Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Pakistan reopens NATO supply routes after U.S. apology IRNA 04 Jul 2012 -- Pakistan on Tuesday announced that it is reopening land routes for NATO forces in neighbouring Afghanistan, the country's Information Minister, Qamar-uz-Zaman Kaira said.
• NATO Supply Trucks Head For Afghanistan As Pakistan Reopens Route RFE/RL 04 Jul 2012 -- Trucks carrying NATO supplies are expected to resume trips to Afghanistan on July 4 following Pakistan's decision to end a seven-month blockade.
• NATO Afghan Supply Convoys Resume VOA 04 Jul 2012 -- ISLAMABAD — Just one day after Pakistan decided to reopen NATO supply routes into Afghanistan, drivers who have been waiting for months are ready to get their supply convoys moving. But as the reopening comes with drivers' calls for increased security.
• Army's Foxhounds prepare to be unleashed in Helmand UK MOD 04 Jul 2012 -- British Army crews and commanders are training with the new Foxhound vehicles at Camp Bastion before the platform heads outside the wire.

Defense Policy / Programs

• NATO Secretary General sets out strategic vision for a globally connected Alliance NATO 04 Jul 2012 -- Forging closer links with worldwide partners in Asia, Africa and elsewhere will be crucial to guaranteeing future security in the Euro-Atlantic area, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in a major policy speech on Wednesday 4 July 2012.
• NATO to Provide $1Bln for Missile Defense Infrastructure RIA Novosti 04 Jul 2012 -- NATO members have pledged to provide more than $1 billion to ensure the operation of the European missile defense system, Frank A. Rose, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance, said on Tuesday.
• Russian Lawmakers Approve Defense Research Agency RIA Novosti 04 Jul 2012 -- The lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, passed on Wednesday in the first reading a bill on the establishment of an advanced military research agency.
• Russia's Yak-130 Combat Trainer to Debut at Farnborough 2012 RIA Novosti 04 Jul 2012 -- Russia's Yakovlev Yak-130 Mitten trainer/light attack aircraft will be showcased for the first time at the Farnborough International Air Show as part of a large Russian exhibit.
• Samara Plant to Build 6 An-140 Military Planes in 2012 RIA Novosti 04 Jul 2012 -- Samara-based AVIACOR aircraft maker will build six Antonov An-140-100 light transport planes under a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry by the end of 2012, the regional government said on Wednesday.
• Hajizadeh: IRGC missiles can hit enemies positions IRNA 04 Jul 2012 -- Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Aerospace Unit, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said on Wednesday that the IRGC's missiles can hit enemies' positions like thunders.
• Iran Test Fires Anti-Ship Missiles RIA Novosti 04 Jul 2012 -- Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard test-fired anti-ship missiles on Wednesday as part of its Great Prophet 7 war games, Iran's FARS news agency said.
• India, Egypt to carry out joint naval exercises IRNA 04 Jul 2012 -- In their first engagement after the new establishment took over in Egypt, Indian and Egyptian navies will carry out a joint exercises in Alexandria.
• Taiwan's military set to commission new additions to rescue squadron CNA 04 Jul 2012 -- Taiwan's Air Force will formally commission three search-and-rescue helicopters purchased from Europe to beef up its disaster response capabilities at a ceremony July 10, the military said recently.
• UPDATED: RAF Tornado incident UK MOD 04 Jul 2012 -- The RAF has confirmed that one crew member has died and two remain unaccounted for following an incident in the Moray Firth area involving two Tornado GR4 aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth on Tuesday.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Syria: chief UN observer receives 'clear commitment' from authorities on peace plan UN News Centre 04 Jul 2012 -- Addressing reporters in the Syrian capital of Damascus, the UN Chief Military Observer in the country, Major-General Robert Mood, today said the Government had indicated a clear commitment to a peace plan aimed at ending the violence there, and reiterated the commitment of the United Nations to helping the people of Syria.
• Russia Urges Syria Opposition to Unite ?For Peace' RIA Novosti 04 Jul 2012 -- Moscow is calling on Syrian opposition groups to unite to find a peaceful solution to the ongoing crisis, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
• Russia Protests Use of ?Human Shields' in Syria RIA Novosti 04 Jul 2012 -- Russia hit out on Wednesday at what it said was the use of civilians as human shields by both sides in the more than year-long conflict in Syria.
• Bodies of Turkish Pilots of Downed Plane Found RIA Novosti 04 Jul 2012 -- The bodies of two Turkish pilots of a jet downed by Syria in the Mediterranean Sea were found on Wednesday, the Hurriyet daily reported.
• Assad Accuses Turkey of Meddling in Syrian Affairs RIA Novosti 04 Jul 2012 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has accused Turkey of meddling in Syrian internal affairs by providing support to the opposition, in an interview with Turkish Cumhuriyet daily published on Wednesday.
• Turkey Recovers Pilots' Bodies But Questions Remain VOA 04 Jul 2012 -- INSTANBUL — Turkey says it has found the bodies of the two pilots whose jet was shot down by Syrian forces last month. But the circumstances of how and where the plane was shot down are in dispute that is putting increasing pressure on the Turkish government.
• Taiwanese boats have right to enter waters off Tiaoyutais: ministry CNA 04 Jul 2012 -- Taiwanese boats have the right to enter the waters around the Tiaoyutai Islands in the East China Sea, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday, rejecting a protest lodged by Japan over a boat that recently entered the waters off the disputed islands.
• Coast guard escorts fishing boat near Tiaoyutais CNA 04 Jul 2012 -- Taiwan's coast guard said Wednesday it prevented Japanese authorities from boarding a Taiwan fishing boat near the disputed Tiaoyutai Islands in the East China Sea earlier in the day.
• Somalia: UN and partners note roadmap progress, voice concern over missed deadlines UN News Centre 04 Jul 2012 -- While noting progress, the international group that brings together the United Nations and its diplomatic partners in support of efforts to restore peace and stability in Somalia today expressed concern over the missing of deadlines which form part of the process of ending the country's current transitional governing arrangements on 20 August this year.

News Reports

• Commander: IRGC missiles to reciprocate enemy's attacks within minutes IRNA 04 Jul 2012 -- Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Aerospace Division, Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh said on Wednesday that the IRGC's missiles are ready to reciprocate the enemy's attacks within minutes.
• Iranian envoy underlines Iran's legitimate right to peaceful nuclear technology IRNA 04 Jul 2012 -- Iran's Ambassador to Oman Hossein Noushabadi on Tuesday conferred with the French ambassador to Muscat on Iran's legitimate rights to making use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
• Belarus to Help Venezuela Build Space Complex RIA Novosti 04 Jul 2012 -- Belarus will help Venezuela build a space complex to launch satellites, the Ambassador of Venezuela to Belarus Americo Diaz Nunez, said at a news conference in Minsk on Wednesday.
• Arafat's Body May be Exhumed for Tests VOA 04 Jul 2012 -- Traces of the radioactive poisonous element polonium have been found in the belongings of late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, according to the Swiss-based Institute of Radiophysics.