• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Marines, sailors with Charley Company ensure Camp Dwyer's safety in Helmand province USMC News 31 Jul 2014 -- Improvised explosive devices and small arms fire from insurgents remain a threat to units patrolling in Helmand province.

Defense Policy / Programs

• 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducts long-range insert USMC News 31 Jul 2014 -- Marines from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, supported by sailors from Amphibious Squadron 5 and the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, conducted a long range insertion of more than 800 nautical miles into Bellows Training Area, Hawaii, July 31, 2014.
• Airmen participate in security exercise, forge partnerships across the globe AFNS 31 Jul 2014 -- The Rim of the Pacific, or RIMPAC, biennial maritime security exercise is a multinational training opportunity taking place in and around the Hawaiian Islands.
• Secretary of the Navy Visits Singapore during CARAT 2014 NNS 31 Jul 2014 -- Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus visited Sailors participating in the 20th annual exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) with the Republic of Singapore Navy at Changi Naval Base, July 30.
• U.S., Indian Navy and JMSDF Leaders Discuss Malabar Success During Conference Aboard John S. McCain NNS 31 Jul 2014 -- Senior leaders from the U.S. and Indian navies, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), met aboard Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) July 29 during Malabar 2014.
• US, Indian Navy, JMSDF Embark On George Washington, Enhance Maritime Interoperability NNS 31 Jul 2014 -- Guests from Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), the Indian navy, Japanese Ministry of Defense and staff embarked on the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington, July 30.
• NATO Unprepared For Potential Attack by Russia, Although Risk is Low – Report RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2014 -- NATO is not prepared to deal with a military threat from Russia, although the risk of attack is very low, according to the cross-party Defense Committee of UK lawmakers report.
• Ukraine must be a wake-up call for NATO UK Parliament, House of Commons Defence Committee 31 Jul 2014 -- The Defence Committee, in its report published today, argues that recent events in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine should be a wake-up call for NATO and the UK. It argues that NATO is not well prepared to face the new threat posed by Russia. NATO has serious deficiencies in its command and control structures, in its ability to predict and give adequate warning of potential attack, and in the readiness of its forces. NATO may not have the collective political will to take concerted action to deter attack.
• Russian Military Reaffirms Strict Adherence to INF Treaty RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2014 -- Chief of the Russian General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, said on Thursday that Russia is strictly implementing the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with the United States.
• Russia to Hold Arctic 'Oil Spill Response Exercise' in Early August RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2014 -- Russia plans to hold the Arctic-2014 exercise, which involves Northern Fleet rescuers, emergency teams and border guards, in early August to test oil spill response in the Pechora Sea in the Arctic, Northern Fleet spokesman, Captain 1st Rank Vadim Serga, said Thursday.
• Black Sea Fleet's Proficiency Quintuples in 2014 – Russian Ministry of Defense RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2014 -- The combat proficiency of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and Caspian Flotilla has increased fivefold since the beginning of the year, the press service of the Southern Military District said Thursday.
• Ukraine's Parliament Introduces 1.5% Military Tax RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2014 -- Ukraine's parliament amended its tax laws to introduce a 1.5-percent military tax based on workers' income, Parliament Speaker Oleksandr Turchynov said Thursday.
• China, Australia, US plan trilateral military exercise People's Daily 31 Jul 2014 -- China, Australia and the United States will conduct their first trilateral military exercise in October, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense said on Thursday.
• China, US, Australia to Hold First Joint Military Drills RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2014 -- The armed forces of China, Australia and the United States will conduct their first joint military drills in October, China's Xinhua official news agency reported Thursday.
• PLA, Armed Police back graft probe of Zhou Yongkang People's Daily 31 Jul 2014 -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and Armed Police fully support the decision to investigateZhou Yongkang, the latest and highest-ranking 'tiger' in the anti-corruption campaign, a military newspaper said Thursday.
• China confirms military drill's impact on civil flights People's Daily 31 Jul 2014 -- China confirmed on Thursday that its ongoing military exercise in southeast coastal areas has affected civil flights, but said the defense ministry has kept close contacts with civil aviation authorities to minimize the impact.
• July 31, 2014 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 31 Jul 2014
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 7/31/2014 The White House 31 Jul 2014

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 31, 2014

Other Conflicts

• 31 July 2014 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 31 Jul 2014
• Israel, Hamas Agree to 72-hour Ceasefire VOA 31 Jul 2014 -- Israel and Islamist militant group Hamas have agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire in their conflict in the Gaza Strip starting on Friday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday.
• Hamas Launches Rockets on Civilians in Gaza IDF 31 Jul 2014 -- "Hamas’ indiscriminate firing of rockets endangers millions of Israeli and Palestinian lives. While the IDF strikes terrorist targets in Gaza with precision, Hamas launches rockets with one aim: hitting civilians."
• UN Urges Respect of its Gaza Facilities VOA 31 Jul 2014 -- The head of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees called on Israel and Hamas militants to respect the inviolability of U.N. premises Thursday, a day after Israeli fire killed 19 civilians sheltering at a U.N. school in the Gaza Strip.
• Gaza situation is extreme: UN officials Iran Press TV 31 Jul 2014 -- Senior UN officials have told the Security Council the situation in the Gaza Strip is extreme, calling for an immediate action to put an end to the humanitarian catastrophe in the besieged enclave.
• Netanyahu vows to continue Gaza tunnels destruction Iran Press TV 31 Jul 2014 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Tel Aviv will push ahead with the destruction of tunnels in the Gaza Strip with or without a ceasefire.
• Israel Determined to Complete Destruction of Hamas Tunnels RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2014 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel was determined to complete the destruction of tunnels that Palestinian militants use to smuggle arms and secretly enter Israeli territory, Reuters reported.
• Gaza: UN relief officials warn of growing humanitarian crisis as conflict continues UN News Centre 31 Jul 2014 -- As the crisis in Gaza continues unabated, United Nations relief officials today urged the parties to protect civilians amid the ongoing conflict, which has resulted in thousands of casualties and caused widespread displacement and destruction.
• Israel Calls Up 16,000 More Reservists VOA 31 Jul 2014 -- Israel's military called up an additional 16,000 additional reservists, taking their total to 86,000, as military operations in the Gaza Strip continue, an army spokeswoman said Thursday.
• Israel: Tunnels to Be Destroyed, Cease-Fire or Not VOA 31 Jul 2014 -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel was determined, regardless of cease-fire efforts, to finish the destruction of tunnels that Palestinian militants have built under the Gaza-Israel border.
• UN: Israel, Hamas May Be Guilty of War Crimes VOA 31 Jul 2014 -- The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, says the targeting of civilian infrastructure or the use of civilian structures for military purposes violate international humanitarian law and international human rights law. She warns both Israel and Hamas may be guilty of war crimes in breaching these humanitarian principles. U.N. figures show civilians, including many children and women, account for 74 percent of the more than 1,200 Palestinians who have been killed. Nearly 60 Israelis have been killed, including two civilians.
• Team Calls Visit to MH17 Crash Site in Ukraine a Success VOA 31 Jul 2014 -- Investigators in eastern Ukraine reached the wreckage of a downed Malaysian airliner Thursday. It was their first look at the July 17 crash site after earlier attempts were blocked by armed pro-Russian rebels.
• International Experts Reach MH17 Crash Site in Ukraine VOA 31 Jul 2014 -- An international team of experts has reached the crash site of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in eastern Ukraine for the first time, after days of attempts foiled by violence in the separatist-controlled area.
• Ukraine to end offensive in east soon Iran Press TV 31 Jul 2014 -- The Ukrainian army has announced plans to wrap up the military offensive in eastern Ukraine within a month.
• OSCE Experts Confirm Remains of Victims Still at MH17 Crash Site in Ukraine RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2014 -- OSCE experts confirmed Thursday that remains of victims are still at the Malaysian passenger plane crash site in Donetsk Region, in eastern Ukraine, a spokesman for the OSCE monitoring mission told journalists in Donetsk.
• Kiev's Use of Aviation, Artillery Against Civilians Inadmissible – Russian General Staff RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2014 -- Russia's top military commander told his US counterpart in a phone conversation Thursday that the use of aviation and artillery against civilians in eastern Ukraine was inadmissible.
• Yatsenyuk Promises Financial Aid to Eastern Ukraine if Controlled by Kiev RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2014 -- The Kiev authorities are planning to provide eastern Ukraine with financial assistance if government troops gain control over local cities, Prime Minster Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Thursday.
• Ukraine Contact Group Agrees to Keep 'Safe Corridor' to MH17 Crash Site RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2014 -- The so-called Ukrainian contact group agreed on Thursday to cease hostilities along an access route to the Malaysian plane crash site in East Ukraine established earlier by international inspectors, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroisman said.
• Heavy Fighting Using Grad Rocket Launchers Continues Near MH17 Crash Site RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2014 -- Heavy fighting using BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers continues near the Malaysia Airlines Boeing crash site in eastern Ukraine, despite calls from the United Nations to stop military activity in the area, an advisor to the Ukrainian interior minister said Thursday.
• Kiev Allots $791 Mln for Military Support in East Ukraine RIA Novosti 31 Jul 2014 -- The Ukrainian parliament on Thursday made changes to its annual budget to allot an additional $791 million to support its troops, according to a statement on the Kiev government's official website.
• Iraq: Amid rising insecurity, UN official urges unimpeded access to desperate civilians UN News Centre 31 Jul 2014 -- A senior UN official in Iraq expressed concern today over rising levels of violence and instability across the crisis-torn country and its impact on the lives of civilians.
• Briefing: South Sudan heads towards famine IRIN 31 Jul 2014 -- More than a third of South Sudan's population is at risk of severe food insecurity as a result of the ongoing conflict, and the international community, NGOs and local organizations are sounding the alarm over an impending famine.
• Food insecurity in South Sudan set to deepen as funds dry up, warns UN agency UN News Centre 31 Jul 2014 -- The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned today that food insecurity continues to deepen in South Sudan as funding for life-saving assistance dwindles.
• Foreign Citizens Urgently Evacuated From Libya Over Safety Concerns VOA 31 Jul 2014 -- MOSCOW, July 31 (RIA Novosti) - The international community is fleeing Libya over the escalation of violence in the country, as numerous states urgently evacuate their citizens from Tripoli.
• US-Trained Somali Commandos Fight Al-Shabab VOA 31 Jul 2014 -- Of all the ways the United States is helping Somalia's fledgling national government, none may be more important than training the country's first rapid reaction force, known as 'Gaashaan,' or 'the shield."
• Female Suicide Bombers Strike in Nigeria VOA 31 Jul 2014 -- College students in the northern Nigerian city of Kano were reading a campus notice board, seeing what post-graduation public service job they would be assigned to, when a girl in their midst blew herself up.
• Vietnam Defends Foreign Policy, China Ties VOA 31 Jul 2014 -- Vietnam said Thursday that its foreign policy is aimed at protecting the country's independence. The comment follows a letter from prominent members of the Communist Party to the country's top leaders calling for political and economic reforms to end the country's "reliance" on China.
• At Khmer Rouge Court, Long-Awaited Verdict Approaches VOA 31 Jul 2014 -- Chum Mey, an 82-year-old survivor of the Khmer Rouge, sits on a plastic chair outside his book kiosk in the courtyard of the former prison that once held him. He sells books about the Khmer Rouge and about himself in what is now called the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum.
• Turkey Fears ISIL Radicalism Could Spill Over From Syria, Iraq VOA 31 Jul 2014 -- With the Sunni jihadist group ISIL stepping up attacks in Syria along the border with Turkey, concern is growing in Turkey that the violence could spill over.
• Yemen IDPs mull return to Amran after ceasefire IRIN 31 Jul 2014 -- Thousands of people displaced by recent heavy fighting between Houthi rebels and government forces in the city of Amran in northern Yemen are looking to return to their homes following a recent Houthi withdrawal, but they face significant challenges.
• Little hope of justice for Nepal's war-time rape survivors IRIN 31 Jul 2014 -- For several weeks in July, veteran Nepali women's rights activist Renu Rajbhandari picketed in front of the Constituent Assembly, Nepal's legislative body in Kathmandu, demanding amendment of the country's rape laws.

News Reports

• Ukrainian Parliament Rejects PM's Resignation RFE/RL 31 Jul 2014 -- Ukraine's parliament has overwhelmingly rejected Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk's resignation.
• US Issues West Africa Travel Warning; Ebola Deaths Top 700 VOA 31 Jul 2014 -- The United States has issued travel warnings for Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, the three countries hardest hit by the ongoing Ebola outbreak.
• To Halt Ebola, W. Africa Takes Dramatic Measures VOA 31 Jul 2014 -- Sierra Leone and Liberia are implementing dramatic new measures to try to contain a regional Ebola outbreak that has already killed hundreds.
• US Health Officials Announce Surge of Support to Combat Ebola VOA 31 Jul 2014 -- ​​The United States is sending more health experts to the three West African countries struggling with an Ebola outbreak. The experts will help the governments of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea manage the crisis.
• Health Officials Say Ebola Threat to Air Travel Low VOA 31 Jul 2014 -- The death of an Ebola-infected airline passenger in Nigeria has tipped off fears that the illness could spread across the airways to Europe, Asia and the Americas.
• Ebola death toll in West Africa hits 729: WHO Iran Press TV 31 Jul 2014 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) says the deaths of 57 more people from an outbreak of Ebola in West Africa have raised the overall fatality toll from the epidemic to 729.
• Agencies fighting Ebola reach 'breaking point' IRIN 31 Jul 2014 -- A shortage of trained health workers in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea who can treat Ebola victims and prevent further spread of the deadly disease is hampering response efforts, say Health Ministry and NGO staff, who say their efforts are at "breaking point".
• Sierra Leone Declares Emergency to Deal with Ebola VOA 31 Jul 2014 -- Sierra Leone's President Ernest Bai Koroma has declared a state of emergency to help the country deal with the worst ever outbreak of the Ebola virus.
• Asia on Alert for Ebola Outbreak VOA 31 Jul 2014 -- The largest known outbreak of the lethal Ebola virus in West Africa is prompting authorities as far away as Asia to take preventive measures, although scientists say a global spread of the disease is unlikely.
• Argentina Defaults Again on Debt VOA 31 Jul 2014 -- Argentina has defaulted on its debt for the second time in 13 years.
• India furious over 'unacceptable' US surveillance Iran Press TV 31 Jul 2014 -- India has condemned US spying on the country's ruling party as "unacceptable" after recent allegations that Washington's National Security Agency (NSA) targeted the newly-elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
• Europe Court Orders Russia To Pay $2.5 Billion To Yukos Shareholders RFE/RL 31 Jul 2014 -- The European Court of Human Rights has ordered Russia to pay former shareholders in defunct Russian oil company Yukos $2.5 billion in compensation.