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Red Army in the grey zone: Russia’s greatest threat to the US is ‘less-than-war’

Crispin Burke argues that a credible US military deterrent may encourage Russia use less-than-war measures, including military contractors and cyber power – designed to create plausible deniability and preclude the US from striking back

War & conflict

“Military power is glorified” – Secretary-General wants disarmament restored as ‘integral’ to UN’s work

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres instructed envoy Izumi Nakamitsu to develop a strategy to restore disarmament as an ‘integral component’ of UN work

Afghanistan peace talks?

• Afghan President Ghani lays out plans for peace talks with Taliban
• Taliban calls for direct peace talks with United States
• German citizen arrested with Taliban in Afghanistan

Middle East

Turkey is using refugees to justify attacks on Efrin, Syrian Kurds say

Syrian Kurdish officials, including those opposed to the PYD, say Turkey is using refugees to justify its attacks on the enclave of Afrin and wants to use Operation Olive Branch to change the demographics of the region, Wladimir Van Wilgenburg reports

• Russia vetoes UN draft resolution pressuring Iran over Yemen, China abstains
• Putin orders daily ‘humanitarian pause’ in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta
• Iraqi court sentences 15 women to death for joining ISIS
• Turkey says it struck a ‘terrorist’ convoy in Syria; Kurds say it was civilian
• Turkey says armed unmanned ground vehicles will be used in Efrin operation

Elsewhere

• US airstrike on al-Shabaab in Somalia kills 2 near Jilib, Africom says
• Five Colombian soldiers killed in attack blamed on ELN rebels
• Colombia’s ELN announce new ceasefire during legislative election
• EU to double support for joint Sahel security force with €50 million contribution

Business & technology news

Saab rolls out first GlobalEye early warning aircraft, destined for UAE

Sweden’s Saab rolled out its first Bombardier Global 6000 jet-based GlobalEye swing-role early warning aircraft featuring the new Erieye ER long-range radar

Leonardo SW-4 Solo helicopter flies for 45 minutes with no pilot aboard

Leonardo announced the maiden flight of its SW-4 Solo single-engine optionally piloted helicopter with no safety pilot on board

• Rheinmetall Defense posts 3% sales growth for 2017
• US Air Force orders 570 Small Diameter Bomb II glide bombs from Raytheon
• India conducts 3rd missile test in 4 days – this time it’s a Dhanush missile

Elsewhere

Research: ISIS Child Soldiers in Syria: The Structural and Predatory Recruitment, Enlistment, Pre-Training Indoctrination, Training, and Deployment

Turkey's march on Manbij stalled by wall of reality. https://t.co/sNYVQrQLmG @fehimtastekin

— Aron Lund (@aronlund) February 25, 2018

Only a few months ago, Turkey seemed at great loss in Syria. Now, chips seem to be falling in its favor on multiple fronts. Check out my new analysis, for @CGlobalPolicy:https://t.co/mmvtqYaPYq

— Hassan I. Hassan (@hxhassan) February 28, 2018

The post The Defense Post Digest #2 appeared first on The Defense Post.

In the past week week we looked at Russian private military contractors and U.S. partners in Syria, Egypt’s new offensive in Sinai, civilian deaths in Afghanistan, and the latest S-400 deals.

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An experimental playground: The footprint of Russian private military companies in Syria

The footprint of Russian private military contractors in Syria is significant and has demonstrated the capacity of the Kremlin to apply military pressure abroad without officially deploying regular troops. Ruslan Trad and Dr. Kiril Avramov investigate.

The Manbij Conundrum

Nicholas Heras argues the collapse, or eviction by military force, of the Syrian Democratic Forces from Manbij would have dire consequences for the stability of the SDF, and by extension, the entire US mission to build stability in the wake of the Islamic State in Syria.

War & conflict

No official reports of civilian casualties in Kandahar raid, NATO Afghanistan mission says

Turkey says forces aiding YPG are ‘legitimate targets’ after pro-regime militias enter Efrin

• Lithuania to deploy special operations forces to Afghanistan in NATO train and assist role
• US airstrike against al-Shabaab in Somalia kills 4 near Jamaame, Africom says
• Basque separatist group ETA puts dissolution to vote
• Syrian troops find mass grave west of Raqqa
• US airstrike against al-Shabaab in Somalia kills 4, Africom says
• US, South Korea to set Olympic-delayed drills date in March
• UN draft calls for ‘measures’ over Iranian missiles to Yemen
• Three Egyptian soldiers killed in Sinai campaign
• Record number of Afghan civilian casualties in attacks in 2017, UN says
• US concerns over EU PESCO defense pact cloud NATO talks

Business & technology news

Russia and Saudi Arabia discuss transfer of technology in S-400 missile defense system deal

• BAE profits fall, counts on government defense spending
• India conducts night flight test of Prithvi-II short rage missile, second missile test in 2 days
• US approves $259 million sale of 4 King Air 350ER ISR planes to Kuwait
• US approves sale of missile launching systems for Finland’s new corvettes
• US approves upgrades worth $1.2 billion to Netherlands AH-64 Apache fleet
• Kuwait request for 15 fast patrol boats approved by US
• Sikorsky begins final assembly of first HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter
• Brazil receives first of 4 Scorpene submarines from Naval Group
• India tests Agni-II medium range nuclear-capable ballistic missile
• Nigerian Air Force inducts Tsaigumi, first operational indigenous ISR drone
• Israel and US successfully flight test Arrow-3 anti-ballistic missile system
• Russia’s Mikoyan says MiG-35 multi-role fighter jet completes factory trials
• Russia and Indonesia finalize Su-35 contract
• UK submits final offer for 34 Eurofighter Typhoons to Belgium
• India to procure more than 745,000 rifles and machine guns

Book Review: Losing an Enemy: Obama, Iran, and the Triumph of Diplomacy

The book “Losing an Enemy” by Trita Parsi provides a definitive historical narrative to the JCPOA and an understanding of what is at stake in the struggle for the agreement’s survival.

Trump’s nuclear posture destabilizes, while disrespecting legacies of environmental injustice

Trump’s 2018 Nuclear Posture Review is destabilizing and affects native and other American communities that were environmentally damaged for uranium production, argues Stephanie A. Malin

Elsewhere

The Factory: A Glimpse Into Syria's War Economy.https://t.co/i6urpuGZ8h
My new report on how the world's biggest cement company tried to survive in Syria by making deals with the regime, rebels, Kurds, and the Islamic State, all at once—and what it tells us about Syria's future. pic.twitter.com/2oGTAuDze3

— Aron Lund (@aronlund) February 21, 2018

Know your #AnsarDine from your #BokoHaram: @fabienoff with a who’s who of insurgent groups in the #Sahel: https://t.co/7oYgsrHZLx @OSIWA1 pic.twitter.com/9BMAXVWEUl

— The New Humanitarian (@newhumanitarian) February 20, 2018

How al-Qa`ida Lost Control of its Syrian Affiliate: The Inside Story by @Charles_Lister https://t.co/GICxDWMcAj pic.twitter.com/mf1F9rMKAn

— CTC at West Point (@CTCWP) February 15, 2018

The post The Defense Post Digest #1 appeared first on The Defense Post.