Af/Pak & Other News (12/8/2021)

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Afghans wait and worry at US bases after frantic evacuation

https://apnews.com/article/new-jersey-kabul-fd5db486fd3e990f95484f167a87529c



Hundreds approved for evacuation to UK remain trapped in Afghanistan

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/07/hundreds-approved-for-evacuation-to-uk-remain-trapped-in-afghanistan



U.K. saved animals in Afghanistan over people since murdered by Taliban, whistleblower says

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/u-k-saved-animals-in-afghanistan-over-people-since-murdered-by-taliban-whistleblower-says/ar-AARBEeY



Taliban Fighters Now Manning Checkpoints in Afghan Cities

https://www.voanews.com/a/taliban-fighters-now-manning-checkpoints-in-afghan-cities-/6343942.html



Defense Department's review of Afghanistan drawdown begins 3 months after withdrawal

https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/07/politics/defense-department-afghanistan-review-begins/index.html



In Pakistan’s borderlands, Taliban quietly expanding influence

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/8/pakistan-south-waziristan-borderlands-taliban-expanding-influence









Serial Production India's BrahMos Air-Launched Cruise Missile Cleared Following Test from Su-30MKI

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/30961/Serial_Production_India_s_BrahMos_Air_Launched_Cruise_Missile_Cleared_Following_Test_from_Su_30MKI#.YbDhfLqIZPY



Video: Pilot flying over Pacific Ocean spots ‘fleet of UFOs flying in a weird formation’

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/entertainment/video-pilot-flying-over-pacific-ocean-spots-fleet-of-ufos-flying-in-a-weird-formation-347882



India’s top military official reportedly killed in helicopter crash along with 12 others including wife

https://warisboring.com/indias-top-military-official-reportedly-killed-in-helicopter-crash-along-with-12-others-including-wife/









Tense nuclear talks with Iran to resume Thursday in Vienna

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-iran-donald-trump-united-states-e43a47fcb484e4063067e9766378231a









In militants’ hands, drones emerge as a deadly new wild card in the Middle East

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/iran-drones-iraq-militias/2021/12/06/5685e772-5469-11ec-8769-2f4ecdf7a2ad_story.html









US announces 'largest-ever' forfeiture of Iranian missiles, oil seized in US Navy raids

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/iranian-missiles-and-oil-seized-by-us-navy-raid-688160




Kuwait Has Received Its First Typhoon Fighter Jets

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43427/kuwait-has-received-its-first-typhoon-fighter-jets




Houthis Claim Drone Attacks On Saudi Oil Facilities

https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Houthis-Claim-Drone-Attacks-On-Saudi-Oil-Facilities.html



Saudi Arabia Is Running Out Of Patriot Missiles In Its Conflict With The Houthis

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43421/saudi-arabia-is-running-out-of-patriot-missiles-in-its-conflict-with-the-houthis



UN: Fighting around key Yemeni port displaces over 25,000

https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-iran-united-arab-emirates-united-nations-yemen-c5d263d6fd6e37e450518e239b6e915c




Turkey's 214TN "REIS-2" Submarine Project: Special AIP.

https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2021/12/turkeys-214tn-reis-2-submarine-project.html



Turkish company Dasal Aviation unveils VTOL UAV armed with 81mm mortar rounds

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/december/7945-turkish-company-dasal-aviation-unveils-vtol-uav-armed-with-81mm-mortar-rounds.html









Why Israel was not ready for an airstrike on Iran in 2019 - analysis

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/why-israel-was-not-ready-for-an-airstrike-on-iran-in-2019-analysis-688123



Poll: 51% of Israelis would support strike on Iran, even without US approval

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/poll-51-of-israelis-would-support-strike-on-iran-even-without-us-approval/









Egypt to host its first naval defense expo in 2022

https://www.defensenews.com/global/mideast-africa/2021/12/08/egypt-to-host-its-first-naval-defense-expo-in-2022/




Another Ethiopian Civil War

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/pothot/articles/20211208.aspx









Russian military capacity on Ukraine's border is on a 'more lethal scale' than 2014 Crimea invasion, US official says

https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/07/politics/nuland-sfrc-us-russia-ukraine/index.html



War With No Air Power? Eastern Ukraine Could Be Too Dangerous For Russian And Ukrainian Planes

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/12/08/war-with-no-air-power-eastern-ukraine-could-be-too-dangerous-for-russian-and-ukrainian-aircraft/



Expect 'shock and awe' if Russia invades Ukraine

https://thehill.com/opinion/international/584805-expect-shock-and-awe-if-russia-invades-ukraine



Putin Can Take Eastern Ukraine, But He Won’t Like What He Gets

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2021/12/08/putin_can_take_eastern_ukraine_but_he_wont_like_what_he_gets_806873.html



U.S. Military Steps Up Planning For Evacuation Operation In Ukraine As Crisis Deepens: Report

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43412/u-s-steps-up-planning-for-potential-evacuations-from-ukraine-as-crisis-deepens-report



Russian Tanks Outnumber Ukrainian Tanks—But That Might Not Matter In Wartime

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/12/07/russian-tanks-outnumber-ukrainian-tanks-but-that-might-not-matter-in-wartime/



Special Operations: The Russian Plan For Absorbing Ukraine

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsf/articles/20211208.aspx



Russia's cosmos town, an isolated relic of Soviet glory

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211208-russia-s-cosmos-town-an-isolated-relic-of-soviet-glory





Defector Helps Build Case Against Belarus Over Ryanair Flight It Forced Down

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/08/world/europe/belarus-poland-ryanair-plane-dissident.html




Polish F-16 fighters scramble to intercept Russian reconnaissance aircraft

https://www.aerotime.aero/29653-poland-russia-baltic-interception




Nammo readies SFRJ for initial THOR-ER test-firing in 2022

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/defence/latest/nammo-readies-sfrj-for-initial-thor-er-test-firing-in-2022




France frees Saudi arrested in case of mistaken identity over Khashoggi killing

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211208-saudi-man-arrested-in-france-is-released-not-suspect-in-khashoggi-killing-prosecution




The Wreck Of A Crashed British F-35 Has Been Pulled Out Of The Mediterranean

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43423/the-wreck-of-a-crashed-british-f-35-has-been-pulled-out-of-the-mediterranean



Sailor arrested after F-35 aircraft carrier crash video leak

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/sailor-arrested-after-f-35-aircraft-carrier-crash-video-leak/



Could Depth Charges To Kill Submarines Make a Comeback?

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/12/could-depth-charges-to-kill-submarines-make-a-comeback/




U.N. Peacekeepers Seek More Troops, Better Weapons Against New Threats in Divided World

https://www.newsweek.com/un-peacekeepers-seek-more-troops-better-weapons-against-new-threats-divided-world-1656582









Peru: Crash FAP Mi-171Sh

https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/crash-fap-mi-171sh









China ‘hiding’ missiles for surprise attacks

https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/military/china-feared-to-be-hiding-missiles-in-shipping-containers-for-trojan-horsestyle-plan-to-launch-attack-anywhere-in-world/news-story/13fc4afed5770a250d9f0644435e5566



Chinese military’s largest amphibious assault ship passes assessment

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3158942/chinese-militarys-largest-amphibious-assault-ship-passes





Philippines to Purchase More Black Hawks, Patrol Vessels

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/12/08/philippines-black-hawks-patrol-vessels/










Pentagon UFO Rapid Response Teams Ordered Up by Congress

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/12/07/pentagon-ufo-rapid-response-teams-ordered-congress.html



High Strangeness at Skinwalker Ranch

https://www.saltlakemagazine.com/high-strangeness-at-skinwalker-ranch/



Congress approves the retirement of more than 160 USAF aircraft but forbids the retirement of the A-10

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/congress-approves-the-retirement-of-more-than-160-usaf-aircraft-but-forbids-the-retirement-of-the-a-10/



New Defense Bill Saves 2 Cruisers, Approves 13 Battle Force Ships; Adds 12 Super Hornets

https://news.usni.org/2021/12/07/new-defense-bill-saves-2-cruisers-approves-13-battle-force-ships-adds-12-super-hornets



Space Force launches experimental sats to detect nukes, test laser communications

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/12/space-force-launches-experimental-sats-to-detect-nukes-test-laser-communications/



US Army to receive 110 next-gen PrSM missiles in 2022

https://defence-blog.com/us-army-to-receive-110-next-gen-prsm-missiles-in-2022/



Nearly 70 Percent of Receivers Now Cleared to Get Fuel From KC-46

https://www.airforcemag.com/nearly-70-percent-of-receivers-now-cleared-to-get-fuel-from-kc-46/



Air Force previews plan to phase out enlisted drone pilots

https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-air-force/2021/12/07/air-force-previews-plan-to-phase-out-enlisted-drone-pilots/



SEAL Team 8 commander died Tuesday following training accident

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2021/12/08/seal-team-8-commander-died-tuesday-following-training-accident/



Report to Congress on Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter

https://news.usni.org/2021/12/08/report-to-congress-on-coast-guard-polar-security-cutter-14