launch of Iran's missiles against a US base in Iraq.
• Iraq's Foreign Minister to Iran: Strikes on US Forces Violated Our Sovereignty Sputnik 09 Jan 2020 -- The Iraqi Foreign Affairs Ministry has informed the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad that it considers the Wednesday morning missile attacks on two US bases in Iraq to have been violations of Iraq's sovereignty.
• Australian PM Morrison Says Not Withdrawing Troops From Iraq Sputnik 09 Jan 2020 -- Concerns have risen recently about the situation in the Middle East after Iran conducted airstrikes against US military facilities in Iraq as "revenge" for killing its top military commander Qasem Soleimani. The tensions, however, have de-escalated after President Trump did not announce any retaliatory military action against Iran.
• Secretary Michael R. Pompeo's Call with Iraqi Prime Minister Abdel-Mahdi US Dept. of State 09 Jan 2020
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on January 9, 2020 PRC MofA 09 Jan 2020
• Xi stresses always staying true to Party's founding mission PLA Daily 09 Jan 2020 -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Wednesday called for continued efforts to ensure that the whole Party remains true to its original aspiration and keeps its mission firmly in mind.
• Xi calls for unremitting self-reform efforts PLA Daily 09 Jan 2020 -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, called on Wednesday for unremitting efforts to deepen self-reform of the Party to enable the whole Party to remain true to its original aspiration and keep its mission firmly in mind.
• Uyghurs in Xinjiang Ordered to Replace Traditional Décor With Sinicized Furniture Radio Free Asia 09 Jan 2020 -- Authorities in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) are ordering Uyghurs to "modernize" the interiors of their homes by ridding them of traditional ethnic decor and adding Sinicized furniture, largely to the benefit of majority Han Chinese entrepreneurs, sources said.
• Experts Cast Doubts on Chinese Official Claims Around 'New' Wuhan Coronavirus Radio Free Asia 09 Jan 2020 -- China says the mystery virus that has sickened dozens of people in the central city of Wuhan is a new coronavirus in the same family as SARS, as experts said they don't believe official claims of no human-to-human transmission.
• China Blames Pneumonia Outbreak on Newly Discovered Virus VOA 09 Jan 2020 -- Health officials in China say an outbreak of pneumonia in the central city of Wuhan has been caused by a new strain of the virus that led to the deadly SARS outbreak over a decade ago.
• New virus identified as cause of Wuhan pneumonia Global Times 09 Jan 2019 -- Chinese experts identified a new type of coronavirus as the cause of pneumonia that has hospitalized more than 50 people in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province.
• HRW Accuses Kazakh Authorities Of 'Improperly' Prosecuting Asylum Seekers From China RFE/RL 09 Jan 2020 -- Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Kazakhstan of "improperly" prosecuting two ethnic Kazakhs for crossing the border from China as they seek asylum in the former Soviet republic.
• Taiwan's KMT, Chinese 'Businessman' Tried to Frame Taiwan's Ruling Party: Report Radio Free Asia 09 Jan 2020 -- Allegations have been reported in an Australian newspaper of apparent dirty tricks by Beijing, in cahoots with Taiwan's pro-China opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, ahead of the presidential election on Saturday.
• Kosovo Serbs Rally Against Montenegro's New Religion Law RFE/RL 09 Jan 2020 -- Hundreds of ethnic Serbs have rallied in the outskirts of Kosovo's capital Pristina to protest against the alleged suppression of religious and other rights of Serbian minorities in neighboring Montenegro.
• Myanmar Ex-President's Call to Defend Army From Human Rights 'Neocolonialism' Draws Scorn Radio Free Asia 09 Jan 2020 -- Myanmar's former president Thein Sein has called for voters in 2020 elections to back candidates who will protect the military and the county from "neocolonialism" in the name of human rights, drawing harsh criticism from political observers and rights activists.
• Security Council calls for dialogue in Haiti UN News 09 Jan 2020 -- The UN Security Council has stressed the need to resolve the ongoing political impasse in Haiti between President Jovenel Moïse and a surging opposition movement.
• Former Kyrgyz President Again Refuses To Attend Trial RFE/RL 09 Jan 2020 -- The trial of former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev for illegally releasing a jailed organized crime boss in 2013 will be held in absentia as the former leader continues to refuse to take part in the process.