Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Taliban See Ghani as 'Obstacle' to Afghan Peace VOA 09 Jan 2021 -- The Taliban warned Saturday that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's resolve to remain in office until the completion of his tenure was detrimental to peace talks aimed at finding a negotiated end to four decades of war in Afghanistan.
• Three Arrested In Connection With Assassination Of Afghan Election Activist RFE/RL Gandhara 09 Jan 2021 -- Afghan forces have arrested three people in connection with the December killing of prominent election activist Yusuf Rasheed.
• Afghan President Wants 'Positive Peace' With Taliban, Transition To 'Elected Successor' RFE/RL Gandhara 09 Jan 2021 -- Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has said that his goal is to transition power to an "elected successor," and that he seeks a "positive peace" with the Taliban.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Statement on Misinformation on Social Media Regarding the Office of the Pardon Attorney US Dept. of Justice 09 Jan 2021
• Statement by Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller on Operation Warp Speed Vaccine Doses Delivered Today DoD 09 Jan 2021
• AFAFRICA commander reaffirms US military commitment to North Africa US Air Force 09 Jan 2021 -- Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa commander, traveled to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Tunis, Tunisia, and Algiers, Algeria, Jan. 4-7 to meet with service members and key defense leaders in the region.
• European Powers to Boost Asia Presence to Counter China VOA 09 Jan 2021 -- Germany, France and Britain each plan to boost their military presence in the Indo-Pacific region, a move analysts say is aimed at countering China and showing support for the U.S., Japan and other regional allies.
• Chinese Air Force Releases First Glimpse of H-20 Stealth Bomber Design in Promotional Video Sputnik 09 Jan 2021 -- A recent promotional video for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) teases a glimpse of China's forthcoming H-20 stealth bomber.
• India to go ahead with purchase of S-400 system despite US sanctions threat Press TV 09 Jan 2021 -- India says it will go ahead with the purchase of Russia's S-400 air defense system despite the US sanctions threat, reminding Washington of New Delhi's independent foreign policy.
• Saudi Arabian, US air forces wrap up joint military exercise in Persian Gulf region Press TV 09 Jan 2021 -- Saudi Arabia and the United States have concluded joint war games, with Saudi F-15SE warplanes flying besides American B-52 strategic bombers and F-16 fighters.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• US puts chairman of Iraqi anti-terror Hashd al-Sha'abi forces on sanctions list Press TV 09 Jan 2021 -- The United States has imposed sanctions on a former Iraqi national security adviser and chairman of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) – better known by the Arabic word Hashd al-Sha'abi, as Washington ramps up its measures against the popular anti-terror forces.
• France sends warplanes to Central African Republic as rebels attack another city Press TV 09 Jan 2021 -- France has dispatched warplanes to fly over the Central African Republic (CAR) in support of the government troops on the ground, for the first time since violence hit the nation following the disputed December election.
• Suicide bombing, gun attack in Cameroon kill 13: UN Press TV 09 Jan 2021 -- A female suicide bomber in northern Cameroon has killed at least 13 people by detonating her explosives in a crowd fleeing an armed attack by unidentified gunmen, a United Nations security report unveiled.
• Cameroon Deploys Troops as Separatists Threaten African Nations Championship VOA 09 Jan 2021 -- In Cameroon, one week ahead of the African Nations Soccer Championship, officials have deployed troops to protect players from across Africa as separatists vow to stop the games in restive English-speaking regions. The government is assuring football fans from across Africa that the games will be safe and that measures have also been taken to stop the spread of COVID-19.
• Cameroon Says Boko Haram, Separatists on Offensive VOA 09 Jan 2021 -- Cameroon said Saturday that at least 22 people, including four soldiers, were killed in two Friday morning attacks – one by Boko Haram fighters on its northern border with Nigeria and the other by separatists fighting to create an independent English-speaking state in the country's western regions. Officials warn of a new wave of violence and killing they say is being prepared by the separatists and Boko Haram terrorists.

News Reports

• China firmly opposes external interference in Hong Kong affairs: spokesperson People's Daily 09 Jan 2021 -- Some foreigners' comments on the normal law enforcement activities of Hong Kong police gravely interfere in China's sovereignty and internal affairs and the country firmly opposes them, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday.
• Joint Statement on Hong Kong US Dept. of State 09 Jan 2021 -- The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
• Lifting Self-Imposed Restrictions on the U.S.-Taiwan Relationship US Dept. of State 09 Jan 2021 -- "Taiwan is a vibrant democracy and reliable partner of the United States, and yet for several decades the State Department has created complex internal restrictions to regulate our diplomats, servicemembers, and other officials' interactions with their Taiwanese counterparts. The United States government took these actions unilaterally, in an attempt to appease the Communist regime in Beijing. No more."
• Pompeo Says Lifting US 'Self-Imposed Restrictions' on Relations With Taiwan Sputnik 09 Jan 2021 -- The news comes as US Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft is set to visit China's Taiwan on January 13-15, where she is expected to meet with senior diplomats.
• Chinese anti-submarine plane enters Taiwan's ADIZ CNA 09 Jan 2021 -- A Chinese military Y-8 anti-submarine plane entered Taiwan's southwest air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Saturday, the seventh day of such incursions in January, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND).
• Fourth-day Sitting of 8th WPK Congress Held KCNA 09 Jan 2021 -- There was the fourth-day sitting of the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) on Friday.
• Iran in club of 5 countries possessing high-power laser know-how: AEOI Press TV 09 Jan 2021 -- The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says it has obtained the technology to develop high-power laser applications.
• Rouhani: Foreign companies not allowed to test COVID-19 vaccines on Iranians Press TV 09 Jan 2021 -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says foreign companies will not be allowed to test their COVID-19 vaccines on the Iranian people, voicing his support for the Health Ministry, which prevented the move.
• Iranian ship arrives at Venezuelan port in defiance of US sanctions Press TV 09 Jan 2021 -- Iran and Venezuela continue to defy illegal US sanctions against the two longtime allies and trade partners, with reports saying an Iranian cargo ship has arrived at the Venezuelan port city of La Guaira.
• Iran Threatening To Expel UN Investigators US Dept. of State 09 Jan 2021 -- "In December Iran's parliament passed a law requiring expulsion of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear inspectors unless all sanctions are lifted. Today a member of the parliamentary leadership repeated that threat: all IAEA watchdog inspectors will be ejected unless sanctions are lifted. Once again the Iranian regime is using its nuclear program to extort the international community and threaten regional security."
• Remembering the Victims of PS752 US Dept. of State 09 Jan 2021 -- The American people honor the memory of the passengers and crew of Ukrainian International Airlines flight PS752, whose lives were abruptly and senselessly taken one year ago by an unjustified Iranian shootdown.
• Belarusian Protests Continue Using 'Flash-Mob' Tactics To Avoid Police Crackdown RFE/RL 09 Jan 2021 -- Belarusian protesters carrying banned white-and-red national flags have marched in parks and residential areas of several towns across the country as demonstrators continue to demand the resignation of authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
• Pakistani Shi'a End Protests, Allow Funerals For Slain Hazara Miners RFE/RL Gandhara 09 Jan 2021 -- Shi'ite Muslims in Pakistan have ended nearly a week of sit-in protests and allowed the burials of 11 ethnic Hazara coal miners killed by militants from the extremist Islamic State (IS) group.
• Apparent Body-Shaming Shows Even Kosovo's Top Official Must Endure 'Disgusting Misogyny' RFE/RL 09 Jan 2021 -- Just weeks before next month's snap elections, Kosovo's interior minister and a leading voice in one of its top parties has been accused of taking a sexist, body-shaming swipe at the Balkan state's most powerful woman.
• UN: Thousands Flee Central African Republic Election Violence VOA 09 Jan 2021 -- The U.N. refugee agency reported Friday that violence surrounding last month's election in Central African Republic has sent tens of thousands of people fleeing for their lives to neighboring countries and to safer areas within CAR.
• Recent Gulf Rapprochement Blow to Iran, Experts Say VOA 09 Jan 2021 -- The Saudi-led members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Egypt took steps during the 41st GCC summit to lower tensions with Qatar that began in mid-2017, a move seen by experts as an important measure to enhance security in the Persian Gulf and curtail Iran's influence in the region.