Af/Pak & Other News (5/17/2021)

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Government forces clash with Taliban in Afghanistan

https://www.dw.com/en/government-forces-clash-with-taliban-in-afghanistan/a-57547685



As U.S. leaves Afghanistan, emboldened extremists lash out at the softest targets

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/afghanistan-war-united-states-withdrawal-taliban-isis-al-qaeda-soft-targets/



Afghans who helped the US now fear being left behind

https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-immigration-lifestyle-travel-government-and-politics-20a9a1cae472008c1384caac4a1eb1b9









Iranian Army to get 1,000 new drones

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_may_2021_global_security_army_industry/iranian_army_army_to_get_1000_new_drones.html



U.S. tiptoes through sanctions minefield toward Iran nuclear deal

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-tiptoes-through-sanctions-minefield-toward-iran-nuclear-deal-2021-05-17/



Iran nuclear deal could weaken U.S. efforts to end Israel-Gaza violence

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/17/iran-nuclear-deal-could-weaken-us-efforts-to-end-israel-gaza-violence.html









8 IS militants killed in airstrikes in northern Iraq

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-05/17/c_139951693.htm



Turkish airstrikes kill 3 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq

https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/war-on-terror/turkish-airstrikes-kill-3-pkk-terrorists-in-northern-iraq









Turkish firm develops mini rocket for small and micro-UAVs

https://www.dailysabah.com/business/defense/turkish-firm-develops-mini-rocket-for-small-and-micro-uavs









Why Iran absorbs Israeli-inflicted blows on its militant proxies in Syria

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1859661/middle-east









Iron Dome intercepts drone during combat for first time, says Israeli military

https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2021/05/17/iron-dome-intercepts-drone-during-combat-for-first-time-says-israeli-military/



Israel said it didn't mean to kill 42 civilians in Gaza on Sunday, saying it attacked a series of militant tunnels that caused people's homes to collapse

https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-gaza-attack-42-deaths-unintended-militant-tunnel-attack-2021-5



Turkey media threatens Israel with 'Libya model' of water grab off Gaza

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/turkey-media-threatens-israel-with-libya-model-of-water-grab-off-gaza-668345



Senior Islamic Jihad commander killed in Israeli airstrike

https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-says-it-killed-senior-islamic-jihad-commander-in-airstrike/



IDF thwarts numerous ramming attacks as fires break out due to terror

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/shin-bet-makes-arrests-as-violence-continues-in-israels-mixed-cities-668297



Israel is targeting Hamas naval forces. So what can Hamas do by sea?

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/17/world/middleeast/israel-is-targeting-hamas-naval-forces-so-what-can-hamas-do-by-sea.html



A former Associated Press editor suggested that Hamas did have offices in the agency's Gaza City building, which Israel destroyed over the weekend

https://www.businessinsider.com/former-associated-press-editor-suggests-hamas-in-gaza-city-building-2021-5









13 Countries to Participate in Phoenix Express Naval Exercise

https://www.overtdefense.com/2021/05/17/13-countries-to-participate-in-phoenix-express-naval-exercise/




Somalia: Turks And Iranians Unite The Country

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/somalia/articles/20210517.aspx









Russian Air Force reconnaissance squadrons to be equipped with drones

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/may/7316-russian-air-force-reconnaissance-squadrons-to-be-equipped-with-drones.html



Russia tracking UK patrol ship HMS Trent in Black Sea

https://defbrief.com/2021/05/17/russia-tracking-uk-patrol-ship-hms-trent-in-black-sea/



Despite Covid, 100+ IAF personnel are in Russia on S-400 missile training as delivery nears

https://theprint.in/defence/despite-covid-100-iaf-personnel-are-in-russia-on-s-400-missile-training-as-delivery-nears/658533/



'The best master': New Stalin Center evokes pride, and revulsion among Russians

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-best-master-new-stalin-center-evokes-pride-and-revulsion-among-russians/ar-BB1gPaYx





Switzerland’s Remarkable ‘Navy’: A Covert Shores Guide

http://www.hisutton.com/Swiss-Navy-Guide.html




Video : Navantia floats out Isaac Peral S-80 class submarine

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-defense-news-tv/10156-video-navantia-floats-out-isaac-peral-s-80-class-submarine.html




France, Germany and Spain Strike Deal Over Joint Combat Jet

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-05-17/france-germany-and-spain-strike-deal-over-joint-combat-jet




Requirements for future British Army anti-armour revealed

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/requirements-for-future-british-army-anti-armour-revealed/



U.S. Navy, NATO begin missile exercises off Scottish coast

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/05/17/nato-exercises-scotland/8521621265887/










Argentina evaluates ISR pod on IA-58 Pucará Fénix aircraft

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/may/7314-argentina-evaluates-isr-pod-on-ia-58-pucara-fenix-aircraft.html




Bolivian police find and destroy three crack cocaine 'mega-factories'

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/bolivian-police-find-and-destroy-three-crack-cocaine-mega-factories/ar-BB1gPoha









PLA modernises Xinjiang's military units in 'reaction' to India-China LAC row

https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pla-modernises-xinjiang-s-military-units-in-reaction-to-india-china-lac-row-101621231048385.html



The evolving nature of China’s military diplomacy: from visits to vaccines

https://www.iiss.org/blogs/research-paper/2021/05/china-military-diplomacy



Chinese businessman with links to Steve Bannon is driving force for a sprawling disinformation network, researchers say

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/chinese-businessman-with-links-to-steve-bannon-is-driving-force-for-a-sprawling-disinformation-network-researchers-say/ar-BB1gPgfN





Taiwan unveils Army restructure aimed at decentralizing military

https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2021/05/17/taiwan-unveils-army-restructure-aimed-at-decentralizing-military/





Japan: Multi-purpose Chinese Pilot Training

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htmurph/articles/20210517.aspx





S.Korean Military to Purchase Hydrogen-Powered Drones from Doosan Mobility

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29582/S_Korean_Military_to_Purchase_Hydrogen_Powered_Drones_from_Doosan_Mobility





Australian frigate Ballarat joins mission to enforce North Korea sanctions

https://defbrief.com/2021/05/17/australian-frigate-ballarat-joins-mission-to-enforce-north-korea-sanctions/










"60 Minutes": Navy pilots describe encounters with UFOs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBtMbBPzqHY



Ball Lightning and the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Mystery

https://thedebrief.org/ball-lightning-and-the-unidentified-aerial-phenomena-mystery/



The Holy Grail Is Here: A Stable, Solid-State, Lithium-Metal Battery

https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a36440563/lithium-metal-battery-breakthrough-electric-vehicles/



Pentagon seeks ‘data advantage' in new strategic guidance

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/pentagon-seeks-data-advantage-in-new-strategic-guidance



Inside the Military's Secret Undercover Army

https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-inside-militarys-secret-undercover-army-1591881



Number of Armed UAVs Set To Expand Significantly

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/number-armed-uavs-set-expand-significantly



Budget Day is coming! How will the Pentagon waste money this year?

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/pentagon/pentagon-budget-waste-money/



ULA to loft Space Force missile tracking satellite in first Atlas V launch of 2021

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/05/sbirs-geo-5/



USMC retires first AH-1Z helo to boneyard as deliveries continue

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/usmc-retires-first-ah-1z-helo-to-boneyard-as-deliveries-continue



The U.S. Air Force Has Gotten Lazy—And Lazy Won’t Cut It In A War With China

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/05/17/the-us-air-force-has-gotten-lazy-and-lazy-wont-cut-it-in-a-war-with-china/



First of two OC-135B Open Skies observation aircraft that the USAF is retiring will make its final flight this week

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/first-of-two-oc-135b-open-skies-observation-aircraft-that-the-usaf-is-retiring-will-make-its-final-flight-this-week/



Interesting video shows unique capabilities of the F-35 Lightning II Electro-Optical Targeting System

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/interesting-video-shows-unique-capabilities-of-the-f-35-lightning-ii-electro-optical-targeting-system/



US Navy's Neptune project seeks new RF payloads

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-navys-neptune-project-seeks-new-rf-payloads