Further Reading

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 05 Jul 2016 [PDF]
• Department of Defense Press Briefing by Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook in the Pentagon Briefing Room DoD 05 Jul 2016-- Presenter: Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook
• MQ-9 crashes in northern Syria AFNS 05 Jul 2016 -- An MQ-9 Reaper crashed in northern Syria July 5.
• Military Strikes Target ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 05 Jul 2016 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Iraq and Syria yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• Update: air strikes against Daesh UK MOD 05 Jul 2016 -- British forces have continued to conduct air operations in the fight against Daesh

Defense Policy / Programs

• Truman Transits Strait of Gibraltar NNS 05 Jul 2016 -- Aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) transited the Strait of Gibraltar, July 2.
• U.S., Portugal join forces for Exercise Orion 16 USMC News 05 Jul 2016 -- U.S. Marines partnered with Portuguese forces to extract people in danger during a non-combatant evacuation exercise, June 21-24, 2016.
• 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment Marines Disembark USS Ashland After Participation in CARAT NNS 05 Jul 2016 -- U.S. Sailors and Marines with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment disembarked the forward-deployed Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) in Okinawa, Japan, after several training engagements in the region, July 4.
• NATO's Stoltenberg Previews Warsaw Summit AFPS 05 Jul 2016 -- Senior world leaders -- including President Barack Obama -- will meet in Warsaw, Poland, later this week to examine how the alliance has been responding to threats and chart the course for the future, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said yesterday during a news conference previewing the Warsaw Summit.
• NATO to approve use of AWACS in Mediterranean: Stoltenberg Press TV 05 Jul 2016 -- NATO says it will approve on Friday the use of sophisticated AWACS surveillance aircraft for flights in Turkish and international airspace near the conflict zones in the Middle East.
• Putin Signs Law Boosting Anti-Terror Defense of Atomic Facilities Sputnik 05 Jul 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that will boost anti-terrorist defense of atomic facilities by creating a special security zone around them.
• Putin, Russian Security Council Discuss Baltic Airspace RFE/RL 05 Jul 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has chaired a meeting with the country's Security Council to discuss possible "confidence-building" steps in the skies over the Baltic region and details in connection with a NATO summit later this week, a presidential spokesman said.
• Reliable Russian Aircraft Cruiser to Stand In for Missing French Mistrals Sputnik 05 Jul 2016 -- The Ka-52K Katran attack helicopters will soon be deployed aboard the Russian aircraft cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov, in what will allow the warship to have characteristics similar to those of the Mistral assault ships France had originally promised to build for Russia, according to the Russian newspaper Izvestia.
• Head of Sweden's Military Wants to Have Direct Contact With Russia Sputnik 05 Jul 2016 -- Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces Micael Byden wants to have direct contact with the Russian Armed Forces amid growing tensions in the Baltic Sea, local media reported Tuesday.
• Indian Gov't to Create All-Female Battalion Sputnik 05 Jul 2016 -- India's Defense Minister offered to strengthen the involvement of women in the army, creating a possibility for them to enter the country's main military institutions and serve onboard warships.
• Sayyari: Navy has installed missile, electronic warfare tools along Iranian coastlines IRNA 05 Jul 2016 -- Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said the Navy has installed missile and electronic warfare apparatus alongside Iranian coasts.
• Iran resolved to boost defense might: Chief of staff Press TV 05 Jul 2016 -- The newly appointed chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces says the improvement of the defensive prowess of the Islamic Republic's military will top his agenda during his tenure.
• Japan Denies Locking Missiles Onto Chinese Fighter Jets Over East China Sea Sputnik 05 Jul 2016 -- Tokyo has refuted Beijing's accusations that Japan Air Self-Defense Force jets used fire-control radars to lock onto Chinese fighter jets during a patrol flight over the East China Sea, local media reported Tuesday.
• Initial probe finds missile was not fired on purpose: prosecutors CNA 05 Jul 2016 -- An initial investigation into the launch of an anti-ship missile that killed a Taiwanese fisherman last Friday has found no evidence that it was fired intentionally, Kaohsiung prosecutors said Tuesday.
• Republic of Korea - SM-2 Block IIIB Standard Missiles and Containers DSCA 05 Jul 2016 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Republic of Korea for SM-2 Block IIIB Standard missiles, containers and support. The estimated cost is $65 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on July 1, 2016.
• Head of Sweden's Military Wants to Have Direct Contact With Russia Sputnik 05 Jul 2016 -- Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces Micael Byden wants to have direct contact with the Russian Armed Forces amid growing tensions in the Baltic Sea, local media reported Tuesday.
• July 5, 2016 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 05 Jul 2016
• Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Josh Earnest en route Charlotte, NC, 7/5/2016 The White House 05 Jul 2016

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Taiwan closely following developments on South China Sea ruling CNA 05 Jul 2016 -- Taiwan is closely following the developments arising from an upcoming ruling by an international court on a dispute between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea, and has been preparing for various scenarios, Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang (黃重諺) said Tuesday.
• China Launches Military Drills Before Tribunal Ruling VOA 05 Jul 2016 -- China has stepped up efforts to defend its sovereignty claims in the disputed South China Sea by launching a week-long military drill around the Paracel Islands – a move that analysts say aims to de-legitimize an upcoming landmark international court decision.
• China should be ready for military confrontation in South China Sea: Daily Press TV 05 Jul 2016 -- A prominent Chinese daily run by the state says Beijing should be ready for potential "military confrontation" in the South China Sea.
• 30k foreign militants active in Syria, Iraq: UN official Press TV 05 Jul 2016 -- A United Nations official says approximately 30,000 foreign terrorists are operating in Syria and Iraq, warning that the militants, who have suffered heavy losses on the battlefield, pose threats to their home countries upon their return.
• UN humanitarian coordinator alarmed at deteriorating conditions in besieged Syrian towns UN News 05 Jul 2016 -- The United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Syria has expressed alarm over reports of deteriorating humanitarian conditions and urgent medical evacuation needs in the towns of Madaya, Foah, Zabadani and Kefraya, where more than 62,000 people are besieged.
• Syrian Army Repels Attacks by Extremists in Aleppo Sputnik 05 Jul 2016 -- According to a source in the militia, an attack by extremists in Syria's Aleppo city was repelled by the Syrian army with the support of armed militia.
• UN and partners warn of growing poverty for Syrian refugees UN News 05 Jul 2016 -- While significant progress has been made in providing assistance, the number of Syrian refugees living in poverty continues to rise in host countries in the region and access to basic services remains a critical challenge, a new United Nations report warned today.
• UN rights chief deplores terrorist attack in Baghdad; calls on Iraqi authorities to protect civilians UN News 05 Jul 2016 -- The United Nations human rights chief today deplored the terrorist bombing in Baghdad on Sunday that reportedly killed more than 150 people, calling on Iraqi authorities to do more to protect civilians as well as halt uncontrolled militias from continuing to take revenge on civilians fleeing towns recaptured from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh).
• Iraqis Mourn As Death Toll From Baghdad Blast Rises To 213 RFE/RL 05 Jul 2016 -- Iraq observed the first of three days of mourning for at least 213 people killed in a massive Baghdad truck bombing claimed by the Islamic State group.
• Iraqi Army Launches Offensive Against Daesh in North of Anbar Province Sputnik 05 Jul 2016 -- The Iraqi army has started an offensive against fighters from the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group in the north of the country's Anbar province, the head of the local operation command was quoted as saying in the media on Tuesday.
• UN rights chief deplores terrorist attack in Baghdad; calls on Iraqi authorities to protect civilians UN News 05 Jul 2016 -- The United Nations human rights chief today deplored the terrorist bombing in Baghdad on Sunday that reportedly killed more than 150 people, calling on Iraqi authorities to do more to protect civilians as well as halt uncontrolled militias from continuing to take revenge on civilians fleeing towns recaptured from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh).
• Iraq Official Resigns After Devastating Bombing VOA 05 Jul 2016 -- Iraq's interior minister has offered to resign, part of the political fallout from Sunday's devastating attack in Baghdad.
• 3 Ukrainian soldiers killed in fresh clashes in east Press TV 05 Jul 2016 -- Renewed clashes between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russia forces in eastern Ukraine have left three soldiers dead.
• Uganda Reconsiders Pull-out From Somali Mission VOA 05 Jul 2016 -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni says his country will reconsider plans to pull its troops from Somalia if the AU stabilization mission there moves in the right direction.
• Somali Official: 9 Injured in Mogadishu Market Blast VOA 05 Jul 2016 -- A suspected member of the al-Shabab militant group lobbed a hand grenade into a market in Mogadishu on Tuesday, wounding nine civilians, witnesses and officials said.

News Reports

• Three Bombings Target Saudi Holy Sites, Eid Celebrations RFE/RL 05 Jul 2016 -- A suicide bombing outside one of Islam's holiest sites killed four Saudi security forces, and similar attacks outside a Shi'ite mosque and a U.S. Consulate in two other Saudi cities raised fears of a coordinated assault on the kingdom.
• French Inquiry Advises Creation Of 'National Antiterrorism Agency' RFE/RL 05 Jul 2016 -- French lawmakers have recommended sweeping changes to the country's intelligence services in response to mounting concerns over the dangers posed by international terrorism.
• French Intelligence Needs Overhaul After Deadly Paris Attacks Sputnik 05 Jul 2016 -- One of the reasons for Paris November 2015 attacks was the intelligence services malpractice, which is why is needs to be reformed.
• Paris Attacks Inquiry Calls for New Umbrella Intel Agency VOA 05 Jul 2016 -- A U.S.-style national terrorism center? That is one of the recommendations coming from a French parliamentary inquiry into last year's Paris attacks. It also cites intelligence shortfalls leading up to the attacks and limits to the current state of emergency.
• Iraqi interior minister quits after fatal Baghdad bomb attacks Press TV 05 Jul 2016 -- Iraq's Interior Minister Mohammed al-Ghabban has stepped down from his position following one of the deadliest ever bombings in the Arab country claimed by the Takfiri Daesh terrorists group.
• Turkey charges 17 more suspects over Istanbul airport attack Press TV 05 Jul 2016 -- Turkey has charged 17 people, mostly Russians, over the recent deadly gun and bomb attack at Istanbul's international airport which was blamed on the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group.
• Shamkhani stresses unfaltering implementation of JCPOA IRNA 05 Jul 2016 -- Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani stressed the ceaseless implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
• Commentary: Ling Jihua sentenced to life; All are equal before the law People's Daily 05 Jul 2016 -- Former Director of General Office of the ??CPC? Central Committee Lin Jihua on Monday was sentenced to life for bribery, illegally obtaining state secrets, and abuse of power. Ling accepted bribes totaling over 77.08 million yuan (11.6 million U.S. dollars) personally and through his family, according to the first-instance ruling by the First Intermediate People's Court of Tianjin.
• Russia Buying Chinese Yuan To Diversify Away From Dollar, Euro RFE/RL 05 Jul 2016 -- Russia's central bank has started buying the Chinese yuan to diversify its foreign-currency reserves away from the euro and U.S. dollar and become less vulnerable to Western sanctions.
• Heavy Rain Witnessed in DPRK KCNA 05 Jul 2016 -- Heavy rainfall was witnessed in North and South Hwanghae and Kangwon provinces and other parts of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from 12:00 Monday to 9:00 Tuesday.
• Juno Spacecraft Enters Jupiter's Orbit VOA 05 Jul 2016 -- There were hugs, "high fives" and handshakes at Juno mission control at Jet Propulsion Laboratory Monday, as the unmanned spacecraft completed its engine burn to enter Jupiter orbit and start its 20-month mission mapping the giant planet.