Resources - News

This section includes the latest news relating to U.S. security policy around the world. Updated daily, the news provided in this searchable database highlights the most relevant security developments from around the world. 

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International Human Smuggling Ring Dismantled in Peru and Chile

Tuesday, November 1, 2016
A multi-country operation has dismantled a human smuggling ring described as the largest criminal organization bringing Dominican migrants to Chile, as those fleeing physical and economic insecurity continue to seek the "Chilean Dream" in a country known for low crime rates and economic stability. English
Country(s): 
Peru
Chile
Author(s): 
Luis Fernando Alonso
Publisher / Source: 
InSight Crime
Tag(s): 
Criminal Organizations

El Salvador’s Security Forces Are Now Involved in More Shootouts than Mexico’s

Tuesday, November 1, 2016
So the announcement last week by the director of the National Civil Police, Howard Cotto, that police have done this 459 times so far this year points to the severity of the conflict between the gangs and the state. This means El Salvador's authorities are clashing with criminal groups more often than in Mexico, which is still engulfed in a drug war, and Colombia, whose half-century-long civil war is ending.English
Country(s): 
El Salvador
Author(s): 
Joshua Partlow
Publisher / Source: 
The Washington Post
Tag(s): 
Law Enforcement
Conflict
Criminal Organizations

'We're Not in Perfect Control': U.S. Plans Operation Against Islamic State in Syria Despite Obstacles

Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Obama administration officials acknowledged a wealth of problems that could derail the offensive, including the need to gather and train additional Syrian forces. More ominously, they cite the explosive dynamics between two allies: Turkey and Syrian Kurdish fighters, who form the bulk of the existing offensive force.English
Country(s): 
Syria
Author(s): 
Missy Ryan
Karen DeYoung
Publisher / Source: 
The Washington Post
Tag(s): 
Terrorism

Turkey to Order New F-35 Lightning II Jets

Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Turkey’s top defense procurement panel has agreed to officially order a second batch of F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation multirole fighter aircraft under the multinational Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. English
Country(s): 
Turkey
Author(s): 
Burak Ege Bekdil
Publisher / Source: 
Defense News
Tag(s): 
Arms Sales
Militarization

NATO Agrees to Expand Naval, Air Patrols in Black Sea

Monday, October 31, 2016
NATO has agreed to come up with a "coordination body" to manage activity in the Black Sea, a step toward formalizing a NATO presence in the region that Russia considers to be its sphere of influence.English
Country(s): 
Central and Eastern Europe Regional
Author(s): 
Joshua Kucera
Publisher / Source: 
EurasiaNet
Tag(s): 
NATO

Taliban Gain Ground in Afghanistan as Soldiers Surrender Their Posts

Monday, October 31, 2016
Besieged Afghan officials in the southern province of Oruzgan said on Sunday that scores of regular Afghan soldiers had surrendered in the past week to the Taliban, a trend also occurring recently in other provinces.English
Country(s): 
Afghanistan
Author(s): 
Taimoor Shah
Rod Nordland
Publisher / Source: 
The New York Times
Tag(s): 
Terrorism

Colombia, Mexico Presidents Discuss Security Cooperation

Monday, October 31, 2016
The presidents of Colombia and Mexico have promised to deepen cooperation on matters of organized crime and security as both countries continue to struggle with longstanding problems related to criminal groups.English
Country(s): 
Mexico
Colombia
Author(s): 
Mike LaSusa
Publisher / Source: 
InSight Crime
Tag(s): 
Criminal Organizations
Politics and Security

The U.S. Spent Billions Building Roads in Afghanistan. Now Many of Them Are Beyond Repair.

Monday, October 31, 2016
Thirteen years ago, the United States called the reconstruction of the Kabul-Kandahar highway “the most visible sign” of efforts to rebuild Afghanistan. But today, that stretch of road is no longer a sign of progress. Instead, it is now littered with craters from bombs and insurgent checkpoints and is “beyond repair,” an Afghan official said, and it is a symbol of the failed U.S. intervention here.English
Country(s): 
Afghanistan
Author(s): 
Erin Cunningham
Publisher / Source: 
The Washington Post
Tag(s): 
Terrorism
Security

Fears of Fresh Violence in CAR as France Ends Military Mission

Monday, October 31, 2016
French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian headed to the Central African Republic on Sunday to formally end Operation Sangaris, begun three years ago to halt mass killings there but which failed to disarm militias terrorizing the population.English
Country(s): 
Central African Republic
Publisher / Source: 
France 24
Wire Service: 
AFP
Tag(s): 
Military
Conflict

Videos Show FMLN Leaders Offering El Salvador Gangs $10 Mn in Micro-credit

Monday, October 31, 2016
Two videos reveal another layer of secret negotiations between El Salvador’s ruling party, the FMLN, and leaders of the three main gangs in El Salvador. The two videos FMLN members meeting with leaders of the MS13 and the two factions of the Barrio 18 gang, and pledging to provide millions of dollars in aid to the gang members.English
Country(s): 
El Salvador
Author(s): 
Juan Jose Martinez d'Aubuisson
Carlos Martinez
Publisher / Source: 
InSight Crime
Tag(s): 
Corruption
Criminal Organizations

Somali Troops Recapture Village from Al-Shabab

Monday, October 31, 2016
Somali government troops recaptured Goofgaduud in southern Somalia after al-Shabab militants briefly took control of the village Sunday, officials and witnesses said. English
Country(s): 
Somalia
Author(s): 
Mohamed Olad
Publisher / Source: 
Voice of America
Tag(s): 
Terrorism
Counterterrorism

India Offers to Buy 200 Foreign Combat Jets - If They're Made-In-India

Monday, October 31, 2016
A deal for 200 single-engine planes produced in India - which the air force says could rise to 300 as it fully phases out aging Soviet-era aircraft - could be worth anything from $13-$15 billion, experts say, potentially one of the country's biggest military aircraft deals. English
Country(s): 
India
Author(s): 
Sanjeev Miglani
Publisher / Source: 
Reuters
Tag(s): 
Military Equipment
Militarization

Somalia Lost $1b to Graft

Monday, October 31, 2016
A former top financial manager in the Somali government has released a report detailing how over $1 billion was diverted from the national budget between 2013 and 2015. The whistleblower says the government receives and spends more money from donors and domestic revenue than they account for. English
Country(s): 
Somalia
Author(s): 
Fred Oluoch
Publisher / Source: 
The East African
Tag(s): 
Corruption
Foreign Aid

Kenya: Authorities Systematically Eroding Civil Rights, Report Says

Monday, October 31, 2016
A new report says Kenyan authorities are systematically curtailing civil liberties by targeting defenders of civil rights. The authors are concerned about the impact that the trend might have on Kenya's 2017 elections.English
Country(s): 
Kenya
Publisher / Source: 
All Africa
Wire Service: 
Voice of America
Tag(s): 
Human Rights

Nigeria: Officials Abusing Displaced Women, Girls

Monday, October 31, 2016
Government officials and other authorities in Nigeria have raped and sexually exploited women and girls displaced by the conflict with Boko Haram, says Human Rights Watch. English
Country(s): 
Nigeria
Publisher / Source: 
Human Rights Watch
Tag(s): 
Terrorism
Human Rights

An American Ally…Where Listening to Voice of America Was Just Banned?

Monday, October 31, 2016
Nearly a year of protests against land reform issues and heavy-handed government policies is starting to take its toll on Ethiopia, who earlier this month announced a six-month state of emergency. Often hailed as a rising star and economic stronghold of Africa, the growing discontent highlights the limits of authoritarian development as well as the hypocrisy of the West when it comes to human rights abuses.English
Country(s): 
Ethiopia
Author(s): 
Kimberly Curtis
Publisher / Source: 
UN Dispatch
Tag(s): 
Human Rights
Conflict

‘Everything on the Table’ in Revived Colombia Peace Talks

Monday, October 31, 2016
President Juan Manuel Santos told Colombians on Friday that “everything is on the table” in efforts to revive a peace pact that voters narrowly defeated Oct. 2 and said a revised accord could be reached “in a matter of days.”English
Country(s): 
Colombia
Author(s): 
Frank Bajak
Publisher / Source: 
The Washington Times
Wire Service: 
AP
Tag(s): 
Conflict
Peace Negotiations

Argentines Fearful as President Wages ‘War’ on Drug Traffickers

Monday, October 31, 2016
Insecurity has now displaced inflation as Argentina’s number one concern. Narcotics gangs, increasingly from Colombia and Mexico, are using Argentina as a transit point to export more than 70 tonnes of cocaine a year to markets in Europe and Asia.Homicide rates fuelled by gang fighting have tripled over the past decade in the worst-hit areas. English
Country(s): 
Argentina
Author(s): 
Benedict Mander
Publisher / Source: 
Financial Times
Tag(s): 
Counternarcotics
Criminal Organizations

In Syria, the U.S. May Need More Troops to Manage Shaky Alliance

Monday, October 31, 2016
U.S. commanders in the Middle East are trying to determine whether 300 U.S. troops on the ground inside Syria will be enough to oust the Islamic State group from its self-proclaimed capital in Raqqa. English
Country(s): 
Syria
Author(s): 
Andrew Tilghman
Publisher / Source: 
Military Times
Tag(s): 
Security Assistance
Terrorism

Airstrikes by Saudi-Led Coalition Kill Dozens in Western Yemen

Monday, October 31, 2016
Dozens of people, including many prisoners, were killed after airstrikes by a Saudi-led military coalition struck a security facility in western Yemen, local security officials and news reports said on Sunday.English
Country(s): 
Saudi Arabia
Author(s): 
Ben Hubbard
Publisher / Source: 
The New York Times
Tag(s): 
Conflict
Human Rights

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