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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• Can Afghan Forces Hold Back The Taliban Without U.S., NATO Troops? RFE/RL Gandhara 19 Apr 2021 -- A powerful presence in Afghanistan for nearly two decades, the withdrawal of the last 2,500 U.S. troops from the war-torn country has U.S. intelligence chiefs and policy advisers concerned the Afghan military will be unable to hold off extremist Taliban forces by itself.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Pentagon Press Secretary Conducts a Press Briefing DoD 19 Apr 2021 -- Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby
• FORSCOM scales up interoperability during multinational exercise Army News 19 Apr 2021 -- U.S. Army Forces Command units hosted multiple European militaries to test interoperability this month during a large joint exercise that simulated corps-level battle, its commander said Friday.
• NY, NJ Homeland Response Force resumes training Army News 19 Apr 2021 -- After a year and a half hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 200 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from New York and New Jersey trained together to respond to Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear incidents April 16-17.
• USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) Deploys in Support of British Carrier Task Group 21 US Navy 19 Apr 2021 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG 68), departed Mayport, Apr. 19, for deployment to participate in HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) Strike Group.
• Mercy conducts First Ever Flight Deck Landing of V-22 Osprey US Navy 19 Apr 2021 -- Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) is currently conducting dynamic interface testing operations off the coast of Southern California.
• NIWC Atlantic Advances New Technologies during Joint Civilian-military Exercise US Navy 19 Apr 2021 -- Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic wrapped up a joint civilian-military exercise on April 14 at Camp Lejeune, N.C., where over 60 emerging technologies were evaluated by the Navy and Marine Corps for future warfighter application.
• U.S. Naval Forces-Africa's FAST conducts Cross-continent Exercise US Navy 19 Apr 2021 -- The U.S. continues to partner with G5 Sahel countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger), French forces, and other international partners to fight against violent extremism across the Sahel.
• INAS 323 commissioned at Goa as first unit of indigenously built ALH MK III enters Naval Service India PIB 19 Apr 2021 -- Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 323, the first unit of the indigenously built ALH Mk III aircraft, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in the presence of Hon'ble Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Shripad Naik and Vice Admiral R Hari Kumar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Naval Command, at INS Hansa, Goa on 19 Apr 21.
• Annual war games extended to allow greater discussion of results: MND CNA 19 Apr 2021 -- Taiwan's defense chief said Monday that the decision to extend this year's annual war games was made to enable more thorough discussion of the results of the exercises so the military can make adjustments accordingly.
• Taiwan Seeks US Cruise Missiles as Rumors Swirl of Artillery Deal Pitched by Washington Sputnik 19 Apr 2021 -- At a recent diplomatic summit in Alaska, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken denounced China's actions toward Taiwan, painting them as a pattern of aggression across the region. However, Beijing regards Taiwan as a rebellious province of China, not a separate country.
• Regional Presence Deployment demonstrates Australia's commitment to the Indo-Pacific Australia DOD 19 Apr 2021 -- Two Royal Australian Navy vessels, HMA Ships Ballarat and Parramatta, and more than 350 personnel have departed their respective homeports in Western Australia and New South Wales for a two-month deployment throughout Southeast and Northeast Asia.
• Australia to launch inquiry into rising military suicides Press TV 19 Apr 2021 -- Australia will establish a Royal Commission to study the rising number of suicides in the nation's armed forces, Prime Minister Scott Morrison declared, bending to public pressure for preventative measures.
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Mongolian Foreign Minister Battsetseg US Dept. of State 19 Apr 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar US Dept. of State 19 Apr 2021
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, April 19, 2021 The White House 19 Apr 2021

Defense Industry

• Contracts For April 19, 2021

Other Conflicts

• Yemeni army forces, allies deal stinging blow to Saudi-backed militants Press TV 19 Apr 2021 -- Yemeni army forces, backed by fighters from allied Popular Committees, have carried out fresh operations against Saudi-backed militants loyal to Yemen's former Riyadh-friendly president in the Arab country's northern province of al-Jawf, inflicting substantial losses on them.
• Russian Forces Destroyed Terrorists' Shelters Northeast of Syria's Palmyra, Up to 200 Militants Dead Sputnik 19 Apr 2021 -- Militants created a camouflaged base northeast of Syria's Palmyra, where groups were formed for terrorist attacks and explosive devices were made. Russian Aerospace Forces planes have hit these targets, Rear Adm. Alexander Karpov, deputy head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of Warring Parties in Syria, said on Monday.
• US-Backed Syrian Forces Hand Over 34 Children of IS Fighters to Russia VOA 19 Apr 2021 -- Authorities in northeast Syria handed over 34 children of Islamic State fighters in Syria to the Russian government, Kurdish officials said Sunday.
• EU: Russian Troop Buildup Along Ukraine, Crimea Highest Ever VOA 19 Apr 2021 -- The European Union says roughly 150,000 Russian troops are massed along the border of Ukraine and in Crimea — calling it the highest such military deployment.
• Ukraine, France, Germany, And Russia Meet To Discuss Leaders Summit RFE/RL 19 Apr 2021 -- Top advisers to the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany will hold consultations on April 19 to chart a path for a possible summit aimed at easing tensions in eastern Ukraine.
• Russia's Intention to Restrict Navigation in parts of the Black Sea US Dept. of State 19 Apr 2021 -- The United States expresses its deep concern over Russia's plans to block foreign naval ships and state vessels in parts of the Black Sea, including near occupied Crimea and the Kerch Strait.
• Bigger Than 2014: US Calls Out Russian Military Buildup Along Ukraine Border VOA 19 Apr 2021 -- The United States renewed concerns about Russian military maneuvers along its border with Ukraine, charging that Moscow has now massed more troops in the area than when it invaded and seized Crimea seven years ago.
• Ukraine Tensions Reignite Russian-Turkish Battle over Waterway VOA 19 Apr 2021 -- Russia is continuing to build up its naval presence in the Black Sea, and The Sunday Times newspaper, quoting British naval sources, said Britain is also deploying two warships to beef up NATO's presence, as tensions over Ukraine escalate.
• France 'bears significant responsibility' for enabling 1994 Rwanda genocide: Report Press TV 19 Apr 2021 -- France "bears significant responsibility" for enabling the 1994 Rwanda genocide, according to an inquiry commissioned by Kigali, but it has refused to acknowledge its role in the mass murder.
• Palestinian prime minister: Israel's settlement activity needs to be stopped Press TV 19 Apr 2021 -- Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh says there needs to be an immediate halt to Israel's new settlement expansion scheme in the occupied Palestinian territories.
• Israel starts construction of new illegal settler units in northern Jordan Valley Press TV 19 Apr 2021 -- Israeli authorities have begun the construction of new settler units in the Jordan Valley, despite strong international condemnation of the Tel Aviv regime's land grab policies in the occupied Palestinian territories.
• Freed Cameroon Captives Says Separatists Chopped Off Their Ears and Fingers VOA 19 Apr 2021 -- Cameroon's military has freed nine civilians who say they were held hostage by anglophone separatists for close to two months. Some of the freed hostages say the rebels tortured them, chopping off their ears and fingers.
• Projected Winner in Vote for Tibet's Exile Leader Vows Hard Work, Asks for Unity Radio Free Asia 19 Apr 2021 -- The projected winner in the election for the next leader, or Sikyong, of Tibet's Dharamsala, India-based exile government is pledging to work hard on behalf of Tibetans living in their China-ruled homeland and in exile, saying he has already received many messages of support.

News Reports

• Statement by Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology Anne Neuberger on SolarWinds and Microsoft Exchange Incidents The White House 19 Apr 2021
• US Reaffirms Climate Issue as Foreign Policy Priority Ahead of Earth Day Summit VOA 19 Apr 2021 -- Ahead of this week's White House Leaders Summit on Climate, the United States is reaffirming fighting climate change as a top foreign policy priority, as it hopes to drive a green energy revolution.
• World on the verge of climate 'abyss', as temperature rise continues: UN chief UN News 19 Apr 2021 -- The Earth's temperature continues to rise unabated, with 2020 being one of the three warmest years on record, as extreme weather events combine with the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting millions.
• EU Holds Talks Over Czech Claim That Russia Behind Arms Depot Blast RFE/RL 19 Apr 2021 -- European Union foreign ministers are holding talks over Czech claims that Russian military agents linked to the 2018 Skripal nerve-agent poisoning in Britain were behind an earlier explosion at a Czech arms depot explosion that killed two people.
• Russia Did Not Attack Czech Republic in Vrbetice, Prime Minister Babis Says Sputnik 19 Apr 2021 -- The explosion at the ammunition depot in the village of Vrbetice is not about Russia's attack on the Czech Republic, it was an attack by Russian intelligence officers on the goods of a Bulgarian arms dealer, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Monday.
• Moscow Says US is Behind Expulsion of Russian Diplomats From Czech Republic Sputnik 19 Apr 2021 -- The United States is behind the expulsion of Russian diplomats from the Czech Republic, and this is related to the thwarted conspiracy to stage a coup in Belarus, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Monday.
• Moscow sees U.S. influence behind Czech expulsion of Russian diplomats People's Daily 19 Apr 2021 -- Russia says U.S. influence is evident in the Czech Republic's decision to expel 18 Russian diplomats from Prague.
• Russia expels 20 Czech diplomats in retaliation People's Daily 19 Apr 2021 -- The Russian Foreign Ministry said Sunday that it is expelling 20 staffers of the Czech embassy in Moscow in response to the expulsion of 18 Russian diplomats from the Czech Republic.
• Kremlin says Czech expulsion of its diplomats 'provocative and unfriendly' Press TV 19 Apr 2021 -- The Kremlin has denounced as "provocative and unfriendly" the Czech Republic's expulsion of 18 Russian diplomats for alleged espionage activity.
• Russia Ready to Attract Foreign Partners to Project of New Space Station, Deputy Prime Minister Says Sputnik 19 Apr 2021 -- Russia is ready to involve other countries in the project to create a new space station, but is ready to finance it on its own, Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said on Monday.
• Navalny Transferred From Prison to Hospital for Inmates, Russian Detention Authority Says Sputnik 19 Apr 2021 -- A medical panel has made a decision to transfer Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny from the prison where he is serving his sentence on financial misconduct charges to a local hospital for convicts, the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service announced on Monday.
• Hunger-Striking Russian Opposition Leader Navalny Moved to Prison Hospital VOA 19 Apr 2021 -- Russian prison officials said Monday that hunger-striking, jailed opposition politician Alexey Navalny has been transferred to a prison hospital.
• Lawyer Sees Navalny At Prison Hospital, Warns He Looks 'Bad' RFE/RL 19 Apr 2021 -- A lawyer for jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny, who is in the third week of a hunger strike, says his client looks "bad," raising further concerns over the Kremlin critic's health after he was transferred to a correctional facility hospital amid intensifying pressure from the West.
• Public Banned From Court In Case Against Navalny's Foundation RFE/RL 19 Apr 2021 -- A Moscow court has banned the public from a hearing in a case brought by Russian prosecutors to label jailed Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny's anti-corruption organization and its regional offices as "extremist" organizations.
• Former Navalny Coordinator In St. Petersburg Detained Ahead Of Rallies RFE/RL 19 Apr 2021 -- The former coordinator of opposition leader Aleksei Navalny's team in Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, has been detained two days before announced rallies to demand the Kremlin critic's release from prison amid reports his health is rapidly deteriorating.
• Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Call with Nikolay Patrushev, Secretary of the Russian Security Council The White House 19 Apr 2021
• Top U.S., Russian Officials Discuss Possible Biden-Putin Summit Amid Heightened Tensions RFE/RL 19 Apr 2021 -- Amid heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow, U.S. national-security adviser Jake Sullivan has discussed with his Russian counterpart bilateral issues, "regional and global matters of concern," as well as "the prospect of a presidential summit" between the two countries' presidents.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on April 19, 2021 PRC MofA 19 Apr 2021
• Hong Kong to Fire 129 Civil Servants Who Refused to Pledge Allegiance Radio Free Asia 19 Apr 2021 -- Authorities in Hong Kong on Monday announced plans to start terminate the contracts of civil servants who refused to take an oath of allegiance to the Hong Kong govermment.
• Watchdog Accuses China Of Crimes Against Humanity In Xinjiang RFE/RL 19 Apr 2021 -- Human Rights Watch (HRW) says China's communist government is committing crimes against humanity in its treatment of Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim people in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.
• Human Rights Watch Calls Out China's 'Crimes Against Humanity' Toward Uyghurs VOA 19 Apr 2021 -- Human Rights Watch said China is "committing crimes against humanity" toward Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in the country's western Xinjiang region.
• Rights Researchers Urge UN Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity in Xinjiang Radio Free Asia 19 Apr 2021 -- China's treatment of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) meets international legal definitions of "crimes against humanity" and merits a U.N. inquiry, sanctions and efforts to prosecute responsible officials, human rights researchers said in a report Monday.
• Residents of Xinjiang Refrain From Fasting During Ramadan Despite 'Easing of Restrictions' Radio Free Asia 19 Apr 2021 -- Restrictions on fasting during the holy Islamic month of Ramadan have eased in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in recent years, but residents continue to refrain from doing so, according to local authorities, suggesting a lingering fear of being branded an "extremist" and marked for detention.
• China raps US, Japan for 'reckless harm'to int'l order over Taipei statement Press TV 19 Apr 2021 -- China has accused the US and Japan of committing "reckless harm" to international order after US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister YoshihideSuga said they would work together on Chinese Taipei.
• Araqchi nixes notion of 'temporary agreement' amid JCPOA revival talks Press TV 19 Apr 2021 -- Iran's senior negotiator to underway talks aimed at potential revival of the 2015 nuclear deal between the Islamic Republic and world countries, roundly rejects the notion that the country could settle for any "temporary agreement" while taking part in the negotiations.
• Iran says Vienna talks to progress if US abolishes Trump's failed legacy Press TV 19 Apr 2021 -- Iran says the ongoing Vienna talks will progress if the US abolishes former president Donald Trump's failed "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran and commits to its obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal.
• Iran Says Vienna JCPOA Talks 'on Right Track', Will Return to Compliance Once Sanctions Lifted Sputnik 19 Apr 2021 -- Tehran also refused to directly confirm reported negotiations with Saudi Arabia aimed at mending diplomatic ties, which have been cut off since the execution of prominent Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr in the kingdom and subsequent attacks on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran.
• IRGC Quds Force deputy chief Gen. Hejazi passes away Press TV 19 Apr 2021 -- Deputy Chief of the IRGC Quds Force General Mohammad Hejazi has passed away after years of suffering from the effects of chemical weapons used during the Iraqi war of the 1980s on Iran, IRGC spokesman Ramazan Sharif says.
• Top Iranian General Hejazi Dies At 65 RFE/RL 19 Apr 2021 -- A high-ranking general responsible for Iran's regional military activities and an architect of its repressive internal security apparatus has died.
• Myanmar Junta Charges 100 Healthcare Pros for Work Stoppage Protests Radio Free Asia 19 Apr 2021 -- Myanmar's military junta has charged more than 100 healthcare workers for their refusal to return to government hospitals in protest of the military's violent crackdown on dissent over the Feb 1. coup, sources in the country told RFA.
• EU imposes sanctions on Myanmar's junta officials Press TV 19 Apr 2021 -- The European Union has imposed sanctions on two conglomerates linked to Myanmar's military and ten of its officials who were involved in seizing power in the coup of February 1.
• ASEAN Denounced for Inviting Junta Chief to Summit on Myanmar Radio Free Asia 19 Apr 2021 -- Activists and regional analysts are slamming ASEAN for inviting the Burmese junta chief to a special summit called for this coming weekend to discuss the turmoil in member-nation Myanmar after the military coup.
• UN chief highlights key role of Asian regional bloc in ending Myanmar crisis UN News 19 Apr 2021 -- UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on Monday for leaders in Asia to bolster efforts towards finding a peaceful solution to the bloody crisis in Myanmar, sparked by the military coup in February.
• MYANMAR CRISIS: Stand with the people and protect them, urges UN rights expert UN News 19 Apr 2021 -- The international community has a responsibility to protect the people of Myanmar, under attack from their own military, the UN independent human rights expert on the country argues, in the second part of our in-depth interview, calling also for refuge to be given to those who have fled for their lives to neighbouring countries.
• Former UN Chief: 'Fleeting Window' of Opportunity to Resolve Myanmar Crisis VOA 19 Apr 2021 -- Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the bloodshed in Myanmar on Monday, urging the U.N. Security Council and regional bloc ASEAN to take immediate and concerted action to prevent "ongoing atrocities" and a further escalation of violence.
• Cuban Communist Party Elects President Diaz-Canel as First Secretary of Central Committee Sputnik 19 Apr 2021 -- The Cuban Communist Party delegates on Monday elected President Miguel Diaz-Canel as the first secretary of the central committee.
• U.S. Revokes License Allowing Transactions With Belarus State Firms RFE/RL 19 Apr 2021 -- The U.S. State Department said on April 19 it would not renew a special license authorizing transactions with nine state-owned Belarusian companies.
• British PM Johnson Faces Scottish Independence Challenge VOA 19 Apr 2021 -- A year ago, Boris Johnson's tenure as Britain's prime minister looked to some like it might be short-lived. Brexit woes and a string of missteps and abrupt U-turns in the government's handling of the pandemic prompted Conservative lawmakers to hazard privately that his days would likely be numbered.
• EU Mediates Deal To End Georgia's Political Crisis RFE/RL 19 Apr 2021 -- Georgia's ruling party and part of the opposition signed an EU-mediated deal on April 19 to end months of political crisis in the Caucasus country.
• Somalia President Calls for African Union Mediation VOA 19 Apr 2021 -- Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed said he was willing to negotiate with stakeholders in Somalia's political crisis in order to find a solution.