News Report: Mattis Says US 'Not Quitting Fight' in Afghanistan

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis

William Gallo

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN — During a visit to Kabul Wednesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the U.S., with its new strategy for breaking the deadlock with Taliban insurgents, is not going to give up the fight in Afghanistan.

"With our new conditions-based south Asia strategy we will be better postured to support [Afghanistan] as your forces turn the tide against the terrorists,” Mattis said. “We will not abandon Afghanistan to a merciless enemy trying to kill its way to power.”

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who is also in Kabul, affirmed NATO's commitment as well.

“NATO doesn’t quit when the going gets tough," he said. "We keep our promises.”

President Donald Trump’s Afghanistan plan, announced last month, envisions a greater role for regional players, including India.

Kabul is second stop for Mattis on a South Asia tour that began in New Delhi.

News Report: India Successfully Tests 500kg Locally Developed Precision Guided HSLD Bomb

The development is significant as India continues to heavily rely on imports for air armaments. The Israel-manufactured SPICE bomb is the biggest conventional bomb that can be delivered by the Indian Air Force.

New Delhi (Sputnik) – India has successfully tested a precision guided high speed low drag (HSLD) bomb weighing 500 kg, which is the largest bomb locally developed by the country so far. During the flight trial in the western state of Rajasthan, the 500 kg general purpose bomb was released from Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Su 30 MK1 aircraft. The bomb has been developed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) of the state-owned Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).

The trial covered ground adaptation, carriage and handling, limited separation and release of the bomb. Sukhoi-30MKI released PGHSLD-500 fitted on station 05/06 from an altitude of 5 km at 900 km to verify separation performance and to estimate stability.

News Story: Japan's defense ministry seeks record budget for FY 2018

CGI of an Aegis Ashore System

TOKYO, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Japan's Ministry of Defense announced on Thursday a record-high budget request for the fiscal year 2018, which, if approved, would mark the sixth annual increase since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe retook office in 2012.

The defense ministry's budget request, up by 2.5 percent from this year's initial budget, totals 5.26 trillion yen (47.8 billion U.S. dollars) for the fiscal year starting from April, 2018.

The budget request was compiled by setting the dollar's exchange rate at 110 yen for fiscal 2018, according to the ministry.

Part of the money would be used to introduce a new missile shield system, possibly the land-based Aegis Ashore, but the amount was unspecified as it still needs to be hammered out with the United States, said the ministry.

Japan has so far taken steps to counter any potential launches of ballistic missiles by deploying high-tech Aegis advanced radar-equipped destroyers which are tasked with stopping missiles in the outer atmosphere, and ground-based Patriot Advanced Capability-3 interceptors which will counter the attack at lower altitudes.

The Aegis Ashore system is a land-based version of the Aegis advanced radar system, and with potential to be permanently installed, it is expected to reduce the workload of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces members in missile intercept operations.

Each Aegis Ashore unit costs around 80 billion yen, and Japan would need two units to cover the whole landmass, experts here have said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Philippine president gives military option to bomb last terrorist holdouts in Marawi

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

MANILA, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday that the option is now with the military to make a last-ditch effort to retake the remaining Islamist militants' holdouts in the southern Philippine Marawi City.

Duterte said in a speech that he cannot allow the 100-day fighting to continue to drag on.

"I have my limits," Duterte said, adding that the situation is already out of his hands.

"Up to this time, there is a stalemate," Duterte said.

He said he has told the military "that the option is already yours because we cannot have a stalemate for over one year."

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Four F-15Ks hold exercise against N. Korea's leadership

SEOUL, Aug. 29 (Yonhap) -- A squadron of four South Korean F-15K fighter jets staged a live-bombing drill against North Korea's leadership on Tuesday in response to its latest ballistic missile launch, the Air Force announced.

The aircraft dropped eight MK-84 bombs, each weighing about a ton, at a simulated target at the Pilseung Range in the eastern province of Gangwon.

They hit the target accurately, it said, adding the practice was aimed at sharpening the capability of completely destroying "the enemy's leadership" in case of an emergency.

Read the full story at Yonhap

News Story: Laos calls for enhanced int'l cooperation to eradicate UXO

VIENTIANE, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Some 23 people have been injured or killed as a result of exploding unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Laos so far in 2017, government officials said here Monday while calling for enhanced international efforts.

In 2016 the number was 59, the Lao government said ahead of the seventh anniversary of the Entry into Force of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which falls on Tuesday.

Up to 30 percent of the total 270 million cluster munitions dropped on Laos during the Vietnam War did not detonate, according to a report by Lao state-run media Vientiane Times.

Around 80 million bomblets remained scattered and buried over much of the country's landmass, and it is not clear how many of these remain a live threat, the report said.

The hazards of UXO correlate to poverty levels, with the most contaminated districts in the country often also being among the poorest, Minister of Labor and Social Welfare Khampheng Saysompheng said at a ceremony marking the Convention.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: US help for AFP proves robust ties with Philippines

By Jaime Laude

MANILA, Philippines - The delivery by the United States of new weapons and ammunitions to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is proof of the enduring military alliance between the two countries, AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Año said yesterday.

At Malacañang, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the Philippines-US alliance “remains robust to this day,” citing the turnover last week by the US of two Cessna-208B surveillance and monitoring aircraft to the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

“These aircraft would bolster the capability and readiness of our Air Force to help address terrorism and support our intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations,” Abella added.

President Duterte has repeatedly castigated the US for the latter’s criticizing his deadly war on drugs. He earlier announced his “separation” from the US and pivot to China and Russia.

But Año said the Philippines is grateful for the US assistance. “We appreciate the assistance and grants provided by the US government. They remain our number one ally, especially in the fight against terror,” Año said.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: US to donate more planes, weapons to Phl

Surveillance Cessna-208B (Image: Wiki Commons)

By Christina Mendez

MANILA, Philippines -  A day after turning over two reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft to the Philippine Air Force, the United States said it is set to donate more equipment with similar capabilities in the near future.

“In the coming months, the US will be transferring more intelligence and surveillance equipment to the Philippine Air Force,” US embassy spokesperson Molly Koscina posted on her Twitter account. The PAF on Thursday officially received two Cessna-208B planes from the US at the Villamor Air Base.

The US has also begun delivery of 200 pieces of 500-pounder bombs and almost 1,000 pieces of 2.75-inch rockets to PAF.

The Air Force is heavily involved in the raging battle to liberate Marawi from Maute militants. Continued air strikes on enemy positions have significantly depleted the PAF’s arsenal.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: 2 soldiers killed, 11 injured in friendly airstrike in S. Philippines

MANILA, July 12 (Xinhua) -- An airstrike on Islamist militants holed up in the southern Philippine city of Marawi mistakenly killed two soldiers and wounded 11 others on Wednesday, a military spokesman said.

This has been the second accident involving a military aircraft hitting soldiers on the ground since the conflict in Marawi started in May.

The air force's public affairs chief Col. Edgard Arevalo said in a statement that a military bomber missed its target during an airstrike around noontime Wednesday and the ordnance hit buildings near the soldiers' position.

Citing initial report from ground commanders in Marawi City, Arevalo said "the bomb was 250 meters off target."

"The impact of the explosion caused the collapse of nearby structures. Large debris from heavily reinforced buildings accidentally hit the two of our personnel who succumbed to death in the process," he said.

Arevalo said the 11 wounded "are ambulatory" and are recuperating in the hospital.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Laos, UNDP sign new support project on unexploded ordnance

VIENTIANE, July 7 (Xinhua) ---- The Lao government and the United Nations Development Program on Friday signed a new support project on unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the Lao capital Vientiane, Lao News Agency reported.

The project, comprising a financial envelope by UNDP to Laos of 84 million U.S. dollars, will focus on enhanced support to livelihood activities for affected populations, improved efficiency of clearance operations and progress in the effort to establish a national baseline of UXO contamination, among others, the report said, quoting Lao Minister of Labor and Social Welfare Khampheng Xaysompheng.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: 4 Japanese firms invested heavily in cluster bomb makers - NGO group

Cluster Bomb [Click Image to Enlarge]

Four Japanese financial firms invested heavily in cluster bomb manufacturers between 2013 and 2017, said the Dutch nongovernmental organization (NGO) PAX.

According to a report released by PAX, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc., Orix Corp. and Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co., Ltd. all invested considerable sums of money into cluster bomb makers up until March 2017 -- with the figures coming to U.S.$914 million, U.S.$606 million, U.S.$354 million and U.S.$40 million, respectively.

The findings revealed that Japan, which in 2008 signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions prohibiting the use, development and production of cluster munitions, had the highest number of its domestic financial institutions investing in cluster bomb makers among other signatory countries.

Between June 2013 and March 2017, PAX carried out an investigation into the transactions of six cluster bomb makers in the United States, China and South Korea. The findings showed that a total of 166 financial institutions across the world invested U.S.$31 billion in these cluster bomb producers during this period.

Read the full story at The Mainichi

News Story: No Philippines-Russia security alliance, but closer economic ties

By Alexis Romero and Edith Regalado

MOSCOW – The Philippines may be acquiring weapons from Russia, but the two countries will not forge a strategic security alliance and will only focus on boosting economic ties, an envoy said yesterday.   

Philippine Ambassador Carlos Sorreta said Russia has no plans of becoming a military power in the region and that its pivot to Asia is geared toward strengthening economic relationships. 

“They just want a good relationship, a very respectful one. Right now, they want to start heavily on the economic and then eventually on security,” Sorreta said in a press conference here yesterday.

“They don’t want to be a military power in our region. They have no interest in competing with the existing power dynamics. They want to engage our region, Southeast Asia, purely on economic, cultural, people-to-people.”

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Report: Anti-Terror Alliance - Philippines Seeks Military Cooperation With China, Russia

The Philippines could start cooperation on anti-terrorism with China and Russia within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and its Regional Antiterrorism Structure, Military analyst Alexander Perendzhiev told RIA Novosti.

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in Russia on Monday to begin a five-day visit, marking closer relations between Moscow and Manila.

Before his visit, Duterte said that one of his top priorities is to secure Russian precision-guided bombs to use on Islamic militants in the southern Philippines.

"If they can spare us with the precision guided (bombs)," Duterte said when discussing the purpose of his trip. "We have so many smart bombs but not as accurate."

The Philippines is a traditional military ally of the US, but Duterte has expressed discontent with Washington's foreign policy.

In an interview with RT and other Russian media ahead of his visit to Moscow, the Philippines leader reiterated that his country should have ties with Russia and China, as Western nations are only interested in double talk and disregard Philippines interests.

News Story: Rody wants Russian precision bombs

KAB-500L precision-guided munition (Image: Wiki Commons)

By Edith Regalado

DAVAO CITY , Philippines  – If there is one thing that President Duterte wants when he leaves today for an official visit to Russia, it is to obtain precision-guided munitions for use against Islamic State-inspired terrorist groups.

The President lamented that bombs of the Armed Forces are not as accurate as the ones guided by laser or satellites like those of Russia.

“It is difficult for us. So we have this ISIS thing. I’ve been scouting around for (a weapon to finish them off)… I’m going to Russia. Same purpose. If they can spare us the precision-guided (bombs)… we have so many smart bombs but not as accurate as the ones guided by laser or satellite,” Duterte told participants in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxillary national convention held here over the weekend.

Duterte will leave for Russia for a four-day landmark visit in line with his commitment to pursue an independent foreign policy.

Agreements on security, legal assistance and trade are expected to be signed during the May 23 to 26 visit, which officials said, would mark a new chapter in ties between Manila and Moscow.

The strengthening of defense cooperation between the Philippines and Russia is among the primary agenda of Duterte’s visit to Moscow.

Duterte will also meet with Russia Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and President Vladimir Putin on May 24 and 25 to discuss key issues and ways to strengthen political, military and economic cooperation.

Read the full story at PhilStar

News Story: 34 Daesh Killed In Air Force Operation In Nangarhar

Afghan Air Force A-29 Super Tucano Ground Attack Aircraft

At least 34 Daesh insurgents were killed and a radio station belonging to the group was destroyed during air force operations in eastern Nangarhar in the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) said in a statement on Monday.

“In the past 24 hours, 34 Daesh terrorists were killed and a radio station run by Daesh terrorists was destroyed after the Afghan Air Force targeted militant hideouts in the Naziyan and Achin districts of eastern Nangarhar province,” read the statement.

“The station was broadcasting illegally across Nangarhar, spreading the group’s extremist messages and issuing threats to people and government staff,” the statement said.

This comes after the Afghan government and U.S officials confirmed the death of Abdul Haseeb Logari and other high-ranking Daesh insurgents in a joint operation in Nangarhar.

In a statement Sunday night, the Pentagon confirmed the death of Logari. At the time of the raid officials said they thought Logari had been killed, but were not certain.

Read the full story at TOLOnews

News Story: U.S. drone strike kills 8 IS militants in eastern Afghanistan

JALALABAD, Afghanistan, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Some eight militants of the Islamic State (IS) group were killed after an unmanned U.S. plane fired a missile at a running vehicle in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar, the provincial government said Monday.

"The airstrike took place on Mano locality of Chaparhar province roughly at 2:00 p.m. local time Sunday and one vehicle was also destroyed by the raid," it said in a statement.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: US - Top Islamic State leader in Afghanistan Likely Dead

Jeff Seldin

The emir of the Islamic State terror group in Afghanistan is likely dead, targeted in a U.S.-Afghan raid on a cave-and-tunnel complex that left two U.S. special operations forces soldiers dead.

Pentagon officials said Friday that they suspected IS Khorasan province leader Abdul Hasib was killed in a brutal, three-hour firefight in the Mohmand Valley, in the Achin district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.

Officials said another 35 IS fighters also had been killed, and that they were investigating the possibility the dead U.S. soldiers were victims of friendly fire.

"This was a dangerous mission and we knew this going in," Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis told reporters. "We knew he [Hasib] was going to be well-protected and that they were going to fight very hard to prevent from being captured or killed. And that is indeed what happened."

News Story: Two U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan - Pentagon

WASHINGTON, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Two U.S. soldiers were killed during an operation in Afghanistan against the Islamic State (IS) militants, the Pentagon said Thursday.

"Two U.S. service members were killed in action last night in southern Nangarhar, Afghanistan, during an operation against ISIS Khorasan," Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis said, referring to the group's affiliate in Afghanistan.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: PACOM’s Harris Urges More Subs, PGMs, Ships At HASC

Adm. Harry Harris (Image: Wiki Commons)

By SANDRA ERWIN

While North Korea threatens to shoot and sink American aircraft carriers and launch nuclear weapons, Pacific Command is running short of precision-guided munitions. And Pacific Command does not have enough surface ships, submarines and antimissile radars to keep up with current and emerging threats, its commander Adm. Harry Harris told the House Armed Services Committee today.

The admiral got a receptive ear from HASC Chairman Rep. Mac Thornberry, who told reporters after the hearing that he would like to see Congress step up with more resources for PACOM. But Thornberry admitted that budget brinkmanship in Washington will make that unlikely.

Some of PACOM’s equipment and technology gaps are actually unrelated to the North Korea crisis but are a direct result of the battle against the Islamic State. Harris has loaned Central Command large stockpiles of small diameter bombs and air-to-air Sidewinder missiles. “We need more,” he told the committee. PACOM’s supplies of Mark 48 torpedoes also are dwindling.

Pacific Command may not spend munitions as fast as CENTCOM, but what it does use more than any other U.S. war command is submarines. PACOM today only has 50 percent of what it estimates it needs to keep tabs on North Korea, Chinese and Russian undersea activity.

“The numbers are low and getting smaller,” said Harris. The Navy’s entire attack submarine fleet of 52 is projected to shrink to 42 in a few years unless the Navy gets a big influx of new money. Should Trump’s proposed naval buildup happen, the submarine fleet would expand to 66.

Why does PACOM need more weapons and new ones, especially transformative systems? It’s simple, Harris said: If you think it is hard to deter North Korea today, wait till we have to deter China and Russia as they roll out their shiny new weapon systems in the coming decades.

Read the full story at Breaking Defense

News Story: Mattis Slams Taliban, Calls Them 'Barbaric Enemy'

By Kathy Whitehead

U.S Secretary of Defense James Mattis made a surprise visit to Kabul on Monday where he met with high-ranking officials including U.S-led Resolute Support commander Gen. John Nicholson.

Addressing a joint press conference late Monday afternoon with Nicholson, Mattis slated the Taliban and called them “this barbaric enemy”.

“What they do, makes it clear to me why we stand together to defeat them,” he said.

Mattis went on to say that he expects an ongoing dialogue with the Afghan leadership in order to provide his best assessment and advice to the U.S President Donald Trump.

“We continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Afghans for the future of this country,” he said.

Read the full story at TOLOnews