Af/Pak & Other News (7/16/2021)

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US intel assessments on Afghanistan warn of 'accelerating pace' of Taliban hold on country

https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/16/politics/us-intel-kabul-taliban/index.html



Nearly half of Afghanistan’s provincial capitals under threat from Taliban

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/07/nearly-half-of-afghanistans-provincial-capitals-under-threat-from-taliban.php



Afghan forces fighting to retake Pakistan border crossing

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210716-afghan-forces-fighting-to-retake-pakistan-border-crossing



Taliban Shoots Down Afghan Helicopter Even as U.S. Delivers New Attack Choppers

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/30041/Taliban_Shoots_Down_Afghan_Helicopter_Even_as_U_S__Delivers_New_Attack_Choppers#.YPGeQEBlBaQ



Pakistan Air Force has warned Afghan forces on acting against Taliban: Afghanistan vice-president Amrullah Saleh

https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/pakistan-air-force-warned-afghan-forces-on-acting-against-taliban-afghanistan-vp-amrullah-saleh-1828685-2021-07-15



Afghan Air Force Aborts Anti-Taliban Attack by A29 Aircraft Following Pakistan Warning

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/30040/Afghan_Air_Force_Aborts_Anti_Taliban_Attack_by_A29_Aircraft_Following_Pakistan_Warning#.YPGeT0BlBaQ



Is Afghanistan Doomed to Fall to the Taliban?

https://sofrep.com/news/is-afghanistan-doomed-to-fall-to-the-taliban/



A war correspondent was killed in Afghanistan days after live-tweeting Taliban RPGs hitting his Humvee

https://www.businessinsider.com/danish-siddiqui-killed-afghanistan-tweeted-taliban-rpg-attack-2021-7



Women’s groups call for UN peacekeeping force in Afghanistan

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-afghanistan-united-nations-peacekeeping-forces-be66421125a5b59d1f53c8987fcefa6d



How US withdrawal from Afghanistan will undermine Russia's efforts to dominate Eurasia

https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/563269-how-us-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-will-undermine-russias-efforts



Taliban Welcome Their New Chinese Overlords

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/china/articles/20210716.aspx









33 years after getting demolished by the US, Iran's navy is flexing its new muscles

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/33-years-after-getting-demolished-by-the-us-iran-s-navy-is-flexing-its-new-muscles/ar-AAMe9cF



Iranian Commander’s Visit to Iraq Reveals Rifts in the Iranian Government

https://sofrep.com/news/iranian-commanders-visit-to-iraq-reveals-rifts-in-the-iranian-government/









Yemenis build siege-defying highway to safety

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210716-yemenis-build-siege-defying-highway-to-safety




Aselsan delivers electronic attack system to Turkish Army

https://www.c4isrnet.com/electronic-warfare/2021/07/15/aselsan-delivers-electronic-attack-system-to-turkish-army/









Turkey says mass grave found in Syria’s Afrin

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/15/turkey-says-mass-grave-found-in-syrian-region



320 New Weapons Tested: Russia’s Military Went to War in Syria With a Clear Plan

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/07/320-new-weapons-tested-russias-military-went-to-war-in-syria-with-a-clear-plan/









Israel's regional choices are affected by Iran in Syria - here's how

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-in-syria-and-israeli-strategy-choices-analysis-674060



Netanyahu urged Trump to attack Iran after he lost the presidency — report

https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-urged-us-to-attack-iran-after-trumps-election-loss-report/



Israelis plan military buildup to counter 'Iran arming itself with a nuclear weapon'

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/israel-buildup-counter-iran



Cheap, Slow And Out Of Control

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairw/articles/20210716.aspx



IDF says drone crashed in Lebanon due to malfunction, no data leaked

https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-says-drone-crashed-in-lebanon-due-to-malfunction-no-data-leaked/



Rafael exhibitits latest generation of Spike missiles ER2 and LR2

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defea_2021_news_official_online_show_daily_defense_exhibition/defea_2021_rafael_exhibitits_latest_generation_of_spike_missile_er2_and_lr2.html









Nigeria’s six A-29s are on their way home

http://alert5.com/2021/07/16/nigerias-six-a-29s-are-on-their-way-home/




Gunmen kill Nigerian army general on highway from capital

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/gunmen-kill-nigerian-army-general-highway-capital-2021-07-16/




Munitions, firearms stocks run critically low in South Africa following unrest and more restrictive laws

https://warisboring.com/munitions-firearms-stocks-run-critically-low-in-south-africa-following-unrest-and-more-restrictive-laws/









The Ukrainian Navy’s Killer Drone Has Arrived

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/07/16/the-ukrainian-navys-killer-drone-has-arrived/



Putin’s new Ukraine essay reveals imperial ambitions

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/putins-new-ukraine-essay-reflects-imperial-ambitions/



An-28 with 17 Persons Missing in Russia, Second Incident Involving Antonov Plane in 10 days

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/30042/An_28_with_17_Persons_Missing_in_Russia__Second_Incident_Involving_Antonov_Plane_in_10_days#.YPGeNkBlBaQ



Small Russian plane makes forced landing after engine fails

https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-968e121a72568ea1121763a15207598a



Russia’s New Fighter Jet Design Breaks Cover

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41566/russias-new-light-fighter-jet-breaks-cover-ahead-of-huge-russian-air-show



Russian Defense Ministry website targeted by foreign cyberattack

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/russian-defense-ministry-website-targeted-by-foreign-cyberattack-674093



Disinformation experts doubt authenticity of leaked documents describing a Russian plot to help Trump in 2016

https://www.businessinsider.com/experts-doubt-leaked-docs-russia-plot-trump-2016-guardian-2021-7





Watch This Black Hawk Clip Street Lights During Emergency Landing In Romanian Capital

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41558/watch-this-black-hawk-clip-street-lights-during-emergency-landing-in-romanian-capital




French air force buys nine more PC-21 trainers

https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/french-air-force-buys-nine-more-pc-21-trainers/144627.article




Classified Challenger tank specs leaked online for videogame

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/classified-challenger-tank-specs-leaked-online-for-videogame/



Arctic Pit Stop A First For British Typhoon Fighter Jets

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41562/arctic-pit-stop-a-first-for-british-typhoon-fighter-jets









Records reveal how Haitian American held in assassination probe financed a ‘personal security’ team

https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2021/07/15/haiti-president-sanon-security-team/



Sending US troops to Haiti is ‘not on the agenda’, Biden says

https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20210716-sending-us-troops-to-haiti-is-not-on-the-agenda-biden-says



France says military intervention in Haiti 'not on agenda'

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210716-france-says-military-intervention-in-haiti-not-on-agenda









China’s Space Program Is More Military Than You Might Think

https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2021/07/chinas-space-program-more-military-you-might-think/183790/



China’s third aircraft carrier could launch this year – but still needs the right jets

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3141477/chinas-third-aircraft-carrier-could-launch-year-still-needs



How China Stole the Designs for the F-35 Stealth Fighter

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/07/how-china-stole-the-designs-for-the-f-35-stealth-fighter/





Chinese anti-submarine warfare plane enters Taiwan’s ADIZ

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4249756





‘Sense Of Crisis’ On China-Taiwan: Japan Defense White Paper

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/07/sense-of-crisis-on-china-taiwan-japan-defense-white-paper/





North Korea May Be Using 5G Technology to Monitor Its Border With China

https://thediplomat.com/2021/07/north-korea-may-be-using-5g-technology-to-monitor-its-border-with-china/





South Korean air force retires last MIM-23 HAWK SAM systems

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/south-korean-air-force-retires-last-mim-23-hawk-sam-systems





Moving missiles: Army shuttles Patriot batteries around the Pacific in message to adversaries

https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2021-07-16/us-army-patriot-missiles-talisman-sabre-china-2165729.html









Foreign actors will seek to interfere in next Canada election - spy agency

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/foreign-actors-will-seek-interfere-next-canada-election-spy-agency-2021-07-16/










“You’re Gonna Have a Fucking War”: Mark Milley’s Fight to Stop Trump from Striking Iran

https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-bidens-washington/youre-gonna-have-a-fucking-war-mark-milleys-fight-to-stop-trump-from-striking-iran



The Next War’s ‘Butcher’s Bill’ Will Match WWII’s—Unless the US Adapts, Milley Says

https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2021/07/next-wars-butchers-bill-will-match-wwiisunless-us-adapts-milley-says/183804/



A Toxic Brew of Careerism and Fear: Why the Navy Could Lose a War To China

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/07/a-toxic-brew-of-careerism-and-fear-why-the-navy-could-lose-a-war-to-china/



‘Sleeper Agent’ Review: From Moscow to Oak Ridge

https://www.wsj.com/articles/sleeper-agent-review-from-moscow-to-oak-ridge-11626386522



IBCS Overcomes Electronic Attacks, Downs Cruise Missile

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/07/ibcs-overcomes-electronic-attacks-downs-2-cruise-missiles/



National Guard Scrambles for Funds After Congress Refuses to Cover Jan. 6-Related Costs

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/07/exclusive-congress-refusal-cover-jan-6-related-costs-has-national-guard-scrambling-funds/183818/



Interesting photos show B-1B Lancer decommission process at Barksdale AFB

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/interesting-photos-show-b-1b-lancer-decommission-process-at-barksdale-afb/



How to Spy on Military Bases From Space

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/research/a37014065/how-to-spy-on-military-bases-use-satellite-imagery/



Space Force Has High Hopes for New Missile Warning Satellites

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/7/16/space-force-has-high-hopes-for-new-missile-warning-satellites



Space Force declares operational acceptance of fifth anti-jamming GPS III satellite

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2021/07/15/space-force-declares-operational-acceptance-of-fifth-anti-jamming-gps-iii-satellite/



Report to U.S. Congress on Hypersonic Weapons

https://navalpost.com/report-to-u-s-congress-on-hypersonic-weapons/



Report: Army Doing Poor Job Communicating its Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Needs

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/7/15/just-in-report-army-doing-poor-job-communicating-its-tactical-wheeled-vehicle-needs



Target marking, fire-on-the-move fixes needed for upgunned Stryker programme, says US Army

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/target-marking-fire-on-the-move-fixes-needed-for-upgunned-stryker-programme-says-us-army



Air Force Nuclear Cruise Missiles Seen Costing About $29 Billion

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-15/air-force-nuclear-cruise-missiles-seen-costing-about-29-billion



The Warthog and the senator: The politics of retiring a warplane

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/warthog-senator-politics-retiring-warplane-2021-07-16/



MQ-9 cleared for Automatic Takeoff and Landing; ready for ACE operations

http://alert5.com/2021/07/16/mq-9-cleared-for-automatic-takeoff-and-landing-ready-for-ace-operations/



Progress on B-21 Means Current Bombers Need a Fast Retirement

https://www.airforcemag.com/progress-on-b-21-means-current-bombers-need-fast-retirement/