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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Blasts In Kabul Kill At Least Three People RFE/RL Gandhara 06 Feb 2021 -- Afghan police say at least three people, including members of the Afghan Hindu community, have been killed and four others wounded in three separate blasts in the capital, Kabul.
• UN Finds Rampant Torture of Afghan Detainees VOA 06 Feb 2021 -- A report by the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights finds torture, which is prohibited under international law, is widely practiced in Afghan prisons. The report covers the period from January 2019 through March 2020.

Defense Policy / Programs

• NATO plans new center in France amid space militarization Press TV 06 Feb 2021 -- The US-led military alliance of NATO has formally announced plans to create a new space center in France, which already hosts one of the 27 space organizations of the alliance.
• NATO Picks France's Toulouse for New Military Space 'Center of Excellence' Sputnik 06 Feb 2021 -- While the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has disavowed an interest in militarizing space, several members of the alliance, including the US, UK, and France, have oriented themselves toward conflict in the space domain in recent years.
• Iran inaugurates production line of man-portable missiles ISNA 06 Feb 2021 -- As Iran is marking the 42nd Islamic Revolution anniversary, the country has inaugurated production lines of man-portable missiles as well as a center for manufacturing solid fuel.
• Iran inaugurates shoulder-fired missiles production line, solid fuel plants Press TV 06 Feb 2021 -- Iran has inaugurated the mass production line of advanced shoulder-fired missiles and opened composite solid fuel plants capable of supplying fuel to all ground combat missiles, taking another step in line with boosting the country's military and defense might.
• U.S. Maintains Firm Stance On Turkey's Purchase Of Russian Missile Defense System RFE/RL 06 Feb 2021 -- U.S. President Joe Biden's administration is maintaining the previous administration's tough line against NATO member Turkey's purchase of a major Russian missile-defense system.
• 'Our Position Has Not Changed': Biden to Keep Freeze on F-35 Sales to Turkey Over S-400 Purchase Sputnik 06 Feb 2021 -- Donald Trump's administration halted supplies of F-35 jets, development of which was funded by Turkey, under the pretext that Ankara's acquisition of Russian S-400s endangers the fighter jets' secrets.
• British Army in Disarray as Leaked MoD Report Reveals Critical Manpower Shortages Sputnik 06 Feb 2021 -- The latest revelations about the state of Britain's military come on the heels of other reports claiming that the island nation's navy and air force personnel numbers are also too low to successfully fight a war.
• Biden Signals New Tone on US-Africa Relations VOA 06 Feb 2021 -- President Joe Biden delivered a message to African leaders meeting virtually this weekend at the African Union Summit 2021, hosted from Addis Ababa.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Japan Protests Chinese 'Incursion' Near Disputed Islands, Reports Suggest Sputnik 06 Feb 2021 -- The Japanese government lodged a protest with China on Saturday after two Chinese ships entered the waters near the Japan-administered islands in the East China Sea, also claimed by Beijing, media said.
• Biden reverses Trump's terrorist designation of Yemen's Ansarullah Press TV 06 Feb 2021 -- The administration of US President Joe Biden has formally notified Congress that it will remove Yemen's popular Houthi Ansarullah movement from the list of foreign terrorist organizations, reversing a last-minute designation by former president Donald Trump.
• Iran welcomes formation of Libyan interim executive council IRNA 06 Feb 2021 -- Spokesman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Saeed Khatibzadeh on Saturday welcomed formation of Libyan interim executive council.
• UN chief welcomes agreement on Libya interim executive authority People's Daily 06 Feb 2021 -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday welcomed the agreement on a new interim executive authority for Libya.
• Iran welcomes election of new interim government in conflict-ridden Libya Press TV 06 Feb 2021 -- Iran has welcomed an agreement by Libya's rival political groups to form an interim unity government in the crisis-hit North African country, hoping the incoming executive authority would facilitate elections there.
• Hamas welcomes ICC decision on jurisdiction over Palestinian territories Press TV 06 Feb 2021 -- The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has hailed the International Criminal Court (ICC) for a decision to extend jurisdiction to the territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 Arab–Israeli War.

News Reports

• Biden bars 'erratic' Trump from receiving intelligence briefings Press TV 06 Feb 2021 -- US President Joe Biden has banned "erratic" Donald Trump, who skipped his inauguration, from receiving classified intelligence.
• Thousands protest against military coup in Myanmar's biggest city Press TV 06 Feb 2021 -- Thousands of Myanmarese people have taken to the streets in the largest city of Yangon to denounce a military coup that ousted the country's de facto leader Aung San Suu Chi.
• Anti-Coup Protests Draw Thousands in Myanmar Cities as Junta Cuts Internet, Mobile Connectivity Radio Free Asia 06 Feb 2021 -- Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Myanmar's major cities Saturday, the sixth day of military rule, as the junta shut down internet and mobile phone service lines in the country of 54 million people and rumors swirled about deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi's whereabouts.
• Hundreds of Myanmar Lawmakers Reject Military Takeover, Vote to Fight for Democracy Sputnik 06 Feb 2021 -- Almost 300 lawmakers in Myanmar have met by video to declare themselves the legitimate sole representatives of the people after the military seized power on Monday.
• Thousands Join Protests in Myanmar's Yangon After Military Coup, Reports Say Sputnik 06 Feb 2021 -- Several thousand people took to the streets in Myanmar's largest city Yangon on Saturday to participate in the first mass protest against military rule since the recent coup, media reported.
• Myanmar: Respect right to peaceful assembly, UN human rights office says UN News 06 Feb 2021 -- The United Nations human rights office (OHCHR) on Saturday called on the security forces in Myanmar to ensure that people's right to peaceful assembly is fully respected and that demonstrations are not subjected to reprisals.
• Germany's Merkel says Nord Stream 2 project unaffected by Navalny case People's Daily 06 Feb 2021 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday that Germany's attitude towards the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is, for the present, "unaffected" by Russia's treatment of its opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
• EU Foreign Policy Chief Wraps Up Russia Visit Amid Criticism Over Response To Navalny Protests RFE/RL 06 Feb 2021 -- EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has completed his three-day trip to Moscow amid criticism of Russia's response to anti-government protests.
• No Rallies Planned For Navalny, But Police Raids, Detentions Continue In Russia RFE/RL 06 Feb 2021 -- The authorities in Russia reportedly continued to detain supporters of jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny and closed the center of the country's second-largest city even though no anti-government rallies were planned.
• Consortium Resumes Laying Pipe For Nord Stream 2 RFE/RL 06 Feb 2021 -- Efforts have resumed to complete the last underwater section of the controversial Nord Stream 2 natural-gas pipeline.
• Russia's Vessel Fortuna Starts Laying Nord Stream 2 Pipes in Danish Waters, Company Says Sputnik 06 Feb 2021 -- Russia's vessel Fortuna has begun laying pipes in the waters of Denmark after successfully completing preparatory work for the resumption of the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, the operator of the pipeline, Nord Stream 2 AG, said on Saturday.
• Telegram Blocks Channels That List Personal Data Of Russian Protesters, Law-Enforcement RFE/RL 06 Feb 2021 -- The head of Telegram has said that the popular messaging app has blocked several channels that posted the telephone numbers and addresses of people working for and against anti-government protests in Russia.
• China's top diplomat urges US to correct mistakes during 'frank and tough' phone call with Blinken Global Times 06 Feb 2021 -- Senior Chinese official Yang Jiechi urged the US to correct its mistakes, control divergence, and push for healthy bilateral ties with China, during a phone call at the invitation of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday.
• Senior Chinese diplomat holds phone conversation with U.S. secretary of state People's Daily 06 Feb 2021 -- Senior Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi on Saturday held a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
• China welcomes extension of New START nuclear treaty, responds to U.S. accusation People's Daily 06 Feb 2021 -- China welcomes the extension of the New START nuclear-arms control treaty for five years, as agreed by the United States and Russia, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday.
• UK steps up hostile actions against China as three alleged 'spies' are expelled Press TV 06 Feb 2021 -- In the latest hostile move against China the British government has reportedly expelled three suspected Chinese "spies" from the UK.
• Blinken presses Chinese counterpart on regional issues, including Taiwan CNA 06 Feb 2021 -- United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his Chinese counterpart on Friday that the U.S. and its allies will hold Beijing accountable for its efforts to threaten stability in the Indo-Pacific, including across the Taiwan Strait.
• Chinese tactical reconnaissance plane enters Taiwan's ADIZ CNA 06 Feb 2021 -- A Chinese Y-8 tactical reconnaissance plane entered the southwestern section of Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Saturday, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND).
• First Tank Unit of New Korea KCNA 06 Feb 2021 -- The column of prototype tanks of the DPRK's revolutionary armed forces roared past the square of military parade, held in January to commemorate the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, displaying their high maneuverability and striking power.
• IAEA Inspectors Found Radioactive Traces on Iranian Soil Last Fall, Report Says Sputnik 06 Feb 2021 -- Iran has repeatedly underscored that its nuclear programme is purely peaceful, rejecting US allegations that the Islamic Republic seeks to obtain a nuclear weapon.
• FM Zarif warns US over 'dangerous' delay in undoing wrongs Press TV 06 Feb 2021 -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has criticized President Joe Biden's administration for not moving fast to rectify wrong steps taken under former president Donald Trump.
• Iran's Javad Zarif: Clock Ticking for Biden Administration to Return to Nuclear Deal Sputnik 06 Feb 2021 -- The new administration of US President Joe Biden does not have much time for taking positive steps toward rejoining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told the Hamshahri newspaper.
• Iran Warns Nuclear Deal in Danger if US Does Not Ease Sanctions VOA 06 Feb 2021 -- Iran's foreign minister warned that the Iran nuclear deal could be further jeopardized if the U.S. does not ease sanctions against the Middle Eastern power by Feb. 21.
• Bin Salman ordered second assassination attempt against ex-Saudi official: Lawsuit Press TV 06 Feb 2021 -- A former Saudi intelligence official says the kingdom's infamous crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), directed agents to embark on the second assassination mission against him after the first one failed two years ago.
• Saudi Press: Saudi Arabia Welcomes What Was Stated in Speech of US President on Washington's Commitment to Cooperate with Saudi Arabia to Defend Its Sovereignty and Counter Threats Against It SPA 06 Feb 2021 -- Saudi newspapers highlighted in their editorials today a number of issues at local, regional and international arenas.
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud US Dept. of State 06 Feb 2021
• Tunisians defy lockdown, crowd streets against police abuse Press TV 06 Feb 2021 -- Tunisians have taken to the streets of the capital, in defiance of a police lockdown, to protest against abuse and brutality exercised by the law enforcement officers.
• Analysis: Power Problems And Protests Plague Uzbekistan RFE/RL 06 Feb 2021 -- It's been a tough winter in Uzbekistan thus far with unusually cold temperatures and heavy snow that put the country's aging energy infrastructure to the test.
• Talks Fail to End Somali Electoral Impasse VOA 06 Feb 2021 -- Somalia's parliament on Saturday ruled out a possible term extension for incumbent President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo.