Af/Pak & Other News (3/4/2021)

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Afghan security forces withdrawing from checkpoints, bases

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/03/afghan-security-forces-withdrawing-from-checkpoints-bases.php



Afghan women journalists and human rights activists are being forced into hiding

https://www.dw.com/en/afghan-women-journalists-and-human-rights-activists-are-being-forced-into-hiding/a-56767606



Speech Offers Rare Glimpse Into Taliban Inner Politics

https://www.voanews.com/extremism-watch/speech-offers-rare-glimpse-taliban-inner-politics



Afghanistan: Deadline Fever

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/afghan/articles/20210304.aspx









Iranian Terrorists Claim to Have Active Cells in Washington, D.C.

https://freebeacon.com/national-security/iranian-terrorists-claim-to-have-active-cells-in-washington-d-c/









Indian Air Force participates for the first time in Exercise Desert Flag in UAE

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/march/7002-indian-air-force-participates-for-the-first-time-in-exercise-desert-flag-in-uae.html




Yemen's Houthis say fired missile at Saudi Aramco site in Jeddah

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-saudi/yemens-houthis-say-fired-missile-at-saudi-aramco-site-in-jeddah-idUSKCN2AW0BA



Yemen separatist forces say soldiers killed in attack on convoy in Aden

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-aden/yemen-separatist-forces-say-soldiers-killed-in-attack-on-convoy-in-aden-idUSKBN2AW10R




Nine Turkish Soldiers Killed in Military Helicopter Crash

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/03/04/turkish-soldiers-killed-helicopter-crash/









Biden called off second Syria strike after last minute warning of woman and children at target site

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/biden-syria-airstrike-2021-us-latest-b1812522.html



Author describes what happened when ISIS underestimated women fighters

https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2021/03/03/gayle-tzemach-lemmon-women-fighters-isis-amanpour-vpx.cnn









Israelis Push New Missile For Patriot Launchers: SkyCeptor

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/03/israelis-push-new-missile-for-patriot-launchers-skyceptor/



Israeli Vessel Attacked by Iran Owned by Shipping Company With Mossad Ties

https://www.richardsilverstein.com/2021/03/01/israeli-vessel-attacked-by-iran-owned-by-shipping-company-with-mossad-ties/



Biden and Europe allies worry Israel is preparing a substantial attack on Iran

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/biden-and-europe-allies-worry-israel-is-preparing-a-substantial-attack-on-iran/ar-BB1eeyaq









Who Are the ‘Bandits’ Behind Nigeria’s Mass Kidnappings?

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/03/04/who-are-the-bandits-behind-nigerias-mass-kidnappings/




EXPLAINER: Why Ethiopia’s deadly Tigray crisis is growing

https://apnews.com/article/ethiopia-news-why-in-crisis-tigray-d9259c207949e3110018161fbf3c87fd









Watch Russia’s Su-57 Felon Advanced Combat Jet Let Its 30mm Cannon Rip

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39578/watch-russias-su-57-felon-advanced-combat-jet-let-its-30mm-cannon-rip



Russia Just Repaired the Largest Amphibious Assault Hovercraft Ever

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/russia-just-repaired-largest-amphibious-assault-hovercraft-ever-179219



The 1st launch of the Hypersonic “Zircon” from a Sub to be performed not earlier than June

https://navalpost.com/zircon-missile-test-yasen-class-submarine-severodvinsk-tsirkon/



Kremlin dismisses U.S. call to destroy its chemical weapons as baseless

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-politics-navalny-kremlin-arms/kremlin-dismisses-u-s-call-to-destroy-its-chemical-weapons-as-baseless-idUSKBN2AW11U




Norway-based US bomber flies over Baltic states in show of solidarity, says Air Force

https://www.arctictoday.com/norway-based-us-bomber-flies-over-baltic-states-in-show-of-solidarity-says-air-force/




F-35B lands on Italian carrier for the first time

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/f-35b-lands-on-italian-acrrier-for-the-first-time/



OSINT Crosshairs: Satellite Catches Submarine Photo Op

http://www.hisutton.com/OSINT-Catches-Submarine-Exercise.html




KAL 747-8I arrives in Germany for conversion into Code One

http://alert5.com/2021/03/04/kal-747-8i-arrives-in-germany-for-conversion-into-code-one/




France convicts ex-defence minister, acquits ex-PM Balladur in Karachi corruption trial

https://www.france24.com/en/france/20210304-france-acquits-ex-pm-balladur-in-karachi-corruption-trial-convicts-ex-defence-minister




RAF C-130J declares emergency over Scotland

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/raf-c-130j-declares-emergency-over-scotland/









Gripen starts supersonic flight tests in Brazil

https://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2021/03/gripen-starts-supersonic-flight-tests.html









China’s military steps up drone training in mountainous border areas

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3124101/chinas-military-steps-drone-training-mountainous-border-areas



Mumbai Incident Spotlights China's Cyber Capabilities

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/3/3/mumbai-incident-spotlights-chinas-cyber-capabilities



China's Three Information Warfares

https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2021/march/chinas-three-information-warfares



Interpol warns fake vaccines seized in China and South Africa are ‘tip of iceberg’

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/04/interpol-warns-fake-vaccines-seized-in-china-and-south-africa-are-tip-of-iceberg



As China Gray Zone Warfare Escalates, U.S. May Stand to Lose First Shooting Battle

https://www.newsweek.com/china-gray-zone-wars-us-lose-first-battle-1573318



Why China Could Invade Taiwan Soon

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/why-china-could-invade-taiwan-soon-179281





German warship to cross South China Sea for first time since 2002

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/4/german-warship-to-sail-through-south-china-sea





Photos show North Korea may be trying to extract plutonium

https://apnews.com/article/south-korea-north-korea-united-nations-nuclear-weapons-f01c79c4c7ab26520ad7c0f97e19b1ff





South Korea: Quick Bridge, Little Waiting

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htcbtsp/articles/20210304.aspx



South Korea Fights to Guard Its Trade Secrets From China

https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/south-korea-fights-guard-its-trade-secrets-china



KF-X: South Korea Wants to Built Its Very Own ‘F-35’

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/03/kf-x-south-korea-wants-to-built-its-very-own-f-35/





Myanmar pro-democracy protesters back on streets after ‘bloodiest day’ since coup

https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210304-myanmar-pro-democracy-protesters-return-after-bloodiest-day-since-coup



'I will shoot whoever I see': Myanmar soldiers use TikTok to threaten protesters

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-tiktok/i-will-shoot-whoever-i-see-myanmar-soldiers-use-tiktok-to-threaten-protesters-idUSKBN2AW17X



Nineteen Myanmar police seek refuge in India, more expected

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-politics-india-exclusive/exclusive-nineteen-myanmar-police-seek-refuge-in-india-more-expected-idUSKCN2AW0O7





Philippines sign agreement with India that paves the way for the sale of BrahMos missiles

http://alert5.com/2021/03/04/philippines-sign-agreement-with-india-that-paves-the-way-for-the-sale-of-brahmos-missiles/





Japan reduces Chinese interceptions as it deploys F-35s

https://www.aerotime.aero/27398-japan-reduces-chinese-interceptions-as-it-deploys-f-35s



Japan commissions third Hibiki-class ocean surveillance ship

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/japan-commissions-third-hibiki-class-ocean-surveillance-ship





Confirmed Australia Sticking with Naval Group

https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2021/03/confirmed-australia-sticking-with-naval.html










C.I.A. to Expand Inquiry Into Mysterious Health Episodes Overseas

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/04/us/politics/cia-havana-syndrome-mystery.html



House Cancels Thursday Session After Police Warn Of Possible Attack On Congress

https://www.npr.org/2021/03/03/973310942/capitol-police-warns-of-another-possible-right-wing-attack-on-congress



50 National Guard troops sickened by food while guarding U.S. Capitol

https://americanmilitarynews.com/2021/03/50-national-guard-troops-sickened-by-food-while-guarding-u-s-capitol/



Man using submarine to smuggle drugs across Detroit River sentenced

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2021/03/03/man-using-submarine-to-smuggle-drugs-across-detroit-river-sentenced/



U.S. 2nd Fleet Blames Corrosion for USS Vella Gulf Mishap

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/03/u-s-2nd-fleet-blames-corrosion-for-uss-vella-gulf-mishap



Biden Secretly Limits Counterterrorism Drone Strikes Away From War Zones

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/03/us/politics/biden-drones.html



Military Unit That Conducts Drone Strikes Bought Location Data From Ordinary Apps

https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3g97x/location-data-apps-drone-strikes-iowa-national-guard



Why Scientists Aim To Make A Drone Nearly As Small As A Mosquito

https://www.npr.org/2021/03/04/973561036/why-scientists-aim-to-make-a-drone-nearly-as-small-as-a-mosquito



GA-ASI Avenger ER receives FAA experimental certificate

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/march/7007-ga-asi-avenger-er-receives-faa-experimental-certificate.html



DARPA’s Rapid Power Grid Restoration Tech Goes Live

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/03/darpas-rapid-power-grid-restoration-tech-goes-live/



Lawmakers aim to prevent sea-based nuclear cruise missile

https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2021/03/04/lawmakers-aim-to-prevent-sea-based-nuclear-cruise-missile/



Artificial intelligence (AI) to help U.S. military pursue Mosaic Warfare in future all-domain combat

https://www.militaryaerospace.com/computers/article/14198671/artificial-intelligence-ai-alldomain-mosaic-warfare



SpaceX unmanned rocket makes soft landing before exploding on ground

https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20210304-spacex-unmanned-rocket-makes-soft-landing-before-exploding-on-ground



Space Force chief says he’s working on a declassification strategy, but offers scant details

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2021/03/03/space-force-chief-says-hes-working-on-a-declassification-strategy-but-offers-scant-details/



US Army’s unmanned aircraft rodeo firms up requirements for Shadow replacement

https://www.defensenews.com/land/2021/03/03/us-armys-unmanned-aircraft-rodeo-firms-up-requirements-for-shadow-replacement/



Let’s Talk About Boeing Loyal Wingman Unmanned Aerial Vehicle’s First Flight

https://theaviationist.com/2021/03/03/lets-talk-about-boeing-loyal-wingman-unmanned-aerial-vehicles-first-flight/



Golden Horde Swarming Munitions Program Back On Target After Second Round Of Tests

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39581/golden-horde-swarming-munitions-program-back-on-target-after-second-round-of-tests



US Navy researching hypersonic anti-ship missile ‘Screaming Arrow’ for F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/us-navy-researching-hypersonic-anti-ship-missile-screaming-arrow-for-f/a-18e/f-super-hornet/142719.article



Surface ship readiness continues to struggle, US Navy inspections show

https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2021/03/03/surface-ship-readiness-continues-to-struggle-navy-inspections-show/



How The Aegis Combat System Is Evolving To Dominate Naval Warfare Of The Future

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39508/how-the-aegis-combat-system-is-evolving-to-dominate-naval-warfare-of-the-future



Navy Sends 1st Littoral Combat Ship On A Cruise With Everything To Lose

https://www.forbes.com/sites/craighooper/2021/03/04/navy-sends-1st-littoral-combat-ship-on-a-cruise-with-everything-to-lose/