Af/Pak & Other News (12/5/2020)

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What’s Russia’s Aim in Afghanistan?

https://thediplomat.com/2020/12/whats-russias-aim-in-afghanistan/



Congress Moves to Block US Troop Withdrawal from Afghanistan and Germany

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/12/05/congress-moves-block-us-troop-withdrawal-afghanistan-and-germany.html



‘Modicum of success’ is the new ‘Mission Accomplished’ for Afghanistan

https://taskandpurpose.com/analysis/modicum-of-success-is-the-new-mission-accomplished-for-afghanistan/



Suhaila Siddiq, Afghanistan’s First Female General, Is Dead

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/05/world/asia/suhaila-siddiq-dead.html



Operational Memory: Why We Stayed in Afghanistan for 20 Years

https://sofrep.com/news/operational-memory-why-we-stayed-in-afghanistan-for-20-years/









Iran Supreme Leader Khamenei hands power to son due to health – report

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-supreme-leader-khamenei-hands-power-to-son-due-to-health-report-651268



Fakhrizadeh’s sons say he was shot 4-5 times, warned against travel before hit

https://www.timesofisrael.com/fakhrizadehs-sons-say-he-was-shot-4-5-times-warned-against-travel-ahead-of-hit/



Biggest Iranian Flotilla Yet En Route to Venezuela With Fuel

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-05/biggest-iranian-flotilla-yet-en-route-to-venezuela-with-fuel



Iran-Israel: can the low-intensity conflict turn into open war?

https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/46898









Muqtada al-Sadr may be preparing a bid to be Iraq’s next prime minister

https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/12/muqtada-sadr-iraq-premiership.html









Cargo Ship Attacked off Yemen Under Unclear Circumstances

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/12/05/cargo-ship-attacked-off-yemen-under-unclear-circumstances.html




Russian Journalists Held in Turkey for Filming Near Baykar Drone Facility

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/28471/Russian_Journalists_Held_in_Turkey_for_Filming_Near_Baykar_Drone_Facility









Fighting Attrition: A Look Inside a Damascus Armour Repair Facility

https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/08/a-look-inside-damascus-armour-repair.html



Inside the Rebel Wave of Smash N’ Grab Raids That Plagued Idlib

https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/09/inside-rebel-wave-of-smash-n-grab-raids.html









U.S. to withdraw most troops from Somalia by 'early 2021'

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2020/12/04/US-to-withdraw-most-troops-from-Somalia-by-early-2021/4501607119956/



U.S. decision to withdraw troops dismays some Somalis

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-somalia-reaction/u-s-decision-to-withdraw-troops-dismays-some-somalis-idUSKBN28F075




Nigeria Flies Again

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htproc/articles/20201205.aspx




Military officer elected head of Mali's interim legislature

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20201205-military-officer-elected-head-of-mali-s-interim-legislature




Fighting flares in Ethiopia's Tigray as army says closing in on rebellious force

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-conflict/fighting-flares-in-ethiopias-tigray-as-army-says-closing-in-on-rebellious-force-idUSKBN28F0QS




Sudanese Military Enters Disputed Lands Neighboring Tigray Region

https://www.voanews.com/africa/sudanese-military-enters-disputed-lands-neighboring-tigray-region









Ukrainian Air Defense to Train to Intercept American MQ-9 Reapers

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/28474/Ukrainian_Air_Defense_to_Train_to_Intercept_American_MQ_9_Reapers



Ukrainian Camel 4x4 UGV has successfully passed a series of trial qualification tests

https://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/ukrainian_camel_4x4_ugv_has_successfully_passed_a_series_of_trial_qualification_tests.html



Russia's Mercenary Army, Wagner PMC, Exposed in Rare Interview

https://sofrep.com/news/russias-mercenary-army-wagner-pmc-exposed-in-rare-interview/



Russia to Soon Develop Unmanned Helo-Radar Complex to Defeat Enemy Drones

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/28475/Russia_to_Soon_Develop_Unmanned_Helo_Radar_Complex_to_Defeat_Enemy_Drones



Russian “Terminator” Vehicles Are Neat but Unnecessary

https://sofrep.com/news/russian-terminator-vehicles-are-neat-but-unnecessary/



Moscow opens dozens of coronavirus vaccination centers

https://apnews.com/article/international-news-immunizations-moscow-coronavirus-pandemic-vladimir-putin-a814654e46118a8698eb815a4bdad343




Transnistria: The Victory Day Parade That Everyone Forgot

https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/09/transnistria-shows-off-military.html




Royal Navy flagship HMS Albion wraps up experimental mission

https://defbrief.com/2020/12/05/royal-navy-flagship-hm-albion-wraps-up-experimental-mission/



Britain's MoD in talks to control steelmaker for nuclear submarines

https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-defence-steel/britains-mod-in-talks-to-control-steelmaker-for-nuclear-submarines-sky-news-idUSKBN28F0IL



British warships monitor ‘significant Russian presence’ near UK waters

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-warships-monitor-significant-russian-presence-near-uk-waters/



Britain to send aircraft carrier strike group to waters near Japan

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/12/6641c518ff97-britain-to-send-aircraft-carrier-strike-group-to-waters-near-japan.html









South China Sea: how a Spratlys radar system could give the PLA an information edge

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3112402/south-china-sea-how-spratlys-radar-system-could-give-pla



Fresh images of Chinese Navy (PLAN) Type-003 Aircraft Carrier

http://www.hisutton.com/Chinese-Navy-Type-003-Aircraft-Carrier-2020-12.html



China unfurls its first fabric flag on moon

https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2020/12/04/China-unfurls-its-first-fabric-flag-on-moon/1601607109571/



How China Is Buying Up the West’s High-Tech Sector

https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/12/03/how-china-is-buying-up-the-wests-high-tech-sector/



Beijing’s South China Sea military bases ‘are vulnerable to attack and will be of little use in a war’

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3112419/beijings-south-china-sea-military-bases-are-vulnerable-attack





Philippines: Under Pressure on Shore, Abu Sayyaf May Increase Reliance on the Sea

https://thediplomat.com/2020/12/under-pressure-on-shore-abu-sayyaf-may-increase-reliance-on-the-sea/





Japanese space capsule carrying pristine asteroid samples lands in Australia

https://www.space.com/japan-hayabusa2-asteroid-samples-land-australia










Pentagon responds to release of photograph taken by Navy pilot showing an unidentified object

https://www.mypanhandle.com/news/military/pentagon-responds-to-release-of-photograph-taken-by-navy-pilot-showing-an-unidentified-object/



Former President Barack Obama Answers Questions on the Existence of UFOs and Aliens

https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2020/12/former-president-barack-obama-answers-questions-on-the-existence-of-ufos-and-aliens/



'Havana Syndrome' likely caused by pulsed microwave energy, government study finds

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/havana-syndrome-likely-caused-microwave-energy-government-study-finds-n1250094



The Trump administration blocked Biden and his transition team from meeting with Pentagon-controlled intelligence agencies

https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-admin-blocks-biden-transition-team-from-meeting-pentagon-spies-2020-12



After Spike in Deaths, Lost Aircraft, Aviation Commission Calls for New Safety Council

https://news.usni.org/2020/12/04/after-spike-in-deaths-lost-aircraft-aviation-commission-calls-for-new-safety-council



This Relatively Young Military Sealift Command Ship Is Absolutely Caked In Rust

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/37977/check-out-this-military-sealift-command-supply-ship-that-is-absolutely-draped-in-rust



‘Marine One’ replacement frequenting Washington, D.C. skies

https://verticalmag.com/news/marine-one-replacement-frequenting-washington-dc-skies/



‘Artificial Skin’ May One Day Make Troops Invisible, Even to Heat Sensors

https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2020/12/artificial-skin-may-one-day-make-troops-invisible-even-heat-sensors/170523/



Space Balloon Company Will Soon Conduct Its First Test Flight

https://www.thedebrief.org/space-balloon-company-will-soon-conduct-its-first-test-flight/



General Atomics Avenger Drone Flew An Autonomous Air-To-Air Mission Using An AI Brain

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/37973/general-atomics-avenger-drone-flew-an-autonomous-air-to-air-mission-using-an-ai-brain



Congress hits fast-forward to field new capability to counter drones

https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2020/12/04/congress-hits-fast-forward-to-field-new-capability-to-counter-drone-threats/



Citing littoral combat ship failures, Congress pushes the US Navy to get FFG(X) right

https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2020/12/04/citing-littoral-combat-ship-failures-congress-pushes-the-us-navy-to-get-ffgx-right/