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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• Withdrawal of U.S. troops to follow timetable decided by U.S.-Iraqi dialogue: military spokesman People's Daily 25 Apr 2021 -- The full withdrawal of the U.S.-led coalition forces from Iraq will follow a timetable that will be decided by the ongoing U.S.-Iraqi dialogue, the state-sun Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported Saturday, citing a spokesman of the Iraqi military.
• Top U.S. General Says Afghan Force 'Must Be Ready' After U.S., NATO Troops Leave RFE/RL Gandhara 25 Apr 2021 -- The top U.S. general in Afghanistan said on April 25 that the U.S. military has begun closing down operations in the country and that Afghanistan's security forces "must be ready" to take over.
• US Begins Winding Down Afghan Military Mission VOA 25 Apr 2021 -- The top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan says the process of completely removing American troops from the conflict-torn country has already begun.
• US launches first steps to withdraw troops from Afghanistan: Top US commander Press TV 25 Apr 2021 -- The top US military commander in Afghanistan says the handing over of military bases and equipment to the Afghan forces has begun as Washington prepares to withdraw the remaining US forces from the country by September 11.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on Supporting our Indian Partners DoD 25 Apr 2021
• Indonesian Submarine Broke Into 3 Pieces; 53 Confirmed Dead VOA 25 Apr 2021 -- The Indonesian submarine that sank in the Bali Sea has been found, broken into three pieces, and all 53 crew members have been declared dead, the country's military said Sunday.
• Iranian Army unveils homemade turbojet engine, new radar Press TV 25 Apr 2021 -- The Iranian Army Ground Force has unveiled seven domestically-developed high-tech military achievements, including air defense systems, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and electronic warfare devices.
• Iran's Army unveils new defense, combat achievements ISNA 25 Apr 2021 -- Iran unveiled new defense and combat achievements of Army Ground Forces on Sunday.
• Defense chief warns enemies about Iran's military power Press TV 25 Apr 2021 -- Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami sounds a strong warning aimed at Iran's enemies, including the United States and Israel, about the power that is wielded by the country's military forces.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Shelving disputes with Beijing has not worked for Manila: analyst CNA 25 Apr 2021 -- The policy of setting aside maritime disputes and seeking joint development with China does not seem to have worked out well for the Philippines as evidenced by Beijing's recent aggressive actions in the South China Sea, according to a security analyst at a government-funded think tank in Taiwan.
• China's coast guard continues patrolling waters surrounding Diaoyu, defying US reaffirming security commitment to Japan Global Times 25 Apr 2021 -- Although the US reaffirmed earlier in April that it is committed to the defense of Japan under their security treaty, which covers the Diaoyu Islands where China and Japan have a dispute, the China Coast Guard (CCG) continued to send its vessels to patrol the surrounding waters on Sunday, with analysts saying that China is making it clear to relevant countries that they are unable to challenge China's determination to safeguard its territories.
• China dismisses EU accusations on Chinese fishing boats operating in S.China Sea Global Times 25 Apr 2021 -- Niu'e Jiao is a part of China's Nansha Islands, and the way Chinese fishing boats have been operating near the area has been reasonable and lawful, a spokesperson of the Chinese Mission to the EU said Saturday, dismissing the EU's accusations and warning that security risks in the South China Sea mainly come from outside the region.
• EU should "stop sowing discord" in South China Sea: Chinese spokesperson People's Daily 25 Apr 2021 -- Security risks in the South China Sea mainly come from outside the region, a spokesperson of the Chinese Mission to the European Union (EU) said Saturday, urging the EU to stop sowing discord.
• China urges EU to 'stop sowing discord' in South China Sea Press TV 25 Apr 2021 -- China has called on the European Union to refrain from sowing discord in the South China Sea following recent tensions in the Whitsun Reef that is disputed between China and the Philippines.
• Yemeni forces make remarkable advances in battle for liberation of Ma'rib Press TV 25 Apr 2021 -- made remarkable gains against militants loyal to former Riyadh-backed president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, in the battle for the full liberation of the strategic city of Ma'rib, his last stronghold in northern Yemen.
• Yemeni forces launch retaliatory drone strike against Saudi airbase Press TV 25 Apr 2021 -- The Yemeni army says it has launched a fresh drone strike on a major airbase in Saudi Arabia's southwestern province of Asir in retaliation.
• Syria urges intl. pressure on Turkish forces to stop cutting off water supply to Hasakah city Press TV 25 Apr 2021 -- Damascus has called for international pressure on the Turkish occupation forces to stop cutting off access to drinking water through the Alouk water pumping station in Hasakah city and its suburbs.
• Turkey Summons US Envoy Over Biden's Armenian Genocide Declaration VOA 25 Apr 2021 -- Turkey says it summoned the U.S. ambassador to Ankara to condemn President Joe Biden's declaration that the World War I-era massacre of hundreds of thousands of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire constituted a genocide.
• U.S. Armenians Welcome Biden Declaration Recognizing Massacre As Genocide RFE/RL 25 Apr 2021 -- Armenian Americans celebrated President Joe Biden's decision to formally recognize the massacre of Armenians during World War I as genocide, but the declaration infuriated Ankara, which accused the United States of trying to rewrite history.
• Turkey vows to respond in time to Biden's 'outrageous' recognition of Armenian genocide Press TV 25 Apr 2021 -- Turkey has vowed to respond in time to the "outrageous" declaration by US President Joe Biden officially recognizing as "genocide" the massacres of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire more than a century ago.
• Turkey summons US ambassador over Biden's Armenian 'genocide' recognition Press TV 25 Apr 2021 -- Turkey has summoned the US ambassador to Ankara over President Joe Biden's recognition of the alleged massacres of Armenians by Ottoman Turks during the First World War as "genocide."
• Biden becomes first US pres. to recognize 'Armenian genocide,' irking Turkey Press TV 25 Apr 2021 -- US President Joe Biden has emerged as the first American president to proclaim formal recognition of the politically-motivated "Armenian genocide," which has long become an annual ritual for successive US presidents and lawmakers to promote the anti-Turkey stance more than a century after the carnage, blamed on Ottoman troops but never officially sanctioned.
• Chad's military launches fierce attack on rebels to stop advance on capital Press TV 25 Apr 2021 -- The Chadian military has launched a strong attack on rebels in the African country's north to deter their planned advance on the capital, N'Djamena, following the funeral of President Idriss Deby, who died last week of wounds suffered on the front lines.
• Chad Tensions Rise After Burial of Late President Idriss Deby VOA 25 Apr 2021 -- An uneasy calm pervades Chad's capital N'Djamena since Friday's funeral for President Idriss Deby, who ruled the central African country for more than 30 years. Civilians say handing over power to Deby's 37-year-old son to lead a transitional military council for 18 months is undemocratic.

News Reports

• Paris-Area Knife Assailant Viewed Jihadist Videos Prior to Attack, Officials Say VOA 25 Apr 2021 -- A fifth person is being held for questioning in the stabbing death late last week of a police employee outside Paris, France's anti-terrorism prosecutor said Sunday. He noted the assailant, a Tunisian national, viewed videos glorifying jihad, or Muslim holy war, and may have visited to a Muslim prayer hall before the attack.
• Czech President Says There Are Two Theories On 2014 Arms Depot Blast RFE/RL 25 Apr 2021 -- Czech President Milos Zeman has said there are two theories about what caused the 2014 arms depot blast that has sparked a severe diplomatic rift with Russia, and that both must be investigated.
• Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's answer to question from the Moscow. Kremlin. Putin programme, Moscow, April 25, 2021 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 25 Apr 2021
• German Foreign Minister Rejects More Sanctions On Russia Over Navalny Situation RFE/RL 25 Apr 2021 -- German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has rejected additional EU sanctions against Russia over the situation of imprisoned opposition leader Alexsei Navalny.
• Top Kremlin Aide Signals Possible Biden-Putin Summit In June RFE/RL 25 Apr 2021 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin may hold a summit with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden in June, a top Kremlin aide said on April 25.
• China aims to launch Chang'e-6 lunar probe around 2024 PLA Daily 25 Apr 2021 -- China aims to launch the Chang'e-6 probe to collect samples in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon around 2024, a space expert said on Saturday.
• China's first Mars rover named 'Zhurong' PLA Daily 25 Apr 2021 -- China's first Mars rover has been named "Zhurong."
• Araghchi: Iran to resume JCPOA commitments after sanctions lifted IRNA 25 Apr 2021 -- Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araghchi said in Vienna on Sunday that all sanctions must be lifted, after that Iran will return to its Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) commitments.
• Top negotiator: Iran will not allow attritional talks in Vienna, will exit if other sides not serious Press TV 25 Apr 2021 -- Iran's top negotiator in Vienna talks on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal says Tehran will not allow negotiations to take long, and will leave the talks if it feels the other parties lack seriousness and only seek to buy time or wish to add other issues to the talks.
• Parliament speaker's advisor: Verification of US sanctions removal by Iran takes at least 3-6 months Press TV 25 Apr 2021 -- An advisor to Iranian Parliament speaker says if Iran and the US reach an agreement on the removal of all sanctions through the ongoing Vienna talks, it would take Tehran at least 3-6 months to verify the US measure and make sure that sanctions have been really removed.
• In vetting presidential candidates, Iran's Constitutional Council 'does not consider electability' Press TV 25 Apr 2021 -- Iran's Constitutional Council, the body tasked with vetting candidates hoping to contest general elections, says it does not consider individuals' chances of getting elected, as names pop up of people planning to run in the 2021 presidential race.
• Interior Ministry official: Iran presidential election to be held on time with no delay Press TV 25 Apr 2021 -- Head of the Iranian Interior Ministry's Election Commission says the government and the Interior Ministry have no plan to delay the forthcoming presidential election and polls will open on schedule on June 18.
• Myanmar activists censure ASEAN-junta deal, vow to keep up protests Press TV 25 Apr 2021 -- Pro-democracy activists have sharply censured a deal recently reached between Myanmar's junta chief and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to end the post-coup turmoil in the Southeast Asian country.
• ASEAN leaders agree on ending Myanmar violence; meeting believed to put brakes on escalating tension Global Times 25 Apr 2021 -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed on a five-point consensus on Saturday regarding the Myanmar crisis in a special meeting attended by heads of state and the Myanmar military. The consensus urged an end to violence and called for constructive dialogue among all parties concerned, which ASEAN regarded as "beyond expectations."
• Armenia's PM Pashinayn steps down ahead of snap polls to end political stalemate Press TV 25 Apr 2021 -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced his resignation from the post to pave the way for a snap parliamentary election aimed at defusing a political crisis triggered by last year's war with Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
• Armenian PM Steps Down, Sets Stage For Early Parliamentary Vote RFE/RL 25 Apr 2021 -- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has tendered his resignation, formally freeing the way for parliamentary elections to be held in an effort to defuse a political crisis prompted by the country's war last year with Azerbaijan.
• Turkmen Succession Speculation As Son Of Leader Takes The Reins For National Horse Day RFE/RL 25 Apr 2021 -- The 39-year-old son of Turkmenistan's autocratic leader oversaw festivities surrounding a national holiday celebrating local horse and dog breeds, as speculation grows over potential hereditary succession in the secretive Central Asian state.
• Albania Holds 10th Post-Communist Parliamentary Election VOA 25 Apr 2021 -- Voters in Albania cast ballots in parliamentary elections on Sunday after a bitter campaign by the two main political parties amid the coronavirus pandemic.
• Somalia Election Stalemate Triggers Violence VOA 25 Apr 2021 -- Intermittent gunfire rocked the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on Sunday as rival forces clashed following the breakdown of talks on elections.