Af/Pak & Other News (4/30/2021)

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EXPLAINER: What remains as US ends Afghan ‘forever war’

https://apnews.com/article/al-qaida-united-nations-joe-biden-afghanistan-dc7971bffe086d006124e4d2e2ad5619



Al Qaeda promises 'war on all fronts' against America as Biden pulls out of Afghanistan

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/30/asia/al-qaeda-afghanistan-biden-intl-cmd/index.html



Car bomb kills at least 30 in Afghanistan's eastern Logar province

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/blast-kills-27-people-afghanistans-eastern-logar-province-local-official-2021-04-30/



German Military Wraps up Training Mission in Afghanistan Ahead of Withdrawal

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-04-30/german-military-wraps-up-training-mission-in-afghanistan-ahead-of-withdrawal



‘Insider Attacks’ on Afghan Forces Increased by 82%, US Agency Reports

https://www.voanews.com/south-central-asia/insider-attacks-afghan-forces-increased-82-us-agency-reports



'Don't leave us behind', Afghan interpreters urge US

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210430-don-t-leave-us-behind-afghan-interpreters-urge-us



As U.S. Prepared Exit, Taliban Protected Foreign Bases, but Killed Afghans

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-04-30/exclusive-as-us-prepared-exit-taliban-protected-foreign-bases-but-killed-afghans



Mapping the Afghan war, while murky, points to Taliban gains

https://apnews.com/article/taliban-middle-east-3ef479b1de676f00dd16dc8dcf6f4d0e









Indian army would like to acquire 350 light tanks weighing less than 25 tons

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_april_2021_global_security_army_industry/indian_army_would_like_to_acquire_350_light_tanks_weighing_less_than_25_tons.html



India’s Advanced Light Helicopter Demos Deck Ops in Ship-Borne Trials

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29469/India___s_Advanced_Light_Helicopter_Demos_Deck_Ops_in_Ship_Borne_Trials









Iran’s Air Force Still Not Likely To Acquire New Fighters Anytime Soon

https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauliddon/2021/04/30/irans-air-force-still-not-likely-to-acquire-new-fighters-anytime-soon/



Iran seeks tech in Sweden for nuclear weapons - Swedish intel. report

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/iran-seeks-tech-in-sweden-for-nuclear-weapons-swedish-intel-report-666792



Iran leaked tape scandal claims its first victim

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/04/iran-leaked-tape-scandal-claims-its-first-victim









Erdogan riles critics, Russia with 'crazy' new canal

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210430-erdogan-riles-critics-russia-with-crazy-new-canal



Turkey converts Simsek training system into a kamikaze drone

https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2021/04/30/turkey-converts-simsek-training-system-into-a-kamikaze-drone/



Turkish companies announce ASW variant of ULAQ USCV

https://navalpost.com/turkish-defence-companies-announce-asw-variant-of-ulaq-uscv/









Gunfight at Syrian checkpoint leads to charges against sergeant first class

https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2021/04/29/gunfight-at-syrian-checkpoint-leads-to-charges-against-sergeant-first-class/









Israel: Extreme Mortar Precision

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htart/articles/20210430.aspx



Israeli veterans say Iron Dome’s radar causes cancer

http://alert5.com/2021/04/30/israeli-veterans-say-iron-domes-radar-causes-cancer/









Sudan Reportedly Suspends Planned Russian Naval Base in Red Sea

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/04/30/sudan-reportedly-suspends-russia-naval-base/




Will Total confront another Islamic State-linked insurgency in Uganda?

https://issafrica.org/iss-today/will-total-confront-another-islamic-state-linked-insurgency-in-uganda




Chad army in fresh clashes with rebels, hundreds quizzed over protests

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20210430-chad-army-in-fresh-clashes-with-rebels-hundreds-quizzed-over-protests




Jihadist Raid On Mozambique's Palma Forced 30,000 To Flee: UN

https://www.barrons.com/news/jihadist-raid-on-mozambique-s-palma-forced-30-000-to-flee-un-01619785217




China’s Belt and Road Initiative invests in African infrastructure — and African military and police forces

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-s-belt-and-road-initiative-invests-in-african-infrastructure-and-african-military-and-police-forces/ar-BB1gdmZX









On the front lines in Ukraine as Russia tests Biden’s foreign policy

https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/on-the-front-lines-in-ukraine-as-russia-tests-biden-s-foreign-policy-111083077523



Russian cruiser Moskva successfully fired Vulkan missile for first time

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2021/april/10076-russian-cruiser-moskva-successfully-fired-vulkan-missile-for-first-time.html



Russia's New Submarine Belgorod Out Of The Water

http://www.hisutton.com/Belgorod-Submarine-Out-Of-Water.html



Inside Russia’s Robot Army: Rhetoric vs. Reality

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/04/inside-russias-robot-army-rhetoric-vs-reality/



Pro-Kremlin Propaganda Says FSB Busted Neo-Nazi Terror Plot in 9 Cities

https://www.thedailybeast.com/kremlin-claims-it-busted-neo-nazi-terror-plot-in-9-cities



Before SolarWinds, US officials say SVR began stealthily targeting cloud services in 2018

https://www.cyberscoop.com/solarwinds-svr-fbi-russia/



First, Russia came for Navalny, then his people and organizations. Now, his lawyer has been arrested.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/first-russia-came-for-navalny-then-his-people-and-organizations-now-his-lawyer-has-been-arrested/ar-BB1gcVvL





Kyrgyzstan says several killed, thousands displaced in Tajikistan border clash

https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210430-kyrgyzstan-says-a-dozen-killed-thousands-displaced-after-tajikistan-border-clash



Kyrgyzstan agrees to a Ceasefire with Tajikistan after Violent Altercations

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29476/Kyrgyzstan_agrees_to_a_Ceasefire_with_Tajikistan_after_Violent_Altercations




Saab includes 64 Gripens and GlobalEye pair in best and final offer for Finnish HX contest

https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/saab-includes-64-gripens-and-globaleye-pair-in-best-and-final-offer-for-finnish-hx-contest/143551.article




The Iniochos military exercise in Greece is bad news for Iran

https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2021/04/30/the-iniochos-military-exercise-in-greece-is-bad-news-for-iran/




French sci-fi writers set out to ‘scare’ the military establishment

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/04/30/french-sci-fi-writers-set-out-to-scare-the-military-establishment/









China nuclear buildup faster than expected, U.S. now believes

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/apr/29/china-nuclear-buildup-faster-expected-us-now-belie/



Suspected Chinese hackers are breaking into nearby military targets

https://www.cyberscoop.com/chinese-military-hackers-naikon-bitdefender-military/



China 'confident' in ability to block Taiwan independence, Beijing says

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/04/30/china-China-Taiwan-independence-block-foreign-ministry/4631619794639/



JF-17 fighter jet gets J-20’s combat missile: reports

https://dailytimes.com.pk/750868/jf-17-fighter-jet-gets-j-20s-combat-missile-reports/



Remembering The Time Grumman Helped Craft A Modern Fighter For China

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40396/the-u-s-once-helped-china-develop-a-modern-jet-fighter



China Condemns 'Vile' U.S. Warship for Disrupting Navy Exercise

https://www.newsweek.com/china-decries-vile-us-warship-disrupting-navy-exercise-1587452





Taiwan to get more Patriot missiles for its air defense

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_april_2021_global_security_army_industry/taiwan_to_get_more_patriot_missiles_for_its_air_defense.html



An Asymmetric Defense of Taiwan

https://nationalinterest.org/feature/asymmetric-defense-taiwan-183886





As Chinese Maritime Threat Looms, Philippines, US Discuss Saving Deal Manila Once Scrapped

https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/chinese-maritime-threat-looms-philippines-us-discuss-saving-deal-manila-once





North Korea defectors defy South to launch anti-Kim leaflets

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210430-north-korea-defectors-defy-south-to-launch-anti-kim-leaflets





Indonesia's sunken submarine may have been hit by a powerful force known as an internal wave

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-30/indonesian-submarine-may-have-been-hit-by-internal-wave/100102816



Indonesia says it will salvage submarine that sank off Bali

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/30/indonesia-to-salvage-sunken-submarine-amid-relatives-mourning



Indonesian consortium launches ‘tank boat' prototype

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/indonesian-consortium-launches-tank-boat-prototype










Pentagon whistleblower warns of UFO intelligence failure on ‘level of 9/11’

https://nypost.com/2021/04/30/pentagon-whistleblower-warns-of-ufo-intelligence-failure-on-par-with-9-11/



A Navy admiral was fired after getting drunk and walking naked through a hotel

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/navy-admiral-fired-drunk-hotel/



Retired Generals and Service Chiefs Launch 'Operation Protect Democracy' in Wake of Capitol Attack

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/04/after-capitol-attack-retired-generals-and-service-chiefs-launch-new-mission-operation-protect-democracy/173711/



New Fires Technology Destabilizes Boundaries Between Warfighting Communities

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2021/04/29/new-fires-technology-destabilizes-boundaries-between-warfighting-communities/



NSA warns defense contractors to double check connections in light of Russian hacking

https://www.cyberscoop.com/nsa-warns-defense-contractors-operational-technology-connections-russia-solarwinds/



Rust Reveals All

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htmoral/articles/20210430.aspx



Does Spending Nearly $18B On A Few Dozen New ICBM Interceptors Even Make Sense Strategically?

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40381/does-spending-nearly-18b-on-a-few-dozen-new-icbm-interceptors-even-make-sense-strategically



Solar Power Sats Help Drive DoD Deep Space Push

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/04/solar-power-sats-help-drive-dod-deep-space-push/



Watchdog expresses concern over using US Navy interceptor for homeland missile defense

https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2021/04/29/congressional-watchdog-concerned-over-using-us-navy-interceptor-for-homeland-missile-defense/



U.S. Patriot, THAAD Missile Systems Integration Tests Failed

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29477/U_S__Patriot__THAAD_Missile_Systems_Integration_Tests_Failed



Army Holding Tech Demos Using Jet-Powered Spy Plane

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/4/29/just-in-army-holding-tech-demos-for-new-spy-plane



US Marine Corps 60th KC-130J comes with capability upgrade

https://airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/april/7269-us-marine-corps-60th-kc-130j-comes-with-capability-upgrade.html



The Marines' New Unmanned Ship Killing Missile Launcher Truck Breaks Cover

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40390/the-marines-new-unmanned-ship-killing-missile-launcher-truck-breaks-cover



Report: U.S. seeking improvements to THAAD systems, including Korea

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/04/30/South-Korea-THAAD-US-upgrade/7151619786084/



Brand-New F-15EX to Participate in Northern Edge Exercise, JADC2 Experiments

https://www.airforcemag.com/brand-new-f-15ex-to-participate-in-northern-edge-exercise-jadc2-experiments/



U.S. Navy Destroys Target With Drone Swarm — And Sends A Message To China

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/04/30/us-navy-destroys-target-with-drone-swarm---and-sends-a-message-to-china/



The Navy’s saddest fast-attack sub will finally get the tender loving maintenance it needs

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2021/04/29/the-navys-saddest-fast-attack-sub-will-finally-get-the-tender-loving-maintenance-it-needs/



Navy Unveils Surprise Plan For Littoral Combat Ships

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/04/navy-unveils-surprise-plan-for-littoral-combat-ships/



Despite littoral combat ship’s myriad issues, the CNO is ‘bullish’ on their future

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2021/04/29/despite-littoral-combat-ships-myriad-issues-the-cno-is-bullish-on-their-future/



The U.S. Navy’s Robotic Missile Strike Was A High-Tech Show—For Lawmakers And Rival Fleets

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/04/30/the-us-navys-robotic-missile-strike-was-a-high-tech-show-for-lawmakers-and-rival-fleets/