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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• On Anniversary Of Doha Deal, Taliban Calls For Foreign Troops To Leave Afghanistan RFE/RL Gandhara 28 Feb 2021 -- The Taliban has marked the first anniversary of a peace deal it signed with the United States by calling for the withdrawal of all international forces from Afghanistan within the timeline specified in the agreement.
• Afghan Rights Group Says Taliban Commander Killed Journalist's Family RFE/RL Gandhara 28 Feb 2021 -- The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) says that a Taliban commander killed three family members of a slain journalist in the central province of Ghor.
• Taliban Warn Turning Away from Afghan Peace Deal 'Doomed to Failure' VOA 28 Feb 2021 -- The Taliban demanded Sunday that the United States and its foreign military allies leave Afghanistan by May 1, in line with a peace agreement the insurgent group signed with Washington a year ago, warning any attempt to change the path "is already doomed to failure."

Defense Policy / Programs

• China to hold month-long military drills in South China Sea Global Times 28 Feb 2021 -- China has announced that it will hold military exercises in the South China Sea for the whole of March, at a time when the US military has been frequently sending reconnaissance aircraft and ships to the region and a French warship group is on its way.
• Chinese legislator urges enhanced drone usage in border regions Global Times 28 Feb 2021 -- A Chinese legislator who leads a regiment in the country's southwestern border defense frontline will submit a proposal at the upcoming two sessions, suggesting that China should enhance border management and control by deploying more smart equipment like drones, as his experience and research indicate huge room for improvement despite the wide use of such devices by the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
• Israel's Gantz held secret meeting with Jordanian monarch: Report Press TV 28 Feb 2021 -- Israel's minister of military affairs Benny Gantz and Jordanian King Abdullah II held a secret meeting in Jordan on Friday, an Israeli report says.
• Israeli Media Claims Defence Minister Benny Gantz Secretly Met With King of Jordan Sputnik 28 Feb 2021 -- Despite the two countries cooperating on security issues, relations between them have been strained over Israel's policy towards the Palestinians and now-paused plans to take control over parts of the West Bank. Gantz previously blamed his coalition partner, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the poor state of ties with Jordan.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• UN: Nearly $4 Billion Needed to Prevent Massive Yemen Famine VOA 28 Feb 2021 -- The United Nations will appeal to donors Monday for nearly $4 billion to prevent "the worst famine the world has seen for decades" from happening in Yemen this year.
• Attacks on Saudi targets to continue until aggression stops: Yemen's Ansarullah Press TV 28 Feb 2021 -- A senior official of Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement says attacks on Saudi targets will continue until the years-long Saudi war and siege come to an end.
• UN: Over 16 million people in war-torn Yemen to go hungry this year Press TV 28 Feb 2021 -- A UN humanitarian agency has warned that more than 16 million people in Yemen would go hungry this year as Saudi war and siege continue to take heavy toll on the impoverished nation.
• Yemeni forces say hit 'sensitive' targets deep in Saudi territory by missile, drone strikes Press TV 28 Feb 2021 -- Yemeni defense forces have claimed the massive retaliatory strike, featuring a ballistic missile and as many as nine drones, against "sensitive" spots in the Saudi capital amid an ongoing Riyadh-led war on the impoverished nation.
• Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Interception, Destruction of (1) Ballistic Missile Toward (Riyadh), 6 Bomb-Laden UAVs Toward the Kingdom Launched by Terrorist Iran-Backed Houthi Militia to Target Civilians and Civilian Objects SPA 28 Feb 2021 -- Statement by the Official Spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Brigadier General Turki Al-Malki
• Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia US Dept. of State 28 Feb 2021 -- "The United States strongly condemns the Houthis' attacks on population centers in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, February 27."
• Syrian air defenses intercept Israeli missiles targeting Damascus suburb Press TV 28 Feb 2021 -- The Syrian military says the country's air defenses have intercepted Israeli missiles coming from the direction of the occupied Golan Heights.
• UNICEF urges repatriation of all children in Syria's al-Hol camp following deadly fire UN News 28 Feb 2021 -- The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Sunday urged all countries to repatriate and safely reintegrate their young nationals being held at Syria's largest camp for refugees and internally-displaced, following a deadly weekend fire at Al-Hol camp which saw at least three children die, and another 15 injured.
• Iraqi warplanes, Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters take on Daesh remnants in Diyala Press TV 28 Feb 2021 -- Iraqi warplanes and fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), also known as Hashd al-Sha'abi, have embarked on sweeping operations to clear the western border province of Diyala of remnants of the Takfiri terrorist group of Daesh.
• Iran summons Turkey's ambassador over 'unacceptable' PKK claim Press TV 28 Feb 2021 -- Iran has summoned Turkey's Ambassador Derya Ors to protest the Turkish interior minister's "unacceptable" claim about the presence of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group's members in the Islamic Republic.
• Ankara Reportedly Summons Iranian Envoy After Tehran's Criticism of Turkish Operation in Iraq Sputnik 28 Feb 2021 -- The Turkish Foreign Ministry on Sunday summoned the Iranian ambassador in Ankara, Mohammad Farazmand, after Tehran condemned Turkey's military operation in northern Iraq, the Anadolu news agency reported, citing diplomatic sources.
• Turkey Summons Iranian Envoy To Protest Iraq Dispute RFE/RL 28 Feb 2021 -- Turkey has summoned Iran's envoy to Ankara to demand support in the fight against "terrorism," escalating a dispute over Turkey's presence in Iraq.
• Polisario Front blames UN for 'political deadlock' in Western Sahara negotiations Press TV 28 Feb 2021 -- The pro-independence Polisario Front fighting Morocco for control over Western Sahara has blamed the United Nations for a "political deadlock" in the decades-long conflict.
• US Report Documents Atrocities, Ethnic Cleansing in Tigray, NY Times Says VOA 28 Feb 2021 -- An internal U.S. government report obtained by The New York Times says that Ethiopia is conducting "a systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing" under the cover of war in the Tigray region, an area largely controlled by Amhara militias in the northern part of the country.
• US Concerned About Humanitarian Crisis in Tigray, Calls For End to Hostilities Sputnik 28 Feb 2021 -- The US State Department is concerned about the recent developments in the conflict-torn Ethiopian province of Tigray, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

News Reports

• At Least 18 Protesters Killed Across Myanmar as Junta Forces Fire on Crowds Radio Free Asia 28 Feb 2021 -- At least 18 people were killed when security forces fired on protesters in cities across Myanmar on Sunday, the bloodiest day in a month of mass demonstrations against the military's ouster of the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
• 18 Deaths Reported in Bloodiest Day of Myanmar Coup Protests VOA 28 Feb 2021 -- Security forces in Myanmar fired on protesters Sunday, killing at least 18 people and leaving more than 30 others injured in the deadliest day of demonstrations since the February 1 military coup, according to the United Nations Human Rights Office.
• Statement by National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Violence Against Peaceful Demonstrations in Burma The White House 28 Feb 2021
• Myanmar: UN condemns escalating violence in deadliest day of protests so far UN News 28 Feb 2021 -- In response to the killing of at least 18 protesters demonstrating against Myanmar's military coup, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) on Sunday together with the UN chief, strongly condemned the "escalating violence" and called for an immediate end to the use of force.
• UN rights office denounces military crackdown on peaceful protesters in Myanmar, says 18 killed Press TV 28 Feb 2021 -- The United Nations has lambasted the crackdown on peaceful protesters in coup-hit Myanmar, saying nearly 20 people have been killed and dozens of others wounded in the latest round of military violence.
• Myanmar crackdown intensifies: Multiple fatalities in latest protests Press TV 28 Feb 2021 -- Police have killed several people and wounded many more in a single day as demonstrations against an early February coup by military junta enters the fourth week in Myanmar.
• At Least 17 People Die in Clashes Between Police, Protesters in Myanmar, Reports Say Sputnik 28 Feb 2021 -- At least 17 people died on Sunday across Myanmar during clashes between the police and protesters marching against the recent military takeover, Myanmar's Mizzima News portal reported.
• Russia Seeks to Strengthen Old Ties with Myanmar Junta VOA 28 Feb 2021 -- Russia's appetite for influence and lucrative arms sales in Southeast Asia has been whetted by the latest coup in Myanmar, where isolated generals remain distrustful of China but still require allies on the United Nations Security Council.
• Report: Navalny To Serve Sentence In Penal Colony Near Moscow RFE/RL 28 Feb 2021 -- Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny will reportedly serve his prison sentence near Moscow, according to Russian media sources, although the Kremlin critic's allies say they are still unsure of his location.
• Navalny's Movement Faces Tough Obstacles To Expanding Into Russia's North Caucasus RFE/RL 28 Feb 2021 -- When the team of Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny attempted to open a representative office in the capital of the North Caucasus republic of Daghestan earlier this month, events unfolded quickly.
• Hong Kong police summon 47 dissidents to court over 'subversion' charges Press TV 28 Feb 2021 -- Hong Kong police have charged dozens of dissidents in the semi-autonomous Chinese city with conspiracy to commit subversion.
• Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Activists Charged VOA 28 Feb 2021 -- Forty-seven pro-democracy activists and political figures in Hong Kong reported to authorities Sunday and were formally charged with subversion under a controversial national security law.
• Update: HK police charge 47 anti-govt figures with subversion ahead of electoral reform Global Times 28 Feb 2021 -- The Hong Kong Police Force on Sunday formally charged 47 people involved in illegal primaries, including scholar Benny Tai Yiu-ting, with conspiring to subvert state power. They will be taken to court on Monday.
• Dozens of anti-govt figures in HK charged, sounding deterrence ahead of reform Global Times 28 Feb 2021 -- On Sunday, 47 anti-government figures in Hong Kong including local scholar Benny Tai Yiu-ting were formally charged with conspiring to subvert state power, as the imminent electoral reform in Hong Kong to ensure the city's political system meets the principle that only patriots govern Hong Kong is expected to become a major focus of the upcoming two sessions. The reform will fix the loopholes in the city's political system.
• Chinese central authorities solicit opinions from HK representatives on improving HK electoral system Global Times 28 Feb 2021 -- Chinese central authorities on Sunday started to hold a two-day symposium in south China's Shenzhen to solicit opinions from representatives from all walks of life in Hong Kong on improving the special administrative region's electoral system and upholding "patriots governing Hong Kong."
• Iran Rejects 'Untimely' EU-US Offer of Direct Nuclear Talks in Coming Week Sputnik 28 Feb 2021 -- Earlier in the day, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing two senior Western diplomats, that Iran would not engage in direct negotiations on the nuclear deal in the coming weeks.
• Iran Balks at Resuming Nuclear Talks with US VOA 28 Feb 2021 -- Iran on Sunday balked at holding an informal meeting with the United States and three European powers about reviving the 2015 accord that restrained Tehran's nuclear development program to keep it from developing nuclear weapons.
• Iran Rules Out Informal Meeting With U.S., EU On Reviving Nuclear Deal RFE/RL 28 Feb 2021 -- Iran has rejected holding an informal meeting with the United States and European powers to discuss ways to revive its 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, insisting that Washington must lift all its unilateral sanctions.
• If US wants to return to JCPOA, it should fulfill commitments ISNA 28 Feb 2021 -- Fulfilling commitments is the simple way for the United States to return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Majid Takht Ravanchi stressed.
• Iran's Foreign Ministry: Time not suitable for unofficial meeting with EU, US officials on JCPOA Press TV 28 Feb 2021 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman says the present juncture is not a suitable time for holding an unofficial meeting with European Union and American officials on the landmark nuclear deal that Iran clinched with world powers in 2015, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
• Iran reacts to recent stances of US, E3 IRNA 28 Feb 2021 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh on Sunday evening reacted to the recent stances of US, E3 on Joint comprehensive plan of action (JCPOA) and Resolution 2231.
• New generation of IR2M, IR6 centrifuges to be installed at Fordow facilities: MP IRNA 28 Feb 2021 -- Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Selahi has briefed the parliament on the process of installing new generations of IR2M and IR6 centrifuges in Fordow and Natanz facilities, a lawmaker said here on Sunday.
• Iran's ceaseless efforts to get its frozen assets IRNA 28 Feb 2021 -- A new chapter has been opened for Iran to pave the way for liberating its frozen assets following consultations have been made to urge South Korea, Japan, Iraq and Oman to unlock Iranian money.
• Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran: We will respond if IAEA Board adopts negative resolution Press TV 28 Feb 2021 -- Tehran will respond appropriately in case the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) issues a resolution against Iran for suspending the implementation of the Additional Protocol that allowed the IAEA to carry out short-notice inspections, says the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).
• Israel Says Iran Likely Behind Explosion On Israeli-Owned Cargo Ship RFE/RL 28 Feb 2021 -- Top Israeli defense and political leaders are scheduled to meet on February 28 to discuss a response to what Israel's defense minister says was likely an attack by Iran against a an Israeli-owned cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman.
• Dozens Detained By Police At Opposition Rallies In Kazakhstan RFE/RL 28 Feb 2021 -- People have taken to the streets in cities and town across Kazakhstan to press for democratic reforms.
• Armenia's president rebuffs PM order for army chief dismissal as protests continue Press TV 28 Feb 2021 -- Armenia's president has refused to sign a decree by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to dismiss the army's chief of staff, amid a political crisis that has grown over the government's handling of last year's war with Azerbaijan.
• Powerful Countries Come Under Fire at UN Human Rights Council VOA 28 Feb 2021 -- Cracks are emerging in the firewall that until now has protected some of the world's powerful nations from being scrutinized and called to account for gross violations by the U.N. Human Rights Council.