Af/Pak & Other News (7/8/2021)

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Taliban surround major Afghan cities, ready for a showdown when U.S. troops are gone

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-afghanistan-taliban-badghis-siege-american-war-withdrawal/



Afghan forces retake provincial capital after Taliban incursion -defence ministry

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/afghan-forces-retake-provincial-capital-after-taliban-incursion-defence-ministry/ar-AALUedh



Sources: U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan complete 'for all intents and purposes'

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/07/us-troop-withdrawal-afghanistan-498671



Afghan gov’t delegation meets Taliban in Iran

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/8/afghan-govt-delegation-meets-taliban-in-iran



Reports: Taliban seize key Afghan border crossing with Iran

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-taliban-middle-east-iran-58629a955d5b1703f2536efc122ef171



China seeks Pakistan’s help in stabilising Afghanistan after US troop withdrawal

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3140301/china-seeks-pakistans-help-stabilising-afghanistan-after-us



Analysis: For Russia, U.S. Afghan exit creates security threat on southern flank

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/analysis-for-russia-u-s-afghan-exit-creates-security-threat-on-southern-flank/ar-AALVvpS









Iran has declared war on the US in Iraq through its proxies - analysis

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-has-declared-war-on-the-us-in-iraq-through-its-proxies-analysis-673203



IRGC Ground Forces receive new weapons

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/irgc-ground-forces-receive-new-weapons



Iran: IRGC Unveils Ground-Based Anti-Tank Missile

https://www.eurasiareview.com/08072021-iran-irgc-unveils-ground-based-anti-tank-missile/









Does “Deterrence” Work? The U.S. is always dropping bombs to “send a message” to its adversaries. Often, the message doesn’t seem to get through.

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/07/deterrence-iran-militias-iraq.html



US troops in Iraq have come under attack every day this week

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/us-troops-iraq-attacked-every-day/



Attacks on US in Iraq becoming dangerous cycle: experts

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210708-attacks-on-us-in-iraq-becoming-dangerous-cycle-experts









Huge Explosion Rocks Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port Sparking Large Fire

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41445/huge-explosion-rocks-dubais-jebel-ali-port-sparking-large-fire









Russia, Iran, Turkey to continue cooperation against IS in Syria - RIA cites joint statement

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/russia-iran-turkey-continue-cooperation-against-is-syria-ria-cites-joint-2021-07-08/




With Lebanon in dire straits, Hezbollah seeks to cast Iran as country’s savior

https://www.timesofisrael.com/with-lebanon-in-dire-straits-hezbollah-seeks-to-cast-iran-as-countrys-savior/









Israel: New Material May Power Tomorrow’s Cyborg Soldiers

https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2021/07/new-material-may-power-tomorrows-cyborg-soldiers/183144/









Egypt Inaugurates A New Naval Base Near The Libyan Border

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/07/egypt-inaugurates-a-new-naval-base-near-the-libyan-border/




Libya: On the hunt for Gaddafi’s lost treasure

https://www.theafricareport.com/105878/libya-on-the-hunt-for-gaddafis-lost-treasure/




Team of Marines deployed to protect US Embassy in Eswatini amid massive unrest

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marine-corps-embassy-africa-eswatini/









Documents Reveal Erik Prince's $10 Billion Plan to Make Weapons and Create a Private Army in Ukraine

https://time.com/6076035/erik-prince-ukraine-private-army/



Russian Aerospace Forces tests offensive option in Arctic

https://defence-blog.com/russian-aerospace-forces-tests-offensive-option-in-arctic/



Russia: Retaliation Against Cyber Cossacks

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/russia/articles/20210708.aspx



Russia’s Tu-160 Bombers Plus Hypersonic Ballistic Missiles Is a Recipe for Destruction

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/russia%E2%80%99s-tu-160-bombers-plus-hypersonic-ballistic-missiles-recipe-destruction-189355





U.S. Navy sent Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport into the Black Sea

https://defence-blog.com/u-s-navy-sent-spearhead-class-expeditionary-fast-transport-into-the-black-sea/




Presidential conference interrupted by fighter jet scramble in Lithuania

https://www.aerotime.aero/28333-presidential-speech-halted-by-fighter-scramble-in-lithuania




Watch the rollout ceremony of M-001, first MQ-9 for Netherlands

http://alert5.com/2021/07/08/watch-the-rollout-ceremony-of-m-001-first-mq-9-for-netherlands/




Greece Still Hopes to Halt German Submarine Deal with Turkey

https://www.voanews.com/europe/greece-still-hopes-halt-german-submarine-deal-turkey




France tests anti-drone laser weapon for use at 2024 Olympics

https://dronedj.com/2021/07/08/france-tests-anti-drone-laser-weapon-for-use-at-2024-olympics/



France: Persistence Pays Off

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htwin/articles/20210708.aspx




RAF doing market exploration for military certified zero emissions light training aircraft

http://alert5.com/2021/07/08/raf-doing-market-exploration-for-military-certified-zero-emissions-light-training-aircraft/



RAF station Manston abandoned after 105 years!

https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/raf-station-manston-abandoned-after-105-years









Haitian police battle suspected members of president’s hit squad as country pitched into uncertainty

https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20210708-haiti-police-arrest-alleged-assassins-as-world-leaders-condemn-attack









China reveals secret programme of unmanned drone submarines dating back to 1990s

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3140220/china-reveals-secret-programme-unmanned-drone-submarines-dating



Submarine Guide: Chinese Navy's Latest Type-039C Yuan Class

http://www.hisutton.com/Chinese-Type-039C-Yuan-Class-Submarine.html



China space war threat growing ‘exponentially’

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jul/7/china-space-war-threat-growing-exponentially/



Beijing Eyes New Military Bases Across the Indo-Pacific

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/07/07/china-pla-military-bases-kiribati-uae-cambodia-tanzania-djibouti-indo-pacific-ports-airfields/



China’s Nuclear Silos and the Arms-Control Fantasy

https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-nuclear-silos-and-the-arms-control-fantasy-11625696243





Kim Jong Un Has Lost up to 44 Pounds, South Korean Spy Agency Says

https://www.businessinsider.com/kim-jong-un-has-lost-weight-south-korean-spy-agency-2021-7





US Army fires HIMARS rocket system in Japan for the first time during ‘Orient Shield’

https://warisboring.com/us-army-fires-himars-rocket-system-in-japan-for-the-first-time-during-orient-shield/





Ex US Coast Guard cutter en route to new home in Vietnam

https://defbrief.com/2021/07/07/ex-us-coast-guard-cutter-en-route-to-new-home-in-vietnam/





Australia: Freesite until 31 July 2021*: Hunter class frigate delay: Covid one reason: As predicted.

https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2021/07/hunter-class-frigate-delay-covid-one_8.html










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

https://www.fox21news.com/news/national/visitors-come-from-all-over-to-take-part-in-roswells-ufo-festival/



Former Official: UFO Report Actually Strengthens “Alien Hypothesis”

https://futurism.com/former-official-ufo-report-alien-hypothesis



UFO conspiracies can be more dangerous than you think

https://www.popsci.com/military/ufo-conspiracy-dangerous/



FBI investigating lllegal drone activity near Tucson

https://www.abc15.com/news/region-central-southern-az/tucson/fbi-investigating-llegal-drone-activity-near-tucson



Tornado injures 10 at U.S. Navy base Kings Bay in Georgia

https://bnonews.com/index.php/2021/07/tornado-naval-submarine-base-kings-bay/



Pentagon Watchdog Warns Services About Cyber Threat In 3D Printing

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/07/pentagon-watchdog-warns-services-about-cyber-threat-in-3d-printing/



Latest hack to test Biden’s vow for consequences for Russia

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-europe-russia-hacking-business-2c54118bc3c9aa265ad7f41d63b88466



This photo shows how the A-10’s sponson on the lower wing allows the Warthog to land with the gear up and still roll (and brake!), minimizing damage to the aircraft

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/this-photo-shows-how-the-a-10s-sponson-on-the-lower-wing-allows-the-warthog-to-land-with-the-gear-up-and-still-roll-and-brake-minimizing-damage-to-the-aircraft/



US Air Force issues airworthiness approval for Kitty Hawk's Heaviside eVTOL aircraft

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-air-force-issues-airworthiness-approval-for-kitty-hawks-heaviside-evtol-aircraft



Warhead For Air Force's First Hypersonic Missile Tested For The First Time

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41426/warhead-for-air-forces-first-hypersonic-missile-tested-for-the-first-time



Rep. Turner Warns US Missile Defense Slipping Behind Russia’s Capabilities

https://www.airforcemag.com/rep-turner-warns-us-missile-defense-slipping-behind-russias-capabilities/



DARPA successfully deploys first two Blackjack satellites

https://defbrief.com/2021/07/07/darpa-successfully-deploys-first-two-blackjack-satellites/



Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Funds Redirected By Army To Buy New Humvees

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41439/joint-light-tactical-vehicle-funds-redirected-by-army-once-again-to-buy-new-humvees



The Air Force’s New Stealth Cruise Missile Is a Go. But Do We Need It?

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a36943919/air-force-new-stealth-cruise-missile-long-range-stand-off/



KC-46 Tankers Expand Mission Workload, Start Refueling F-35s

https://www.defenseone.com/business/2021/07/kc-46-tankers-expand-mission-workload-start-refueling-f-35s/183155/



Watchdog group finds F-35 sustainment costs could be headed off affordability cliff

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/07/07/watchdog-group-finds-f-35-sustainment-costs-could-be-headed-off-affordability-cliff/



The U.S. Navy Needs Some Way Of Sneaking Supplies Through Chinese Defenses

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/07/08/the-us-navy-needs-some-way-of-sneaking-supplies-through-chinese-defenses/