Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 5, 2019

British Army troops in the southern Iraq city of Basra in 2004 [File: Atef Hassan/Reuters]

Middle East Eye: EXCLUSIVE: British army permitted shooting of civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan

Soldiers who served in Basra in 2007 say they were told they could shoot anyone holding a phone or a shovel, or acting in any way suspiciously

The British army operated rules of engagement in Iraq and Afghanistan that at times allowed soldiers to shoot unarmed civilians who were suspected of keeping them under surveillance, a Middle East Eye investigation has established.

The casualties included a number of children and teenage boys, according to several former soldiers interviewed by MEE.

Two former infantrymen allege that they and their fellow soldiers serving in southern Iraq were at one point told that they had permission to shoot anyone seen holding a mobile telephone, carrying a shovel, or acting in any way suspiciously.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 5, 2019

British army authorised killing of unarmed civilians: Report -- Al Jazeera

Trump Moving to Install New Chiefs of Army, Navy, Marines -- The Wall Street Journal

Air Force names first female flight commander for F-16 Viper team -- UPI

WATCH Potential Blackhawk Replacement SB-1 Starts Ground Tests -- Sputnik

US military equipped with tiny spy drones -- ZDNet

How will the Army use electronic warfare? The Pentagon’s weapon tester wants to know -- C4IRSNet

New retro-style Army Greens to hit the streets this year in phased rollout -- Stars and Stripes

Top general says he wasn't consulted before Trump announced Syria withdrawal -- The Hill

Senate Dems introduce bill to block Trump from using military funds to build wall -- The Hill

How will the Army fight in the future? -- Jeff Martin, Defense News  

Why is the military estimate of civilian casualties so much smaller than outside tallies? The Pentagon aims to find out. -- Stars and Stripes

Family of fallen Navy linguist fights regulation that forced her deployment to Syria -- Stars and Stripes

Five Reasons The Navy's D5 Missile Is The Most Important Weapon In The U.S. Arsenal -- Loren Thompson, Forbes

The SM-6 Is the U.S. Navy's Most Important Missile (It Can Kill Almost Anything) -- David Axe, National Interest

Trump’s missile defense strategy: Build wall in space, make allies pay for it -- Sean Gallagher, Ars Technica

US investigating whether Saudi Arabia gave third parties American-made weapons: report -- The Hill

Germany could miss even reduced NATO defense spending goal: document -- Reuters

Greece to Ratify Macedonia's NATO Membership This Week -- VOA/AP

Russia's New Super Long-Range Cruise Missile Has a Problem -- Michael Peck, National Interest

Second Base? Lavrov Suggests Moscow Open To Discussing New Military Facility In Kyrgyzstan -- RFE

Syria experience prompts need for military satellite grouping, says Russian defense chief -- TASS

Erdogan: Turkey in contact with Damascus through its spy agency -- Al Jazeera

Khamenei Decides To Withdraw $1.5 Billion From Special Fund For The Military -- Radio Farda

Iran’s “New” Land-Attack Cruise Missile In Context -- Behnam Ben Taleblu, Long War Journal

Israel Boosts Protection Of Gas Fields, Shipping -- Breaking Defense

North Korea protecting nuclear missiles, U.N. monitors say, ahead of summit talks -- Reuters

Report: South Korea to pay more to keep U.S. troops in the country -- Axios

S. Korea-U.S. joint military exercise schedule to be announced: sources -- Yonhap News Agency

Chinese navy veteran warns training, not hardware is key to military preparedness -- SCMP

The British Army is testing a virtual reality training system for its soldiers -- CNBC

EXCLUSIVE: Biggest Number Of Gurkhas Joining The U.K. Army In 30 Years -- Forces Network

Germany's budget hole casts doubt over defense spending goals -- DW