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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• US-Led Coalition Responds to New Round of Attacks in Syria, Iraq VOA 05 Jan 2022 -- U.S. and coalition forces are striking back following a series of rocket and drone attacks on bases in Syria and Iraq by militias linked to Iran.
• Report: Base housing US occupation troops in eastern Syria comes under rocket attack Press TV 05 Jan 2022 -- A military facility housing US occupation forces in Syria's eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr has come under attack with rockets fired from nearby areas.
• Coalition: Iran-backed militia attacks a dangerous distraction from mission CENTCOM 05 Jan 2022 -- Coalition forces were targeted this morning by eight rounds of indirect fire at Green Village, a Syrian Democratic Forces base with a small Coalition advisory presence, in northeast Syria. According to Coalition forces, the attack did not cause any casualties, but several rounds impacted inside the Coalition base and caused minor damage.
• Rockets Fired Near Baghdad Base Housing U.S. Troops Amid Iran Tensions RFE/RL 05 Jan 2022 -- A rocket attacked has rocked an Iraqi military base that houses U.S. soldiers near the airport in Baghdad amid heightened tensions around the anniversary of the 2020 killing of a top Iranian general and a senior Iraqi militia leader in a U.S. drone strike.
• Rockets target Ain al-Assad base hosting US troops in Iraq's Anbar Press TV 05 Jan 2022 -- A number of rockets have targeted the Ain al-Assad air base, which hosts US forces, in Iraq's western province of al-Anbar.
• Katyusha rocket hits US military camp near Baghdad International Airport Press TV 05 Jan 2022 -- A rocket has hit an Iraqi military base hosting US forces near Baghdad International Airport, Iraqi security and military sources say.
• Four rockets strike US military camp near Baghdad airport: Iraqi media Press TV 05 Jan 2022 -- Iraqi media reports say four rockets have hit a US military camp close to the international airport in the capital Baghdad, following two consecutive days of strikes against US bases in the country.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby Holds an Off-Camera Press Briefing DoD 05 Jan 2022
• Austin Looking Forward to Discussions With Japanese Counterpart DoD News 05 Jan 2022 -- Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, joined by U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, will meet virtually with Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and Japanese Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo Jan. 6, for the 2022 U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee ("2+2") Meeting.
• First USMC F-35C squadron deploys USMC News 05 Jan 2022 -- Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is addressing the nation for a second time since the beginning of nationwide protests triggered by surging gas prices.
• Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group Completes Holiday Port Visits US Navy 05 Jan 2022 -- The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) had a unique holiday season, as ships from the group pulled into five ports across Europe in December 2021 and January 2022.
• Six Indo-Pacific Nations begin Exercise Sea Dragon US Navy 05 Jan 2022 -- Two U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft from the "Golden Swordsmen" and "The Tridents" join Australia, Canada, India, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and Republic of Korea (ROK) to begin multinational exercise Sea Dragon 22, Jan. 5.
• EU Angry About Not Participating in Russia's Security Guarantee Talks With US, NATO, Report Says Sputnik 05 Jan 2022 -- Last week, Vladimir Chizhov, Russia's permanent representative to the EU, said that that the organisation is not a military bloc, which is why Moscow's proposals on security guarantees are addressed to NATO.
• Xi urges armed forces to redouble efforts to combine training with combat operations in mobilization order for military training in 2022 Global Times 05 Jan 2022 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping signed on Tuesday a mobilization order for the training of the armed forces, the first order of the Central Military Commission (CMC) in 2022, which stressed the changing situation the country faces and urged armed forces to redouble efforts to better combine training with combat operations.
• Newly commissioned F-16Vs perform 'elephant walk' at Chiayi base CNA 05 Jan 2022 -- Taiwan's newly-commissioned F-16Vs performed an "elephant walk" at Chiayi Air Base for the first time on Wednesday, to demonstrate the Air Force's capability to launch combat-ready fighters at a moment's notice.
• Taiwan air force stages drill amid tensions with China Press TV 05 Jan 2022 -- Taiwan's air force has conducted a drill simulating a war situation to show the self-ruled island's combat readiness amid heightened tensions with Beijing.
• Japan-Australia defense, security treaty will inflame regional tensions Global Times 05 Jan 2022 -- Australia and Japan will sign a "historic" treaty to deepen defense and security cooperation, a move that hypes the "China threat" and helps the US rope in military alliances to make a "NATO in the Pacific region" to contain China. Analysts said the Pacific Ocean should not become the ocean for some countries to make waves and any attempt to bring harm to China's territory will meet with firm countermeasures.
• US condemns North Korea's suspected 'missile launch', calls for talks Press TV 05 Jan 2022 -- The United States on Wednesday condemned North Korea's firing of a suspected ballistic missile and urged Pyongyang to engage in talks.
• Wednesday's DPRK Launch Was Second Test of Hwasong-8 Hypersonic Missile, Ruling Workers Party Says Sputnik 05 Jan 2022 -- A Wednesday missile launch into the Sea of Japan by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) was of a hypersonic weapon, state media reported Thursday morning.
• North fires possible ballistic missile: South Korea, Japan Press TV 05 Jan 2022 -- South Korea and Japan say the North has fired a projectile, apparently a ballistic missile, in the first such launch of the year, hours before Seoul renewed calls for talks.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's Call With U.K. Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace DoD 05 Jan 2022
• UK defense ministry 'fails troops, wastes taxpayers money,' Labour says Press TV 05 Jan 2022 -- The British Labour Party says the defense ministry has failed the country's troops and people by wasting billions of dollars of the taxpayers' money on its military projects over the past decade.
• Israel Defence Forces to Create First Female-Only Unit Sputnik 05 Jan 2022 -- Until now, women could only join the Israeli Army on the frontlines by dropping into one of the mixed gender units as a part of their mandatory conscription. This fact apparently drove away some recruits who were concerned with upholding strict religious modesty laws from service on the frontlines.
• Japan's Okinawa considers COVID emergency amid virus spread from US base Press TV 05 Jan 2022 -- Japan is considering declaring a state of emergency in the southern island of Okinawa, after the region emerged as the epicenter of a new coronavirus surge, with officials saying the virus keeps spreading from US bases.
• Japan Reportedly Plans to Bolster Its Defences With Railguns Capable of Downing Hypersonic Missiles Sputnik 05 Jan 2022 -- While not used officially by any of the world's militaries, railguns are no science fiction. The US and Chinese armed forces have been experimenting with this type of weapon for several years now, but so far neither has produced a version that meets all of the criteria for usability on the battlefield.
• US, Japan to Hold Virtual Talks on Security, Indo-Pacific Region VOA 05 Jan 2022 -- The United States and Japan are expected to hold virtual talks this week in which they will renew their vow to secure the Indo-Pacific region amid growing challenges from China and North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.
• Pakistan Taking Measures to Counterbalance India's S-400 Deployment in Punjab: Military Spokesman Sputnik 05 Jan 2022 -- The Indian Air Force has deployed the first unit of S-400 Triumfs at one of five airbases in Punjab near Pakistan. Last month, the Indian Foreign Ministry confirmed the delivery of the first Russian-origin missile unit, which it bought under a government-to-government deal in 2018.
• Pakistan Confirms Buying Chinese Jets to Counter India's Rafale Aircraft VOA 05 Jan 2022 -- Pakistan's military confirmed Wednesday it is acquiring multirole J-10 fighter jets from China in response to a buildup of rival India's air force.
• Uniting to stop the proliferation of chemical weapons in Syria UK FCDO 05 Jan 2022 -- Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council briefing on chemical weapons in Syria
• UN disarmament chief urges Syria to come clean on chemical weapons UN News 05 Jan 2022 -- Syria's declaration of its chemical weapons programme cannot be considered accurate due to gaps, inconsistencies and discrepancies, the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs told the Security Council on Wednesday.
• Deputy Secretary Sherman's Call with Spanish State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs Bau US Dept. of State 05 Jan 2022 -- The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
• Deputy Secretary Sherman's Call with Georgian Foreign Minister Zalkaliani US Dept. of State 05 Jan 2022 -- The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi US Dept. of State 05 Jan 2022
• Secretary Blinken's Call with Israeli Foreign Minister Lapid US Dept. of State 05 Jan 2022
• Secretary Antony J. Blinken And German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock At a Joint Press Availability US Dept. of State 05 Jan 2022
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki and Port Envoy to the White House Supply Chain Task Force John Porcari, January 5, 2022 The White House 05 Jan 2022

Defense Industry

• Contracts For Jan. 5, 2022

Other Conflicts

• 5 January 2022 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 05 Jan 2022
• First Firefight: Turkmen, Taliban Engage In Border Shoot-Out RFE/RL Gandhara 05 Jan 2022 -- Turkmen border guards were reportedly involved in a sustained exchange of fire with Taliban forces on January 3, the first known time the two have been in a shoot-out.
• Afghan Diplomats Scuffle At Embassy In Rome As Deputy Claims Taliban Appointment RFE/RL Gandhara 05 Jan 2022 -- Afghanistan's embassy in Rome says it was forced to call Italian police for help after a sacked Afghan diplomat attacked the ambassador.
• Iran recognizes inclusive gov't in Afghanistan: Ambassador to Kabul ISNA 05 Jan 2022 -- Iran's ambassador to Kabul, Bahador Aminian said Taliban government is not inclusive and that Iran will only recognize a government which is national and inclusive.
• Overfishing fuels South China Sea tensions, risks armed conflict, researcher says Radio Free Asia 05 Jan 2022 -- A collapse of fishery stocks in the South China Sea due to overfishing and climate change could fuel serious tensions and even armed conflict, one of the authors of a new report on the topic has warned.
• Saudi-led coalition prevents another fuel ship heading for Hudaydah from docking at Yemen port Press TV 05 Jan 2022 -- The Saudi-led coalition waging war against Yemen has banned a new ship carrying fuel and heading for the strategic Yemeni port city of Hudaydah from docking, amid crippling fuel shortage in the country.
• Israeli Army Tanks Shell Syrian Province of Quneitra - Reports Sputnik 05 Jan 2022 -- Israeli army tanks shelled the Syrian province of Quneitra, Syrian news agency SANA reported.
• EU's Borrell Warns Of 'Massive Consequences' For Moscow If Russia Attacks Ukraine RFE/RL 05 Jan 2022 -- EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has reiterated support for Kyiv, saying the bloc has a strong commitment to "massive consequences" for Russia if it were to attack its neighbor again.
• US, Germany to 'Respond Swiftly' if Russian Aggression Against Ukraine Escalates VOA 05 Jan 2022 -- The United States and Germany reaffirmed their steadfast support for Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity on Wednesday, warning of "massive" and "severe consequences" if Russia invades neighboring Ukraine.
• Pentagon: No Conditions Met for Deploying More US Troops to Eastern Europe Amid Ukraine Tensions Sputnik 05 Jan 2022 -- The US and its European allies have been expressing concerns since the end of 2021 regarding the alleged Russian troop buildup near the border with Ukraine. Even though Moscow has repeatedly dismissed allegations that it might invade its neighbour, the US warned it will impose harsh sanctions on Russia if it happens.
• EU's Borrell Arrives In Ukraine Amid Russia Tensions RFE/RL 05 Jan 2022 -- EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell arrived in Ukraine on January 4 in a show of support for Kyiv ahead of a week of intense diplomacy over a Russian military buildup near the former Soviet republic's border.
• Sullivan, Nordic Partners Talk Readiness to Impose Costs on Russia Over Ukraine - NSC Sputnik 05 Jan 2022 -- US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and his counterparts from the Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden discussed by telephone each country's readiness to impose consequences on Russia should it escalate tensions with Ukraine, Nation Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne said.
• Sagaing residents forced to flee as Myanmar villagers say military junta burns homes Radio Free Asia 05 Jan 2022 -- At least six houses, including the home of the local chairman of the opposition political party, were set on fire Wednesday after military troops and associated militiamen raided a village in northwestern Myanmar's Sagaing region, prompting nearly 700 residents from surrounding communities to flee, locals said.
• U.S. Treasury Places New Sanctions On Bosnian Serb Leader Dodik RFE/RL 05 Jan 2022 -- The U.S. Treasury Department says it has expanded sanctions on Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, who has led a campaign to strengthen a secessionist bid to withdraw from state-level institutions despite warnings from the West.
• US Sanctions Bosnian Serb Leader for Secessionist Efforts VOA 05 Jan 2022 -- The United States on Wednesday announced sanctions on Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik and current and former officials, adding pressure against their secessionist efforts threatening Bosnia-Herzegovina's fragile union.
• U.S. Government Takes Action Against Current and Former Bosnia and Herzegovina Officials Due to Involvement in Significant Corruption and Destabilizing Activities US Dept. of State 05 Jan 2022 -- The Department of State is publicly designating former Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) President Milan Tegeltija and the President of the Movement for Democratic Action (PDA) and Parliamentary Assembly Representative Mirsad Kukic due to their involvement in significant corruption.
• Treasury Sanctions Milorad Dodik and Associated Media Platform for Destabilizing and Corrupt Activity US Treasury 05 Jan 2022 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Milorad Dodik (Dodik), who is a member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), as well as one entity under his control, Alternativna Televizija d.o.o. Banja Luka, in response to Dodik's corrupt activities and continued threats to the stability and territorial integrity of BiH.
• Tigray Patients Dying Because of Drug, Supply Shortages VOA 05 Jan 2022 -- Doctors in Ethiopia's Tigray say shortages of medical equipment and drugs due to the government's monthslong blockade on the region are causing patients to die of preventable causes.

News Reports

• Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks on the First Anniversary of the Attack on the Capitol US Dept. of Justice 05 Jan 2022
• US Attorney General: Officials 'at Any Level' Linked to US Capitol Riot Will Be Pursued VOA 05 Jan 2022 -- U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland vowed Wednesday that Justice Department prosecutors will pursue officials "at any level" responsible for last January's riot by supporters of then-President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol.
• US AG Garland vows prosecutions 'at any level' over Jan. 6 Press TV 05 Jan 2022 -- US Attorney General Merrick Garland says the Justice Department is resolved to hold accountable all the individuals that were involved in the January 6 attacks, including those who never set foot in the Capitol building.
• Kazakhstan State of Emergency US Dept. of State 05 Jan 2022 -- The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price:
• Press statement on the developments in the Republic of Kazakhstan Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 05 Jan 2022
• Russian-Led Security Bloc To Send Peacekeeping Forces To Kazakhstan, Armenian PM Says RFE/RL 05 Jan 2022 -- Peacekeepers from a Russian-led regional security alliance will be sent to Kazakhstan to help stabilize the country, the prime minister of Armenia announced on January 5 after an unprecedented wave of unrest in the oil-rich Central Asian nation that was sparked by a fuel price hike.
• CSTO to Deploy Peacekeeping Forces to Kazakhstan as Fighting Reportedly Starts in Almaty - Videos Sputnik 05 Jan 2022 -- Witnesses report that fighting has started in Almaty, as a special anti-terrorist operation was launched in the city earlier.
• Kazakhs Were Fed Up With Minor Concessions And Officials Paying Lip Service To Reforms RFE/RL 05 Jan 2022 -- Tensions have been simmering in Kazakhstan for years, but no one thought a protest by dozens of people in the western city of Zhanaozen on January 2 would lead to massive nationwide demonstrations that ousted the prime minister and have protesters surging into government buildings and disarming police and soldiers.
• Kazakhstan's president vows 'tough' response to unrest Press TV 05 Jan 2022 -- Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev says he will act as tough as possible on those who broke the law by staging "massive attacks" on security forces during the ongoing protests prompted by a sharp rise in fuel prices.
• Russia warns against outside meddling in Kazakhstan, urges dialogue Press TV 05 Jan 2022 -- Russia has reacted to the ongoing unrest in Kazakhstan, warning against any outside interference into the internal affairs of the Central Asian nation.
• Kazakhstan government resigns amid mass protests over fuel price hike Press TV 05 Jan 2022 -- Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has accepted the government's resignation after a wave of unprecedented protests that swept the oil-rich Central Asian country over fuel price hikes.
• State of Emergency Declared Across Kazakhstan Amid Ongoing Violent Protests Sputnik 05 Jan 2022 -- Mass protests have been ongoing across the country since the early days of 2022, triggered by a dramatic increase of gas prices. Earlier, a state of emergency was declared in the regions of Almaty and Mangystau, along with the capital city of Nur-Sultan.
• President Tokayev Says He's Now in Charge of Kazakh Security Council, 'Will Stay With the People' Sputnik 05 Jan 2022 -- Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is addressing the nation for a second time since the beginning of nationwide protests triggered by surging gas prices.
• Kazakh President Accepts Resignation Of Government Amid Widespread Protests RFE/RL 05 Jan 2022 -- Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev has accepted the resignation of the government after a third day of unrest in the Central Asian country touched off by a steep rise in energy prices.
• President of Kazakhstan Accepts Resignation of Government Amid Mass Protests Across Nation Sputnik 05 Jan 2022 -- Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree on the resignation of the government after a wave of protests swept the nation amid outrage regarding the rising cost of liquified petroleum gas.
• Roscosmos Head Says Baikonur Cosmodrome's Security Strengthened Amid Rallies in Kazakhstan Sputnik 05 Jan 2022 -- The Russian forces have strengthened armed protection over the Baikonur Cosmodrome's key objects amid rallies in Kazakhstan, Russian State Space Corporation Roscosmos Head Dmitry Rogozin said on Wednesday.
• NASA Successfully Deploys Tennis Court-Sized Sunshield on James Webb Space Telescope Sputnik 05 Jan 2022 -- The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a large infrared telescope developed via a partnership between NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. The telescope, launched last month on Ariane flight VA245, is equipped with a 6.5-meter mirror that gives it a light-collecting area around 5.6x larger than the Hubble Telescope.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on January 5, 2022 PRC MofA 05 Jan 2022
• Britain, Europe Look to India to Counter China VOA 05 Jan 2022 -- China has pulled off a rapid economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, but the star performer of major economies in 2021 was India, which grew its economy faster. Analysts are predicting India will be the world's fastest-growing major economy this year, too, the start of a long-term trend, they say.
• Africans' Reactions Mixed to Chinese Presence on Continent VOA 05 Jan 2022 -- China is transforming Kenya and the rest of Africa through infrastructure projects and investments. Many Africans welcome the developments, while others worry about Beijing's motives and the long-term impact on their countries.
• DPP authority's attempts to disrupt Hong Kong will not go unpunished: spokesperson People's Daily 05 Jan 2022 -- The Chinese mainland will take resolute actions to foil any actions from Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority to disrupt Hong Kong, a mainland spokesperson said on Tuesday.
• Andrew Leung elected as president of HKSAR's 7th-term LegCo People's Daily 05 Jan 2022 -- Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen was elected as the president of the seventh-term Legislative Council (LegCo) of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Tuesday.
• Lithuanian government stands firm on 'Taiwanese' office opening CNA 05 Jan 2022 -- Lithuania "stands firm" on its decision to allow the opening of a "Taiwanese representative office," a government spokesperson told CNA Wednesday, a day after the Baltic state's president criticized the move that has led to sanctions by China.
• Bagheri Kani terms Vienna talks as constructive, progressive IRNA 05 Jan 2022 -- Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani has described the talks underway in Vienna as constructive and progressive.
• FM spokesman: Iran's top nuclear negotiator to meet his S. Korean counterpart IRNA 05 Jan 2022 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Wednesday that Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani will meet and hold talks with his South Korean counterpart in Vienna.
• South Korean team in Vienna for talks on debt to Iran Press TV 05 Jan 2022 -- South Korea says it has sent a delegation to Vienna to hold talks with Iran and other countries over how to resolve the issue of frozen Iranian assets held in the Asian country.
• Israel's Intel Chief Says Revival of Iran Nuclear Deal Better Than Collapse of JCPOA Talks: Report Sputnik 05 Jan 2022 -- In December, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid made it clear that Tel Aviv is not opposed in principle to any accord that may be concluded between world powers and Tehran at the ongoing Vienna talks on the possible revival of the Iran nuclear deal.
• Perpetrators behind Soleimani's assassination won't be safe: Quds Force cmdr. Press TV 05 Jan 2022 -- The commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has warned that the perpetrators behind the assassination of top Iranian anti-terror military figure, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, will not be safe.
• Cambodian PM Hun Sen vows to hold junta to deal ahead of Myanmar visit Radio Free Asia 05 Jan 2022 -- Days ahead of a visit to Myanmar as the new chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen switched tack and vowed to ensure the junta honors an agreement to end violence in the country nearly a year after it seized power in a coup.
• UNESCO condemns killing of journalist in Myanmar UN News 05 Jan 2022 -- Authorities in Myanmar are being urged to conduct a full investigation into the killing of a journalist last month, reportedly during an army attack in the southeast, the UN's educational and cultural agency, UNESCO, said on Wednesday.
• Belarus Summons Polish Charge D'Affaires Over Diplomat's Expulsion RFE/RL 05 Jan 2022 -- Poland says that Belarus has summoned the Polish charge d'affaires in Minsk to inform Warsaw about the expulsion of a Polish diplomat.
• Analyst: Release of Corruption Report a First Step in Repairing South Africa's Democracy VOA 05 Jan 2022 -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says a scathing report by an inquiry into state graft marks "the end of an era" of corruption. But analysts say it's only the beginning of efforts needed to restore public trust in South Africa's political institutions.