Af/Pak & Other News (7/12/2021)

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Afghan special forces moved in on Taliban, only to find they had melted away

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/afghan-special-forces-moved-taliban-only-find-they-had-melted-away-2021-07-12/



Afghan Air Force to be supported from UAE

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/afghan-air-force-to-be-supported-from-uae



Longest-serving US commander in Afghanistan steps down amid troop withdrawal

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/scott-miller-mckenzie-afghanistan/



Taliban advances as U.S. completes withdrawal

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/07/taliban-advances-as-u-s-completes-withdrawal.php



With The U.S. Military Gone, The CIA Faces Tough Challenges In Afghanistan

https://www.npr.org/2021/07/12/1014542248/with-the-u-s-military-gone-the-cia-faces-tough-challenges-in-afghanistan



Afghan troops tell of carrying wounded to Tajikistan after commanders fled

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210710-afghan-troops-tell-of-carrying-wounded-to-tajikistan-after-commanders-fled



Will China Be Afghanistan’s Next Victim?

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/will-china-be-afghanistan%E2%80%99s-next-victim-189538









Indian Navy’s six new indigenous submarines won’t have indigenous AIP for prolonged underwater stay

https://www.defenceaviationpost.com/2021/07/indian-navys-six-new-indigenous-submarines-wont-have-indigenous-aip-for-prolonged-underwater-stay/



HAL Preparing to Deliver First Batch of 3 Light Combat Helicopters to IAF

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/30001/HAL_Preparing_to_Deliver_First_Batch_of_3_Light_Combat_Helicopters_to_IAF#.YOy6UExlBPZ



IAF Seeking to Acquire More C-130J Super Hercules Transporter

https://www.defenceaviationpost.com/2021/07/iaf-seeking-to-acquire-more-c-130j-super-hercules-transporter/



BrahMos Extended Range Missile Failed During Tests: Reports

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/30006/BrahMos_Extended_Range_Missile_Failed_During_Tests__Reports#.YOy6h0xlBPZ









A Turkish and Iranian Coup is Underway in Iraqi Kurdistan, and America is AWOL

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/07/a-turkish-and-iranian-coup-is-underway-in-iraqi-kurdistan-and-america-is-awol/









Overcoming the Diego Garcia Stalemate

https://warontherocks.com/2021/07/overcoming-the-diego-garcia-stalemate/









The evidence of Syrian President Bashar Assad and his regime's legacy of war crimes

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bashar-al-assad-syria-evidence-war-crimes-60-minutes-2021-07-11/









Two Jordanians sentenced to 15 years over alleged royal plot

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-middle-east-entertainment-royalty-jordan-845d6c3c708331f52de48bafbedc19d6









Drone swarms are coming to the Middle East and Israel is leading the way

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/drone-swarms-are-coming-to-the-middle-east-and-israel-is-leading-the-way-673615



IDF launches first-of-its-kind international drone exercise

https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-launches-first-of-its-kind-international-drone-exercise/



The UN Problem

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htpeace/articles/20210712.aspx



Orbiter – a Big Family of Small UAS

https://defense-update.com/20210712_orbiter-a-big-family-of-small-uas.html



Bedouin businessman arrested for providing intelligence to Iran

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/bedouin-businessman-arrested-for-providing-intelligence-to-iran-673595









Egyptian Navy receives fourth Type 209/1400mod-class submarine

https://www.naval-technology.com/news/egyptian-navy-receives-fourth-type-209-1400mod-class-submarine/




Libyan army, UN mull evacuating foreign forces, dismantling militias

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/105949/Libyan-army-UN-mull-evacuating-foreign-forces-dismantling-militias




Unmanned Spy’Ranger is saving French troops in Mali, Thales says

https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/unmanned-spyranger-is-saving-french-troops-in-mali-thales-says/144549.article




49 Killed in Niger Armed Attack

https://www.voanews.com/africa/49-killed-niger-armed-attack




Dam War With Ethiopia

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htwin/articles/20210712.aspx




South Africa deploys military as protests turn violent in wake of Jacob Zuma’s jailing

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/07/12/south-africa-zuma-protests/










After Decades of Catch-up Russia Just Began Building Its Own Killer Drones

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/after-decades-catch-russia-just-began-building-its-own-killer-drones-189436



Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation Channels The X-Files With This Cryptic "UFO" Teaser

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41508/russias-united-aircraft-corporation-channels-the-x-files-with-this-cryptic-teaser





U.S. spy planes intercepted by Russian fighter jets over Black Sea

https://defence-blog.com/u-s-spy-planes-intercepted-by-russian-fighter-jets-over-black-sea/




Slovenian Army To Become The First Military Operator of An All-Electric Trainer

https://theaviationist.com/2021/07/12/slovenian-army-pipistrel/





British Carrier Joins Forces With U.S. Flattop And Amphibious Assault Ship In Gulf Of Aden

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41506/british-carrier-joins-forces-with-u-s-flattop-and-amphibious-assault-ship-in-gulf-of-aden









Haiti police say murder suspect is middleman living in Florida

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/12/haiti-police-say-suspect-flew-into-country-with-alleged-hitmen



White House does not rule out Haiti request for U.S. troops

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/colombian-police-say-no-hypothesis-haiti-assassination-probe-2021-07-12/



U.S. Officials Arrive in Haiti to Investigate President Moise Assasination

https://www.usnews.com/news/world-report/articles/2021-07-12/us-officials-arrive-in-haiti-to-investigate-president-moise-assassination




Some U.S. politicians voice support for Cuba protesters as State Department calls for "calm"

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cuba-protest-united-states-reactions/









China’s Afghanistan Gambit

https://thediplomat.com/2021/07/chinas-afghanistan-gambit/



How the War on Terror Enabled China’s Surveillance Dystopia

https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-the-war-on-terror-enabled-chinas-surveillance-dystopia?ref=home?ref=home



The 2020s will be a crucial decade for China, and even its leaders know the good times may not last

https://www.businessinsider.com/chinas-leadership-faces-a-crucial-decade-in-the-2020s-2021-7



To Capture Taiwan, Chinese Forces Might Attack From Several Directions

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/07/12/to-capture-taiwan-chinese-forces-might-attack-from-several-directions/





South China Sea: why drones are best kept out of freedom of navigation operations

https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3140754/south-china-sea-why-drones-are-best-kept-out-freedom-navigation



Navy Denies Chinese Forces Chased Away Destroyer During FONOP

https://news.usni.org/2021/07/12/navy-denies-chinese-forces-chased-away-destroyer-during-fonop





South Korean KUH-1 medevac helicopter crash lands

http://alert5.com/2021/07/12/south-korean-kuh-1-medevac-helicopter-crash-lands/





Australia's Hawkei lightweight protected vehicle achieves initial operational capability

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/australias-hawkei-lightweight-protected-vehicle-achieves-initial-operational-capability





House Appropriators Threaten To Cut Guam Missile Defense Funds

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/07/house-appropriators-threaten-to-cut-guam-missile-defense-funds/










New Report Details Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Threat to National Security

https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/airport-aviation-security/new-report-details-unidentified-aerial-phenomena-threat-to-national-security/



UAPs Aren’t Russian or Chinese — and the Pentagon Knows It

https://medium.com/on-the-trail-of-the-saucers/ufos-arent-russian-or-chinese-and-the-pentagon-knows-it-8e7d563637cf



Visitors come from all over to take part in Roswell’s UFO Festival

https://www.kron4.com/news/strange/visitors-come-from-all-over-to-take-part-in-roswells-ufo-festival/



Is the Pentagon Prepared for Lethal Robotic Weapons Systems Unconstrained by Ethics?

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/pentagon-prepared-lethal-robotic-weapons-systems-unconstrained-ethics-189450



U.S. intel officials rely on private sector for artificial intelligence to outcompete China

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jul/12/us-intel-officials-rely-private-sector-artificial-/



Overheating in APU exhaust bay causes millions in damage to F-22A Raptor at Nellis

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/overheating-in-apu-exhaust-bay-causes-millions-in-damage-to-f-22a-raptor-at-nellis/



Lawmakers Survey: 94% of Sailors Say ‘Damaging Operational Failures’ Related to Navy Culture, Leadership Problems

https://news.usni.org/2021/07/12/lawmakers-survey-94-of-sailors-say-damaging-operational-failures-related-to-navy-culture-leadership-problems



'They think my only value is as a black woman': Sailors say Navy leaders failing to prepare for war

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/they-think-only-value-black-woman-sailors-say-navy-leaders-failing-prepare-war



Elon Musk purchases Virgin Galactic ticket for trip to space, report says

https://www.cnet.com/news/elon-musk-purchases-virgin-galactic-ticket-for-trip-to-space-report-says/



Nanosatellites Could Play Pivotal Role in Defense Against Enemy Missiles

https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2685840/nanosatellites-could-play-pivotal-role-in-defense-against-enemy-missiles/



House appropriators want to cut Air Force’s hypersonic weapon procurement

https://defence-blog.com/house-appropriators-want-to-cut-air-forces-hypersonic-weapon-procurement/



With all three Gunsmoke-J satellites on orbit, the Army is ready to test space-based targeting

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2021/07/12/with-all-three-gunsmoke-j-satellites-on-orbit-the-army-is-ready-to-test-space-based-targeting/



US Army triggers competition for future long-range assault aircraft

https://www.defensenews.com/land/2021/07/12/us-army-triggers-future-long-range-assault-aircraft-competition/



This Is The Navy's Timeline For Ridding Itself Of Four More Littoral Combat Ships

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41495/this-is-the-navys-timeline-for-ridding-itself-of-four-more-littoral-combat-ships



Degraded U.S. shipbuilding industry hobbles Navy quest for bigger fleet to counter China, Russia

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jul/12/navy-quest-bigger-fleet-counter-china-russia-hobbl/



The Navy's Exotic M80 Stiletto Test Ship Defeated Drone Swarms At Sea During Trials

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41497/the-navys-experimental-m80-stiletto-demonstrated-the-ability-to-defeat-drone-swarms-at-sea