Af/Pak & Other News (2/10/2021)

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Afghan Officials: Taliban Intensified Violence Amid Stalled Peace Talks

https://www.voanews.com/episode/afghan-officials-taliban-intensified-violence-amid-stalled-peace-talks-4573661



Taliban calls for ‘the declaration’ of the ‘Islamic Emirate’

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/02/taliban-calls-for-the-declaration-of-the-islamic-emirate.php



What Are Biden’s Options For Pulling Troops From Afghanistan?

https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2021/02/us-troop-withdrawal-afghanistan-what-are-bidens-options/171952/



Targeted assassinations against civil society create a climate of fear in Afghanistan

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/targeted-assassinations-against-civil-society-create-a-climate-of-fear-in-afghanistan



Pakistani forces allegedly used gunships on civilian population in Balochistan; kids, women abducted

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/pakistani-forces-allegedly-used-gunships-on-civilian-population-in-balochistan-kids-women-abducted/videoshow/80780651.cms









India and China start pulling back tanks from southern bank of Pangong Lake

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-china-start-limited-withdrawal-of-tanks-from-southern-bank-of-pangong-tso-101612961371915.html









Did Iran Carry Out a ‘Surgical Strike’ Inside Pakistan?

https://thediplomat.com/2021/02/did-iran-carry-out-a-surgical-strike-inside-pakistan/



Iran’s IRGC receives 340 new boats, some with drones

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/irans-irgc-receives-340-new-boats-some-with-drones-658442









Iraq: Dealing With Anonymous Attacks

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htterr/articles/20210210.aspx



US Should Have Used Fighter Jets, Bombers for More Strategic Strikes Against ISIS: Report

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/02/09/us-should-have-used-fighter-jets-bombers-more-strategic-strikes-against-isis-report.html









USS Makin Island, USS Port Royal, USNS Carl Brashear enter Arabian Gulf

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/02/09/USS-Makin-Island-USS-Port-Royal-USNS-Carl-Brashear-enter-Arabian-Gulf/8301612918293/



USS Makin Island, Marine F-35s Now in Persian Gulf

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/09/uss-makin-island-marine-f-35s-now-in-persian-gulf




Plane Ablaze in Houthi Drone Attack on Saudi Airport

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/02/10/houthi-attack-saudi-airport/



Biden Envoy in Saudi Arabia to Push for Quick End to Yemen War

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/02/10/biden-envoy-push-yemen-war/




Mystery metal monolith turns out to be Turkish govt gimmick

https://apnews.com/article/turkey-monolith-government-gimmick-45f6deac10ee91ed03d30883286cb9ad



Turkey unveils space program including 2023 moon mission

https://apnews.com/article/turkey-recep-tayyip-erdogan-moon-spacex-europe-a763414e402eb70e78ae2c2a89134f33



How The Future Of Turkey’s Air Force Could Resemble Iran’s Experience

https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauliddon/2021/02/09/f-16s-for-the-foreseeable-future-how-fate-of-turkeys-air-force-could-resemble-irans-experience/



U.S. Navy and Turkish Navy conduct joint exercises in the Black Sea

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2021/february/9675-u-s-navy-and-turkish-navy-conduct-joint-exercises-in-the-black-sea.html









UN Security Council fails to agree on joint Syria declaration

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/10/un-security-council-fails-to-agree-on-joint-syria-declaration



Large-scale missile attack on a Turkish oil convoy in Syria

https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2021/02/10/large-scale-missile-attack-on-a-turkish-oil-convoy-in-syria-video/



Will Assad’s Syria Rebuild Its Chemical Weapons Empire?

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/will-assad%E2%80%99s-syria-rebuild-its-chemical-weapons-empire-177948









IAI Unveils WASP Wide-Area Aerial Surveillance System

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/28942/IAI_Unveils_WASP_Wide_Area_Aerial_Surveillance_System









Djibouti Lures Foreign Powers With Strategic Position

https://www.barrons.com/news/djibouti-lures-foreign-powers-with-strategic-position-01612965626?tesla=y




Nigerian Air Force Yabhon Flash-20 UAV breaks cover

https://www.africanmilitaryblog.com/2021/02/nigerian-air-force-yabhon-flash-20-uav-breaks-cover




Twenty U.N. peacekeepers injured in central Mali attack

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mali-security-un/twenty-u-n-peacekeepers-injured-in-central-mali-attack-idUSKBN2AA1C5




Growing Desperation Over Al Shabaab Threat in Kenya’s North

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/02/10/al-shabaab-threat-north-kenya/









Ukraine to modernize its T-64 main battle tanks into T-64BM

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_february_2021_global_security_army_industry/ukraine_to_modernize_its_t-64_main_battle_tanks_into_t-64bm_bulat.html



Russia Bolsters Its Arctic Defenses With MiG-31 Interceptor Rotation In The Far North

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39155/russia-bolsters-its-arctic-defenses-with-mig-31-fighter-jet-rotation-in-the-far-north



Russia's Proposed Aircraft Carrier to Have Ski Jump, Electromagnetic Catapult Launch

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/28943/Russia_s_Proposed_Aircraft_Carrier_to_Have_Ski_Jump__Electromagnetic_Catapult_Launch



Russian Air Force An-12 Aircraft Sustained Landing Gear Collapse While landing In A Snowstorm

https://fighterjetsworld.com/latest-news/aircraft-crash/russian-air-force-an-12-aircraft-sustained-landing-gear-collapse-while-landing-in-a-snowstorm/24470/



Russian Fifth-Generation Su-57 Fighter Receives Highly Automated Cockpit

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/02/10/russian-su-57-automated-cockpit/



Russian Tu-160 Bombers Fly Over Barents And Norwegian Seas As U.S. B-1Bs Prepare For Norwegian Deployment

https://theaviationist.com/2021/02/09/russian-tu-160-bombers-fly-over-barents-and-norwegian-seas-as-u-s-b-1bs-prepare-for-norwegian-deployment/



Vladimir Putin's Crackdown on Russia Protests Is Working, Poll Suggests

https://www.newsweek.com/russia-kremlin-navalny-protests-putin-crackdown-working-levada-center-poll-1568222



In new tactic, Navalny supporters to rally in courtyards

https://apnews.com/article/alexei-navalny-supporters-rally-russia-338b0c0c74714144a39eb4677e39b3ca





Serbian president plans to invest more in armed forces

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/serbian-president-plans-to-invest-more-in-armed-forces




British Navy HMS Lancaster frigate has extra firepower with new 12.7mm machine guns

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/focus-analysis/naval-technology/9677-british-navy-hms-lancaster-frigate-has-extra-firepower-with-new-12-7mm-machine-guns.html









Drunk, alone & lost: Chinese soldiers crossing over to Indian side suggests medical issues, lack of training

https://www.defenceaviationpost.com/2021/02/drunk-alone-lost-chinese-soldiers-crossing-over-to-indian-side-suggests-medical-issues-lack-of-training/



China, Russia Exploited COVID-19 to Advance Objectives across Middle East: U.S. General

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/28939/China__Russia_Exploited_COVID_19_to_Advance_Objectives_across_Middle_East__U_S__General



Chinese spacecraft enters Mars orbit, two days after UAE's 'Hope' probe

https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210210-chinese-spacecraft-enters-mars-orbit-two-days-after-uae-s-hope-probe



China's 'American' Submarine (That You Have Not Heard Of)

http://www.hisutton.com/Chinese-Navys-First-Advanced-Submarine-Type-032.html



China’s JF-17, FC-31 Jet Engine Production Line Ready

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/28938/China___s_JF_17__FC_31_Jet_Engine_Production_Line_Ready



South China Sea: US and allies apply pressure on Beijing but ‘they’re unlikely to go all out’

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3121315/south-china-sea-us-and-allies-apply-pressure-beijing-theyre





Will Taiwan Be the Next Cuba?

https://thediplomat.com/2021/02/will-taiwan-be-the-next-cuba/





Life 'not easy' for foreign diplomats in North Korea, Russian envoy says

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/02/09/Life-not-easy-for-foreign-diplomats-in-North-Korea-Russian-envoy-says/1091612886495/



U.N. experts point finger at North Korea for $281 million cyber theft, KuCoin likely victim

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-sanctions-cyber/u-n-experts-point-finger-at-north-korea-for-281-million-cyber-theft-kucoin-likely-victim-idUSKBN2AA00Q?il=0



North Korea Doubles Down on Military, Dipomatic Goals as U.S. Weighs 'New Approach'

https://www.newsweek.com/north-korea-doubles-down-military-diplomacy-us-new-approach-1568073





Philippines approves purchase of more Black Hawk helos

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/02/10/philippines-approves-purchase-for-more-black-hawk-helos/





Veteran Submariners Explain What Might Have Caused Japanese Submarine Collision

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39176/veteran-submariners-explain-what-might-have-gone-wrong-in-japanese-submarine-collision



Japanese submarine collides with commercial vessel, forcing crew to use cell phone to call for help

https://warisboring.com/japanese-submarine-collides-with-commercial-vessel-forcing-crew-to-use-cell-phone-to-call-for-help/



KHI to develop EW aircraft for JGSDF with stand-off jamming capability

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/khi-to-develop-ew-aircraft-for-jgsdf-with-stand-off-jamming-capability









China poses serious strategic threat to Canada, says Canadian spy agency head

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-canada/china-poses-serious-strategic-threat-to-canada-says-canadian-spy-agency-head-idUSKBN2A92VH










New hate symbols on U.S. warships including noose spark Navy condemnation

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-military-civilrights/new-hate-symbols-on-u-s-warships-including-noose-spark-navy-condemnation-idUSKBN2AA05L



Army Special Operations School Drops 'III' Logo Adopted by Extremist Group

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/02/09/army-special-operations-school-drops-iii-logo-adopted-extremist-group.html



Federal AI Spending to Top $6 Billion

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/2/10/federal-ai-spending-to-top-$6-billion



A Trident Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile Test Has Occurred Over The Atlantic

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39177/a-trident-submarine-launched-ballistic-missile-test-has-occurred-over-the-atlantic



Report on U.S.-China Competition in East, South China Sea

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/10/report-on-u-s-china-competition-in-east-south-china-sea-6



Plastic Fantastic Favorite

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htweap/articles/20210210.aspx



US Army begins ‘light tank' soldier assessment without BAE Systems' prototype

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-army-begins-light-tank-soldier-assessment-without-bae-systems-prototype



Will U.S. Army Missile Buys Mean Fewer U.S. Air Force Bombers?

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/missile-defense-weapons/will-us-army-missile-buys-mean-fewer-us-air-force-bombers



Army Taking Serious Look at Composite Cartridges

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/2/9/army-taking-serious-look-at-composite-cartridges



U.S. Army prepares to test-fire new precision strike missile

https://defence-blog.com/news/army/u-s-army-prepares-to-test-fire-new-precision-strike-missile.html



US Army-developed drone uses machine learning to sniff out explosive hazards

https://defbrief.com/2021/02/09/us-army-developed-drone-uses-machine-learning-to-sniff-out-explosive-hazards/



Skydio poised to supply first tranche of short-range recon drones to US Army

https://www.defensenews.com/land/2021/02/09/skydio-poised-to-supply-first-tranche-of-short-range-recon-drones/



US Army begins equipping first unit with hypersonic capability

https://www.defensenews.com/land/2021/02/09/us-army-begins-equipping-first-unit-with-hypersonic-capability/



Here Are All The Details We Noticed In The Photos Of The New F-15EX During Its First Flight

https://theaviationist.com/2021/02/10/here-are-all-the-details-we-noticed-in-the-photos-of-the-new-f-15ex-during-its-first-flight/



Cruise Missiles Rise To Top Of U.S. Weapons Agenda

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/missile-defense-weapons/cruise-missiles-rise-top-us-weapons-agenda



DARPA’s ‘Manta Ray’ Underwater Drone Could Be a Game Changer

https://thedebrief.org/darpas-manta-ray-underwater-drone-could-be-a-game-changer/



“Siri, Find Me A Russian Submarine,” U.S. Navy Asks

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelpeck/2021/02/10/siri-find-me-a-russian-submarine-us-navy-asks/



The Navy and its allies have ships that 'do quite well' against Russia's newest subs, top US admiral in Europe says

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-navy-and-its-allies-have-ships-that-do-quite-well-against-russias-newest-subs-top-us-admiral-in-europe-says/ar-BB1dy0tF



They’re Back: US Subs To Carry Harpoon Ship-Killer Missiles

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/02/theyre-back-us-subs-to-carry-harpoon-ship-killer-missiles/