Af/Pak & Other News (4/28/2017)

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Visit at Ground Zero – From the MOAB Attack Site in Afghanistan:

http://defense-update.com/20170427_moab_post_strike.html



Taliban announce spring offensive, vow to build institutions:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_AFGHANISTAN_TALIBAN_OFFENSIVE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT



Taliban announces start of ‘Operation Mansouri’:

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/04/taliban-announce-start-of-operation-mansouri.php



Former Afghan Warlord Hekmatyar Holds First Meetings With Government Since Peace
Deal:

http://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-hekmatyar-warlord-peace-deal-ghani-/28457340.html



Suspected U.S. drone strike targets Pakistani Taliban militants: sources:

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-drones-idUSKBN17T1Y6



Rangers Reject DoD Claim Of ‘Friendly Fire’ In Afghanistan Deaths:

http://taskandpurpose.com/rangers-reject-pentagon-friendly-fire-afghanistan/



What Does the Surrender of a Pakistani Taliban Spokesperson Really Mean?:

http://thediplomat.com/2017/04/what-does-the-surrender-of-a-pakistani-taliban-spokesperson-really-mean/



Afghanistan’s terrorist resurgence: Al Qaeda, ISIS, and beyond:

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/04/afghanistans-terrorist-resurgence-al-qaeda-isis-and-beyond.php









India test-fires Agni-III intermediate-range ballistic missile:

http://www.army-technology.com/news/newsindia-test-fires-agni-iii-intermediate-range-ballistic-missile-5800031









The nuclear deal takes center stage as Iran’s election campaign gets underway:

https://sofrep.com/80149/nuclear-deal-takes-center-stage-irans-election-campaign-gets-underway/









Iraqi Militias Find Relics Destroyed by IS in Ancient Town:

http://www.voanews.com/a/iraqi-militias-find-relics-destroyed-ancient-town/3828751.html



Iraq: Proving Ground For Multi-Domain Battle:

http://breakingdefense.com/2017/04/iraq-proving-ground-for-multi-domain-battle/



War in Iraq: ISIS Dressed As Soldiers To Slaughter Civilians And Troops:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/war-iraq-isis-dressed-soldiers-154214852.html



Iraq and Syria Team Up to Take on the Islamic State; Baghdad's war strategy is
becoming increasingly independent of the United States:

http://warisboring.com/iraq-and-syria-team-up-to-take-on-the-islamic-state/









In Yemen conflict, a window into deepening U.S.-Gulf ties:

https://sofrep.com/80145/yemen-conflict-window-deepening-u-s-gulf-ties/



Elevated threat to marine hulls, cargo, and port infrastructure in Saudi
Arabia's Jizan province from Yemen-based insurgents:

http://www.janes.com/article/69942/elevated-threat-to-marine-hulls-cargo-and-port-infrastructure-in-saudi-arabia-s-jizan-province-from-yemen-based-insurgents









Syria: ISIL Gets By With A Little Help From Its Enemies:

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/syria/articles/20170428.aspx



Suspicious Iranian flights spotted in Syria ahead of missile strike:

http://www.timesofisrael.com/suspicious-iranian-flights-spied-in-syria-ahead-of-missile-strike/



Islamic State battles rival jihadists for control of Yarmouk camp in southern
Damascus:

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/04/islamic-state-battles-rival-jihadists-for-control-of-yarmouk-camp-in-southern-damascus.php



Syria may have used chemical weapons up to 45 times:

http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-chemical-weapons-allegedly-used-45-times-in-syria-opcw-chief-2017-4



Did Moscow Green-Light an Israeli Attack in Syria?:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/04/27/did-moscow-green-light-an-israeli-attack-in-syria









Israel’s F-35s may have already flown a combat mission against Russian air
defenses in Syria:

https://sofrep.com/80147/israels-f-35s-may-already-flown-combat-mission-russian-air-defenses-syria/



Israeli missile downs Syrian drone over Golan Heights:

http://www.timesofisrael.com/patriot-missile-intercepts-drone-over-golan-heights/









Libya lacks plan to prevent more migrants crossing to Europe: EU officials:

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-migrants-libya-idUSKBN17T1JF



Libya captures two oil-smuggling tankers after firefight:

http://news.trust.org/item/20170428183030-uz5b1/




More details emerge on SA Navy’s new riverine patrol boats:

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47625:more-details-emerge-on-sa-navys-new-riverine-patrol-boats&catid=51:Sea&Itemid=106










Russia seeks arrest of former Ukraine prime minister:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_UKRAINE_RUSSIA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-04-28-13-52-14



Russia's PAK DA next-generation bomber not to fly before 2025:

http://airrecognition.com/index.php/archive-world-worldwide-news-air-force-aviation-aerospace-air-military-defence-industry/global-defense-security-news/global-news-2017/april/3434-russia-s-pak-da-next-generation-bomber-not-to-fly-before-2025.html



Russian Nuclear Weapons Policy:

http://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2017/04/28/russian_nuclear_weapons_policy_111261.html



Russia, India Sign Contract on Production of 200 Ka-26 Helicopters:

https://sputniknews.com/military/201704271053085383-russia-india-ka-226-choppers/



Russian Navy to commission Project 09852 KS-139 Belgorod special mission
submarine in 2018:

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2017/april-2017-navy-naval-forces-defense-industry-technology-maritime-security-global-news/5153-russian-navy-to-commission-project-09852-belgorod-special-nuclear-powered-submarine-in-2018.html



Here’s the Evidence Linking Russia to the French Election Hack:

http://warisboring.com/heres-the-evidence-linking-russia-to-the-french-election-hack/



Inside Russia’s Fake News Playbook:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/04/27/inside-russia-s-fake-news-playbook



Council Of Europe Says Russia, Iran Abusing Interpol For Political Purposes:

http://www.rferl.org/a/interpol-res-notcies-abused-russia-iran/28453825.html



Freighter Full of Sheep Accidentally Sinks Russian Spy Ship:

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/9753/freighter-full-of-sheep-accidentally-sinks-russian-spy-ship



Sinking of Surveillance Ship Highlights Increase in Russian Navy Operations:

https://news.usni.org/2017/04/27/loss-surveillance-ship-highlights-increase-russian-navy-operations



Moscow political activist hospitalized after chemical attack:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_RUSSIA_OPPOSITION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT




Azerbaijan receives upgraded Buk systems equipped with Russian interceptors:

http://www.janes.com/article/69953/azerbaijan-receives-upgraded-buk-systems-equipped-with-russian-interceptors




US Air Force deploys 12 F-15C Eagle fighter jets to Bulgaria:

http://airrecognition.com/index.php/archive-world-worldwide-news-air-force-aviation-aerospace-air-military-defence-industry/global-defense-security-news/global-news-2017/april/3435-us-air-force-deploys-12-f-15c-eagle-fighter-jets-to-bulgaria.html




Montenegro Ratifies Pact On NATO Membership:

http://www.rferl.org/a/montenegro-parliament-nato-membership-vote/28457280.html




Russia blames the U.S. after protesters storm Macedonia’s parliament:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/04/28/russia-blames-the-u-s-after-protesters-storm-macedonias-parliament/?utm_term=.45ac9d59d159



Nationalists' storming of parliament likely to lead to inter-ethnic scuffles and
vandalism to buildings in Skopje and northwestern FYR Macedonia:

http://www.janes.com/article/69944/nationalists-storming-of-parliament-likely-to-lead-to-inter-ethnic-scuffles-and-vandalism-to-buildings-in-skopje-and-northwestern-fyr-macedonia




German officer disguised himself as refugee for terrorist attack, investigators
say:

https://www.dawn.com/news/1329796/german-officer-disguised-himself-as-refugee-for-terrorist-attack-investigators-say




Police Say They Have Foiled A Terror Plot In London After A Woman Was Shot By
Officers:

https://www.buzzfeed.com/rosebuchanan/police-say-they-have-foiled-a-terror-plot-in-london-after-a?utm_term=.ks6P6J60q#.pk9n5A5xv



Dual Meteor Missile Firing Marks Major Milestone for Eurofighter Typhoon:

http://www.defencetalk.com/dual-meteor-missile-firing-marks-major-milestone-for-eurofighter-typhoon-69841/



Nuclear submarine Audacious rolled out from Barrow shipyard:

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-39746514




France Turned the B-26 Invader Into a Colonial Night Fighter:

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/9767/france-turned-the-b-26-invader-into-a-colonial-night-fighter









Indonesia, Philippines boost links, to launch sea patrols:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_PHILIPPINES_INDONESIA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT





China, Russia agree to cooperate on North Korea denuclearization:

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2017/04/28/China-Russia-agree-to-cooperate-on-North-Korea-denuclearization/1741493398420/?utm_source=sec&utm_campaign=sl&utm_medium=4



Whoops: Chinese Navy Promotional Poster Accidentally Depicts U.S. Ships; The
poster, meant to celebrate China's navy, was riddled with insulting errors.:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-ships/a26246/us-navy-chinese-navy-promotional-poster/



China On Track To Reach Parity With U.S. In Pacific:

http://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2017/04/28/china_on_track_to_reach_parity_with_us_in_pacific_111268.html



China Warned North Korea Not To Test Another Nuclear Weapon:

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/china-warned-north-korea-not-test-another-nuclear-weapon-20386





Taiwan's plan to buy F-35 fighter jets riles China:

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2017/04/28/Taiwans-plan-to-buy-F-35-fighter-jets-riles-China/8691493405302/





U.S. says 'major conflict' with North Korea possible, China warns of escalation:

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-usa-idUSKBN17T0AW



US pushes 'enhanced deterrence' approach to North Korea:

https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/us-pushes-enhanced-deterrence-approach-to-north-korea



Trump Raised Prospect of a North Korea Strike with U.N. Envoys, But Said He
Wants to Avoid a Fight:

http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/04/27/trump-raised-prospect-of-a-north-korea-strike-with-u-n-envoys-but-said-he-wants-to-avoid-a-fight/



Trump on North Korea: Tactic? ‘Madman Theory’? Or Just Mixed Messages?:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/28/world/asia/trump-kim-jong-un-north-korean.html





AP FACT CHECK: US anti-missile system in S. Korea has limits:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_KOREAS_TENSION_FACT_CHECK?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2017-04-28-03-53-29



Trump's demand Seoul pay for THAAD will test ties as Moon presidency looms:

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-southkorea-analysis-idUSKBN17U13O



HHIC lays keel for South Korea's second helicopter carrier:

http://www.janes.com/article/69949/hhic-lays-keel-for-south-korea-s-second-helicopter-carrier











U.S. Eavesdropping Program Goes Silent:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/04/21/u-s-eavesdropping-program-goes-silent



Panel to Senate: Cyber Operations Influence Political Processes Worldwide:

https://news.usni.org/2017/04/28/panel-senate-cyber-operations-influence-political-processes-worldwide



Navy Cruiser Battling ISIS Rocked By Salacious Sex Scandal At Sea:

http://taskandpurpose.com/navy-cruiser-battling-isis-rocked-salacious-sex-scandal-sea/



The Pentagon Is Investigating Michael Flynn, Who Was Warned To Report Russian
Payments:

https://www.buzzfeed.com/emmaloop/trumps-former-national-security-adviser-is-under-yet?utm_term=.vmPyElEoB#.jlqNK7Knd



Under Trump, use of contractors in war zone diminishing:

https://sofrep.com/80092/trump-use-contractors-war-zone-diminishing/



Congressman says North Korea could smuggle a nuke into the US in a bale of
marijuana:

http://www.businessinsider.com/brad-sherman-north-korea-marijuana-congressman-2017-4



The U.S. Navy is designing safer batteries, because no one wants a fire at sea:

http://www.popsci.com/us-navy-is-designing-safer-batteries-because-no-one-wants-fire-at-sea



US Navy's Enterprise Air Surveillance Radar Completes Major Design Review:

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2017/april-2017-navy-naval-forces-defense-industry-technology-maritime-security-global-news/5152-us-navy-s-enterprise-air-surveillance-radar-completes-major-design-review.html



Armed reconnaissance still biggest gap in US Army aviation:

http://www.defensenews.com/articles/armed-reconnaissance-still-biggest-gap-in-army-aviation



Air Force Releases Causes Of Recent B-52 And U-2 Crashes:

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/9761/air-force-releases-causes-of-recent-b-52-and-u-2-crashes



Breathless Pilots Are Angry:

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htcbtsp/articles/20170428.aspx



PACOM: U.S. Should Renegotiate INF Missile Treaty to Better Compete with China:

https://news.usni.org/2017/04/27/pacom-u-s-should-renegotiate-inf-treaty-that-limits-conventional-mid-range-missiles



America Is Dropping So Many Bombs That We're Literally Running Out:

http://gizmodo.com/america-is-dropping-so-many-bombs-on-isis-that-were-lit-1794736697



The Marine Corps is testing a machine-gun wielding robot controlled with just a
tablet and a joystick:

http://www.businessinsider.com/marines-corps-machine-gun-wielding-robot-controlled-by-tablet-2017-4



The Navy Begins Ship Activation for its Stealthy New Destroyer - the USS
Zumwalt:

http://www.scout.com/military/warrior/story/1671585-zumwalt-navy-begins-weapons-tech-activation



The F-35 Just Got $1.7 Billion More Expensive; Cost to finish production rises
again:

http://warisboring.com/the-f-35-just-got-1-7-billion-more-expensive/