Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. conduct two airstrikes against al-Shabaab terrorists AFRICOM 08 Feb 2020 -- In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted two (2) airstrikes targeting al-Shabaab terrorists and a compound in the vicinity of Jilib, Somalia, Feb. 6.

Defense Policy / Programs

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Yemeni forces down Saudi-led spy drone, slam coalition's violation of Sweden deal Press TV 08 Feb 2020 -- Yemeni army forces, supported by allied fighters from Popular Committees, have intercepted and targeted an unmanned aerial vehicle belonging to the Saudi-led military coalition as it was flying in the skies over the country's western coastal province of Hudaydah.
• Second 'mercy flight' evacuates some ill Yemenis from Sana'a to Jordan for treatment: WHO Press TV 08 Feb 2020 -- Two dozen critically ill Yemenis have been evacuated from the Saudi-besieged international airport of the capital Sana'a for a second time in a week via a humanitarian air bridge created by the United Nations.
• Yemen's Houthis gain more ground against Saudi-led militants in Ma'rib Press TV 08 Feb 2020 -- Fighters from Yemen's popular Houthi Ansarullah movement have gained more ground against Saudi-led militants in the oil-rich Ma'rib Province.
• Support Crumbling for Plan to Try IS Foreign Fighters in Syria VOA 08 Feb 2020 -- Syrian Kurdish officials determined to bring captured Islamic State foreign fighters to justice may have to do so without assistance from the international community.
• Turkish forces build military base in Syria's Idlib as govt. forces advance: Report Press TV 08 Feb 2020 -- Turkish military forces have reportedly constructed a base in Syria's embattled northwestern province of Idlib, and a Turkish army convoy consisting of dozens of military vehicles, troop carriers, tanks and soldiers has arrived at the installation.
• Lasting Libya ceasefire: Some consensus, but further talks needed - UN Mission UN News 08 Feb 2020 -- The first round of UN-brokered talks between military representatives in Geneva aimed at forging a lasting ceasefire between Libyan Government and main opposition forces, has concluded without full agreement, despite reaching consensus in many areas.
• At Least Eight Dead As Villagers Brawl, Torch Houses In Ethnic Clashes In Kazakhstan RFE/RL 08 Feb 2020 -- Villagers brawled in ethnic clashes in a southern Kazakh district, with groups of men torching houses, overturning cars, and sending hundreds fleeing into neighboring Kyrgyzstan. At least eight people were killed.
• Ethnic Clashes in Kazakhstan Leave at Least 8 Dead as Villagers Brawl, Torch Houses VOA 08 Feb 2020 -- Villagers brawled in ethnic clashes in a southern Kazakh district, with groups of men torching houses, overturning cars and sending hundreds fleeing into neighboring Kyrgyzstan. At least eight people were killed.

News Reports

• Trump fires two officials who testified against him during impeachment Press TV 08 Feb 2020 -- US President Donald Trump has fired two government officials who provided the most damaging testimony during his impeachment investigation over the Ukraine scandal, sparking accusations that he is on a campaign of revenge.
• Trump Ousts Two Officials Who Testified Against Him In Impeachment Inquiry RFE/RL 08 Feb 2020 -- Two top officials who gave damaging testimony in the U.S. House of Representatives' impeachment hearings of President Donald Trump have been ousted from their positions following Trump's acquittal in a Senate trial.
• Russian FM decries US sanctions on Venezuela as being 'illegal' Press TV 08 Feb 2020 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has condemned US sanctions against Venezuela as being "illegal" as Washington ramps up pressure on the South American nation.
• Chinese UN envoy refutes US accusations over counter-terrorism in Xinjiang Global Times 08 Feb 2020 -- A Chinese UN envoy on Friday refuted accusations by the United States over China's counter-terrorism efforts in its northwestern region of Xinjiang.
• China's Communist Party Faces Public Anger As Coronavirus Toll Rises RFE/RL 08 Feb 2020 -- China's ruling Communist Party faced public anger over the death of a doctor who was threatened by authorities for trying to alert the public about the new coronavirus in December, before the outbreak spread and became a global crisis.
• U.S. States and the China Competition US Dept. of State 08 Feb 2020 -- Speech by Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State at the National Governors Association Winter Meeting
• Pompeo Warns US Governors of Risks of Dealing With China VOA 08 Feb 2020 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is warning American governors of the risks of doing business with China, saying competition with China is happening on a federal, state and local level and it has consequences for U.S. foreign policy and national security.
• Turkmen Leader Appoints Son To Head Ministry, Sparking Succession Speculation RFE/RL 08 Feb 2020 -- Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has appointed his son Serdar to head the Ministry of Industry and Construction, state media in the gas-rich Central Asian nation reported on February 8.
• Fossil Fuel Giants Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Slowly Going Green RFE/RL 08 Feb 2020 -- Long beholden to fossil fuels for all of their energy, the two most populous countries in Central Asia seem to finally be tapping into their abundant renewable resources.
• US, Europe Split Over Terror Threat from Africa VOA 08 Feb 2020 -- Terror groups in Africa are getting more ambitious, increasingly mustering the resources and expertise to make their presence felt across the region with an eye toward wreaking havoc even further afield.