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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Iraq's Balad Air Base Comes Under Rocket Attack, US-Led Coalition Says Sputnik 03 May 2021 -- The Balad Air Base in Iraq has been targeted by a rocket attack on Monday, a spokesperson for the US-led coalition told Sputnik on Monday.
• Several rockets target Iraqi air base housing occupying US forces, warplanes Press TV 03 May 2021 -- At least six rockets have targeted an Iraqi air base hosting the occupying US soldiers and warplanes following a string of similar attacks on the base during past months.
• F-35B jets to join the fight against Daesh from the Carrier Strike Group UK MOD 03 May 2021 -- UK F-35B fighter jets operating from HMS Queen Elizabeth will join Operation Shader in the fight against Daesh.
• RAF's 'Dambusters' squadron set to begin Iraq and Syria bombing mission Press TV 03 May 2021 -- The Royal Air Force (RAF) is set to deploy its 617 squadron – known as the "Dambusters" – allegedly against Daesh targets in Iraq and Syria.
• Pentagon Says 'Harassing Attacks' Not Impeding Afghan Operations RFE/RL Gandhara 03 May 2021 -- Amid heightened violence and stalled peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, the U.S. military says "small harassing attacks" have not significantly affected the early days of international forces' official withdrawal from Afghanistan.
• Afghanistan to Discuss Fate of Foreign IS Prisoners with Their Countries VOA 03 May 2021 -- The Afghan government said it plans to begin talks with 14 countries to discuss what to do with hundreds of their citizens who have been captured while fighting alongside the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP).
• Small Attacks in Afghanistan Have No Significant Impact on US Troop Drawdown, Pentagon Says Sputnik 03 May 2021 -- The Taliban* have conducted small, harassing attacks in Afghanistan that have not had a significant impact on the drawdown of American troops in the country, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said on Monday.
• Blinken Says Troop Pullout From Afghanistan 'Doesn't Mean We're Leaving' Sputnik 03 May 2021 -- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says there will still be US presence in Afghanistan after the pullout of American forces is completed.
• Blinken says US troop pullout from Afghanistan 'doesn't mean we're leaving' Press TV 03 May 2021 -- As the United States officially begins pulling out its troops from war-torn Afghanistan in what President Joe Biden has claimed ending "the forever war", Secretary of State Antony Blinken says there will still be US presence in Afghanistan even after the American troop pullout is completed.
• More Than 100 Militants Reportedly Killed In Fighting Between Taliban, Afghan Forces RFE/RL Gandhara 03 May 2021 -- The Afghan Defense Ministry says that more than 100 militants were killed in fighting between government forces and the Taliban over the past two days.
• Taliban Militants Kill 15 Government Soldiers In Attacks In Western Afghanistan RFE/RL Gandhara 03 May 2021 -- At least 15 Afghan government soldiers have been killed in Taliban attacks in two provinces as violence continues to rise while negotiations between the two sides aimed at ending a 20-year conflict stall.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Spacecom Aims to Ensure Space Domain Is Protected, General Says DoD News 03 May 2021 -- U.S. Space Command supports the geographic combatant commanders by defending the space assets used by all commands that are vital to missile warnings and tracking; these include GPS and space-based sensors. Spacecom is also a geographic combatant command since its territory extends from 100 kilometers above the Earth into space.
• AFRICOM leader highlights support to African and international partners during Sahel visit AFRICOM 03 May 2021 -- U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Heidi Berg, director of intelligence, U.S. Africa Command, concluded a multiday visit to Senegal and Mali, highlighting U.S. Africa Command's continued support to African and French partners and their efforts to enhance security in the Sahel.
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to deliver on F-35 program in Israel Army News 03 May 2021 --The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Europe District has delivered an additional secure home for part of the Israeli Air Force's fleet of F-35 fighter jets, with a small ceremony marking the completion of another Hardened Hangar project on site earlier this year in March.
• Statement From Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby on Upcoming Secretary of Defense Travel DoD 03 May 2021
• Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby Holds a Press Briefing DoD 03 May 2021
• Defense Official Says Hypersonics Are Vital to Modernization Strategy, Battlefield Dominance DoD News 03 May 2021 -- Hypersonic systems are among the highest priorities in the Defense Department's modernization strategy to ensure continued U.S. battlefield dominance, said the principal director for hypersonics in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.
• Defender Europe 21 Exercises Multinational Interoperability, Readiness, Transparency DoD News 03 May 2021 -- Exercise Defender Europe 21 has started once again. This year's exercise involves 26 nations, including the U.S., and around 28,000 multinational forces all focused on building operational readiness and interoperability between NATO allies and partners.
• Allied Forces Prepare for the Start of Exercise At-Sea Demo/Formidable Shield 2021 US Navy 03 May 2021 -- The Spanish Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate ESPS Cristóbal Colón (F-105) is this year's designated flag ship for the execution of Exercise At-Sea Demonstration/Formidable Shield 2021, scheduled to take place May 15 to June 3.
• USS Vella Gulf Conducts Port Visit in Rota US Navy 03 May 2021 -- Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72), an element of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG), conducted a four-day scheduled port visit to Rota Spain, May 3, 2021.
• U.S. service members, ships, aircraft meet in Alaska for Northern Edge 21 US Navy 03 May 2021 -- Approximately 15,000 U.S. service members, six U.S. Navy ships and 240 aircraft will participate in Northern Edge 2021 (NE21), a joint field training exercise May 3-14 from various locations in and around Alaska.
• Russia ready for strategic stability dialogue with US: Foreign ministry Press TV 03 May 2021 -- Russia says it is ready to hold a dialogue on issues of strategic stability with the United States after noticing signals from Washington indicating its readiness in this regard, emphasizing that Moscow will, however, insist on its missile defense concerns.
• Answer by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova to a RIA Novosti question on the build-up of the United States' global missile defence system and its readiness to discuss the missile defence agenda in a dialogue with Russia Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 03 May 2021
• Russia Ready to Discuss Strategic Stability Issues With US Sputnik 03 May 2021 -- Russia is noticing signals from the United States indicating Washington's readiness to discuss issues of strategic stability and is ready for a dialogue, but will press its missile defence concerns, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik.
• China's new nuclear-powered submarine can hit US mainland: Report Press TV 03 May 2021 -- A new report says China's military has armed its newly commissioned nuclear-powered submarine with the country's most powerful submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), which can reach the US mainland.
• New Chinese Submarine Armed With Missiles Capable of Covering Entire US, Reports Say Sputnik 03 May 2021 -- China's newly commissioned nuclear-powered submarine, dubbed the Type 094A, is equipped with ballistic missiles capable of hitting targets at a distance of 10,000 kilometres (6,200 miles) — the most powerful in the country, the South China Morning Post reported, citing a military source.
• Taiwan remains on 'normal combat readiness' despite tensions: MND CNA 03 May 2021 -- Taiwan's Armed Forces remain on "normal combat readiness status" despite tensions across the Taiwan Strait and a recent media description of Taiwan as the "most dangerous place on earth," according to a high-ranking defense official.
• Chinese Ships Arrive to Help Salvage Sunken Indonesian Submarine Radio Free Asia 03 May 2021 -- Two Chinese military ships have reached Bali Sea waters to help salvage the wreckage of an Indonesian Navy submarine that sank last month with 53 crewmembers on board, officials said Monday.
• UK and Japan agree strengthened trade and security partnership ahead of G7 meeting UK FCDO 03 May 2021 -- Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab met his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi ahead of the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' meeting.
• Australia continues support for Vietnam's peacekeeping commitments Australia DOD 03 May 2021 -- Australia has supported Vietnam's contribution to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) by airlifting Vietnamese military personnel and equipment.
• French rendezvous for Anzac and Sirius Australia DOD 03 May 2021 -- Naval Task Groups from Australia and France have conducted a bilateral transit in the South China Sea, carrying out a series of training exercises along the way.
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab at a Joint Press Availability US Dept. of State 03 May 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi US Dept. of State 03 May 2021
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Chung Eui-Yong Before Their Meeting US Dept. of State 03 May 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Chung US Dept. of State 03 May 2021
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Bruneian Foreign Minister II Erywan US Dept. of State 03 May 2021
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken with Bruneian Foreign Minister II Dato Erywan Yusof Before Their Meeting US Dept. of State 03 May 2021

Defense Industry

• Contracts For May 3, 2021

Other Conflicts

• 3 May 2021 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 03 May 2021
• Philippines Calls on China to Stop Harassing Coast Guard Ships RFA 03 May 2021 -- The Philippines on Monday accused Chinese ships of harassing its coast guard in the South China Sea, with Manila calling it a "blatant infringement" of sovereignty and the foreign secretary using profanity to demand that Beijing withdraw vessels from his country’s exclusive economic zone.
• Yemeni forces hit Najran airport, King Khalid airbase in Saudi Arabia Press TV 03 May 2021 -- In response to Saudi Arabia's ongoing aggression on Yemen, the Yemeni armed forces and allied Popular Committees fighters have launched attacks on military positions in Najran Airport and King Khalid Airbase in the kingdom's southwest.
• Following Deadly Attack, Iraqi Kurds Call for Better Coordination in Countering IS VOA 03 May 2021 -- Iraqi Kurdish officials blamed the lack of proper coordination between the country's federal and regional security forces for a major Islamic State (IS) attack over the weekend that left three Kurdish military officers dead and two wounded.
• Baghdad summons Turkish envoy over Ankara's ongoing violations in northern Iraq Press TV 03 May 2021 -- Iraqi Foreign Ministry has summoned Turkish chargé d'affairs in Baghdad to submit a letter of protest over Ankara's ongoing violations in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, including the presence of the Turkish defense minister in the area without prior coordination.
• Kachin Rebels Say They Shot Down a Myanmar Military Helicopter Radio Free Asia 03 May 2021 -- A government military helicopter shelling Kachin Independence Army positions was shot down by the KIA Monday near the Chinese border in northern Myanmar, where fighting has intensified since the Feb. 1 army overthrow of the elected government, a spokesman the ethnic rebel group said.
• Myanmar rebels claim military helicopter downing amid crackdown Press TV 03 May 2021 -- A rebel group in Myanmar, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), has said it shot down a military helicopter firing on one of its strongholds.
• Myanmar Ethnic Rebel Group Says It Downed Helicopter VOA 03 May 2021 -- An ethnic rebel group in northern Myanmar said it shot down a government military helicopter Monday during heavy fighting.
• Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Withdraw Military Units From Border After Deadly Armed Clashes RFE/RL 03 May 2021 -- Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have completed the withdrawal of their military units from border areas as part of an agreed pullback following a series of deadly clashes last week.
• Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan complete troops withdrawal from border: Border service Press TV 03 May 2021 -- Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have reportedly completed the process of withdrawing their military units from their shared border after agreeing on a ceasefire.
• French prosecutors request judges drop case over Rwanda massacre Press TV 03 May 2021 -- French prosecutors have asked judges to drop a case against five senior military officers accused of complicity in the 1994 Rwanda genocide, in which some 800,000 people from the ethnic Tutsi minority were massacred.

News Reports

• Britain Says G7 To Consider Mechanism To Counter Russian Disinformation RFE/RL 03 May 2021 -- Britain is proposing an international effort to counter Russian propaganda and disinformation, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on May 2.
• U.S.'s Blinken Says If Russia Moves Toward More Stable Relations, 'So Will We' RFE/RL 03 May 2021 -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Washington wants a stable relationship with Moscow but that will depend on Kremlin policies and how aggressively it decides to act.
• EU summons Russian ambassador to protest Moscow's retaliatory sanctions Press TV 03 May 2021 -- The European Union has summoned the Russian ambassador to denounce Moscow's decision to impose an entry ban on eight EU officials.
• EU Summons Russian Envoy to Condemn Moscow's Entry Ban on European Officials Sputnik 03 May 2021 -- Senior EU officials summoned the Russian ambassador to the bloc, Vladimir Chizhov, on Monday to criticise Moscow's decision to ban eight European citizens from entering the country, in retaliation to similar EU sanctions.
• EU Summons Russian Envoy, Condemns Travel Ban On Brussels Officials RFE/RL 03 May 2021 -- The European Union has summoned Russia's ambassador in Brussels to condemn Moscow's retaliatory decision to bar eight of the bloc's officials from entering the country.
• Russian Lawyers, Activists Sound Alarm Over State Pressure On Prominent Defense Attorney RFE/RL 03 May 2021 -- When human rights lawyer Karinna Moskalenko learned that fellow attorney Ivan Pavlov had been detained in Moscow, alarm bells rang.
• Differences with China Over Human Rights Record 'Harder to Reconcile', New Zealand PM Says VOA 03 May 2021 -- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says there are growing differences with China over its human rights record, but said those differences will not ultimately define Wellington's relationship with its largest trading partner.
• Hong Kong Broadcaster Fires Reporter, Deletes Critical Programs Radio Free Asia 03 May 2021 -- Hong Kong's government broadcaster fired an outspoken journalist and began deleting online programming on World Press Freedom Day on Monday, amid an ongoing crackdown on critical voices in the city.
• Taiwan Responds to Magazine Cover Depicting it as a Target Radio Free Asia 03 May 2021 -- Taiwan's politicians have largely welcomed a headline and graphic on the cover the May 1, 2021 issue of The Economist depicting the democratic island as "The most dangerous place on Earth."
• Biden Hints at More Flexible North Korea Approach VOA 03 May 2021 -- Donald Trump approached North Korea with threats of "fire and fury," followed by made-for-television summits with its leader, Kim Jong Un.
• US Calls on North Korea to 'Engage Diplomatically' VOA 03 May 2021 -- The United States said it is ready to engage diplomatically with Pyongyang to achieve the ultimate goal of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, following the completion of a months-long U.S. policy review on North Korea.
• Iran denies reports on prisoners swap with US IRNA 03 May 2021 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh on Monday denied reports citing unknown sources that Tehran and Washington had agreed on prisoners swap with the US.
• Iran denies reports of prisoner swap deal with US Press TV 03 May 2021 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry has denied reports of an agreement over the exchange of prisoners between Tehran and Washington, saying the ministry does not confirm the statements attributed to informed sources.
• Top U.S., U.K. Diplomats Play Down Talk Of Deals With Iran On Prisoner Swaps RFE/RL 03 May 2021 -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab have discussed issues related to Iran ahead of the start of a G7 ministers meeting in London but continued to downplay rumors swirling of imminent prisoner swaps with Tehran.
• Report: Biden tells Mossad chief US not close to rejoining Iran deal Press TV 03 May 2021 -- A senior Israeli official says US President Joe Biden told Israel's Mossad chief Yossi Cohen that the US is not close to rejoining the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Tel Aviv opposes.
• Western Embassies Call on Myanmar Junta to Release Detained Journalists Radio Free Asia 03 May 2021 -- On World Press Freedom Day Monday, 16 western countries and the European Union called on Myanmar's military junta to immediately release scores of media personnel arrested since the Feb. 1 coup that ousted the country's democratically elected government.
• US Presses ASEAN Chair to Hold Myanmar Junta Accountable to Agreed Consensus Radio Free Asia 03 May 2021 -- The United States urged ASEAN to press Myanmar to implement actions agreed at a regional summit last month, as Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with the foreign minister of Brunei, the bloc's current chair, in London on Monday.
• Media Arrests Continue as Myanmar Military Steps Up Repression VOA 03 May 2021 -- On Tuesday last week, Nay Myo Lin, chief editor of the independent Voice of Myanmar, was taken into custody, along with one of his colleagues.
• India's Modi loses West Bengal assembly election amid raging COVID-19 pandemic Press TV 03 May 2021 -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has lost the key state poll in West Bengal to the party of incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, 66.
• Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar US Dept. of State 03 May 2021
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken with Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar After Their Meeting US Dept. of State 03 May 2021
• Syrian President Assad to face two rivals in this month's presidential vote Press TV 03 May 2021 -- Syria's Supreme Constitutional Court has accepted three applications out of 51 for candidacy for this month's presidential election in the conflict-stricken Arab country.
• UN Survey Finds 37% Spike in Afghan Poppy Cultivation VOA 03 May 2021 -- The United Nations said Monday that opium cultivation in conflict-ridden Afghanistan increased by 37% in 2020 compared to the previous year, potentially producing an estimated 6,300 tons of opium.
• Latest deadly Ebola virus outbreak in DR Congo declared over UN News 03 May 2021 -- The 12th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was declared officially over on Monday, just three months after the first case was reported in North Kivu, but it marks the end of the country's fourth outbreak of the deadly disease in less than three years, said the World Health Organization (WHO).
• WHO: Small Ebola Outbreak Contained in DR Congo VOA 03 May 2021 -- The World Health Organization says a small outbreak of the Ebola virus has been contained in an eastern province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
• Lebanon's central bank governor faces new corruption allegations in France Press TV 03 May 2021 -- A nongovernmental organization and a group of lawyers have filed a legal complaint in France against Lebanon's central bank governor over allegations of corruption and money laundering.
• El Salvador tense as parliament votes to oust top prosecutor, judges Press TV 03 May 2021 -- El Salvador's parliament has voted to remove the country's top prosecutor and five Supreme Court judges, drawing sharp rebukes from opposition lawmakers and sparking angry protests in the Central American country.
• Chad military junta names transition government; opposition less than impressed Press TV 03 May 2021 -- Chad's military junta, which took power last month following the battlefield death of longtime leader Idriss Deby, has named a new transition government, the army spokesman said.
• Colombia's president withdrawing 'vital' tax reform after bloody protests Press TV 03 May 2021 -- Colombian right-wing President Ivan Duque is withdrawing a controversial tax reform proposal which drew widespread anger and deadly protests across the South American nation.
• Seventeen Killed, Hundreds Injured During Nationwide Protests in Colombia - Reports Sputnik 03 May 2021 -- Nationwide protests against tax reform in Colombia have killed 17, including a police officer, with several hundred injured, La FM radio station reported on Monday, citing the ombudsman's office.
• New Chinese University In Hungary Puts Orban's Beijing Ties In The Spotlight RFE/RL 03 May 2021 -- A controversial Chinese university project has renewed concerns about Beijing's growing influence in Hungary and pushed Prime Minister Viktor Orban's close ties to China back into the spotlight.
• In Step Toward Snap Polls, Armenian Lawmakers Reject Pashinian's Candidacy As New PM RFE/RL 03 May 2021 -- Armenia's parliament has rejected the candidacy of acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian as the new head of government, in an agreed first step toward holding snap parliamentary elections.