Global defense news, analysis and opinion

Afghan President Ghani lays out plans for peace talks with Taliban

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani unveiled plans for a possible peace settlement with the Taliban that are hoped to end decades of violence.

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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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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

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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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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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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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“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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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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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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Iraqi court sentences 15 women to death for joining ISIS

An Iraqi criminal court sentenced 15 Turkish women to death for joining Islamic State and one to life in prison, a judiciary spokesperson said

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