Af/Pak & Other News (8/12/2021)

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Taliban captures key cities Herat and Ghazni, leaving Kabul increasingly isolated

https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/12/asia/afghanistan-taliban-capture-strategic-ghazni-intl/index.html



Intelligence assessments warn Afghan capital could be cut off and collapse in coming months

https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/11/politics/afghanistan-intelligence-assessments-kabul-taliban/index.html



Afghanistan gov’t offers to share power with Taliban: Official

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/12/afghanistan-offer-power-sharing-taliban-official



Potential Al Qaeda resurgence in Afghanistan worries U.S. officials

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/mideast/potential-al-qaeda-resurgence-afghanistan-worries-u-s-officials-n1276614



Taliban Seizes Afghan Military’s Boeing ScanEagle Drone

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/30216/Taliban_Seizes_Afghan_Military___s_Boeing_ScanEagle_Drone#.YRU2At9lBaQ



36-year-old Afghan general is waging a battle against Taliban on social media

https://warisboring.com/36-year-old-afghan-general-is-waging-a-battle-against-taliban-on-social-media/



Afghanistan war: Taliban back brutal rule as they strike for power

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58156772



The Taliban Is Executing Afghan Troops, U.S. Embassy Says

https://freebeacon.com/national-security/the-taliban-is-executing-afghan-troops-u-s-embassy-says/



Afghans Tell of Executions, Forced Marriages in Taliban-Held Areas

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/afghans-tell-of-executions-forced-marriages-in-taliban-held-areas/ar-AANfe8D



U.S. Asks Taliban to Spare Its Embassy in Coming Fight for Kabul

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/12/us/politics/taliban-afghanistan-us-embassy.html



US and others laying groundwork for Afghan embassy evacuations

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/12/us-others-laying-groundwork-afghanistan-embassy-evacuations-kabul-taliban-



Denmark to evacuate Afghans who worked for Kabul embassy

https://apnews.com/article/europe-denmark-kabul-c6ee71da56549637166dff9a84e697ba



Taliban seizes Afghan Army corps headquarters, 2 northern airports

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/08/taliban-seizes-afghan-army-corps-headquarters-2-northern-airports.php



From Kobani To Kabul: Can U.S. Bombers Help Halt Taliban Advances In Afghanistan?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauliddon/2021/08/12/from-kobani-to-kabul-can-us-bombers-halt-taliban-advances-in-afghanistan/



Rapid Taliban advances in Afghanistan have the US military launching strikes to destroy captured artillery and armored vehicles

https://www.businessinsider.com/taliban-advances-have-us-military-striking-captured-equipment-2021-8



China Preparing to Recognize Taliban if Kabul Falls: Sources

https://www.usnews.com/news/world-report/articles/2021-08-12/china-prepared-to-recognize-taliban-if-kabul-falls-sources-say-undermining-us-threats



Partitioning Afghanistan Would Be a Historic Mistake

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/08/partitioning-afghanistan-would-be-a-historic-mistake/



Afghanistan’s war will spread beyond its borders as Taliban advances, senior negotiator warns

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/11/afghanistan-war-will-spread-beyond-its-borders-top-negotiator-warns.html



Afghanistan’s Failed Constitution

https://thediplomat.com/2021/08/afghanistans-failed-constitution/



What Went Wrong With Afghanistan’s Defense Forces?

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/08/11/taliban-afghanistan-defense-forces-army-militias-kabul/



Afghanistan, Deraa, and the cost of abandoning forever wars

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/afghanistan-deraa-and-the-cost-of-abandoning-forever-wars



Some Afghans blame neighboring Pakistan for Taliban gains

https://apnews.com/article/religion-pakistan-taliban-b6308923395cd6942b698a748728d11d



Obama administration hid the truth about war’s end: ‘The Afghanistan Papers’ book excerpt

https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2021/08/12/obama-afghan-war-ending-afghanistan-papers-book-excerpt/



Pakistan Navy left with only two submarines on active duty

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/pakistan-navy-left-with-only-two-submarines-on-active-duty/videoshow/85264001.cms



Pakistan successfully test-fires surface-to-surface ballistic missile Ghaznavi

https://www.dawn.com/news/1640266/pakistan-successfully-test-fires-surface-to-surface-ballistic-missile-ghaznavi









Iran fires warning shot at US drone near Strait of Hormuz - report

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/iran-fires-warning-at-us-drone-near-strait-of-hormuz-report-676500



Iran: The Pushback Paradox

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/iran/articles/20210812.aspx



How can Mossad slow down Iran's nuke program? - analysis

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/how-can-mossad-slow-down-irans-nuke-program-analysis-676563









Iraq Is the Middle East’s New Power Broker

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/08/11/iraq-is-the-middle-easts-new-power-broker/



9 killed as explosion rocks ammunition depot in Iraq

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/9-killed-as-explosion-rocks-ammunition-depot-in-iraq/2331449



The Militant Drone Playbook

https://warontherocks.com/2021/08/the-militant-drone-playbook/









French Navy deploys upgraded maritime patrol aircraft in Hormuz Strait

https://www.aerotime.aero/28574-france-deploys-upgraded-maritime-patrol-aircraft-in-uae









HRW: Gaza groups committed war crimes, killed Palestinians with failed launches

https://www.timesofisrael.com/hrw-gaza-groups-committed-war-crimes-killed-palestinians-with-failed-launches/



Analysis: Hezbollah’s Escalating Conflict with Israel

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/08/analysis-hezbollahs-escalating-conflict-with-israel.php









Iranian Mohajer-6 Drones Spotted In Ethiopia

https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2021/08/iranian-mohajer-6-drones-spotted-in.html




SADC mission in Mozambique launched

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/sadc-mission-in-mozambique-launched









Russia holds hypersonic flight expert in spy probe

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58186033



Helicopter with 16 on board crashes in Russian far east

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210812-helicopter-with-16-on-board-crashes-in-russian-far-east



Russia Developing Unguided Weapons for Drones

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/30214/Russia_Developing_Unguided_Weapons_for_Drones#.YRU2Cd9lBaQ



Russian Army to Receive 20 Cutting-Edge Armata Tanks This Year

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/08/12/russia-armata-tanks/



Russia’s New Tsirkon Mach 7 Hypersonic Missile: Ready This Year?

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/08/russias-new-tsirkon-mach-7-hypersonic-missile-ready-this-year/



Russian nuclear submarine accident at Chazma Bay remembered

https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsrussian-nuclear-submarine-accident-at-chazma-bay-remembered-8991408



Russia launches serial production of missiles for S-500 air defense system

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_august_2021_global_security_army_industry/russia_launches_serial_production_of_missiles_for_s-500_air_defense_system.html



Russia Presents Its F-35ski

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20210812.aspx









Large-scale exercise points to growing Sino-Russian military co-operation

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/large-scale-exercise-points-to-growing-sino-russian-military-co-operation



China’s New Missile Fields Are Just Part of the PLA Rocket Force’s Growth

https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2021/08/chinas-new-missile-fields-are-just-part-pla-rocket-forces-growth/184442/



Chinese espionage: How Beijing is stealing away US global supremacy

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/chinese-espionage-how-beijing-is-stealing-away-us-global-supremacy/



Chinese See U.S. Littoral Combat Ship as ‘Powerful Tool’ in Future Distributed Conflicts

https://news.usni.org/2021/08/11/chinese-see-u-s-littoral-combat-ship-as-powerful-tool-in-future-distributed-conflicts





China Warplane Fleet Enters Taiwan's Air Defense Zone After Two-Month Lull

https://www.newsweek.com/china-warplane-fleet-enters-taiwans-air-defense-zone-after-two-month-lull-1618780





Tokyo cuts LRASM weapon from F-15J upgrade programme on cost fears

https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/tokyo-cuts-lrasm-weapon-from-f-15j-upgrade-programme-on-cost-fears/145054.article





British submarine arrives in Busan ahead of aircraft carrier's port call

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20210812004051315










Spike in UFO Sightings Across the Nation

https://www.military.com/video/spike-ufo-sightings



GAO’s Open Recommendations to the Pentagon

https://news.usni.org/2021/08/12/gaos-open-recommendations-to-the-pentagon



Nellis Air Force Base Airmen use WIDOW, tailor-made software for ABMS

https://airrecognition.com/index.php/focus-analysis-photo-report-aviation-defence-industry/aviation-defence-industry-technology/7529-nellis-air-force-base-airmen-use-widow-tailor-made-software-for-abms.html



To Avoid Attack, U.S. Forces Are Spreading Out. But They’re Still Broadcasting Their Positions.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/08/12/to-avoid-attack-us-forces-are-spreading-out-but-theyre-still-broadcasting-their-positions/



New Skunk Works Plant to Build Advanced Fighters, Other Projects

https://www.airforcemag.com/new-skunk-works-plant-to-build-advanced-fighters-other-projects/



Lockheed Confirms New Details Of Speed Racer’s Role And Future

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/missile-defense-weapons/lockheed-confirms-new-details-speed-racers-role-future



What's Missing from US Missile Defense? Pentagon Aims to Find Out

https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2021/08/military-officials-will-launch-new-assessment-missile-defense-gaps/184466/



JROC’s Next Target: ‘Integrated Air & Missile Defense’

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/08/jrocs-next-target-integrated-air-missile-defense/



Space Development Agency launches experimental infrared sensor into orbit

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2021/08/11/space-development-agency-launches-experimental-infrared-sensor-into-orbit/



Spacesuits and Lawsuits Put 2024 Moon Landing in Jeopardy

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/08/spacesuits-and-lawsuits-put-2024-moon-landing-jeopardy/184457/



Army Says It Wants Space Capabilities, Not Sats

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/08/army-says-it-wants-space-capabilities-not-sats/



The Army’s first laser weapon is almost ready for a fight

https://taskandpurpose.com/military-tech/army-laser-weapon-stryker-combat-shoot-off/



Bell Details Invictus Helicopter Competitive Prototype Progress

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/30213/Bell_Details_Invictus_Helicopter_Competitive_Prototype_Progress#.YRU2E99lBaQ



General Atomics Avenger uses Legion Pod’s infrared search and track to follow target

https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/general-atomics-avenger-uses-legion-pods-infrared-search-and-track-to-follow-target/145045.article



Air Force to Test Robotic Wingman’s Ability to Fly in Formation

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/8/12/air-force-to-test-robotic-wingmans-ability-to-fly-in-formation



Report to U.S. Congress on Navy Constellation (FFG-62) Class Frigate Program

https://navalpost.com/constellation-ffg-62-class-frigate-congress-report/