Good Tuesday Morning
I hope that your week has started well. This will be a Bubba Breakfast Friday in San Diego.
.Regards.
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Today in Naval History
August 4 2020
1790
The Revenue Cutter Service is established by Congress, authorizing the construction of 10 vessels to enforce federal tariff and trade laws and prevent smuggling. The service receives its present name, U.S. Coast Guard, in 1915 under an act of Congress that merges the Revenue Cutter Service with the Life-Saving Service, thereby providing the nation with a single maritime service dedicated to saving life at sea and enforcing the nation's maritime laws.
1846
During the Mexican-American War, Marines and Sailors led by Commodore Robert Stockton from the frigate USS Congress land to capture Santa Barbara, Calif.
1898
During the Spanish-American War, USS Monterey (BM 6) becomes the first monitor to cross the Pacific, reaching Manila Bay, Philippines, from San Francisco, Calif.
1939
USS Yorktown (CV 5) and USS Enterprise (CV 6) use hydraulic flush-deck catapults to launch SBC-3 and O3U-3 aircraft from flight and hangar deck catapults.
1943
Ensign Rosalie Thorne, USNR, becomes the first woman to be awarded the Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal. She scores 211 out of 240 to qualify.
1943
A radar-equipped Catalina PBY carries out predawn bombing of a submarine base and main Japanese camp area on Kiska. The Catalina also drops 92 empty beer bottles (for the disconcerting whistling effect they produce) on those targets. Also on this date, USS Finback (SS 230) sinks Japanese cargo ship Kaisho Maru in the Java Sea off the north coast of Java while USS Seadragon (SS 194) damages Japanese transport Kembu Maru east of Ponape.
Thanks to CHINFO
Executive Summary:
•UPI reported on joint USN-USAF drills in the Black Sea.
•Philippine media reports that the Philippines will no longer participate in maritime exercises in the South China Sea.
•Forbes reported on the inadvertent sinking of Iran's aircraft carrier mock-up.
Today in History: August 4
1265 King Henry III puts down a revolt of English barons lead by Simon de Montfort.
1578 A crusade against the Moors of Morocco is routed at the Battle of Alcazar-el-Kebir. King Sebastian of Portugal and 8,000 of his soldiers are killed.
1717 A friendship treaty is signed between France and Russia.
1789 The Constituent Assembly in France abolishes the privileges of nobility.
1790 The Revenue Cutter service, the parent service of the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, is organized.
1864 Federal troops fail to capture Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island, one of the Confederate forts defending Mobile Bay.
1875 The first Convention of Colored Newspapermen is held in Cincinnati, Ohio.
1879 A law is passed in Germany making Alsace Lorraine a territory of the empire.
1914 Germany invades Belgium causing Great Britain to declare war on Germany.
1942 The British government charges that Mohandas Gandhi and his All-Indian Congress Party favor "appeasement" with Japan.
1944 RAF pilot T. D. Dean becomes the first pilot to destroy a V-1 buzz bomb when he tips the pilotless craft's wing, sending it off course.
1952 Helicopters from the U.S. Air Force Air Rescue Service land in Germany, completing the first transatlantic flight by helicopter in 51 hours and 55 minutes of flight time.
1964 The bodies of civil rights workers Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman & James E. Chaney, are discovered in an earthen Mississippi dam.
1964 The U.S.S. Maddox and Turner Joy exchange fire with North Vietnamese patrol boats.
1971 The U.S. launches the first satellite into lunar orbit from a manned spacecraft (Apollo 15).
1972 Arthur Bremer is sentenced to 63 years for shooting Alabama governor George Wallace, later reduced to 53 years.
1979 President Jimmy Carter establishes the Department of Energy.
1988 The US Senate votes to give each Japanese-American who was interned during WWII $20,000 compensation and an apology.
2007 NASA launches the Phoenix spacecraft on a mission to Mars.
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Thanks to the Bear
Happy 230th America's Coast Guard .....
Guys.... I remember when "Don Winslow of the Coast Guard" serial episodes were a part of the Saturday matinee movies during the 1940s.... was right there with "The Phantom" and "Hopalong Cassidy"... pix to follow... Bear
Begin forwarded message:
From: David
Subject: Happy 230th America's Coast Guard .....
Deployed to the Persian Gulf/Middle East, the South China Sea, the East China Sea (North Korea), the Arctic and other places around the world and that's in addition to keeping nearly 100,000 miles of American ports and coastline safe. Not to mention the thousands of riverine miles also covered and protected. Thank you USCG!
Semper Paratus!
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Fastest Man Made Object
Thanks to Barrel who said
Skip You didn't include the kicker
It was a manhole cover.
In 1957, Operation Plumbbob was conducted to study the effects of nuclear explosions at the Nevada Test Site next door to Area 51. The operation consisted of 29 separate detonations under the watch of twenty one laboratories and government agencies who where involved in the project studies. The tests were meant to observe the effects of assorted yields in intercontinental and intermediate range missiles. These tests included placing a nuclear bomb in towers, as well as holes to measure the effects on civil and military structures, radiation and bio-medical studies….
On July 26, 1957, at 22:35:00, at Area U3da, Pascal-A, was detonated in a manmade shaft dug into the desert floor, becoming the first underground shaft nuclear test. The knowledge gained here would provide data to prevent nuclear yields in case of accidental detonations. After the nuclear device was placed at the bottom of the shaft, a 2000 pound armour plate was placed on top of the shaft to seal it. Engineers expected it to be blown off.
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When the nuclear bomb was detonated at the bottom of the shaft, the nuclear material released 99.9% of its total energy within a millionth of a second. As the smoke cleared after the test...there was no sign of the armour plate. When reviewing the high speed cameras, the manhole cover was seen in a single frame. Given the speed of the frames, they were able to calculate the departure speed of the manhole cover to blasted off the top of a test shaft at a speed of more than 41 miles per second; or over 150,000 mph.
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Experimental engineers had estimated that due to the dynamic overpressure resulting from the nuclear explosion, combined with the specific design of the shaft, would accelerate the manhole cover to approximately six times Earth's escape velocity(25,020 mph). The plate was never found, however it is hypothesized that it may have been vaporized by atmospheric compression temperatures due to its extreme speed.
..
Given the fact that the manhole cover was travelling at 41 miles per second, well above the nessasary velocity to escape Earths gravity. It is quite likely that the manhole cover left our atmosphere with great expediency, smashed through the orbital gravitational pull of our planet, and continued on its merry way into the cold darkness of space.
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As a matter of fact, the manhole cover is still travelling away from our planet, and hasn't started slowing down yet…
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Another Tales of old
Thanks to Shadow
Ye Old Dog and pony Show
Back in the day… we'd get bus loads of VIP's and ROTC tours come through… I was the
designated "Dog and And Pony Show Officer" for the squadron. Depending on the size of the
group, we'd either herd them into the Ready Room or out in the hangar bay. Myself and my
back seater would then give them a quick and dirty on the aircraft's capabilities, the mission
and systems. Then we'd open it up for a Q&A. The VIP's were pretty straight forward, but the
ROTC types were far more inquisitive and asked a lot of questions. Inevitably, one question
would always come up and I looked forward to it.
"What's it like to go supersonic… faster than the speed of sound"? I'd use my best San Diego
Tour Bus Voice and explain that in the airplane you really wouldn't notice much difference.
Slight fluctuation in the pitot static instruments… more air noise as those little molecules
rushed by and the controls were a wee bit heavier. Actually, the only real irritating problem was
with communication. I'd look over at my back seater and say… "We've got a bunch of salty
back seaters and as soon as we'd break MACH… they'd start screaming or making noises…
even yell "Oh Shit"! Well, because I was in front of them… I wouldn't hear this stuff until I
slowed down… their voices wouldn't catch up to me until we were subsonic again! Scared the
poo out of me the first time it happened"! My back seater would then give a practiced smug
look. I'd look out at the young cadets and their eyes would bug out and their mouth's were
agape. I had them… they were in awe, as they tried to comprehend what I was saying. Usually
it would take about 30 seconds before some smarter than the average bear… would yell out…
"Awe bullshit"! I'd immediately yell out… "You my man… need to sign up for the Marine
Corps… the rest of you guppies need to go Air Force"! We'd all have a good laugh and then
we'd take them out into the hangar and do a walk around of the airplane.
After the hangar tour, we'd turn them back over to the base PAO and tell them we'd see them
on the other side of the airfield shortly.
My back seater and I would run back into the locker room and put on our speed slacks, torso
harness and grab our helmets and masks and head out to the flight line to our airplane that
was set aside for the show. We'd crank up and start taxiing over to the other side of the airfield.
RIDING THE SLED
We Marine Aviators had one asset that none of the other services had… It was called the
SATS. It was designed as an expeditionary airfield; that was a had a land based version of a
ship's catapult and arrestment system. It allowed us to operate off a short aluminum mat
runway and still take off with a full load of ordinance… that usually required 8 to 10,000 feet of
concrete runway. Really, it was quite different, but the theory was the same. Instead of a shuttle
used on the carrier to attach to the catapult… we had a sled that we would taxi up on with our
nose gear. From there, it was pretty much the same as far as using the bridle to attach the
airplane to it and a hold back to keep the airplane stationary until the cat was fired. We used
the nose strut extension just like on the ship. The run out was much longer than the ship, about
600 feet… and to be honest, it was not as smooth. Bumpy ride and on occasion you'd get a
little fish tail. We also had a bi-directional arresting gear to trap with (land), just like on the ship.
It was powered by two jet engines (J-79's I think). The system was used on an aluminum mat
runway that could be laid down in less than a month by the SeaBees. We had four of these
systems at the time… one at Chu Lai in Vietnam, one at K'Bay in Hawaii, one at Bogue Field
near Cherry Point, North Carolina and the one we had at El Toro.
While the VIP's or Cadets were bussed over to the SATS Site… we'd start up and taxi over.
They'd arrive before we did and the SATS Officer would use a PA system to tell about the
system and what they were about to witness. Once we were at the site, we'd switch to the
SATS radio frequency and I would be able to talk to the SATS Officer and it would go out on
the PA system. The SATS Officer would give a running commentary on how they were hooking
us up and in between… I would tell them what we were doing in the cockpit to set up for the
shot. It was kinda neat! Once everything was hooked up… the SATS Officer would twirl his
fingers for me to go to military power… once stabilized… I'd give him a thumbs up and he'd
spread his fingers for me to go into full afterburner! Then, he'd use the same lean forward and
drop his arm for the launch signal just like on the ship and I would radio out… "Show Time
Gents"!
The catapult would fire and we'd go barreling down the cat stroke and as the bridle slipped
away, I would hesitate and then pull back on the stick and do a max performance climb to just
above pattern altitude… pull back to idle, drop the flaps to full and whiffer dill around and take
an arrested landing right in front of the grandstands! It was a hoot! And the whole evolution
from launch to landing was about two to three minutes max!
If I do say so myself… it was quite impressive. It was certainly the highlight of their tour. And
the truth of the matter was… we enjoyed it as much as they did! Not often we got to show off
to a bunch of civilians or would be future bird men.
Shadow
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for August 4, 2020 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
4 August
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1908: With Thomas S. Baldwin at the controls and Glenn H. Curtiss as the engineer, Signal Corps Airship No. 1 mades its first test ascent, a 7-minute flight, above Fort Myer. (24)
1910: Elmo N. Pickerill made the first plane-to-ground-to-plane radiotelegraphic communication in the US while flying a Curtiss pusher from Mineola to Manhattan Beach and back. (21) (24)
1921: Lt John A. Macready, at the request of the entomologist at Cleveland, flew the first aerial insecticide application flight.
1925: The MacMillan polar expedition started with Lt Cmdr Richard E. Byrd's assistance and Loening amphibians. (24)
1944: Operation APHRODITE. Eighth Air Force launched radio-controlled B-17 drones, carrying 20,000 pounds of TNT, against V-1 rocket sites in Pas de Calais, France. (4) (21)
1950: KOREAN WAR. B-29 attacked key bridges above the 38th parallel to start FEAF "Interdiction Campaign No. 1." (28)
1953: A B-47 Stratojet set a nonstop distance record for jets in making a 4,450-mile flight from Fairford, England, to MacDill AFB, in 9 hours 53 minutes.
1955: China released the crewmen of a Special Operations B-29, "The Stardust 40." They were captured on 13 January 1953 and were held longer than any other prisoners of war in the Korean War. (21)
1960: Pilot Joseph A. Walker flew the X-15 to an unofficial world speed record of 2,196 MPH. 1964: North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked US destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin. On 7 August, Congress authorized President Johnson to use all measures to assist South Vietnam. That decision led to a buildup of airpower in the region. (See 5 August)
1964: First US air strikes against North Vietnam.
1970: From Vandenberg AFB, the Minuteman Emergency Rocket Communication System (ERCS) completed its first operational test launch. (6) AFRES aircrews airlifted 73 handicapped children from Corpus Christi, Texas, after Hurricane Celia destroyed the Texas Department of Mental Health and Retardation School. (16) (26)
1977: The last T-33 Shooting Star left the AFFTC at Edwards AFB for retirement at Davis-Monthan AFB; however, active USAF units continued to fly the T-33 until the mid-80s. The 87th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at K.I. Sawyer AFB, Mich., actively flew the T-33s until the unit inactivated on 1 October 1985. In addition other Air Defense Tactical Air Command units at Minot and McChord continued to fly F-106s and T-33s for a few more years. (16) (26)
1982: The first KC-135R (number 61-0293) with the new CFM-56 engines made its first flight. (1) The NF-16 Advanced Fighter Technology Integration (AFTI) aircraft made its first flight. (16)
2000: The AFFTC at Edwards AFB completed the GBU-27A/B enhanced guided bomb unit's flight test evaluation for the F-117, just two months after its first captive-carry flight. (3)
2002: The last B-1 departed from the 184th Bomb Wing, Kansas ANG. The unit officially became an air refueling wing on 16 September 2002. (32)
2007: PHOENIX MARS LANDER. NASA launched this lander to study Mars on a Delta II booster from Space Launch Complex 17-A at Cape Canaveral, Fla. After a 422 million-mile journey, the Phoenix spacecraft landed in the arctic region of northern Mars on 25 May 2008. The lander tried to answer questions about the Martian arctic's ability to support life. A 920th Rescue Wing (Air Force Reserves) HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter conducted pre- and post-flight operations to clear the launch path, while the 45th Space Wing at Patrick AFB, Fla., provided mission support. (AFNEWS, "Air Force Supports Launch of NASA Mission to Mars," 6 Aug 2007.)
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World News for 4 August thanks to Military Periscope
USA—Raytheon, Rafael To Build Iron Dome Systems In U.S. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems | 08/04/2020 Raytheon and Israeli firm Rafael Advanced Defense Systems have teamed up to manufacture the Iron Dome air defense systems in the United States, reports Rafael. On Monday, the companies announced that they would form a joint venture known as Raytheon Rafael Area Protection Systems. The joint venture will establish a U.S. facility to manufacture all parts of the Iron Dome, which includes the launcher and Tamir intercepter, as well as the SkyHunter missile, a U.S. derivative of the Tamir. The partners plan to finalize a site by the end of the year. The U.S. Army has chosen the Iron Dome as an interim solution until it completes development of the Indirect Fires Protection Capability (IFPC), reported Defense News. Congress has mandated the purchase of at least two batteries to fill gaps in cruise missile defense. The Army has indicated that it will not use the Iron Dome all-up system for the IFPC requirement but is looking at incorporating elements of the Iron Dome in the final system. The Marine Corps is also evaluating the system. The joint venture might also manufacture Iron Dome systems for export, said a Raytheon release.
USA—New Representative To Lead Defense Burden-Sharing Talks Around The World Yonhap | 08/04/2020 The U.S. has named a new representative to lead burden-sharing talks with Japan, South Korea and other countries around the world, reports the Yonhap news agency (Seoul). Donna Welton, previously the assistant chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, will succeed Jim DeHart, who has been appointed as the U.S. coordinator for the Arctic region, a State Dept. spokesperson said on Monday. Talks with South Korea have been deadlocked for months after the previous arrangement to share the costs of stationing American troops on the peninsula lapsed in December 2019. Washington has called for an increase of up to 50 percent, while Seoul says it cannot contribute more than 13 percent. Welton will also lead defense burden-sharing talks with Japan. The U.S. deal with Tokyo is due for renewal by March 2020.
USA—Army National Guard To Reorganize Around 8 Divisions National Guard Bureau | 08/04/2020 The Army National Guard has decided to reorganize around eight division headquarters to better prepare for potential conflict with peer or near-peer adversaries, reports the National Guard Bureau (NGB). Under the plan, eight headquarters elements based in California, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia would receive subordinate units to create integrated divisions that would train together and establish vital links should they be required to deploy into combat, reported the Stars and Stripes. The change would bring the total number of divisions available to the Army from 10 to 18, the NGB said on July 31. The move reflects the growing emphasis on preparing for potential great power competition, said Lt. Gen. Daniel Hokanson, the director of the Army National Guard. The precise division alignments have not been finalized. Governors and other state leaders will need to agree to partnerships with some units falling under the command of headquarters in other states. The new alignment will not affect the governors' and state adjutant generals' control over forces assigned to their states. The NGB has also not requested any additional funding for the change. No change is planned for the Army Guard's end-strength. Existing brigades will align with other divisions in their general region. The reforms will also give guardsmen more opportunities for advancement beyond their states, Hokanson said.
USA—Air Force, Navy Units Train Together In Black Sea U.S. Sixth Fleet | 08/04/2020 The U.S. Air Force aircraft and Navy aircraft and ships have just completed a joint exercise in the Black Sea, reports the U.S. 6th Fleet On Sunday, the destroyer USS Porter and a Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft were joined by four F-16CM-40 fighters and an MQ-9 Reaper drone, supported by three KC-135R tankers, reported the Aviationist blog, citing aircraft tracking data. The training was focused on bolstering interoperability during air and surface operations, 6th Fleet said. It included tactical maneuvering and communications elements. The Porter and the P-8A Poseidon were in the region following the conclusion of Exercise Sea Breeze with Ukraine. The other aircraft came from bases in theater. Unusually, the F-16s were equipped with live weapons including AIM-120C/D AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles during the drills, according to imagery analyzed by the Aviationist.
Canada—3 Companies Bid For Fighter Replacement Program Flightglobal | 08/04/2020 Two U.S. companies and a Swedish firm have submitted bids for Canada's fighter replacement program, reports Flight Global. All bids were due by July 31. U.S. firms Boeing and Lockheed Martin have submitted the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Block III and F-35A Lightning II, respectively, while Swedish company Saab is offering its Gripen E/F. Ottawa plans to buy 88 aircraft to replace its aging CF-18 Hornets. The cost for acquisition and associated equipment is estimated at Can$15-19 billion (US$11.14 billion). The proposals will now be evaluated, with a potential downselect to two options taking place in the spring of 2021, reported Defense News. Alternatively, Canada could keep all three jets in the competition until a winner is chosen in 2022. Initial deliveries are anticipated in 2025.
France—Extradition Treaty With Hong Kong Scrapped Agence France-Presse | 08/04/2020 France has halted ratification of an extradition treaty with Hong Kong following the passage of a controversial national security law, reports Agence France-Presse. Paris will not move forward with the ratification of the agreement, which was signed in 2017, the foreign ministry said on Monday. Changes since the deal was first signed in May 2017 have called into question the principle of "one country, two systems" under which Hong Kong enjoys some autonomy from Beijing in its home affairs. The law also affects French citizens and companies, said the ministry. In June, the Chinese Communist Party enacted a wide-ranging security law that criminalized several acts, including speech deemed offensive to the party. Australia, Britain, Canada, Germany and New Zealand have all taken steps to suspend extradition agreements with Hong Kong, noted the Kyodo news agency (Tokyo). Washington has indicated that it will do so as well.
Poland—Government Agrees To Pay Costs Of U.S. Troops Breaking Defense | 08/04/2020 The Polish government has agreed to pay most of the costs associated with the stationing of U.S. troops on its territory under a new cooperation accord, reports Breaking Defense. Under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which was agreed last week and will be signed in the coming in the near future, Poland will pay the costs of building new infrastructure and logistics support for the 5,500 American troops in the country on a rotational basis, said a Pentagon spokesman. There are currently around 4,500 U.S. troops stationed in Poland, with another 1,000 on the way under the EDCA. The accord provides for enhanced U.S. intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, as well as improvements to support an armored brigade combat team and combat aviation brigade, noted the Financial Times (U.K.). Warsaw has broadly agreed to cover the infrastructure for a command post for the Army's V Corps headquarters; a U.S. division headquarters; a joint-use combat training center in Drawsko Pomorskie, among other training locations; facilities for an Air Force MQ-9 drone squadron; an aerial port of debarkation to support the movement of forces in and out of Poland; facilities to support special operations forces involved in air, ground and maritime missions; and infrastructure for an armored brigade combat team, combat aviation brigade and a combat sustainment support battalion. A final cost for the work has not yet been determined.
Serbia—Advanced Air Defense System Procured From China Reuters | 08/04/2020 Serbia has made another purchase of Chinese weapon systems, reports Reuters. Last week, state arms firm Yugoimport confirmed in its annual report that Belgrade had purchased the FK-3 medium-range, radar-guided, surface-to-air missile system from China. This is the first confirmed purchase of the system in Europe. In 2019, Yugoimport concluded 163 import deals with firms in 31 countries worth a total of US$620.3 million, the report says. The largest programs included the modernization of MiG-29 fighter jets, procurement of drone systems and the air defense system. Serbia has increasingly purchased Chinese military technology, including six CH-92A drones that were delivered to the air force in June.
North Korea—Military May Have Miniaturized Nuclear Devices, Says U.N. Report Yonhap | 08/04/2020 The South Korean Defense Ministry says it is closely monitoring nuclear and missile programs in North Korea following reports that it may have developed miniaturized nuclear devices, reports the Yonhap news agency (Seoul). On Tuesday, a ministry spokesman said that North Korea's ability to miniaturize warheads had grown to a considerable level, an assessment noted in South Korea's 2018 defense white paper. On Monday, Reuters reported that an independent study by a panel of experts monitoring U.N. sanctions on Pyongyang said that several countries believed that North Korea's six most recent nuclear tests had supported the development of miniaturized nuclear devices. The report says that North Korea is continuing its nuclear activities, including producing highly enriched uranium and building an experimental light water reactor. One country also assessed that Pyongyang was continuing to build nuclear weapons. One unspecified country also assessed that the North might seek to continue miniaturization work to enable the integration of penetration aids or to develop multiple warhead systems for its missiles. The report also cast doubt on Pyongyang's claims that it destroyed the nuclear facility at Punggye-ri, with one estimate indicating that it could be restored within three months for further nuclear tests.
Thailand—Military Suspends Training After Soldiers Contract COVID-19 In U.S. Reuters | 08/04/2020 The Thai military has suspended plans for joint training with the U.S. after several of its soldiers tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) after participating in joint training in Hawaii, reports Reuters. On Sunday, the military confirmed that further training with the U.S. was suspended. The decision comes after nine soldiers tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from the Lightning Forge 2020 joint exercise. Thailand has no plans for joint training with any other countries other than the U.S., officials said. No foreign forces will be allowed to enter Thailand for training until the situation improves, said a military spokesman.
Iran—Dissident Leader Arrested By Security Forces Islamic Republic News Agency | 08/04/2020 The Iranian Intelligence Ministry says it has arrested the head of an opposition group that it claims is backed by the U.S. government, reports the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency. On Aug. 1, Iranian security forces arrested Jamshid Sharmahd and turned him over to the national intelligence service, said officials. Sharmahd is the leader of the Tondar (Thunder) opposition group, which was blamed for a 2008 attack targeting a mosque in Shiraz. There were conflicting reports about the operation that led to Sharmahd's arrest, reported Radio Farda. Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi told state television that Sharmahd was arrested in Iran. His comments followed a report in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-linked Javan newspaper that said the suspect was arrested in Tajikistan and later handed over to Iranian custody. Tondar, which is based in Los Angeles, said in a statement cited by Reuters that it would continue to fight regardless of the loss of one of its leaders. The group declined to confirm Sharmahd's arrest.
Syria—15 Iraqi Militiamen Killed In Airstrikes In Al Bukamal Syrian Observatory for Human Rights | 08/04/2020 At least 15 foreign members of Iran-backed militias have been killed in airstrikes in southeastern Syria, reports the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. On Monday, a series of air attacks targeted the positions of Iranian and Iran-backed forces in the Imam Ali base, areas near Al Sekka and in the Al Bukamal desert in eastern Deir Ezzor province. The strikes left several casualties and destroyed fighting positions, bases and weapon storehouses. All 15 of the fatalities were identified as Iraqis. The dead and injured were transferred to Iraq, a source told the watchdog group. There were no immediate claims of responsibility. Iran has an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 affiliated militiamen in Syria, reported the Jerusalem Post.
Lebanon—Hezbollah Trains Sympathizers In Art Of Fake News Daily Telegraph (London) | 08/04/2020 Hezbollah has trained thousands of people to spread disinformation online, reports London's Daily Telegraph. Since at least 2012, the Lebanese group has taught "thousands" of individuals how to alter images, manage fake accounts, edit videos and bypass Facebook's content controls in order to spread disinformation. The militant group has hosted trainees from countries including Bahrain, Iraq and Syria, sources told the newspaper. To maintain operational security, Hezbollah prohibits participants from discussing their training and monitors them on CCTV for the duration of their time at the Beirut facility. An Iraqi politician who sent recruits to Lebanon said that the training has helped expand the influence of Iran and its allies and has become a major source of income for Hezbollah. The training is also offered in Iran but the option to work with Hezbollah was preferred by most due to ease of access, among other factors, said the politician. Analysts said that these disinformation experts have contributed to violence in the region, including murders and violent clashes. For example, the killing of Iraqi security expert Hisham al-Hashimi in July was blamed in part on disinformation spread online by groups allied with Iran.
Israel—Watchdog Says Defense Ministry, Military Bypassed Rules In Howitzer Acquisition Times of Israel | 08/04/2020 Israel's military comptroller has criticized the Israel Defense Forces and defense ministry for violating rules in the acquisition of a new howitzer, reports the Times of Israel. The report released on Monday examines the Artillery of the Future program, which began in 2009 and ended with the selection of the ATMOS 2000 manufactured by Israeli firm Elbit Systems in 2019. The watchdog claims that officials regularly violated rules in favor of Elbit. After releasing a list of requirements in 2012, two firms indicated they could provide a suitable system: Elbit and Germany's Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). Israel had concerns about whether the German government would permit it to use cluster munitions with KMW's Artillery Gun Module (AGM). The munitions are banned by many countries. In late 2013, the Israeli military invited KMW to send its howitzer to Israel for a demonstration, which the army considered a key event as part of its evaluation. The demonstration was later canceled without explanation. In addition, the defense ministry mandated that the system be independent of other countries, further favoring the Israeli offering. The military was not involved in that decision. Elbit was awarded a contract without an open tender in a deal estimated at billions of shekels. The military and defense ministry denied wrongdoing and defended their decision.
Ethiopia—Talks With Egypt, Sudan On Nile Dam Resume Ahram Online | 08/04/2020 Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan have resumed talks on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile, reports Ahram Online (Cairo). The African Union-brokered talks began on Monday after a two-week pause. In its opening statement, Egypt criticized Ethiopia for its decision to proceed with its initial filling the reservoir behind the dam without first reaching an agreement. Legal and technical committees will hold meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday before presenting their conclusions to ministers on Thursday. Egypt and Sudan have expressed concern that filling the reservoir could impact their access to critical water resources. Cairo has expressed concern that Addis Ababa will not agree to rules for the filling and operation of the dam in dry or drought years, as well as potential future projects on the Blue Nile and has demanded a binding dispute mechanism. Ethiopia, however, wants a non-binding guiding agreement on the GERD.
Cameroon—C-130 Overruns Runway While Landing In Far North Journal du Cameroun | 08/04/2020 A Cameroonian military transport aircraft has sustained minor damage after overrunning the runway while landing in the Far North region, reports the Journal du Cameroun. On Sunday, the Cameroonian air force C-130 was landing at the Maroua-Salak Airport when it missed the tarmac due to poor weather. There were 96 Cameroonian personnel onboard at the time, including five crewmembers. The 91 troops were on their way to join the Multinational Joint Task force of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC). No injuries were reported. Damage to the aircraft was said to be slight. A thorough assessment will be made to determine the condition of the aircraft, the defense ministry said. An investigation into the accident has also been launched..
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