TheList 5718

The List 5718     TGB

Good Thursday Morning May 20

I hope that your week has been going well.

 

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This day in Naval History May 20

 

1815 Commodore Stephen Decatur sails with his flagship USS Guerriere and a squadron of nine ships for the Mediterranean to suppress piracy. Under strict negotiations, Decatur is able to secure a treaty with the Day of Algiers, His Highness Omar Bashaw, on July 3.

 

1909 USS Mississippi (BB 23) arrives at Natchez, Miss., and becomes the first U.S. Navy battleship to visit an inland city.

 

1943 The Tenth Fleet is established in Washington D.C., under the command of Adm. Ernest J. King, to coordinate U.S. anti-submarine operations in the Atlantic. Disbanded after WWII, the Tenth Fleet is reactivated in Jan. 2010 as U.S. Fleet Cyber Command.

 

1944 USS Angler (SS 240) sinks Japanese transport Otori Maru and survives depth charging by

its escort, while both USS Silversides (SS 236) and USS Bluegill (SS 242) sink enemy vessels.

 

1995 USS Russell (DDG 59) is commissioned during a ceremony at Pascagoula, Miss. The 9th Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer is named for Rear Adm. John Henry Russell and his son, Commandant of the Marine Corps John Henry Russell Jr.

 

 

Thanks to CHINFO

 

Executive Summary:

•           Trade press reported about Secretary of the Navy Thomas Harker's comments about mental health during a recent media engagement.

•           CNN reported the USS Curtis Wilbur conducted a freedom of navigation operation ivo the Parcel Islands, consistent with international law.

•           Proceedings published an article by VADM Mustin about how the Naval Reserve Force is transforming and delivering war fighting readiness.

 

 

Today in History: May 20

 

0325 The Ecumenical council is inaugurated by Emperor Constantine in Nicea.

 

1303 A peace treaty is signed between England and France.

 

1347 Cola di Rienzo takes the title of tribune in Rome.

 

1520 Hernando Cortes defeats Spanish troops sent against him in Mexico.

 

1674 John Sobieski becomes Poland's first king.

 

1690 England passes the Act of Grace, forgiving followers of James II.

 

1774 Parliament passes the Coercive Acts to punish the colonists for their increasingly anti-British behavior. The acts close the port of Boston.

 

1775 North Carolina becomes the first colony to declare its independence.

 

1784 The Peace of Versailles ends a war between France, England, and Holland.

 

1799 Napoleon Bonaparte orders a withdrawal from his siege of St. Jean d'Acre in Egypt.

 

1859 A force of Austrians collide with Piedmontese cavalry at the village of Montebello, in northern Italy.

 

1861 North Carolina becomes the last state to secede from the Union.

 

1862 President Abraham Lincoln signs the Homestead Act, providing 250 million acres of free land to settlers in the West.

 

1874 Levi Strauss begins marketing blue jeans with copper rivets.

 

1902 The U.S. military occupation of Cuba ends.

 

1927 Charles Lindbergh takes off from New York for Paris.

 

1930 The first airplane is catapulted from a dirigible.

 

1932 Amelia Earhart lands near Londonderry, Ireland, to become the first woman fly solo across the Atlantic.

 

1939 Pan American Airways starts the first regular passenger service across the Atlantic.

 

1941 Germany invades Crete by air.

 

1942 Japan completes the conquest of Burma.

 

1951 During the Korean War, U.S. Air Force Captain James Jabara becomes the first jet air ace in history.

 

1961 A white mob attacks civil rights activists in Montgomery, Alabama.

 

1969 In South Vietnam, troops of the 101st Airborne Division reach the top of Hill 937 after nine days of fighting entrenched North Vietnamese forces.

 

1970 100,000 people march in New York, supporting U.S. policies in Vietnam.

 

 

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Thanks to Boysie ...and Dr. Rich

 

What Is A Thesaurus?

  I have a few jokes about unemployed people, but none of them work .

 "I have a split personality," said Tom, being Frank.

 I Renamed my iPod The Titanic, so when I plug it in, it says "The Titanic is syncing."

 How do you make holy water? You boil the hell out of it

 When life gives you melons, you're dyslexic

 It's hard to explain puns to kleptomaniacs because they always take things literally

 What's the difference between a hippo and a zippo? One is really heavy and the other is a little lighter

 Two windmills are standing in a wind farm. One asks, "What's your favorite kind of music?" The other says, "I'm a big metal fan."

 Hear about the new restaurant called Karma? There's no menu - you get what you deserve

 I went to buy some camouflage trousers yesterday but couldn't find any

 What do you call a bee that can't make up its mind? A maybe

 I tried to sue the airline for losing my luggage. I lost my case

 When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane

 A cross-eyed teacher couldn't control his pupils

 She had a photographic memory but never developed it

 Is it ignorance or apathy that's destroying the world today? I don't know and don't really care

 I wasn't originally going to get a brain transplant, but then I changed my mind

 Which country's capital has the fastest-growing population? Ireland. Every day it's Dublin.

 My ex-wife still misses me. But her aim is starting to improve

 Two fish are in a tank, one says to the other "how do you drive this thing?"

 The guy who invented the door knocker got a no-bell prize

 Need an ark? I Noah guy

 I used to be indecisive; now I'm not so sure

 Sleeping comes so naturally to me, I could do it with my eyes closed

 What did the grape say when it got stepped on? Nothing - but it let out a little whine

 What do you call a super articulate dinosaur? A Thesaurus!

 

 

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ROLLING THUNDER REMEMBERED Thanks to the Bear

LOOKING BACK 55-YEARS to the Vietnam Air War— ... For The List for Thursday, 20 May 2021... Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻

 

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968)...

From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post for 20 May 1966...

"Draft Presidential Memorandum... choosing the path ahead"

 

https://www.rollingthunderremembered.com/rolling-thunder-remembered-20-may-1966-the-dpm-drill/

 

 

 

This work accounts for every fixed wing loss of the Vietnam War and you can use it to read more about the losses in The Bear's Daily account. Even better it allows you to add your updated information to the work to update for history…skip

 

Vietnam Air Losses

Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at:  https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.

 

 

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This day in US Military History

 

1943 – On Attu, fighting continues in the Clevesy Pass. Japanese forces hold the high ground and offer determined resistance to the American attacks.

1944 – A V2, on a test flight, lands near the Bug River about 80 miles east of Warsaw. Polish resistance workers hide the rocket before German forces arrive to recover it.

1944 – Forces of the US 5th Army assault the German-held Senger Line. The French Expeditionary Corps attacks Pico; the Canadian 1st Corps attacks Pontecorvo; and the Polish 2nd Corps attacks Piedimonte San Germano.

1944 – American forces have eliminated the Japanese garrison on Wadke. On the mainland, nearby, Japanese forces conduct weak attacks near Arare.

1944 – American aircraft the carriers of Task Group 58.2 (Admiral Montgomery) conduct a raid.

 

1945 – On Okinawa, American troops secure Chocolate Drop Hill after fighting in the interconnecting tunnels. Elements of the 1st Marine Division, part of US 3rd Amphibious Corps, capture Wana Ridge. Elements of the US 6th Marine Division, part of the same corps, begin mopping up operations in the Japanese held caves of the Horseshoe and Half Moon positions. They use flame-throwers and hollow-charge weapons and seal off some Japanese troops. Japanese forces counterattack on the Horseshoe position suffering an estimated 200 killed. To the east, the US 7th and 96th Divisions, of US 24th Corps, continue to be engaged in the capture of Yonabaru.

1945 – On Mindanao, the US 31st Division, part of US 10th Corps, advances northward and occupies positions near the town of Malaybalay and encounter Japanese artillery fire. Other units advance north of Davao and resist nighttime counterattacks.

 

1969 – After 10 days and 10 bloody assaults, Hill 937 in South Vietnam is finally captured by U.S. and South Vietnamese troops. The Americans who fought there cynically dubbed Hill 937 "Hamburger Hill" because the battle and its high casualty rate reminded them of a meat grinder. Located one mile east of the Laotian border, Hill 937 was ordered taken as part of Operation Apache Snow, a mission intended to limit enemy infiltration from Laos that threatened Hue to the northeast and Danang to the southeast. On May 10, following air and artillery strikes, a U.S.-led infantry force launched its first assault on the North Vietnamese stronghold but suffered a high proportion of casualties and fell back. Ten more infantry assaults came during the next 10 days, but Hill 937's North Vietnamese defenders did not give up their fortified position until May 20. Almost 100 Americans were killed and more than 400 wounded in taking the hill, amounting to a shocking 70 percent casualty rate. The same day that Hamburger Hill was finally captured, Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts called the operation "senseless and irresponsible" and attacked the military tactics of President Richard Nixon's administration. His speech before the Senate was seen as part of a growing public outcry over the U.S. military policy in Vietnam. U.S. military command had ordered Hill 937 taken primarily as a diversionary tactic, and on May 28 it was abandoned. This led to further outrage in America over what seemed a senseless loss of American lives. North Vietnamese forces eventually returned and re-fortified their original position.

 

Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day

 

*MOYER, DONALD R.
Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army, Company E, 35th Infantry Regiment. Place and date: Near Seoul, Korea, 20 May 1951. Entered service at: Keego Harbor, Oakland, Mich. Born: 15 April 1930, Pontiac, Mich. G.O. No.: 19, 1 February 1952. Citation: Sfc. Moyer assistant platoon leader, Company E, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an armed enemy of the United Nations. Sfc. Moyer's platoon was committed to attack and secure commanding terrain stubbornly defended by a numerically superior hostile force emplaced in well-fortified positions. Advancing up the rocky hill, the leading elements came under intense automatic weapons, small-arms, and grenade fire, wounding the platoon leader and platoon sergeant. Sfc. Moyer, realizing the success of the mission was imperiled, rushed to the head of the faltering column, assumed command and urged the men forward. Inspired by Sfc. Moyer's unflinching courage, the troops responded magnificently, but as they reached the final approaches to the rugged crest of the hill, enemy fire increased in volume and intensity and the fanatical foe showered the platoon with grenades. Undaunted, the valiant group forged ahead, and as they neared the top of the hill, the enemy hurled a grenade into their midst. Sfc. Moyer, fully aware of the odds against him, unhesitatingly threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full blast of the explosion with his body. Although mortally wounded in this fearless display of valor, Sfc. Moyer's intrepid act saved several of his comrades from death or serious injury, and his inspirational leadership and consummate devotion to duty contributed significantly to the subsequent seizure of the enemy stronghold and reflect lasting glory on himself and the noble traditions of the military service.

 

*BELLRICHARD, LESLIE ALLEN
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry. Place and date: Kontum Province Republic of Vietnam, 20 May 1967. Entered service at: Oakland, Calif. Born: 4 December 1941, Janesville, Wis. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Acting as a fire team leader with Company C, during combat operations Pfc. Bellrichard was with 4 fellow soldiers in a foxhole on their unit's perimeter when the position came under a massive enemy attack. Following a 30-minute mortar barrage, the enemy launched a strong ground assault. Pfc. Bellrichard rose in face of a group of charging enemy soldiers and threw hand grenades into their midst, eliminating several of the foe and forcing the remainder to withdraw. Failing in their initial attack, the enemy repeated the mortar and rocket bombardment of the friendly perimeter, then once again charged against the defenders in a concerted effort to overrun the position. Pfc. Bellrichard resumed throwing hand grenades at the onrushing attackers. As he was about to hurl a grenade, a mortar round exploded just in front of his position, knocking him into the foxhole and causing him to lose his grip on the already armed grenade. Recovering instantly, Pfc. Bellrichard recognized the threat to the lives of his 4 comrades and threw himself upon the grenade, shielding his companions from the blast that followed. Although severely wounded, Pfc. Bellrichard struggled into an upright position in the foxhole and fired his rifle at the enemy until he succumbed to his wounds. His selfless heroism contributed greatly to the successful defense of the position, and he was directly responsible for saving the lives of several of his comrades. His acts are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Army.

 

MOLNAR, FRANKIE ZOLY
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company B, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division. place and date: Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam, 20 May 1967. Entered service at: Fresno, Calif. Born: 14 February 1943, Logan, W. Va. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. S/Sgt. Molnar distinguished himself while serving as a squad leader with Company B, during combat operations. Shortly after the battalion's defensive perimeter was established, it was hit by intense mortar fire as the prelude to a massive enemy night attack. S/Sgt. Molnar immediately left his sheltered location to insure the readiness of his squad to meet the attack. As he crawled through the position, he discovered a group of enemy soldiers closing in on his squad area. His accurate rifle fire killed 5 of the enemy and forced the remainder to flee. When the mortar fire stopped, the enemy attacked in a human wave supported by grenades, rockets, automatic weapons, and small-arms fire. After assisting to repel the first enemy assault, S/Sgt. Molnar found that his squad's ammunition and grenade supply was nearly expended. Again leaving the relative safety of his position, he crawled through intense enemy fire to secure additional ammunition and distribute it to his squad. He rejoined his men to beat back the renewed enemy onslaught, and he moved about his area providing medical aid and assisting in the evacuation of the wounded. With the help of several men, he was preparing to move a severely wounded soldier when an enemy hand grenade was thrown into the group. The first to see the grenade, S/Sgt. Molnar threw himself on it and absorbed the deadly blast to save his comrades. His demonstrated selflessness and inspirational leadership on the battlefield were a major factor in the successful defense of the American position and are in keeping with the finest traditions of the U.S. Army. S/Sgt. Molnar's actions reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

 

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Thanks to CAP

MUST SEE 60 Minutes: Navy pilots describe encounters with UFOs - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBtMbBPzqHY

 

 

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Thanks to Boysie ...and Dr. Rich 

 

Love #4...

Marriage

1      HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY?  You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.      --  Alan, age 10

 

2        WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?   Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.     --  Camille, age 10

 

3        HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED? You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.     --  Derrick, age 8

 

4       WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON? Both don't want any more kids.     --  Lori, age 8

 

5      WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE? Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. --  Lynnette, age 8        

 

On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.     --  Martin, age 10

 

6       WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE? When they're rich. --  Pam, age 7 (Love her)

 

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.  -- Curt, age 7

 

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.  -- Howard, age 8

 

7   IS  IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED? It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. --  Anita, age 9        

 

8  HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED? There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?   --  Kelvin, age 8

 

9  HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK? Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck.      --  Ricky, age 9

 

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Thanks to Dan

Skip,

     If anyone is interested in learning about a famous historical event during the Vietnam War (ie: Operation Apache Snow, Hill 937, Dong Ap Bia, or, as it is more commonly known, "Hamburger Hill"), then I recommend the following book:

"The Crouching Beast"

Author: Frank Boccia

Publisher: McFarland and Company

ISBN: 978-0-7864-7439-4

     The author was an Infantry Platoon Leader, (as was I), in the 3rd/187th Infantry Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, in May 10-20, 1969, at the battle for "Hamburger Hill" (Disclaimer: I am referenced in the book, in several instances).  This book is the most complete, and accurate, account of life as an Infantry soldier, in combat, in the mountainous, triple-canopy jungles of Northern I Corps, in South Vietnam, that I have seen.

     Instead of boring everyone with lengthy war stories about this event, myself, I recommend this book.  This is timely because May 20 is the 52nd anniversary of the battle.  Two years ago, during the 50th Anniversary of the event, several of the veterans (again, including me), were invited back to Vietnam by the current Vietnamese government.  Among other events, we climbed "Hamburger Hill" again, only this time nobody was shooting at us!

 

Dan Bresnahan

aka: Lt Dan 

 

 

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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for May 20 FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY

 

20 May

 

1915: The Army accepted its first Curtiss JN-2 aircraft. It went to the 1st Aero Squadron. (21)

 

1926: President Calvin Coolidge signed the Air Commerce Act. It was the first federal law regulating civil aviation. (21) (24)

 

1927: KEY EVENT—SOLO FLIGHT ACROSS THE ATLANTIC/MEDAL OF HONOR. Charles A. Lindbergh, a Captain in the Missouri National Guard's 110th Observation Squadron, landed his Ryan Monoplane, the "Spirit of St. Louis," in Paris on 21 May after the first nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic. He set a 3,609-mile FAI record for straight-line distance in his 33-hour 39-minute flight. For this feat, President Calvin Coolidge presented Lindbergh with a special Medal of Honor (not the "Congressional" Medal of Honor). (9) (21)

 

1932: Amelia Earhart flew a Wasp-powered Lockheed Vega on the first solo flight across the North Atlantic by a woman. She flew from Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, to Londonderry, Ireland, in 15 hours 20 minutes. (9) 1939: Pan American Airways started the first scheduled transatlantic airmail service, using a southern route through the Azores, Portugal, and Marseilles, France. A northern route through New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Eire, and England started later on 24 June. (5) (21)

 

1948: A production North American P-86 Sabre, the first swept-wing jet fighter, made its first flight. (12)

 

1951: KOREAN WAR/FIRST JET-TO-JET ACE. In an F-86 Sabre, Capt James Jabara from the 334 FIS became the world's first jet ace by shooting down his fifth and sixth MiG-15s. (21) (24) (28)

 

1952: KOREAN WAR. Col Harrison R. Thyng, 4 FIW Commander, destroyed his fifth MiG to become the sixteenth jet ace of the war. (28)

 

1954: The first Matador surface-to-surface guided missile arrived in the European theater. (4)

 

1960: From Cape Canaveral, the USAF launched a Convair HGM-16 Atlas ICBM with a 1.5-ton payload to a target 9,040 miles away in the Indian Ocean. This feat represented the greatest distance traveled by an ICBM to date. (20) (24)

 

1966: The NORAD Attack Warning System (NAWS) became operational.

 

1970: An FB-111 launched a SRAM successfully for the first time at the White Sands Missile Range. (6)

 

1978: McDonnell Douglas delivered its 5,000th F-4 Phantom to the services. (8)

 

1983: The 18 MAS at McGuire AFB sent a C-141 with an all-female crew on a round-trip flight across the Atlantic. They became the first all-woman crew to make that flight. 2005:

 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) launched its NOAA-N spacecraft from Vandenberg AFB into a polar orbit to collect information about Earth's atmosphere and environment. The data would be used to improve weather prediction and climate research across the globe. NOAA-N also has instruments to support an international search-and-rescue program. The Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking System, called COPAS-SARSAT, transmits to ground stations the location of emergency beacons from ships, aircraft and people in distress around the world. (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/noaa-n/main/index.html) The 53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron's "Hurricane Hunters" from Keesler AFB flew their first WC-130J operational mission into a storm to gather data about Hurricane Adrian off the coast of El Salvador. Prior to this event, the 53d's crews had flown the WC-130J into storms for training and evaluation, but not to fulfill a National Hurricane Center tasking. (AFNEWS Article, "Hurricane Hunters Fly First Operational WC-130J Mission," 23 May 2005)

 

2003: Boeing's 777-300ER extended-range jetliner set an FAI world weight record of 774,600 pounds at takeoff, the heaviest weight ever for a twin-engine airplane. Boeing test pilot Frank Santoni and FAA pilot Eugene Arnold set the record during the airliner's FAA certification testing. The 777-300ER had General Electric 90-115B engines rated at 115,000 pounds of thrust each, the most powerful in the world. (3)

 

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World News for 20 May thanks to Military Periscope

 

USA—5th SBIRS Missile-Warning Sat Launched United Launch Alliance | 05/20/2021 United Launch Alliance (ULA) says it has successfully launched the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit Flight 5 mission. On Tuesday, the SBIRS GEO-5 satellite was launched on an Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Center, Fla., ULA said in a release. Two 12U Technology Demonstration Orbiter cubesats, dubbed TDO-3 and TDO-4, carrying several government payloads for the Air Force Academy were also carried into orbit on the rocket, reported Space News. The Atlas V rocket was the first to feature an improved RL10 C-1-1 engine to power its Centaur upper stage. The RL10 C-1-1 has a 3D-printed core main injector and offers greater performance than the previous RL10C-1. The SBIRS GEO-5 satellite is the first to be built by Lockheed Martin on the company's LM 2100 bus featuring enhanced security features. 

 

USA—Qatari Eagle Suffers Landing Mishap Outside St. Louis Air Force Magazine | 05/20/2021 The crew of an F-15QA Eagle built for Qatar ejected after experiencing an issue while landing at an airport outside St. Louis, Mo., reports Air Force magazine. On Tuesday, the jet departed the runway at MidAmerica Airport, Ill., after landing. Photos showed that the aircraft was missing its canopy following the ejection but otherwise undamaged. The pilots, active-duty U.S. Air Force officers, ejected safely, suffering only minor injuries, reported the Air Force Times. The reason they ejected was not released. The F-15QA had been accepted by the Air Force ahead of its transfer to Qatar under the Foreign Military Sales program. 

 

Belgium—Heavily Armed Soldier Sought Following Threats BBC News | 05/20/2021 Belgian authorities are searching for a heavily armed soldier who holds far-right views and has made threats against public health officials, reports BBC News. Special Belgian police units are looking for the soldier, identified as Jurgen Conings, a military shooting instructor who took weapons from a barracks in Leopoldsburg on the pretext of organizing target practice. The suspect has reportedly made threats against Marc Van Ranst, a virologist leading Belgium's fight against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Conings is known to hold far-right views, with authorities describing him as a potential far-right extremist after he left letters warning he was ready for a deadly battle with police. A search of a forest near the town of Dilsen-Stokkem, not far from his home in the northern Limburg province, turned up a car said to belong to Conings with four anti-tank rocket launchers and ammunition. The soldier was believed to still have other guns, including a submachine gun, and a bulletproof vest. Evidence emerged over the previous 24 hours that the soldier posed an acute threat, Belgian Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne said in an interview with Flemish TV. Conings was among a group of at least 30 soldiers with far-right view being monitored by Belgium's threat analysis unit. 

 

Serbia—Russian Troops Join Counterterror Drills Tass | 05/20/2021 A contingent of Russian special operations forces is in Serbia for a week of counterterrorism exercises, reports the Tass news agency (Moscow). The joint training began on Thursday and is scheduled to conclude on May 25. About 200 Russian special operators and at least 11 pieces of equipment from the Western Military District's special operations unit are taking part in the exercise. The drills will include airdrops and operations against mock terrorist strongholds, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. There will also be exhibitions and small arms shooting sessions. The training is intended to bolster interoperability between Russian and Serbian special operations forces, the ministry said. 

 

Belarus—Yak-130 Goes Down In Baranavichy; Pilots Die Radio Free Europe | 05/20/2021 Two Belarusian air force pilots have been killed in the crash of their trainer jet, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. On Wednesday, the Yak-130 trainer took off from a military airbase in the city of Lida on a training flight before going down outside the city of Baranavichy, the Belarusian Defense Ministry said. The aircraft was on a training flight when the crew detected an unspecified technical problem. The pilots diverted the aircraft to ensure it would not strike any residential building and ejected. However, both were killed, the ministry said. 

 

Armenia—Moscow Proposes Joint Commission With Azerbaijan To Demarcate Border Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | 05/20/2021 Russia has proposed a joint commission to demarcate the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan after Yerevan accused Azerbaijan of sending troops into its territory, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia could participate in the commission as a "consultant" or "mediator." Armenia has accused Azerbaijani troops of crossing into its territory in the Syunik and Gegharkunik provinces. Baku has denied the charge, saying its troops took up border posts in Azerbaijani territory that are not accessible in winter. Armenian National Security Council Secretary Armen Grigorian said that Azerbaijani troops would have to withdraw from Armenian territory before talks could begin. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev, discussed the proposal on Wednesday, reported the Trend news agency (Baku). Aliyev and Azerbaijani officials have not publicly commented on the proposal. 

 

Kyrgyzstan—Joint Border Ops Agreed With Tajikistan In Disputed Region Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | 05/20/2021 The Kyrgyz and Tajik government have agreed to joint security operations in a disputed border region where fighting broke out last month, reports Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. On Tuesday, officials in Kyrgyzstan's southern Batken region said that a joint checkpoint had been established between the Kyrgyz village of Ak-Sai and the Vorukh district in Tajikistan. The checkpoint will enable law enforcement and border guard personnel from both sides to control safety and security in the area. As part of the agreement, Kyrgyzstan will permit Tajik citizens and vehicles to pass through territory under its control. On Monday, several Kyrgyz and Tajik nationals were detained along the border, with Kyrgyz officials claiming that three of their citizens were beaten in Tajik custody. Regional officials from the two sides later said that those responsible for the beatings would face justice. 

 

Japan—Government Likely To Exceed Traditional Ceiling On Defense Spending Nikkei Asian Review | 05/20/2021 Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi says Japan is ready to boost defense spending beyond the longstanding limit of 1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), reports the Nikkei. On Wednesday, Kishi told the newspaper in an interview that evolving threats and new technology required Japan to spend more on defense without regard for its size relative to GDP. "We must increase our defense capabilities at a radically different pace than in the past," in light of China's increased capabilities and growing importance of domains such as space, cyber and the electromagnetic spectrum, the minister said. Kishi also called for strengthening forces in the Nansei Island chain, which is seen as critical for the defense of the Senkakus, which China also claims. There are also plans to add a third unit to the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade in Sasebo, he said. The defense minister noted that the Senkakus are about 105 miles (170 km) from Taiwan and could be involved in any conflict over the self-governing island. 

 

Afghanistan—5 Facilities Handed Over As U.S. Drawdown Continues U.S. Central Command | 05/20/2021 The U.S. is continuing its pullout from Afghanistan, with five facilities returned to Afghan control, reports U.S. Central Command. This is a significant increase from the previous week, when only a single base had been transferred, reported Air Force magazine. According to CENTCOM, around 115 C-17 cargo loads of materiel have been withdrawn from Afghanistan. Another 5,000 pieces of equipment have been transferred to the Defense Logistics Agency for destruction. The withdrawal process is currently between 13 and 20 percent complete, the command said. 

 

Iran—Agreement Within Reach To Restore Nuclear Deal, Say Negotiators Al Jazeera | 05/20/2021 Negotiators in Vienna say an agreement to restore the Iran nuclear deal is close, reports Al Jazeera (Qatar). Following talks on Wednesday, representatives from Russia and the European Union said a deal was within reach. The U.S. is not participating directly in talks and is instead meeting with an intermediary in the form of the E.U. negotiator, reported Reuters. Iranian negotiator Abbas Aragchi said that an agreement could be announced as soon as next week or by presidential elections on June 18, reported the Jerusalem Post. Aragchi said that negotiators were returning to their capitals to discuss the current progress ahead of a fourth round of talks, which is expected to begin next week. Several issues, including the status of an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency over the monitoring of certain facilities set to expire on Friday, remain on the agenda. Araghchi has said that Iran may be willing to renew that agreement. 

 

Lebanon—Foreign Minister Steps Down After Criticizing Gulf Countries Arab News | 05/20/2021 Charbel Wehbe has stepped down as Lebanon's foreign minister following comment critical of the Arab Gulf countries, reports the Arab News (Riyadh). During an interview with the U.S.-funded Alhurra television on Monday, Wehbe blamed Gulf countries for the spread of ISIS in Syria and Iraq. He then made comments perceived as racist against a Saudi guest and left the studio. Those comments led Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates to summon Lebanese ambassadors to lodge formal protests, reported the National (Abu Dhabi). Wehbe stepped down on Wednesday, a day before a planned European tour. Defense Minister Zeina Akar has been named as acting foreign minister, in addition to her defense duties, reported Naharnet (Beirut). 

 

Israel—Cease-Fire With Hamas Seen Possible This Week Wall Street Journal | 05/20/2021 A cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza could come as soon as Friday, according to people involved in the discussions cited by the Wall Street Journal. Egyptian officials have made progress in discussions with Hamas and the Israeli military has privately indicated that it is nearing the end of its objectives, said U.S. and foreign officials. President Biden spoke to Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, saying he expected a significant de-escalation as fighting entered its 10th day. In a video following the call, Netanyahu said Israel would continue its operation until all its goals were achieved. U.S. officials later said that the statement was intended for a domestic audience and Hamas. Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Gilad Erdan said that Hamas was ready for a cease-fire that would protect its "terrorist infrastructure" in Gaza. There is an existing mechanism for a cease-fire, American officials said, with timing an issue. There are also concerns that Palestinian Islamic Jihad could disrupt any agreement. On Wednesday, Hamas political official Moussa Abu Marzouk told Al Mayadeen television (Beirut) that a cease-fire could be finalized within a day or two. At least 100 Israeli airstrikes were reported against suspected Hamas targets in northern Gaza early Thursday. Two options have been proposed during Egypt-mediated talks with Hamas. One involves a comprehensive agreement, while the second calls for a temporary truce, to provide time to negotiate a longer-term pact. 

 

Libya—TunisAir 1st Foreign Airline To Resumes Flights Into Libya Arab News | 05/20/2021 A Tunisian airline is the first foreign airline to restart flights to Libya, reports the Arab News (Riyadh). On Monday, TunisAir flights landed in Benghazi and at Mitiga airport in Tripoli, reported Agence France-Presse. TunisAir was the last foreign airline to suspend flights into Libya, doing so in 2014 in response to rising insecurity in the country. The airline plans to operate three flights a week to Tripoli and two to Benghazi. Libyan airlines have been operating the only flights into and out of the country since 2014. Those flights were limited to Tunisia, Turkey and Egypt, because Libyan firms were banned from flying into European airspace. 

 

Nigeria—Police Target Separatists In South Guardian | 05/20/2021 Nigerian police have launched an operation against a separatist group in the southern part of the country following a wave of attacks, reports the Guardian (Lagos). On Tuesday, Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Baba unveiled Operation Restore Peace in southeastern Nigeria. The operation targets the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), who have been blamed for a series of attacks in the region. On Wednesday, another simultaneous operation was launched in Nigeria's southern region, reported This Day (Lagos). IPOB and the ESN are believed to be behind a jailbreak in Oweri in April that freed 1,800 prisoners, as well as a series of deadly attacks on police officers, reported Reuters. Police and intelligence agents say that the group seeks to restore the independent state of Biafra, a short-lived country that broke off from Nigeria in 1967. 

 

Colombia—Dissident FARC Leader Killed In Venezuela Reuters | 05/20/2021 A Colombian militant who rejected a 2016 peace deal has been killed in a Colombian military operation in Venezuela, reports Reuters. Seuxis Pausias Hernandez Solarte, also known as Jesus Santrich, was killed by Colombian troops while traveling in Venezuela, dissident members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) said on Tuesday. The dissident group, calling itself Segunda Marquetalia, said that Colombian troops attacked the truck carrying Santrich with small-arms fire and grenades before escaping via helicopter. Colombian officials did not immediately confirm the killing but said that they were aware of the reports. Santrich initially backed the 2016 peace accord but later rejected it after he was indicted in the U.S. on drug-trafficking charges. He disappeared in mid-2019 and went on to lead the Segunda Marquetalia group, which is involved anti-government operations. Colombia has long accused Venezuela of harboring militants along the mutual border.  

 

 

 

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