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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Taliban Expresses Support For TAPI Pipeline During Turkmenistan Visit RFE/RL 07 Feb 2021 -- A delegation of the Afghan Taliban has visited Turkmenistan for talks with the Turkmen Foreign Ministry focusing in part on security issues surrounding the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) natural-gas pipeline project.

Defense Policy / Programs

• U.S. Naval Forces and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces Conduct Bilateral Mine Warfare Exercise US Navy 07 Feb 2021 -- The U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), began Mine Warfare Exercise (MIWEX) 1JA 2021 off the coast of southwestern Japan, Jan. 28
• Recent military drills carry clear messages for foes: Iranian Cmdr IRNA 07 Feb 2021 -- Commander of the Iranian Army Ground Force Brigadier General Kiomars Heidari said here on Sunday that the time, place, type of composition, and operational tactics in the "Eghtedar 99" drill carried a clear message for the enemies of Iran.
• Military hackers not charged, were testing website's safety: MND CNA 07 Feb 2021 -- Prosecutors recently decided not to press charges against two military officers, who hacked into the defense ministry's website in 2017, as they had been instructed to do so to test the military's counter cyber attack capabilities, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Sunday.
• Biden to keep freeze on F-35 sales to Turkey over Russia's S-400s: US official Press TV 07 Feb 2021 -- A US military official says the Biden administration does not plan to end the freeze on the delivery of fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets to Turkey unless Ankara ditches the advanced S-400 air defense systems it purchased from Russia.
• Royal Navy Reportedly Sends Sub Equipped With 'Sub Sniffer' Kit to Med, Possibly to 'Track Russians' Sputnik 07 Feb 2021 -- The HMS Talent, the sixth of seven Trafalgar-class hunter-killer nuclear subs built for the Royal Navy in the late 1980s, has a long history of deployment tracking Russian vessels. In 2015, UK media revealed that the sub had suffered about $750k in ice damage while snooping for alleged Russian boats in the North Sea.
• Cameroon Recruits Apply for Elite Unit to Fight Separatists, Boko Haram VOA 07 Feb 2021 -- Cameroon said a recruitment drive for troops to fight separatists and terrorists has seen 10 times the number of needed applications, including -- for the first time hundreds of former rebels.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Installation of domestically developed gas station starts in South China Sea Global Times 07 Feb 2021 -- A domestically developed deep water semi-submersible oil production and storage facility weighing 100,000 tons arrived at a gas drilling field off the coast of South China's Hainan Province on Saturday and installation work started, marking another crucial step in China's deep sea oil exploration and production.
• Houthi Attacks Impacting Civilians US Dept. of State 07 Feb 2021 -- "As the President is taking steps to end the war in Yemen and Saudi Arabia has endorsed a negotiated settlement, the United States is deeply troubled by continued Houthi attacks."
• Saudi Arabia Says it Intercepted Armed Drone Launched by Yemen Rebels VOA 07 Feb 2021 -- The Saudi-led military coalition intercepted an armed drone launched by Yemeni rebels, state media reported Sunday.
• Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Interception, Destruction of (2) Bomb-Laden UAVs Launched by Terrorist, Iran-Backed Houthi Militia Toward the Kingdom SPA 07 Feb 2021 -- Official Spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Brigadier General Turki Al-Malki said in a statement today that "Joint Coalition Forces have intercepted and destroyed this evening (Sunday) (2) additional bomb-laden UAVs.
• Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Interception, Destruction of Bomb-Laden UAV Launched by Terrorist, Iran-Backed Houthi Militia Toward the Kingdom SPA 07 Feb 2021 -- Official Spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Brigadier General Turki Al-Malki said in a statement today that "Joint Coalition Forces have intercepted and destroyed this evening (Sunday) a bomb-laden UAV launched systematically and deliberately by the terrorist Houthi militia to target civilians and civilian objects in Southern Region."
• Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Interception, Destruction of Bomb-Laden UAV Launched by Terrorist, Iran-Backed Houthi Militia Toward the Kingdom SPA 07 Feb 2021 -- Statement by the Official Spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Brigadier General Turki Al-Malki "Joint Coalition Forces have intercepted and destroyed this morning (Sunday) a bomb-laden UAV launched systematically and deliberately by the terrorist Houthi militia to target civilians and civilian objects in (Southern Region)."
• US decision will provide 'profound relief' to millions in war-torn Yemen: UN spokesperson UN News 07 Feb 2021 -- The US announcement of revoking its designation of Yemen's Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) as a foreign terrorist organization will provide "profound relief" to millions in the country, who depend on international assistance and imports for survival, a UN spokesperson said on Saturday.
• Terrorists launched nearly 2 dozen attacks within 24 hours in de-escalation zone in Syria's Idlib: Russia Press TV 07 Feb 2021 -- Russian Defense Ministry says terrorist groups based in the de-escalation zone of Syria's northwestern province of Idlib and its environs have carried out nearly two dozen terror attacks in the past 24 hours against other areas in the province and neighboring provinces of Hama, Aleppo, and Latakia.
• US convoy carrying logistic supplies targeted in Iraq's Babil Press TV 07 Feb 2021 -- A military convoy carrying logistic supplies for American forces has been targeted in Babil province, central Iraq.
• Kurds Warn of Growing Islamic State Capabilities in Iraq VOA 07 Feb 2021 -- The recent killing of Islamic State's top leader in Iraq should not be seen as a crippling sign for the terror group, which has in recent months received fresh recruits and increased its attacks in the country, says a senior Iraqi Kurdish military official.
• EU Backs Interim Libyan Government, Threatens Sanctions Against 'Spoilers' Sputnik 07 Feb 2021 -- The European Union on Sunday welcomed the formation of the transitional Libyan government ahead of the December elections and threatened sanctions against those who may try to challenge it.
• Palestinians to launch own postcodes to assert sovereign rights Press TV 07 Feb 2021 -- The Palestinian Authority (PA) says it has decided to start using its own postal codes in an attempt to ease the delivery of mail and parcels to and from the occupied West Bank.
• Fatah, Hamas set to discuss elections at Cairo reconciliation talks Press TV 07 Feb 2021 -- After 15 years of rivalry between Fatah party and the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, the key Palestinian factions plan to meet in the Egyptian capital Cairo this week to tackle issues that could threaten long-awaited elections.
• Israel vows to protect troops after ICC war crimes ruling Press TV 07 Feb 2021 -- Israel says the International Criminal Court (ICC) is "unauthorized" to probe its war crimes after the tribunal ruled that it has jurisdiction over the Palestinian territories.
• Roadside Bomb Kills 12 Somali Soldiers VOA 07 Feb 2021 -- Twelve members of Somalia's security forces were killed, and two others wounded on Sunday following a powerful roadside explosion in the central state of Galmudug, officials said.
• Bomb attack kills over a dozen troops in central Somalia Press TV 07 Feb 2021 -- More than a dozen members of Somalia's security forces, including a senior commander, have been killed in a roadside bombing in central Somalia, military officials say.
• Roadside Bomb Kills 12 Government Security Agents in Somalia, Police Say Sputnik 07 Feb 2021 -- Earlier, Somalian security forces killed three Al-Shabaab militants involved in a mortar shelling targeting President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and regional officials in the town of Dhusamareb.
• Sudan: Ethiopia's filling of Renaissance Dam 'direct threat' to national security Press TV 07 Feb 2021 -- Sudan has urged neighboring Ethiopia to reconsider its plan to fill the massive reservoir at the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in July, saying the move would amount to a national security threat.
• UN: Eritrean Refugees in Tigray Face Humanitarian Crisis VOA 07 Feb 2021 -- The U.N. refugee agency is warning that thousands of Eritrean refugees in northern Ethiopia's conflict-ridden Tigray province are in desperate need of aid and protection. The agency is renewing its appeal to the government for access to the refugees.
• Rapid scale up crucial to meet humanitarian needs in Ethiopia's Tigray: Joint UN-Government mission UN News 07 Feb 2021 -- A joint United Nations-Government of Ethiopia mission to Mekelle in the country's Tigray region, on Saturday, underscored the need for strong partnership to rapidly scale up a Government-led collective response to meet immediate humanitarian needs in the region.
• Cameroon Military Says It Has Freed 4, Including 2 Students VOA 07 Feb 2021 -- Two students who were among four civilians freed from a suspected rebel hideout in Cameroon's English-speaking northwestern town of Bamenda say they were tortured for pursuing an education. The military said Friday four rebels were killed, four others arrested, and huge consignments of weapons seized from rebels fighting to create an English-speaking state in the French-speaking-majority Cameroon.

News Reports

• Protests Against Military Coup Swell Across Cities in Myanmar Radio Free Asia 07 Feb 2021 -- Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Myanmar's major cities, chanting slogans against the military junta and demanding the release of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other detained politicians on Sunday, as a two-day internet blackout was lifted.
• Street protests continue in Myanmar for 2nd day against military coup Press TV 07 Feb 2021 -- Thousands of people have staged street protests for a second day in Myanmar's biggest city, Yangon, in an outburst of anger towards the military junta's coup and the detention of civilian leaders.
• Tens of Thousands in Myanmar Protest Military Coup VOA 07 Feb 2021 -- Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Myanmar for a second day Sunday to protest last week's military coup and call for the release of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
• Australian Adviser Detained in Myanmar VOA 07 Feb 2021 -- Australia says it has "serious concerns" about an economic adviser to Myanmar's former de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi who has been detained by police. The military overthrew the elected government in the Southeast Asian nation Monday, alleging fraud in a Nov. 8 poll.
• 'I Am Not a Dictator' Haiti President Says After Announcing Foiled Coup Attempt VOA 07 Feb 2021 -- "I am not a dictator," Haitian President Jovenel Moise said during a national address Sunday, hours after announcing that the police had foiled a coup attempt and made more than 20 arrests.
• UAE hired US intelligence hackers to spy on 'enemies': NY Times Press TV 07 Feb 2021 -- A group of hackers, who once worked for US intelligence agencies, helped the United Arab Emirates (UAE) spy on its neighbor Qatar and other countries, the New York Times reports.
• EU's Borrell Says Relations With Russia 'At A Crossroads' RFE/RL 07 Feb 2021 -- European Union foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell has said that relations between the European Union and Russia are "at a crossroads" following a visit to Moscow that the diplomat described as "very complicated."
• German Minister Warns Against Linking Fate Of Navalny With Nord Stream Pipeline RFE/RL 07 Feb 2021 -- German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier has cautioned against linking Moscow's treatment of jailed Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny to the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
• Borrell Says Asked Lavrov to Reverse EU Diplomats Expulsion, But 'to No Avail' Sputnik 07 Feb 2021 -- EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Sunday that he knew about Moscow's decision to expel three EU diplomats through social media adding that he personally asked Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to reverse this decision, but "to no avail."
• China calls on US to 'correct' mistakes, uphold mutual respect Press TV 07 Feb 2021 -- China has placed the blame on the United States for plunging bilateral relations, calling on the new administration in Washington to rectify past mistakes and promote mutual respect.
• Hong Kong radio host Giggs arrested on suspicion of seditious intent Global Times 07 Feb 2021 -- The Hong Kong radio host known as Giggs was again arrested by the National Security Department of Hong Kong police on Sunday on suspicion of having behavior with seditious intent, making him another media figure to be arrested on charges related to national security after media mogul Jimmy Lai.
• Two Chinese military planes enter Taiwan's ADIZ CNA 07 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).
• Xi calls for enhanced combat readiness from Chinese military during holidays Global Times 07 Feb 2021 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the Chinese military to enhance its combat readiness during the upcoming Spring Festival holidays when he recently inspected an aviation division of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force. Experts said other militaries should not have the illusion that they can make provocative moves during the holidays without meeting PLA's countermeasures.
• Biden Says US Will Not Lift Sanctions Against Iran Until Tehran Stops Enriching Uranium Sputnik 07 Feb 2021 -- Earlier on Sunday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that since it was the US side which had violated its obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal by withdrawing from the agreement, it is up to Washington to remedy its mistake by lifting all sanctions against Iran.
• Biden: US Won't Lift Iran Sanctions VOA 07 Feb 2021 -- U.S. President Joe Biden says he will not lift economic sanctions against Iran unless Tehran first cuts its uranium enrichment back to the level it agreed to in the 2015 international treaty aimed at restraining its development of nuclear weapons.
• US, EU speed up JCPOA talks after Iran ultimatum IRNA 07 Feb 2021 -- The United States and the European Troika have accelerated their attempts to pave the way for returning to the Iran nuclear deal amid approaching ultimatum for lifting sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
• Iran's condition for returning to JCPOA commitments: Lifting all sanctions ISNA 07 Feb 2021 -- On the anniversary of the historical pledging allegiance of Air Force commanders with Imam Khomeini (aka Homafaran Allegiance) on February 8, 1979, a number of commanders and staff of the Army Air Forces met with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday.
• Iran's FM urges U.S. administration to remove sanctions People's Daily 07 Feb 2021 -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Saturday that Iran is losing patience with the new U.S. administration's "recent signals to retain illegal sanctions" on the Islamic republic, Press TV reported.
• Iran FM rules out new talks on JCPOA, says Biden must return to negotiated accord Press TV 07 Feb 2021 -- Iran's foreign minister says the new US President Joe Biden must return to the same nuclear deal that the Islamic Republic clinched with world powers in 2015, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and there will be no new talks on the accord.
• Iran's Khamenei Says U.S. Must Lift Sanctions For Iran To Return To Nuke Deal RFE/RL 07 Feb 2021 -- Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said the United States must lift all sanctions if it wants Iran to return to the nuclear deal with Western powers, state TV has reported.
• Iran warns against any military adventure-seeking by Israeli Regime ISNA 07 Feb 2021 -- Iran's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, Majid Takht Ravanchi warned against the provocative and warmongering statements by the Zionist Regime, saying, Iran would respond definitely to any threat or wrong action by the usurper regime.
• Opposition Calls For International Support For Belarus's Pro-Democracy Protesters On Day Of Solidarity RFE/RL 07 Feb 2021 -- Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya has designated February 7 the Day of Solidarity with Belarus, calling on international leaders, activists, journalists, and all friends of the country to support protesters who have been demanding the resignation of strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka and new elections.
• India: UN rights office urges 'maximum restraint' in ongoing protests UN News 07 Feb 2021 -- The United Nations human rights office (OHCHR) has called on authorities and protesters in India to "exercise maximum restraint" amidst ongoing protests by farmers.
• Exports to EU fall dramatically by 68% since Brexit Press TV 07 Feb 2021 -- The volume of exports going through British ports to the European Union (EU) countries fell by 68 percent last month compared with January last year, as the result of the British withdrawal from the EU.
• Tajikistan Increases Pressure On Opposition At Home, Abroad RFE/RL 07 Feb 2021 -- Tajik authorities have increased pressure on opponents of the government, both at home and abroad, in recent weeks. Several activists, government critics, and suspected supporters of banned opposition groups have been jailed.