A collection of The Defense Post’s recent favorites from around the site and around the web.
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