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