Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Saudi Foreign Minister Doesn't Want US Troops to Leave Iraq VOA 03 Feb 2020 -- Saudi Arabia's top diplomat says his country does not want U.S. troops to leave Iraq, even as Washington bolsters its military presence in the Saudi kingdom. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud warned that any pullout of American forces from neighboring Iraq could make the region less safe.
• 'US expanding Ain al-Assad facilities, beefing up base defenses: Report Press TV 03 Feb 2020 -- US forces deployed in the Ain al-Assad airbase in western Iraq are seeking to expand the facility and beef up defenses following an Iranian missile attack on the facility, according to a report.
• Pompeo to Taliban: Demonstrate capacity to reduce violence Press TV 03 Feb 2020 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has demanded "demonstrable evidence" from the Taliban that they have the capacity to reduce violence before signing a deal to end America's longest war, even though official military figures show that in the last quarter of 2019 the US dropped a record number of bombs in the country since 2013.
• U.S. Demands 'Evidence' From Taliban On Cease-Fire Before Deal RFE/RL 03 Feb 2020 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has demanded "demonstrable evidence" from the Taliban that it will lower the violence level in Afghanistan before signing a deal that would lead to peace talks and a withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country.
• Pentagon: US Forces Destroy 2 Terrorist Camps in Southern Somalia VOA 03 Feb 2020 -- U.S. forces destroyed two al-Shabab compounds and killed at least one terrorist in a military operation in southern Somalia last month, the Pentagon announced Monday.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Pentagon Spokesman Discusses Coronavirus Response Assistance DoD News 03 Feb 2020 -- The Defense Department is standing by to provide assistance to the Department of Health and Human Services to combat the coronavirus, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Rath Hoffman said today.
• White House Releases 2020 National Drug Control Strategy The White House 03 Feb 2020
• Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Jonathan R. Hoffman Press Briefing DoD 03 Feb 2020 -- Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Jonathan R. Hoffman
• Trump Administration Broadens Use of Landmines DoD News 03 Feb 2020 -- BY President Donald J. Trump's administration has expanded the ability of combatant commanders to use landmines in specific, exceptional incidents.
• Coleman Barracks Army Prepositioned Stock Site DEFENDER-Europe 20 Movement Army News 03 Feb 2020 -- As DEFENDER-Europe 20 draws nearer, Army Prepositioned Stocks sites get a lot busier; from personnel ground guiding massive vehicles like M1 Abrams tanks to Humvees, and a laundry list of other vehicles getting tagged and tracked while being transferred to locations hours away.
• USS Detroit Returns for Maiden Mid-Deployment Scheduled Maintenance NNS 03 Feb 2020 -- In order to swap out crews, USS Detroit (LCS 7) with embarked Gold crew, returned to her Mayport, Florida homeport Feb. 2.
• FRCE Produces H-53 Fitting to Fill Supply Gaps NNS 03 Feb 2020 -- When supply system shortfalls led to a work stoppage on two H-53 heavy-lift helicopters at Fleet Readiness Center East, the depot's manufacturing and engineering teams stepped up to close the gap.
• USS Fitzgerald Returns to Sea NNS 03 Feb 2020 -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) is underway to conduct comprehensive at-sea testing, marking a significant step in her return to warfighting readiness.
• Multiservice exercise Patriot Palm enhances joint operability US Air Force 03 Feb 2020 -- A team of Airmen from the 315th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, trained in rapid response deployment scenarios during exercise Patriot Palm with joint-service members from the Marines, Coast Guard, Army and FBI Jan. 27-30 at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
• Safety prioritized for aircraft carrier, fighter jet developers amid virus outbreak Global Times 03 Feb 2020 -- Chinese armaments companies have postponed planned work in order to concentrate on controlling the risk of spreading the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), including those building the country's new aircraft carrier and fighter jets, as well as those in Wuhan, Hubei Province, the epicenter of the virus outbreak.
• China develops new gyroplane for border plateau operations Global Times 03 Feb 2020 -- The latest gyroplane commissioned by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has increased plateau capabilities for a wider variety of missions and is expected to be deployed along China's southwestern border regions, experts said on Sunday.
• Military trucks help deliver daily necessities in China's Wuhan People's Daily 03 Feb 2020 -- A total of some 350 tonnes of daily necessities have been delivered by military trucks to supermarkets in the city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus, since Sunday.
• PLA steps up to assist transport of essentials PLA Daily 03 Feb 2020 -- The People's Liberation Army has begun to use transport units to help to distribute necessities to markets and shops in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province and epicenter of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
• Local troops help transport and distribute living materials in Wuhan PLA Daily 03 Feb 2020 -- On February 2, the PLA troops stationed in China's Hubei Province dispatched 50 military trucks to transport over 200 tons of living goods and materials from some distribution centers to major grocery stores in Wuhan to support the daily life of local residents.
• Saudi Arabia interested in purchasing Israeli-made Spike missiles: Report Press TV 03 Feb 2020 -- Saudi Arabia has reportedly shown interest in purchasing Israeli-made long-range Spike precision missiles as the Riyadh regime continues covert efforts to normalize relations with the Tel Aviv regime after years of clandestine contacts.

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Feb. 3, 2020

Other Conflicts

• 3 February 2020 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 03 Feb 2020
• Spox terms Deal of Century as imposed peace, sellout of Palestine territory IRNA 03 Feb 2020 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi on Monday described the Deal of Century as an imposed peace and sellout of Palestinian territories, saying that referendum is the only way to put an end to the 70-year deadlock over fate of Palestine.
• "Deal of the century" an opportunity for Iran: Zarif ISNA 03 Feb 2020 -- Iran's Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif described announcement of the "deal of the century" by the United States as a "unique opportunity" for Iran.
• First UN Medical Relief Flight Departs Yemen's Rebel-Held Capital VOA 03 Feb 2020 -- A United Nations medical relief flight evacuated patients from Yemen's rebel-held capital Sana'a for the first time in over three years.
• We will not hesitate to take actions against any threat: Turkey to Syria Press TV 03 Feb 2020 -- Turkey says it will not hesitate to act against Syrian forces pressing ahead with a counterterrorism offensive to liberate the last major terrorist-held territory in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib.
• Syrian forces discover network of long tunnels once used by militants in Idlib Press TV 03 Feb 2020 -- Syrian government forces have discovered a network of long tunnels as well as underground makeshift facilities once used by militants in the northwestern province of Idlib.
• Syrian army liberates two more towns in southeastern Idlib Press TV 03 Feb 2020 -- The Syrian army has retaken control of two more towns in the northwestern Idlib province during the ongoing campaign against foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants in their last major stronghold.
• Contradictory reports as Turkey claims bombing Syrian troops Press TV 03 Feb 2020 -- Turkey says it launched airstrikes against Syrian troops advancing in the last terrorist bastion in Idlib, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claiming the raids were in response to attacks on Turkish forces.
• Syria intercepts, shoots down terrorist drones near Russian air base in Latakia Press TV 03 Feb 2020 -- Syrian air defense forces have managed to foil an attack by foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants against the country's strategic Hmeimim air base in the western coastal province of Latakia.
• Kremlin Says Putin-Erdogan Talks Can Be Arranged After Turkish Strikes In Syria RFE/RL 03 Feb 2020 -- The Kremlin says talks between President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan can be arranged if "necessary" after Turkish forces killed dozens of Russian-backed Syrian government troops.
• Syria: UN health agency highlights 'critical health threats' facing Idlib civilians UN News 03 Feb 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) raised the alarm on Monday over critical health threats facing hundreds-of thousands of Syrians forced to flee due to intensified hostilities in Syria's northwest, where health facilities and workers have increasingly come under attack.
• Turkey Hits Syrian Government Forces in Escalating Violence Over Idlib VOA 03 Feb 2020 -- Turkish forces using artillery and jets hit Syrian government military targets across Syria's Idlib province Monday. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the offensive was in retaliation for a deadly attack by Damascus on Turkish soldiers.
• Libya's UN-backed govt. mobilizes troops toward Haftar-controlled Sirte Press TV 03 Feb 2020 -- Libya's UN-backed government has mobilized its troops toward the strategic city of Sirte, which is controlled by warlord Khalifa Haftar's forces.
• Some Rohingya Return to Myanmar But Find Little There Left For Them Radio Free Asia 03 Feb 2020 -- The few hundred Rohingya refugees who returned to Myanmar from Bangladesh of their own volition say they have not yet been able to go back to their original villages and face hardship in violence-ridden northern Rakhine state nearly three years after their expulsion by army troops.
• Two Ukrainian Soldiers Killed Over Bloody Weekend In Donbas RFE/RL 03 Feb 2020 -- Two Ukrainian military personnel were killed and four wounded over the weekend in the Donbas conflict zone where Russian-backed separatists control portions of the country's two easternmost regions.
• Burkina Faso: Suspected Takfiri militants raid village, kill nearly 20 civilians Press TV 03 Feb 2020 -- Nearly 20 civilians have lost their lives in an overnight attack by suspected Takfiri militants on a village in northeastern Burkina Faso, officials say.
• UN: Millions of Malians In Need as Armed Groups Wreak Havoc VOA 03 Feb 2020 -- U.N. agencies say humanitarian conditions for millions of people in Mali are deteriorating, as armed groups and extremists wreak havoc and destroy the livelihoods of civilians.

News Reports

• Trump Impeachment Trial: Forceful Closing Arguments for Conviction and Acquittal VOA 03 Feb 2020 -- U.S. House Democrats prosecuting the impeachment case against President Donald Trump and his defense team offered forceful closing arguments Monday at his Senate trial, even as his acquittal remains all but certain.
• DOJ acknowledges emails showing details of Trump's thinking on Ukraine aid freeze Press TV 02 Feb 2020 -- The US Justice Department has revealed the existence of two dozen emails shielded from Congress that detailed President Donald Trump's decision-making regarding the withholding of military assistance to Ukraine.
• The Kremlin Tries Keynes: Putin's New Cabinet Looks To Spur Economy With (Big) Spending RFE/RL 03 Feb 2020 -- Moscow's stock markets hit new highs in the first half of January, drawing plaudits from investment managers around the world. Russia's budget is the envy of many Western countries, with a surplus equal to 1.8 percent of the economy. Foreign currency reserves are among the largest in the world.
• Denmark Arrests Three Iranians Accused Of Spying For Saudi Arabia RFE/RL 03 Feb 2020 -- The Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) says it has arrested and charged three members of an Iranian secessionist movement on suspicion of spying for Saudi Arabia in Denmark.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Daily Briefing Online on February 3, 2020 PRC MofA 03 Feb 2020
• Central energy enterprise guarantees power support for epidemic prevention and control People's Daily 03 Feb 2020 -- To fight the pneumonia epidemic caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak, a Chinese central enterprise has responded to the call of SASAC by making every effort to guarantee power support to aid the prevention and control of the epidemic.
• Ukrainian President Says Compensation Offered By Iran For Shooting Down Airliner Not Enough RFE/RL 03 Feb 2020 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said in televised remarks that Iran offered $80,000 per victim after it shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet on January 8, but that Ukraine did not accept the offer because "it was too little."
• Some Relatives Of Ukrainian Airliner Victims Complain Of Pressure From Iranian Authorities RFE/RL 03 Feb 2020 -- A man who lost his wife in Iran's January 8 downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet says he fled the country after being pressured by authorities for criticizing the way the government handled the tragedy.
• Iran to Stop Coordinating With Ukraine After Air Traffic Recordings Leaked VOA 03 Feb 2020 -- Tehran said Monday that it would stop sharing information with Kyiv about the downing of a Ukrainian jetliner last month, after a Ukrainian TV channel released leaked recordings from Iranian air traffic control.
• Iran slams Ukraine's leak of recording related to downed plane Press TV 03 Feb 2020 -- Iranian authorities have slammed the airing of recording in Ukraine related to a plane crash last month in Iran, saying the move would cause Tehran to stop sharing further information with Kiev over the incident.
• Tehran Stops Sharing Evidence From Plane Crash With Kyiv After Leak RFE/RL 03 Feb 2020 -- An Iranian official says his country will stop sharing with Kyiv evidence from the crash of a Ukrainian airliner shot down near Tehran last month after audio from the investigation showing the authorities were aware immediately that a missile may have downed the plane was leaked by Ukrainian media.
• Iran vows to continue nuclear program with "determination" despite U.S. pressures People's Daily 03 Feb 2020 -- The spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said Sunday that Iran will advance its nuclear program with greater determination despite U.S. pressures, according to Tehran Times daily.
• Iran ready to continue cooperation with EU to solve problems: Rouhani Press TV 03 Feb 2020 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has once again reaffirmed the Islamic Republic's full commitment to a historic nuclear deal it clinched with major world powers in 2015, expressing Tehran's readiness to continue cooperation with the European Union to resolve issues surrounding the accord.
• Iran FM, top EU diplomat discuss JCPOA, de-escalation in Persian Gulf Press TV 03 Feb 2020 -- European Union foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif have discussed latest developments surrounding a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and major world powers as well as ways to de-escalate tensions in the Persian Gulf.
• EU's Top Diplomat Holds Talks In Iran 'To De-Escalate Tensions' RFE/RL 03 Feb 2020 -- Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif have held talks in Tehran aimed at lowering tensions over the Iran's nuclear program.
• Rouhani: Iran Ready to 'Return to Its Commitments' to Nuclear Deal VOA 03 Feb 2020 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says Iran is ready to "return to its commitments" under the 2015 nuclear deal when other parties uphold their commitments.
• Iran's Zafar observation satellite to be launched by weekend: ICT Minister Press TV 03 Feb 2020 -- Iran's minister of information and communication technology (ICT) says the country will launch its Zafar (Victory) observation satellite by the end of the Iranian week (February 7) to orbit the Earth at an altitude of 530 km.
• Iran's Zafar observation satellite to be launched by weekend: ICT Minister Press TV 03 Feb 2020 -- Iran's minister of information and communication technology (ICT) says the country will launch its Zafar (Victory) observation satellite by the end of the Iranian week (February 7) to orbit the Earth at an altitude of 530 km.
• In A First, Dushanbe Seeks Extradition Of Tajik Fighters, Recruiters For Islamic State RFE/RL 03 Feb 2020 -- Four Islamic State (IS) extremists that Dushanbe is trying to extradite from Syria include Tajik militants linked to dozens of terrorist attacks and a notorious online propaganda campaign aimed at recruiting fighters to the IS.
• Al-Qaeda In Yemen Takes Credit For Deadly Florida Naval-Base Shooting RFE/RL 03 Feb 2020 -- Al-Qaeda's branch in Yemen has claimed responsibility for a fatal shooting in December at a U.S. naval base in Florida.
• Over 200 Taiwanese stranded in Wuhan return to Taiwan CNA 03 Feb 2020 -- More than 200 Taiwanese nationals arrived at Taoyuan International Airport from Wuhan at around 11:40 p.m. Monday in the first evacuation of Taiwanese from the city at the center of a serious coronavirus epidemic.
• Tsai's WHO call 'repetitive manipulation' Global Times 03 Feb 2020 -- Observers in the Chinese mainland said that Tsai Ing-wen's "repetitive" political manipulation is doomed to fail, after the Taiwan regional leader cried out for Taiwan to join the World Health Organization (WHO) but snubbed the mainland regarding medical cooperation and banned mask exports amid the ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak.
• Brexit: More Europe, or Less? VOA 03 Feb 2020 -- Brexit Day, with its mixed emotions, exposed how wide the rift with the European Union remains and how difficult it will be to bridge the gap now that Britain has left the trading bloc.
• Zelenskiy, Erdogan Meet In Push To Boost Trade Between Turkey, Ukraine RFE/RL 03 Feb 2020 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has met with his Turkish counterpart in Kyiv for talks expected to focus on trade.
• U.S. Enters into Trilateral Agreement with Nigeria and Jersey to Repatriate Over $300 Million to Nigeria in Assets Stolen by Former Nigerian Dictator General Sani Abacha US Dept. of Justice 03 Feb 2020 -- The Department of Justice, on behalf of the U.S. government, has executed a trilateral agreement with the governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Nigeria) and the Bailiwick of Jersey (Jersey) to repatriate to Nigeria approximately $308 million traceable to the kleptocracy of former Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha and his co-conspirators.
• Philippine Lawmakers Warn of Chinese Influence over Power Grid Radio Free Asia 03 Feb 2020 -- Senators in Manila expressed concerns Monday about China's potential access to the Philippine power grid, as an executive from a Chinese-linked utility told a senate inquiry that hackers had breached the national grid's computers "hundreds of times" in recent weeks.
• Secretary Michael R. Pompeo and Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov at a Press Availability US Dept. of State 03 Feb 2020
• Uzbekistan Says Pompeo Recognizes Country's 'Significant Progress' RFE/RL 03 Feb 2020 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has kicked off the last day of his trip to Eastern Europe and Central Asia by reaffirming Washington's commitment to developing further bilateral ties with Uzbekistan.
• Pompeo, in Central Asia, Seeks to Counter China VOA 03 Feb 2020 -- Oil, trade and good governance all figured into talks Sunday and Monday between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the foreign ministers of five Central Asian republics. But perhaps the most important country in the discussions was the one that wasn't there – China.
• Kosovo Parties Sign Deal To Form New Government RFE/RL 03 Feb 2020 -- Kosovo's two biggest parties have signed a deal to form a new government, nearly four months after the Balkan country held snap general elections.
• Kosovo Gets New Government Four Months After Polls RFE/RL 03 Feb 2020 -- Kosovo's parliament has voted to support a new government under Albin Kurti following four months of coalition talks between the Balkan country's two main parties.
• Malawi Court Nullifies May Presidential Elections VOA 03 Feb 2020 -- A constitutional court in Malawi on Monday nullified the election President Peter Mutharika won last May, citing massive irregularities during the process.
• Cameroon Urges Women to Vote Next Week Despite Threats VOA 03 Feb 2020 -- Civic groups, political parties and the government are pleading for the women of Cameroon to vote in next week's local and parliamentary elections, despite threats by separatist groups who have vowed to disrupt the polls.