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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 31 Jul 2013 [PDF]
• Al-Qaeda Chief Says Will Try To Free Guantanamo Inmates RFE/RL 31 Jul 2013 -- Al-Qaeda's leader says a hunger strike by prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba has revealed what he called the "odious" face of the United States.
• Afghan conflict takes increasing toll on civilians in first half of 2013 UN News Centre 31 Jul 2013 -- The number of Afghan civilians killed or injured in the first half of 2013 rose by 23 per cent compared to the same period last year.
• UN: Civilian Casualties Up 23 Percent in Afghanistan VOA 31 Jul 2013 -- The number of civilians killed in Afghanistan in 2013 has increased by 23 percent compared to last year, the United Nations Assistance Mission reports.
• UN Cites Big Rise In Afghan Civilian Casualties RFE/RL 31 Jul 2013 -- The United Nations says that civilian casualties from fighting and insurgent attacks in Afghanistan have increased by nearly one-quarter in the first six months of this year.
• Afghan Mullah Arrested Over Fatwa To Kill Woman For Adultery RFE/RL 31 Jul 2013 -- Afghan police say they have arrested a village mullah after a woman was publicly executed in accordance to a fatwa issued by the religious authority in northwestern Badghis Province.
• Background Briefing Prior to Secretary Kerry's Visit to Islamabad, Pakistan US Dept. of State 31 Jul 2013
• Pakistan Police Re-Arrest 41 Prisoners From Jail Break VOA 31 Jul 2013 -- Police in northwest Pakistan have re-arrested at least 41 of the nearly 250 prisoners who escaped during a Taliban attack on a major jail that killed more than a dozen people.
• Pakistani Officers Suspended After Jailbreak RFE/RL 31 Jul 2013 -- Pakistani authorities have suspended 27 law-enforcement officers suspected of neglect after militants attacked a heavily guarded prison and freed around 250 prisoners in the country's northwest.
• Militants move freed prisoners to northwestern Pakistan PressTV 31 Jul 2013 -- Top Taliban commanders say they have managed to smuggle over two dozen militants they broke out of a prison in the restive northwestern Pakistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Manning Sentencing Phase Begins AFPS 31 Jul 2013 -- The sentencing phase begins in the court-martial trial of Army Pfc. Bradley Manning.
• Manning Sentencing Phase Begins VOA 31 Jul 2013 -- The military judge presiding over the court-martial of U.S. Army Private Bradley Manning is hearing arguments about how long he should be in prison.
• Defense Department Background Briefing on the Strategic Choices and Management Review in the Pentagon Briefing Room DoD 31 Jul 2013 -- Presenter: Senior Defense Officials
• Guantanamo costs US taxpayers over $5 billion: Report PressTV 31 Jul 2013 -- A new report says the Pentagon will have spent a whopping $5.242 billion on its notorious detention facility at Guantanamo, Cuba by the end of 2014.
• Department of Defense Press Briefing by Secretary Hagel and Adm. Winnefeld from the Pentagon DoD 31 Jul 2013 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral James A. Winnefeld
• Navy Turns to UAVs for Help with Radar, Communications NNS 31 Jul 2013 -- Scientists launched unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from a research vessel July 13-18 in a significant experiment that could help boost the Navy's radar and communications performance at sea.
• Admiral Calls Attention to Ships as Top NAVSEA Mission Priority NNS 31 Jul 2013 -- The admiral's five words sound like a movie featuring Navy warships is playing at the Naval Support Facility Dahlgren theater.
• Vice Chief of Naval Operations Visits Nimitz Strike Group NNS 31 Jul 2013 -- The Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO), and Fleet Master Chief of Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education (MPT&E), visited the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) July 29.
• US 3rd Fleet Wraps Up Participation in Talisman Saber 2013 NNS 31 Jul 2013 -- Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet completed biennial joint-training exercise Talisman Saber 2013 (TS13) July 28.
• VCNO Visits USS Higgins NNS 31 Jul 2013 -- Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) held an all-hands call with Sailors stationed aboard guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76), July 28.
• George Washington Reception Welcomes Top Australian Leaders post Biennial Exercise NNS 31 Jul 2013 -- The U.S. Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) hosted a reception in Brisbane, Australia, July 30, after conducting a successful 2013 Talisman Saber (TS 13) exercise.
• MCoE playing role in COIN doctrine revision Army News 31 Jul 2013 -- The Maneuver Center of Excellence's Directorate of Training and Doctrine has been updating Army Field Manual 3-24.2, which deals with tactics used during counterinsurgency operations.
• End of an era: Final Heavy BCT Bradleys depart Germany Army News 31 Jul 2013 -- Theater Logistics Support Center-Europe and Maintenance Activity Kaiserslautern are preparing M2A2 Bradleys for retrograde and transportation back to the U.S.
• USS Roosevelt Departs for Group Sail NNS 31 Jul 2013 -- The USS Roosevelt departed its homeport of Mayport, Fla., to participate in the George H.W. Bush Group Sail, July 29.
• HMS Dragon works with US carrier group UK MOD 31 Jul 2013 -- A Royal Navy warship has been working alongside one of the US Navy's mighty aircraft carriers in the Gulf of Oman.
• U.S., South African paratroopers simulate tactical airfield seizure Army News 31 Jul 2013 -- Called a Tactical Air Landing Operation, or TALO, the mission is part of Exercise Shared Accord 2013, a joint exercise between the South African and U.S. militaries.
• Paratroopers spot starless African sky during SA13 exercise Army News 31 Jul 2013 -- Paratroopers from C/1-325th Infantry joined with the South African 1st Parachute Battalion, 44th Parachute Regiment to perform a night parachute drop and airfield seizure.
• New York National Guard's Camp Smith Training Site gets its own flag and patch Army News 31 Jul 2013 -- The New York National Guard's historic Camp Smith Training Site now has its own garrison flag.
• Breaking barriers: 4 Soldiers set to become Army's first female Abrams tank maintainers Army News 31 Jul 2013 -- Four female Soldiers will make history Thursday, as they will become the first females in the Army to obtain the 91A M1 Abrams Tank System Maintainer MOS.
• Soldier rapist found guilty in Wiesbaden Army News 31 Jul 2013 -- Staff Sgt. Gabriel C. Garcia is a private with a dishonorable discharge and serving five years confinement for his crimes including rape and other offenses.
• Policy changes ease enlisting with families AFNS 31 Jul 2013 -- The Air Force announced changes to its accession policies on July 30 to make entering the Air Force easier for Airmen with families.
• Iran Not in S-300 Missile Replacement Talks – Envoy RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2013 -- Iran and Russia have not discussed Moscow’s tentative offer to supply Tehran with Antei-2500 surface-to-air missile systems instead of the S-300.
• Russia to Strengthen Airborne Forces With 3 Brigades RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2013 -- The Russian military is to assign an additional three air assault brigades to the Airborne Forces .
• Russia Set to Create National Defense Center RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2013 -- The Russian military has started work on the creation of the National Defense Center, which will enhance the operational management of the armed forces.
• Russian Armed Forces to Start Mornings With Anthem RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2013 -- Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that all Russian military units should begin their mornings by singing the national anthem.
• UN Helicopter With Russian Crew Crash-Lands in Ethiopia RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2013 -- A United Nations helicopter with a Russian crew crash-landed in Ethiopia.
• NATO counter-piracy force exercises with Seychelles Coast Guard NATO 31 Jul 2013 -- Dutch Frigate HNLMS Van Speijk, part of NATO's counter-piracy Operation Ocean Shield, together with the Seychelles Coast Guard, conducted a maritime exercise this week focusing on search and rescue operations. The exercise which took place on Monday (29 July 2013) was meant to build closer cooperation and coordination between the Coast Guard and NATO warships patrolling the Indian Ocean.
• China firmly pursues peaceful development People's Daily 31 Jul 2013 -- China will firmly pursue a path of peaceful development and enhance military cooperation with foreign countries to contribute to world peace and development.
• ‘Peace Ark’ hospital ship arrives in Pakistan People's Daily 31 Jul 2013 -- The "Peace Ark" hospital ship of the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army arrived in Pakistan on July 29.
• China to start military recruitment People's Daily 31 Jul 2013 -- China's annual military recruitment will run from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30, for the first time since the season was moved from October.
• China promotes 6 officers to general People's Daily 31 Jul 2013 -- The Central Military Commission promoted six senior military officers to the rank of general.
• More N. Korean Rocket Launches Expected VOA 31 Jul 2013 -- Specialists following North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile development concur the reclusive state is nearly certain to continue launching long-range rockets.
• Panama Finds Fighter Jet Engines On North Korean Ship RFE/RL 31 Jul 2013 -- Panamanian investigators have discovered engines for MiG-21 fighter jets aboard a North Korean ship coming from Cuba that was seized earlier this month.
• Taiwan sergeant faces most serious charge over soldier's death CNA 31 Jul 2013 -- Eighteen senior officers and non-commissioned officers were indicted Wover the death of an Army conscript July 4.
• 18 officers indicted over Taiwan conscript's death CNA 31 Jul 2013 -- Eighteen senior officers and non-commissioned officers were indicted over the death of an Army conscript earlier this month.
• Taiwan has new Navy commander CNA 31 Jul 2013 -- Admiral Chen Yung-kang, vice chief of the General Staff, took over as commander of the Republic of China Navy as part of senior-level changes in Taiwan's military.
• Libya Parliament appoints new army chief of staff PressTV 31 Jul 2013 -- Libyan Parliament has appointed Colonel Abdul Salam Jad Allah al-Salheen as the new military chief of staff in the North African country.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, July 31, 2013 US Dept. of State 31 Jul 2013

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 31, 2013

Other Conflicts

• 31 July 2013 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 31 Jul 2013
• Syrian Fighters Tell North Caucasus Muslims 'Wage Jihad at Home!' RFE/RL 31 Jul 2013 -- A group of Syrian fighters has appealed to Muslims in the North Caucasus to wage jihad in Russia rather than travel to Syria to participate in the fighting there.
• AL, OIC urge Eid al-Fitr truce in Syria PressTV 31 Jul 2013 -- The Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have called for a ceasefire during next week's feast of Eid al-Fitr.
• China Willing to Pursue Joint Development in Disputed Waters VOA 31 Jul 2013 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping says his government is willing to shelve territorial disputes and carry out joint development in disputed waters.
• China's determination on territorial integrity unshakable by outside intervention People's Daily 31 Jul 2013 -- U.S. Senate passed a resolution on the territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas.
• Xi advocates efforts to boost China's maritime power People's Daily 31 Jul 2013 -- President Xi Jinping has championed efforts to build China into a maritime power, adding that the country will pursue "converging interests" with other countries in oceanic development.
• Former Malian PM Leading in Early Election Results VOA 31 Jul 2013 -- Officials in Mali are expected to release full provisional results of the country's presidential election.
• UN chief urges regional, global support for Africa’s Great Lakes peace accord UN News Centre 31 Jul 2013 -- Only a credible political process will end the crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Great Lakes Leaders Seek Solution to DRC Crisis VOA 31 Jul 2013 -- Leaders from the Great Lakes region are calling for greater cooperation to bring peace to the Democratic Republic of Congo, as accusations of interference by neighboring countries continue to fly.
• Two bombs targeting mosques kill 9, injure 11 in Baghdad PressTV 31 Jul 2013 -- Bombs targeting two mosques in Iraq have killed at least nine people and injured eleven others.

News Reports

• Ban discusses concerns about Egypt with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton UN News Centre 31 Jul 2013 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced his deep concern about the direction of the transition in Egypt in a conversation with European Union High Representative Catherine Ashton, who visited the country this week and met with its deposed leader, Mohamed Morsy.
• Three Muslim Brotherhood Leaders Referred To Trial In Egypt RFE/RL 31 Jul 2013 -- Egyptian prosecutors have referred three top leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood to trial for allegedly inciting the killing of protesters last month.
• Egypt: Pro-Morsi Demos 'Unacceptable Threats' to National Security VOA 31 Jul 2013 -- Egypt's military-backed interim government has declared two Cairo vigils by backers of ousted President Mohamed Morsi "unacceptable threats" to national security.
• Egypt Muslim Brotherhood protests threaten security: Interim govt. PressTV 31 Jul 2013 -- Egypt’s interim government has declared Muslim Brotherhood’s sit-in protests in the capital Cairo as a threat to “national security”.
• Egyptian Peace Elusive as Muslim Brotherhood Insists on Morsi's Return VOA 31 Jul 2013 -- Prospects for a quick return to peace in Egypt are slim as the Muslim Brotherhood calls for continued street protests demanding the return to power of ousted President Mohamed Morsi.
• Analysis: Egypt’s way out IRIN 31 Jul 2013 -- After a weekend of violence that brought the country back to the brink, Egypt now stands at an impasse.
• Turkey Angry Over Morsi Ouster VOA 31 Jul 2013 -- In recent years Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has extended his country’s influence well beyond its borders.
• Roadside bomb explodes near national guard patrol in Tunis, no casualties PressTV 31 Jul 2013 -- A roadside bomb has gone off near the Tunisian capital exactly at a time when National Guard was patrolling the area, without causing casualties.
• Rohani's Inauguration Lacking VIP Allies RFE/RL 31 Jul 2013 -- Iranian officials are pulling out all the stops for Hassan Rohani's presidential inauguration.
• Congress Considering Tough New Iran Sanctions RFE/RL 31 Jul 2013 -- U.S. lawmakers are debating an Iran sanctions bill that seeks to further cut that country's oil exports.
• Pakistan Chief Election Commissioner resigns PressTV 31 Jul 2013 -- Pakistan's Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahimi has tendered his resignation amid allegations of vote rigging.
• SADC Leader Hails ‘Peaceful’ Zimbabwe Vote VOA 31 Jul 2013 -- The executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community says Zimbabwean voters deserve praise following a peaceful general election Wednesday.
• Long Lines Reported on Zimbabwe Election Day VOA 31 Jul 2013 -- There have been long lines at polling stations in Zimbabwe where voters are casting ballots in presidential and parliamentary elections.
• Vote Rigging, Fraud Allegations Overshadow Zimbabwe Vote VOA 31 Jul 2013 -- Millions of Zimbabweans are voting in a tense election pitting the octogenarian president against his archrival, the prime minister.
• India approves creation of new southern state PressTV 31 Jul 2013 -- India's Congress-led ruling coalition has announced the creation of a new state in the country’s southern region, stirring fears of violence in the area.
• Protests Highlights Tense Political Season in Burkina Faso VOA 31 Jul 2013 -- The West African nation of Burkina Faso has seen a resumption of large-scale protests this month over high living costs and the controversial creation of a new Senate.
• Cambodia Opposition Claims Win in Sunday Election VOA 31 Jul 2013 -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has set a conciliatory tone in his first public remarks since Sunday's disputed parliamentary elections.
• Accused Nazi Collaborators Sit in US Legal Limbo – Report RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2013 -- Four accused Nazi collaborators who have been stripped of their US citizenship are still living in the United States years after their appeals over deportation orders were exhausted.