Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 30 Jul 2012 [PDF]
• Combined Force Kills 1 Insurgent, Detains 2 AFPS 30 Jul 2012 -- An Afghan and coalition security force killed one insurgent and detained two drug dealers during a counter-narcotics operation in the Nad 'Ali district of Afghanistan's Helmand province today, military officials reported.
• DOD, U.S. Agencies Help Afghanistan Exploit Mineral Wealth AFPS 30 Jul 2012 -- Officials from the Defense Department and the U.S. Geological Survey gathered this month at Afghanistan's U.S. Embassy to unveil what the director of a DOD task force called a 'treasure map' of the nation's mineral resources.
• Afghan soldiers, American paratroopers bolster security in key Ghazni district with comprehensive effort Army News 30 Jul 2012 -- A key economic center along Afghanistan's main highway between Kabul and Kandahar -- and the Afghan security forces that protect it -- are much better off today than just four months ago, said a U.S. Army commander.
• Brig. Gen. David Clarkson visits the 18th CSSB retrograde yard in Kandahar Airfield Army News 30 Jul 2012 -- Brig. Gen. David Clarkson, the Deputy Commanding General of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command walked through the Kandahar Retrograde Yard with Lt. Col. Michelle M.T. Letcher, the commander of the 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, July 10.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Sacramento District wraps up vital Napa River ARRA construction contract Army News 30 Jul 2012 -- Downtown Napa has a long history of serious flood events, recording 15 significant flood events in the past 70 years, or about one flood every five years on average.
• Army plans major Stryker upgrades Army News 30 Jul 2012 -- Army engineers are designing and implementing important Stryker vehicles upgrades. The efforts are focused on technologies that will provide the platform a stronger engine, improved suspension, more on-board electrical power and next-generation networking and computing technology.
• Hawaii's completes successful 'Ikaiki' ATEX Army News 30 Jul 2012 -- U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii conducted its annual antiterrorism exercise, 'Ikaika 2012,' or ATEX 'Ikaika,' here, July 16-20.
• Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta Delivers Remarks at the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial in Tunis, Tunisia DoD 30 Jul 2012 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta
• Swift Departs Spain, Heads for APS West NNS 30 Jul 2012 -- The Military Sealift Command-chartered High-Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) departed Rota, Spain, after loading cargo and supplies to support the ship's continued participation in Africa Partnership Station (APS) West 2012, July 29.
• USS Frank Cable Returns to Guam NNS 30 Jul 2012 -- The submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) arrived in her homeport in Guam after a six-month regular overhaul and dry docking, July 30.
• AIT 12-07 Augments James E. Williams' VBSS team NNS 30 Jul 2012 -- U.S. Coast Guard advanced interdiction team (AIT) 12-07, assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard Deployable Operation Group, embarked guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) to augment the ship's visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team, July 26.
• Underwood Moors in Panama for Supplies, Maintenance NNS 30 Jul 2012 -- The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) pulled into Colon, Panama, for a brief stop for fuel, supplies and to conduct maintenance and repairs, July 27.
• Underwood Celebrates Halfway Point Of Deployment NNS 30 Jul 2012 -- The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36) celebrated the halfway mark of its final deployment, July 28.
• DESRON 60 Commander Visits USS Laboon NNS 30 Jul 2012 -- commander, Destroyer Squadron 60 and commander, Task Force (CTF) 65, visited Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) during a visit to Souda Bay, Greece, July 25.
• Training exercises enhance international relations AFNS 30 Jul 2012 -- Central Colombia and southern Nevada are vastly different locations. The terrain, weather and operational environments between each location vary to the extremes. So what drives an air force to briefly trade the jungles of South America for the desert of the American southwest? The answer is world-class, realistic air combat training that can't be acquired anywhere else.
• U.S. Ready to Help Tunisia With Democracy, Panetta Says AFPS 30 Jul 2012 -- The 6,565 American troops memorialized at the North Africa American Cemetery here signify America's commitment to freedom, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said during a visit today.
• Pacific Partnership 2012 Kicks Off Cambodia Visit NNS 30 Jul 2012 -- Pacific Partnership 2012 (PP12) held an opening ceremony, July 29, to kick off a two-week mission across four provinces including Sihanoukville, Koh Kong, Kampot, and Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
• Putin Attends Nuclear Sub Ceremony RIA Novosti 30 Jul 2012 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin participated on Monday in a ceremony to launch construction of Russia's fourth Borei-class (Project 955A) ballistic missile submarine.
• Interior Ministry Tenders for Chemical, Radiation 'Sniffer' Vehicle RIA Novosti 30 Jul 2012 -- Russia's Interior Ministry has launched a tender for a radiological and chemical detector vehicle in a contract worth up to 33 million rubles ($1.06 million), according to a statement on the state procurement website.
• Moscow Hopes to Agree Fleet Upgrade with Ukraine by Yearend RIA Novosti 30 Jul 2012 -- Russia expects to reach an agreement with Ukraine on the modernization of its Black Sea Fleet before the end of the year, fleet commander Rear Adm. Alexander Fedotenkov said on Monday.
• Group of U.S. Inspectors to Fly over Russia, Belarus RIA Novosti 30 Jul 2012 -- A group of U.S. inspectors will make a one-week surveillance flight over Russia and Belarus in line with the international Open Skies Treaty beginning on Monday, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry said.
• HMS Triumph returns from marathon deployment UK MOD 30 Jul 2012 -- HMS Triumph returned from a 10-month deployment to a warm welcome from families, friends and loved ones at her home base of Plymouth yesterday, 29 July.
• Press Briefing by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 7/30/2012 The White House 30 Jul 2012
• July 30, 2012 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 30 Jul 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 30, 2012

Other Conflicts

• Ban urges end to Syria fighting as number of people affected reaches two million UN News Centre 30 Jul 2012 -- With as many as two million people affected by the ongoing conflict in Syria, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today renewed his call on all parties to put an end to armed violence and prevent further bloodshed.
• Battle For Syria's Aleppo Continues RFE/RL 30 Jul 2012 -- Syrian government forces and rebels are locked in combat in Syria's largest city, with both sides claiming successes.
• Syria: in wake of field visit, head of UN observers voices concern over Aleppo UN News Centre 30 Jul 2012 -- In the wake of his first field visit, during which he witnessed heavy shelling, the acting head of UN observers in Syria today met with Government officials and called for an end to the fighting that has wracked the Middle Eastern country, in addition to voicing concern about ongoing combat taking place in the city of Aleppo.
• Thousands Flee Fierce Fighting in Aleppo, UN Says VOA 30 Jul 2012 -- CAIRO – Syrian government forces continued their assault in the besieged commercial city of Aleppo Monday, after claiming the upper hand in fighting with outgunned and outmanned rebels.
• France Plans New Security Council Push on Syria VOA 30 Jul 2012 -- France says it will push a new effort to address the crisis in Syria through the United Nations Security Council, which has been divided by camps wanting to exert pressure to end the ongoing violence and those declaring the situation an internal matter.
• MAURITANIA: Funding shortfall affects refugee response IRIN 30 Jul 2012 -- The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) says it is 'woefully underfunded' to help Malians fleeing fighting who have sought refuge across the border in Mauritania's M'bera camp, and other neighbouring countries.
• 30,000 Enter Kenya to Escape Ethiopian Ethnic Clash VOA 30 Jul 2012 -- NAIROBI — The Kenyan Red Cross says more than 30,000 refugees have entered the country from Ethiopia in the past few days to escape fighting in their own country, though the ethnic battles now seem to have been contained and the exodus has turned to a trickle.

News Reports

• North Korea Denies Reform Effort VOA 30 Jul 2012 -- North Korea is rejecting speculation any economic reform is getting underway in the reclusive and impoverished country.
• Panetta: All Options Open to Stop Iran's Nuke Program AFPS 30 Jul 2012 -- Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta reiterated here today that the United States 'is prepared to exercise all options' to prevent Iran from developing atomic weapons.
• Jazayeri: No one can confront Iran if Iran decided to close Strait of Hormuz IRNA 30 Jul 2012 -- Deputy Chief of Joint Staff of Iran's Armed Forces in charge of Basij (volunteer forces) and defense culture Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri said on Monday that no one can confront Iran if Iran decided to close Strait of Hormuz.
• Salehi: Iran not to block Persian Gulf vital way IRNA 30 Jul 2012 -- Foreign Minister, Ali-Akbar Salehi, said on Monday that the Persian Gulf waterway is vital for interest of Iran and that of the entire world and Iran will act in concord with the world as long as Iranian interest not to be jeopardized.
• PAKISTAN: Rough ride for bomb blast victims and their families IRIN 30 Jul 2012 -- With bombs causing nearly 600 deaths and over 1,400 injuries in Pakistan in the first half of 2012 alone, a new scheme to help those directly affected by such explosions is being put to the test.
• Russia's Top Court Upholds 12-Year Sentence for 'U.S. Spy' RIA Novosti 30 Jul 2012 -- Russia's Supreme Court on Monday upheld a 12-year jail sentence for an ex-serviceman for selling classified topographic maps to the Pentagon.
• Uganda Battles to Contain Ebola Outbreak VOA 30 Jul 2012 -- KAMPALA — Uganda is battling yet another outbreak of the Ebola virus, with 14 deaths reported so far and a number of people in quarantine.
• UN and partners support operations to respond to Ebola outbreak in Uganda UN News Centre 30 Jul 2012 -- A team of experts from the United Nations health agency and its partners are supporting the Ugandan Government's response to an Ebola outbreak in the western part of the country.
• Security Council calls for consensus on restoring stability in Guinea-Bissau UN News Centre 30 Jul 2012 -- The Security Council today called on all political actors and civil society in Guinea-Bissau to engage in a consensual, inclusive and nationally-owned process to restore constitutional order in the country.
• Burma Rejects UN Criticism of Riot Response VOA 30 Jul 2012 -- Burmese officials have told a visiting U.N. human rights expert that security forces exercised 'maximum restraint' in responding to deadly riots between Buddhists and Muslim Rohingyas in the country's west last month.