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Americas
Five Colombian soldiers killed in suspected ELN rebel attack
Bogota (AFP) – Five Colombian soldiers were killed and 10 others wounded in a bomb attack near the Venezuelan border blamed on National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas, the head of the army said Tuesday. The attack comes a day after the ELN announced a temporary ceasefire to coincide with next month’s legislative elections. Army General Ricardo Gomez said the soldiers were on highway security duty in a rural area near Tibu, in the Norte de Santander department, when a blast hit the first vehicle of their convoy. “We have five of our men assassinated and 10 wounded,” Gomez told W Radio station, blaming ELN guerrillas active in the region. The survivors have been hospitalized, one of them in serious condition, Gomez said. “Absolute repudiation of the cowardly attack against our heroes,” tweeted President Juan Manuel Santos, vowing to “go after those responsible” – without mentioning the ELN by name. Stalled peace talks The ELN, which took up arms in 1964, began peace talks with the Colombian government a year ago in the Ecuadoran capital Quito. Talks however broke down in January. Santos is hoping to reach a peace deal with the 1,500-strong rebel force similar to the one he struck …
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Africa
US airstrike on al-Shabaab in Somalia kills 2 near Jilib, Africom says
An airstrike targeting al-Qaeda affiliate al-Shabaab in Somalia killed two fighters and injured a third on February 26, the U.S. military’s Africa Command said.
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Asia Pacific
Afghanistan: Taliban calls for direct peace talks with United States
The Taliban has called for direct talks with the United States to find a "peaceful solution" to the conflict in Afghanistan which it said "has been imposed upon us"
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Middle East
Russia vetoes UN draft resolution pressuring Iran over Yemen, China abstains
Russia vetoed a UN draft resolution presented by the UK that would have pressured Iran over its failure to block supplies of missiles to Yemen's Houthi rebels
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Peace
“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
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Middle East
Putin orders daily ‘humanitarian pause’ in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a daily 5-hour "humanitarian pause" in air strikes on the rebel-held Syrian enclave of Eastern Ghouta beginning on Tuesday, Russia's Minister of Defence Sergey Shoygu said
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Americas
Colombia’s ELN announce new ceasefire during legislative election
Colombia's ELN rebels, whose peace talks with the government have been suspended since the end of January, announced on Monday a temporary ceasefire during next month's legislative elections
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Digest
The Defense Post Digest #1
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. To get the Digest in your Inbox, subscribe to our mailing list at the bottom of this post. 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 …
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Africa
US airstrike against al-Shabaab in Somalia kills 4 near Jamaame, Africom says
An airstrike targeting al-Qaeda affiliate al-Shabaab in Somalia killed four fighters on February 21, the U.S. military’s Africa Command said.
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Business
BAE profits fall, counts on government defense spending
British military equipment manufacturer BAE Systems announced a drop in annual net profit on Thursday but said it expected government defense spending to remain a priority.
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