Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 27 Jul 2012 [PDF]
• Coalition Airstrike Kills 2 Insurgents AFPS 27 Jul 2012 -- A coalition airstrike killed two enemy fighters during a search for an al-Qaida-associated insurgent leader in the Gelan district of Afghanistan’s Ghazni province.
• Pakistan-US MoU not to allow arms cargo to Afghanistan IRNA 27 Jul 2012 -- Details of the draft of the Memorandum of Understanding between Pakistan and the US regarding the NATO supply route reveals that there will be no transportation of arms and ammunition into Afghanistan via Pakistan for foreign troops.
• Karzai Unveils Ambitious Government Reforms RFE/RL 27 Jul 2012 -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai has issued an ambitious list of government reforms.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Remarks by the President at Signing of the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act The White House 27 Jul 2012
• Fact Sheet: Advancing Israel's Security and Supporting Peace The White House 27 Jul 2012
• Obama Adds $70 Million to Israel Military Aid VOA 27 Jul 2012 -- President Barack Obama has committed another $70 million in U.S. military aid for Israel.
• Obama to Sign Israel Security Bill Ahead of Romney Visit VOA 27 Jul 2012 -- President Barack Obama will sign legislation Friday that expands military ties between the United States and Israel.
• Former CNO Admiral James Watkins Passes Away NNS 27 Jul 2012 -- Retired Navy Admiral James D. Watkins, the 22nd Chief of Naval Operations, passed away July 26. He was 85.
• Limited Directed Detailing Initiative to Help Fill Critical Needs at Sea NNS 27 Jul 2012 -- In order to meet the near-term critical manning needs of the Fleet, the Navy will curtail shore duty for select Sailors that have the required skills needed at sea, Navy officials announced in NAVADMIN 227/12, released July 26.
• ESG 3 Commander Visits USS Peleliu NNS 27 Jul 2012 -- Rear Adm. Gerard Hueber, commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 3, flew aboard amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) to visit with Sailors and Marines during composite unit training exercise (COMPUTEX), July 25-26.
• Peleliu ARG Aids in Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation Exercise NNS 27 Jul 2012 -- The Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) conducted a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) exercise off the coast of Southern California, July 24.
• DeBrine Passes Command of HT-18 to White NNS 27 Jul 2012 -- Marine Corps Lt. Col. Robert White relieved Cmdr. Jeffrey DeBrine as commanding officer of Helicopter Training Squadron (HT) 18 aboard Naval Air Station Whiting Field, July 26.
• Navy Establishes New Program Office for CVN 79 Planning, Procurement NNS 27 Jul 2012 -- The Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Aircraft Carriers, Rear Adm. Thomas Moore, announced the stand up of a new program office, July 27, within PEO Carriers, PMS 379, and the assumption of office by Cmdr. Doug Oglesby.
• Texas Welcomes New Texan II Aircraft NNS 27 Jul 2012 -- Naval Aviators and local leaders joined together aboard Naval Air Station Corpus Christi to welcome the newest training aircraft to Training Air Wing 4, July 26.
• Cape St. George Concludes Malta Visit NNS 27 Jul 2012 -- Deployed Sailors aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) concluded a four-day port visit in Valletta, Malta, July 23.
• Carter Assesses Results of Asia-Pacific Trip AFPS 27 Jul 2012 -- Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said he had succeeded in informing allies and partners about specific aspects of the U.S. strategic rebalance, and had, in turn, received strategic and practical information about what the shift means to other nations.
• Export Control Reform Nears Finish Line, Shapiro Says AFPS 27 Jul 2012 -- After years of problems and delays, the reform of the U.S. government’s export control process is nearing completion, said Andrew J. Shapiro, the assistant secretary of state for political military affairs.
• State Official Praises Cooperation with Defense Department AFPS 27 Jul 2012 -- The level of cooperation between the State and Defense departments in recent years is unprecedented, Andrew Shapiro, the assistant secretary of state for political military affairs.
• End of an era for Academy's gliders AFNS 27 Jul 2012 -- The TG-10C gliders that have been the Academy's sailplane of choice for basic and aerobatic training for the last decade ascended for its final flight.
• F-35 maintenance training spawns USMC's first air FTD AFNS 27 Jul 2012 -- With the introduction of the Department of Defense's newest fifth-generation fighter jet, the F-35 Lightening Bolt Joint Strike Fighter, the joint effort is at the forefront of the aircraft's maintenance training and a central effort.
• Reserve A-10 pilots debut new technology at RIMPAC AFNS 27 Jul 2012 -- Nine 47th Fighter Squadron A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots are debuting new helmet and survival radio technologies during the Rim of the Pacific exercise here June 29 through Aug. 3.
• US, ROK Marines begin artillery training USMC News 27 Jul 2012 -- Republic of Korea and U.S. Marines conducted a bilateral artillery live-fire July 18 in Tonghyeon-ri, Republic of Korea, during the Korean Marine Exchange Program 12-7.
• Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa Marines Conduct an Evacuation Control Center Exercise USMC News 27 Jul 2012 -- Reserve Marines and sailors of Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Africa participated in crisis response training during an evacuation control center exercise, July 20, 2012.
• Virtual World in Training Simulator Army News 27 Jul 2012 -- The Army's responsibility is to provide realistic training for the individual soldier while mitigating risk. With emerging technology of the virtual world, this is becoming a reality.
• Korean War Armistice Commemoration DoD 27 Jul 2012
• Presidential Proclamation -- National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, 2012 The White House 27 Jul 2012
• Panetta Salutes Korean War Vets at 59th Armistice Observance AFPS 27 Jul 2012 -- Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta observed the 59th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice by reminding a gathering of Korean War veterans that America will not permit cuts to the military to again “allow us to lose our edge.”
• Winnefeld Honors Korean War Veterans’ Service, Sacrifice AFPS 27 Jul 2012 -- The bond between the U.S. and South Korea was built on blood and sacrifice, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff noted as he observed the 59th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice.
• Vietnam Ready to Host Russian Maritime Base RIA Novosti 27 Jul 2012 -- Vietnam will allow Russia to set up a ship maintenance base at its port of Cam Ranh, Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang said.
• Russia Denies Warships to Stay in Mediterranean RIA Novosti 27 Jul 2012 -- A high-ranking source in the Russian Navy Command denied media reports that a flotilla of Russian warships will remain in the Mediterranean Sea on a permanent basis.
• Russia to Resume Construction of Diesel Subs RIA Novosti 27 Jul 2012 -- Russia will resume series production of non-nuclear Project 677 Lada-class submarines, Navy chief Vice Adm. Viktor Chirkov said.
• Russian Navy to Exercise in Barents Sea RIA Novosti 27 Jul 2012 -- Russia’s Northern Fleet will hold large-scale drills in the Barents Sea in August, a fleet spokesman said.
• MOD signs Trident support contract UK MOD 27 Jul 2012 -- The Ministry of Defence signed a 15-year contract with ABL Alliance to provide support of the Trident Strategic Weapon System.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 27, 2012

Other Conflicts

• International Alarm Rising Over Besieged City VOA 27 Jul 2012 -- Despite mounting international criticism, the Syrian government's offensive on the northern city of Aleppo intensified.
• Syrian Army Launches Anti-Opposition Operation in Aleppo RIA Novosti 27 Jul 2012 -- The Syrian Army has begun what it says is an antiterrorism operation against armed opposition forces in Aleppo.
• Aleppo Braces For Expected Syrian Onslaught RFE/RL 27 Jul 2012 -- Syrian activists say government troops fired from helicopter gunships on several neighborhoods of Syria's second-largest city of Aleppo on July 27.
• Syria: as violence escalates, UN human rights chief warns of consequences UN News Centre 27 Jul 2012 -- The UN human rights chief urged the country's Government and armed opposition to protect civilians and abide by their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law.
• IRAQ: Returnees from Syria - a “humanitarian crisis” in the making IRIN 27 Jul 2012 -- Thousands of Iraqi refugees returning from Syria will face huge challenges reintegrating into a country with high rates of unemployment, dismal basic services and ongoing sectarian strife.
• New Chinese Base Raises Tensions in S. China Sea VOA 27 Jul 2012 -- China's move to base troops on a disputed island in the South China Sea has raised concerns about a possible military confrontation in an area.
• China Names Military Chiefs for Disputed Island City VOA 27 Jul 2012 -- China announced that it had appointed two senior military officers to head a garrison in a new city established on a disputed island just days ago.
• UN refugee agency condemns ‘rampant abuse’ of civilians in eastern DR Congo UN News Centre 27 Jul 2012 -- The UN refugee agency condemned rampant abuse against civilians in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Mali's Traore Returns Home to Hefty Challenges VOA 27 Jul 2012 -- Mali's interim president Diouncounda Traore returned to Bamako Friday, more than two months after he was beaten by protesters in his office and sought treatment in France.
• UN humanitarian arm allocates $20 million to assist refugee in South Sudan UN News Centre 27 Jul 2012 -- The United Nations humanitarian arm announced it is providing $20 million to help alleviate the suffering of Sudanese civilians who have fled conflict and hunger and sought refuge in South Sudan.
• Negotiations To End Fighting In East Tajikistan Continue RFE/RL 27 Jul 2012 -- Reports from eastern Tajikistan say the government and armed fighters are close to reaching an agreement to hostilities that broke out earlier this week leaving some 70 people dead.
• Russians Warned on Tajik Conflict Zone Travel RIA Novosti 27 Jul 2012 -- The Russian Foreign Ministry advised citizens to avoid or defer travel to Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region which has been hit by a controversial armed conflict.
• Armenia Denies Captured Azerbaijani Soldier Lost His Way RIA Novosti 27 Jul 2012 -- The Armenian Defense Ministry refuted Azerbaijan’s claim that the Azerbaijani soldier captured lost his way and accidentally crossed into Armenian territory.
• Armenia Must Compensate for Karabakh ‘Occupation’ – Baku RIA Novosti 27 Jul 2012 -- Baku is firm in its intention to demand compensation from Armenia for the damage caused by the Armenian “occupation” of Nagorny Karabakh.
• Seven Militants Killed in Dagestan Special Operation RIA Novosti 27 Jul 2012 -- Six militants and a female suicide bomber were killed on Friday in the North Caucasus republic of Dagestan in a firefight with security forces.
• Six Militants Reported Killed In Daghestan RFE/RL 27 Jul 2012 -- Officials in Russia say police and security forces have killed six suspected armed militants in Makhachkala, capital of the North Caucasus republic of Daghestan.
• Putin to Discuss Kurils with Japanese Foreign Minister RIA Novosti 27 Jul 2012 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Japan’s Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba on Saturday to discuss the disputed Kuril Islands.

News Reports

• China Reacts to Gu Kailai Murder Charge VOA 27 Jul 2012 -- Once hailed as the Jackie Kennedy of China, Gu Kailai’s fall from grace is just as dramatic, if not more so, than that of her husband Bo Xilai.
• African Governments Criticized for Indifference Towards Chinese Abuses VOA 27 Jul 2012 -- When a Nigerian businessman died in police custody after being attacked by a mob on the streets of a major Chinese city last month, the story made few headlines.
• Chinese Court Reduces Activist's Prison Sentence VOA 27 Jul 2012 -- The lawyer for a disabled Chinese activist imprisoned earlier this year says an appeals court has thrown out a fraud conviction against her.
• Myanmar: UN official concerned over rights violations in Rakhine state UN News Centre 27 Jul 2012 -- A UN senior official expressed serious concern about reports of human rights violations committed by security forces in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.
• Muslim Groups Increasingly Worried About Fate of Burma's Rohingyas VOA 27 Jul 2012 -- Muslim groups worldwide are increasing pressure on the Burmese government to stop human rights abuses committed against ethnic Rohingya Muslims.
• UN expert urges halt to executions and surrounding secrecy in Iraq UN News Centre 27 Jul 2012 -- An independent UN human rights expert voiced alarm about reports that Iraqi authorities have upheld death sentences for up to 196 prisoners in one province alone.
• 1.6 million people will need food assistance in Zimbabwe next year UN News Centre 27 Jul 2012 -- An estimated 1.6 million people are likely to need food assistance in the coming “hunger season” from January to March in Zimbabwe.
• Zambian Opposition Decries Presidential Appointments VOA 27 Jul 2012 -- Thursday [July 26] was the deadline for the opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy of Zambia to expel members who had accepted deputy cabinet level positions with the government of President Michael Sata.
• Serbian Parliament Approves New Government RFE/RL 27 Jul 2012 -- Serbia's parliament has voted in a new nationalist-led government headed by Prime Minister Ivica Dacic.
• Kazakh Border Guard Massacre Suspect Found Sane RFE/RL 27 Jul 2012 -- The Kazakh border guard suspected of killing 14 fellow guards and a forest ranger has been found sane by doctors.
• Tymoshenko’s Treatment Successfully Completed – Health Ministry RIA Novosti 27 Jul 2012 -- The medical treatment of Ukraine’s jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has been successfully completed.