Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Roadside Bomb, Airstrike Kill 15 People in Afghanistan VOA 10 Jan 2021 -- A roadside bomb explosion in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, early Sunday and a countermilitancy airstrike elsewhere in the war-ravaged country killed at least 15 people, including a government spokesman.
• Twelve Afghan Civilians Said Killed In Nimroz Air Strikes RFE/RL Gandhara 10 Jan 2021 -- Provincial officials in southwestern Afghanistan have accused the Afghan forces of killing at least a dozen civilians after villagers brought in bodies of victims to protest the alleged incident.
• Roadside Bomb Kills Three In Kabul, Including Afghan Security Spokesman RFE/RL Gandhara 10 Jan 2021 -- A spokesman for Afghanistan's public-protection forces has been killed along with two other people after their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in the capital, Kabul.
• Afghanistan probing whether civilians killed in anti-Taliban airstrike in Nimroz Press TV 10 Jan 2021 -- Afghanistan says it is investigating an airstrike in the southern province of Nimroz against the Taliban militant group that allegedly killed civilians.
• Roadside bomb kills three in Afghan capital Press TV 10 Jan 2021 -- A bomb explosion has killed at least three people in the Afghan capital, the latest attack as government negotiators are in Qatar to resume peace talks with the Taliban.
• Afghanistan war killed 98 Americans, 40,000 Afghans in 5 years: Ghani Press TV 10 Jan 2021 -- President Ashraf Ghani says the war in Afghanistan has killed only 98 Americans since 2015, while over 40,000 Afghan civilians and troops have been killed in the same period.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Intel community expands with Space Force unit Press TV 10 Jan 2021 -- The US intelligence apparatus has further expanded with the addition of the newly established US Space Force in its bid to improve American dominance in space, referred to by US President Donald Trump as the "world's new war-fighting domain."
• Readout of PDO Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Anthony Tata Meetings With Senior Officials in Equatorial Guinea DoD 10 Jan 2021
• Readout of PDO Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Anthony Tata Meetings With Senior Officials in Mozambique DoD 10 Jan 2021
• Readout of PDO Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Anthony Tata Meeting With Senior Officials in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia DoD 10 Jan 2021
• Readout of Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher C. Miller's Phone Call With Indonesian Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto DoD 10 Jan 2021
• Reserve Centralized Repair Facility provides strategic depth US Air Force 10 Jan 2021 -- A small maintenance operation, Air Force Reserve Command's T-56-15A engine Centralized Repair Facility, supported by the 913th Airlift Group, sustains agile combat support by upgrading the C-130H Hercules engines and returning combat airlift to the Air Force fleet.
• Twin-seat variation & domestic engine-equipped version of J-20 make official appearances Global Times 10 Jan 2021 -- A twin-seat variation of China's J-20 stealth fighter jet and a J-20 version equipped with a domestically made engine have been spotted for the first time in official videos recently released by its developer and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force, only days before the 10th anniversary on Monday of the aircraft's maiden flight.
• Taiwan to extend defensive perimeter to 300-500 km by 2025: think tank CNA 10 Jan 2021 -- Taiwan is expected to effectively extend its defensive perimeter to 300-500 kilometers by 2025, when its first indigenous submarine and longer-range missiles from the United States are expected to be in service, according to a government-funded think tank.
• Handing Over of Products Developed by CVRDE to Users India PIB 10 Jan 2021 -- The handing over ceremony of Retractable Landing Gear Systems for Tapas and SWiFT UAVs and 18 types of filters for P-75 Submarine took place on 10th January 2021 at DRDO laboratory, Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), Chennai, in the presence of Hon'ble Member of Parliament Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy, Parliamentary Standing Committee Member for Defence, Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Secretary, DDR&D and Chairman DRDO and Shri PK Mehta, DG (ACE).
• Iran in full control of Persian Gulf, says IRGC Navy commander Press TV 10 Jan 2021 -- The commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)'s Navy says Iran is in full control of the Persian Gulf region and monitors all movements by extraregional forces that are present in these waters.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Terrorist Designation of Ansarallah in Yemen US Dept. of State 10 Jan 2021 -- The Department of State will notify Congress of my intent to designate Ansarallah – sometimes referred to as the Houthis – as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) entity, pursuant to Executive Order 13224.
• Syrian protesters call for withdrawal of Turkish, SDF forces from Qamishli Press TV 10 Jan 2021 -- Hundreds of people in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah have staged separate demonstrations to denounce the Turkish military deployment to their area, in addition to the presence of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and arbitrary practices of the US-backed militants.
• Drone attack hits oil refineries in militant-held northern Syrian: Reports Press TV 10 Jan 2021 -- An unidentified drone has reportedly bombed oil refineries in northern Syria, an area which is controlled by Turkish-backed armed militants, causing explosions and fire.
• South Sudan: Timely action by Ghanaian peacekeepers proves 'every second counts' UN News 10 Jan 2021 -- Ghanaian peacekeepers at the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) have been commended for their lifesaving support to a man who was severely wounded during recent violent inter-communal clashes in the north of the country.

News Reports

• US Senate's Top Democrat Warns of Possible Violence at Biden Inauguration VOA 10 Jan 2021 -- U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer warned Sunday about the threat of violence at the January 20 inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, especially in the aftermath of last week's storming of the U.S. Capitol by thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump trying to block Biden's ascension to power.
• Two Men Charged in Connection with Events at U.S. Capitol DOJ - USAG-DC 10 Jan 2021 -- Two men were charged today in federal court in the District of Columbia in connection with the riots at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021.
• US House Democrats Push for Trump's Impeachment VOA 10 Jan 2021 -- Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives pushed ahead Sunday to impeach Donald Trump in the waning days of his presidency, contending he should be held accountable for last Wednesday's mayhem that left five people dead at the U.S. Capitol as a mob of Trump supporters stormed past police into the building.
• 'There's A Room Under The Stairs': Russia's FSB Sets Up Resident Agents At Research Institutes RFE/RL 10 Jan 2021 -- On December 29, the Institute of History of the Russian Academy of Sciences held its annual New Year's gathering for researchers and other employees. The institute's director and his deputy duly greeted the crowd with traditional seasonal speeches and well-wishes.
• HK govt refutes 'appalling' joint statement by Australia, US, UK, Canada Global Times 10 Jan 2021 -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Sunday refuted the joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, UK and US over the arrested Hong Kong anti-government figures, saying it is "appalling" to see some foreign government officials make comments that seemingly suggest people holding certain political beliefs should be immune to legal sanctions.
• China's law-enforcers vow to strengthen legal action against market monopoly Global Times 10 Jan 2021 -- China has vowed to strengthen legal actions against unfair competition and monopolies on the market to protect the legitimate rights of entities at the Central Political and Legal Work Conference, which was held in Beijing on Saturday and Sunday, according to media reports.
• China issues plan on building rule of law PLA Daily 10 Jan 2021 -- China has issued a plan on building the rule of law.
• China achieves new progress in international development cooperation: white paper PLA Daily 10 Jan 2021 -- grants, interest-free loans, and concessional loans, it said.
• Biden committed to strong, principled support for Taiwan CNA 10 Jan 2021 -- An official with United States President-elect Joe Biden's transition team said Saturday that Biden believes American support for Taiwan must remain "strong, principled, and bipartisan," and he will work to ensure that.
• Taiwan welcomes lifting of U.S. restrictions on official contact CNA 10 Jan 2021 -- Taiwan's Presidential Office on Sunday hailed the United States' decision to remove the restrictions on contact between officials of the two countries, saying it was a reflection of the solid partnership between the two countries.
• Biden seen likely to retain U.S. decision on exchanges with Taiwan CNA 10 Jan 2021 -- Two Taiwanese scholars said Sunday that the incoming administration of United States President-elect Joe Biden is unlikely to revoke the current U.S. administration's decision Saturday to lift restrictions on contact between American and Taiwanese officials.
• State Department lifts restrictions on U.S.-Taiwan contact CNA 10 Jan 2021 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday announced that Washington is lifting restrictions on contacts between U.S. officials and their Taiwanese counterparts, that have been in place since Washington cut ties with Taipei in favor of Beijing in 1979.
• US ends decades-old restrictions on diplomatic ties with Taiwan Press TV 10 Jan 2021 -- The United States has lifted decades-old restrictions on contacts with Taiwan, in a last-ditch effort to further challenge China's sovereignty over the self-ruled island, during the final days of Donald Trump's presidency.
• US State Department Ends Restrictions on Contacts with Taiwan Officials VOA 10 Jan 2021 -- The United States is lifting self-imposed restrictions on contacts between U.S. officials and their Taiwanese counterparts, while maintaining the unofficial relationship between the two democracies.
• Pompeo 'ending limits' on relations breaks bottom line of China-US ties, puts Taiwan in imminent danger: experts Global Times 10 Jan 2021 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's announcement on lifting restrictions on Taiwan relations broke the bottom line of China-US ties, and the outgoing Trump administration's last-ditch effort on Taiwan is like hanging a sword over bilateral ties with China which will put Taiwan in imminent danger, Chinese experts said.
• Historic Event Laying Foundation for Developing Glorious Party KCNA 10 Jan 2021 -- There was the fifth-day sitting of the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) on Saturday amid great excitement and fresh confidence and spirit pervading the whole country upon receiving guidelines which will confidently lead our revolution which has advanced under the uplifted banner of great Kimilsungism-Kimjongilism to the next stage of victory.
• WPK Rules Revised at 8th Congress of WPK KCNA 10 Jan 2021 -- The 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) discussed the third agenda item "On amendments to the rules of the WPK".
• Report on Review of Work of WPK Central Auditing Commission KCNA 10 Jan 2021 -- There was a report on the second agenda item "Review of the Work of the WPK Central Auditing Commission" at the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).
• S. Korea Confirms 48th Case of Highly Pathogenic Bird Flu SPA 10 Jan 2021 -- South Korea's agricultural ministry said Friday it has confirmed the country's 48th case of highly pathogenic bird flu from a poultry farm, with the spread of the disease among wild birds further straining the country's antivirus fight, Yonhap reported.
• Pompeo says Iran should not enrich uranium at any level Press TV 10 Jan 2021 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the outgoing administration's most vocal Iran hawk, has said the Islamic Republic should not enrich uranium at any level, as Tehran threatened to expel international inspectors unless US sanctions were lifted.
• Speaker calls for lifting US sanctions on Iran ahead of US return to JCPOA IRNA 10 Jan 2021 -- Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf on Sunday called for lifting US sanctions as more important than the US return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
• Qalibaf: Iran will meet JCPOA commitments if US sanctions, executive orders fully revoked Press TV 10 Jan 2021 -- Iran's Parliament speaker says the Islamic Republic will fulfill its commitments under the landmark nuclear deal of 2015, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), only if the other parties to the deal do the same.
• AEOI planning to design new heavy water reactor similar to Arak's, lawmaker says Press TV 10 Jan 2021 -- A senior Iranian lawmaker says the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) is taking the initial steps to design another heavy-water reactor similar to an existing one in the city of Arak.
• South Korean Diplomat In Iran Amid Tensions Over Seized Ship, Frozen Funds RFE/RL 10 Jan 2021 -- A top South Korean diplomat was in Iran on January 10 to negotiate the release of a vessel and its crew seized by Iranian forces in the Persian Gulf amid a deepening financial dispute.
• Iran's Araghchi meets S Korean Dy FM IRNA 10 Jan 2021 -- Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araghchi on Sunday conferred with South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun in the capital city of Tehran.
• Iran's assets frozen due to South Korea's lack of political will: Deputy FM Press TV 10 Jan 2021 -- Iran's deputy foreign minister for political affairs has taken to task the government of South Korea for illegally freezing the Islamic Republic's assets over fear of the US sanctions, warning that Seoul should not submit to the extortionist policies of the White House.
• South Korean vice FM heads to Iran for 'in-depth talks' on seized tanker Press TV 10 Jan 2021 -- A senior South Korean official says the situation surrounding a Korean-flagged oil tanker that has been seized by Iran for repeated environmental violations is "serious," saying he is heading to the Islamic Republic for "in-depth" talks on the issue.
• As Belarus Protests Enter Sixth Month, Lukashenka Repeats Vague Promise Of Change RFE/RL 10 Jan 2021 -- Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya has rejected Alyaksandr Lukashenka's renewed pledge to draft a new constitution by the end of this year and put it to a referendum.
• Several Activists Detained Amid Election Day Protest in Almaty, Kazakhstan Sputnik 10 Jan 2021 -- Kazakh police are trying to prevent a protest rally in the centre of the biggest city of Almaty and have detained several demonstrators as the country goes to the polls on Sunday to elect its new parliament and local legislative bodies, a Sputnik correspondent reported.
• Dozens Detained As Kazakhs Vote With No Opposition On Ballot And Little Hope Of Change RFE/RL 10 Jan 2021 -- Kazakhstan's ruling Nur Otan party appears set to sweep a parliamentary election in a vote lacking any serious opposition and with dozens of protesters detained in at least three major cities, including the capital.
• Pakistan Defends Handling Of Case Against Extremist Leader RFE/RL Gandhara 10 Jan 2021 -- Pakistan's Foreign Office has reacted angrily to a U.S. State Department statement asking the country to do more to hold an extremist leader accountable.
• Power Gradually Returns After Network Failure Plunges Most Of Pakistan Into Darkness RFE/RL Gandhara 10 Jan 2021 -- Power is gradually returning to major cities across much of Pakistan after the country of 210 million people was plunged into darkness just before midnight on January 9 by a breakdown in the national power grid.
• Lebanon's biggest Christian political bloc rules out joining Hariri government Press TV 10 Jan 2021 -- The leader of Lebanon's largest Christian bloc, the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), has ruled out joining a new government led by embattled Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri.
• Japarov Appears To Win Kyrgyz Presidential Election, Set To Get Sweeping Powers RFE/RL 10 Jan 2021 -- Kyrgyz nationalist politician Sadyr Japarov has vowed to fight corruption and allow more transparency into government operations after winning a presidential election to cement his hold on power just three months after a popular uprising over a disputed parliamentary vote sent the country into political chaos.
• UN Officials Say Fair Elections Unlikely in Uganda VOA 10 Jan 2021 -- U.N. officials warn prevailing political conditions in Uganda are stacked against the likelihood of free and fair parliamentary and presidential elections later this week.