Further Reading

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 06 Jul 2016 [PDF]
• Department of Defense Press Briefing by Col. Garver via Teleconference From Baghdad, Iraq DoD 06 Jul 2016 -- Presenter: Colonel Christopher Garver, Operation Inherent Resolve Spokesman
• Counter-ISIL Strikes Hit Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 06 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.
• Centcom Counters ISIL Propaganda AFPS 06 Jul 2016 -- While Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve's air campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant notched more than 26,000 ISIL targets damaged or destroyed as of the end of May, the war against ISIL also proceeds on other fronts.
• OIR Spokesman: Local Forces Continue Push to Mosul in Iraq, Manbij Isolation in Syria AFPS 06 Jul 2016 -- U.S.- and coalition-backed local forces continue the fight against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant fighters in the push toward Mosul in Iraq and the isolation of Manbij in Syria, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Army Col. Christopher Garver said today.
• Press Call by Senior Administration Officials on Afghanistan The White House 06 Jul 2016
• Obama: 8,400 U.S. Troops to Remain in Afghanistan through January 2017 AFPS 06 Jul 2016 -- The situation in Afghanistan remains "precarious," President Barack Obama said here today, and that is why he will keep 8,400 U.S. service members in country through the end of his term.
• Statement by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on Afghanistan DoD 06 Jul 2016
• Afghan president welcomes Obama'a decision on troops number Press TV 06 Jul 2016 -- Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has welcomed US President Barack Obama's decision to maintain the bulk of American troops in Afghanistan.
• Obama to leave more troops in Afghanistan than planned Press TV 06 Jul 2016 -- US President Barack Obama has announced that more American troops than planned will stay in Afghanistan by the end of this year, when his presidency comes to an end.
• U.S. To Leave 8,400 Troops In Afghanistan RFE/RL 06 Jul 2016 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has announced that the United States will keep 8,400 troops in Afghanistan through the end of his administration early next year, slowing the planned drawdown of the American military presence in the country.
• Obama: US to Maintain 8,400 Troops in Afghanistan into Next Year VOA 06 Jul 2016 -- U.S. President Barack Obama's plan to maintain 8,400 U.S. troops in Afghanistan through the end of his presidency leaves many unanswered questions about the best path forward as the security situation continues to worsen, experts said.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Wasp ARG Enters US 6th Fleet NNS 06 Jul 2016 -- The Wasp Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), with the embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), entered the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations July 3.
• Navy's San Clemente Island Fuel Facility Renovations Complete NNS 06 Jul 2016 -- Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center (NAVSUP FLC) San Diego celebrated the complete replacement of its San Clemente Island fuel facility during a ribbon cutting ceremony July 6.
• NAVFAC Marianas Awards Multiple Award Construction Contract NNS 06 Jul 2016 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Marianas awarded a Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Multiple Award Construction Contract (MACC) to five SDVOSBs for construction and facility work primarily on Guam.
• Truman Transits Strait of Gibraltar NNS 06 Jul 2016 -- Aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) transited the Strait of Gibraltar, July 2.
• U.S. And Georgia Announce Deeper Military Ties Ahead Of NATO Summit RFE/RL 06 Jul 2016 -- The United States and Georgia plan to deepen their military cooperation as Secretary of State John Kerry underscored Washington's commitment to supporting the ex-Soviet nation in its long-running standoff with two separatist regions backed by Russia.
• US, Georgia ink defense cooperation agreement Press TV 06 Jul 2016 -- The United States and Georgia have inked an agreement to boost security and defense cooperation between the two countries.
• NATO says meeting with Russia slated for July 13 Press TV 06 Jul 2016 -- The secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) says the Western military alliance will hold fresh talks with Russia next week.
• Chinese large freighter plane enters military service People's Daily 06 Jul 2016 -- Painted grey and carrying national flags and yellow serial numbers on their tails, two Y-20 planes, China's homegrown large transport aircraft, officially joined the People's Liberation Army Air Force on Wednesday.
• Chinese large freighter plane enters military service People's Daily 06 Jul 2016 -- Y-20, China's homegrown large transport aircraft, officially joined the People's Liberation Army Air Force on Wednesday.
• China's largest military transport plane enters service Press TV 06 Jul 2016 -- China's largest military transport aircraft has been put into service, enabling Beijing to deploy its forces around the world.
• U.S. reassures Taiwan on cooperation after missile incident CNA 06 Jul 2016 -- The United States has reassured Taiwan of its continuing cooperation after Taiwan's Navy mistakenly fired a live missile into the Taiwan Strait on July 1.
• Israel - Excess SH-60F Sea-Hawk Helicopter Equipment and Support DSCA 06 Jul 2016 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Israel for Excess SH-60F Sea-Hawk Helicopter equipment and support. The estimated cost is $300 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on July 5, 2016.
• Press Briefing by the Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 7/6/2016 The White House 06 Jul 2016
• July 6, 2016 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 06 Jul 2016

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 06, 2016

Other Conflicts

• Dai Bingguo: China not to be intimidated, even if U.S. sends 10 aircraft carriers to South China Sea People's Daily 06 Jul 2016 -- The Chinese people would not be intimidated by the U.S. actions, not even if the U.S. sends all its ten aircraft carriers to the South China Sea, said Dai Bingguo, former state councilor of China, on Tuesday at the dialogue on South China Sea between Chinese and U.S. think tanks in Washington, D.C.
• China warns US over meddling in territorial disputes Press TV 06 Jul 2016 -- A top Chinese newspaper has warned that the US would have to pay a "price" if it continues to interfere in territorial disputes between Beijing and its neighbors over the South China Sea.
• Philippine president: talks with Beijing after ruling People's Daily 06 Jul 2016 -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said he wants to talk with China over the South China Sea issue after the ruling from an international tribunal.
• Hadi loyalists dislodge militants from army base in Yemen's Aden airport Press TV 06 Jul 2016 -- Forces loyal to the resigned Yemeni president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, have managed to push militants out of the army headquarters at the international airport of the southern port city of Aden following an hours-long firefight.
• Syrian Arab Coalition Builds Advantage South of Manbij AFPS 06 Jul 2016 -- The Syrian Arab Coalition has made substantial gains in the southern area of Manbij in Syria in an ongoing effort to liberate the city from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's control, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• Russia, US to intensify Syria coordination: Kremlin Press TV 06 Jul 2016 -- The Kremlin has announced that Russia and the US are prepared for better coordination efforts on dealing with Takfiri terrorism in Syria.
• Syrian army declares 72-hours nationwide truce Press TV 06 Jul 2016 -- The Syrian army has declared a unilateral 72-hour truce across conflict-stricken Syria on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
• Barzani hopes for vote on Iraqi Kurdistan independence Press TV 06 Jul 2016 -- President of Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Masoud Barzani has expressed hope that a vote would be held on the autonomous northern region's secession from the mainland.
• Five Killed in South Sudan Road Ambushes VOA 06 Jul 2016 -- Five people were killed and at least three others injured in two separate incidents when unidentified gunmen attacked passenger vehicles Monday and Tuesday along the Torit-Kapoeta Road, according to state officials in the South Sudanese town of Torit.
• North Korea Releases Dam Water Into South Without Warning VOA 06 Jul 2016 -- North Korea released water from a dam near its border with the South without warning early Wednesday morning, increasing fears of floods in areas already hit by heavy rainfall in recent days.

News Reports

• Defenders, Critics Stand Their Ground Following British Iraq Report VOA 06 Jul 2016 -- Western reaction to Britain's 6,000-page report on the Iraq war reflects the remorse of hindsight, but leaders who played a part in going to war are standing by their decisions.
• Blair says to "take full responsibility" for any mistakes over Iraq war People's Daily 06 Jul 2016 -- Former British prime minister Tony Blair said he will "take full responsibility for any mistakes without exception or excuse" over the Iraq war, after the publication of a long-awaited inquiry into the war on Wednesday.
• Invasion of Iraq made world 'a better place': Blair Press TV 06 Jul 2016 -- Former British prime minister Tony Blair has defied the findings of an scathing inquiry into his decision to assist the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, saying the war has made the world a "better place."
• Invasion of Iraq based on false perceptions: Cameron Press TV 06 Jul 2016 -- UK Prime Minister David Cameron has responded to the Chilcot Inquiry into Britain's role in the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, saying Britain must never repeat the mistakes of the Iraq war.
• Chilcot Inquiry: Iraq war 'unnecessary,' military action 'not last resort' Press TV 06 Jul 2016 -- A long-delayed inquiry into Britain's role in the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq has offered a scathing critique of the military intervention, slamming former British prime minister Tony Blair for being too eager to support then US president George W. Bush.
• British Inquiry Finds Iraq War 'Went Badly Wrong' VOA 06 Jul 2016 -- The invasion of Iraq 13 years ago by an American- and British-led coalition was "unnecessary" and Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein represented "no imminent threat" to Britain or the Western powers, according to a long-awaited official report into Britain's involvement in the Iraq War.
• Statement by Sir John Chilcot: 6 July 2016 Iraq Inquiry 06 Jul 2016 -- "In 2003, for the first time since the Second World War, the United Kingdom took part in an invasion and full-scale occupation of a sovereign State. (...) We have concluded that the UK chose to join the invasion of Iraq before the peaceful options for disarmament had been exhausted. Military action at that time was not a last resort."
• U.K.'s Chilcot Inquiry Issues Damning Findings On Iraq War 06 Jul 2016 -- A seven-year public inquiry ordered by the British government into the circumstances and "lessons" of the 2003 invasion of Iraq has concluded that the country's leadership went to war "before the peaceful options for disarmament had been exhausted" and based on flawed intelligence and "wholly inadequate" planning.
• US imposes sanctions on Kim Jong-un over rights abuses Press TV 06 Jul 2016 -- The United States has sanctioned North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for the first time over claims that he resorts to "notorious abuses of human rights."
• For First Time, US Sanctions Kim Jong Un for Human Rights Abuses VOA 06 Jul 2016 -- For the first time, the United States put North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on the U.S. sanctions list for human rights abuses.
• South Korea to double loudspeakers along border with North Press TV 06 Jul 2016 -- South Korea's military plans to double its loudspeakers along the border with North Korea to increase its broadcast of anti-Pyongyang messages.
• Daesh vows to launch more attacks on Bangladesh Press TV 06 Jul 2016 -- The Daesh Takfiri terrorist group has vowed to launch further terror attacks on Bangladesh, almost a week after it claimed that it carried out a deadly siege in the capital Dhaka, which killed 20 people.
• The Saudi Bombings And The Legacy Of Bin Laden RFE/RL 06 Jul 2016 -- Osama bin Laden may be dead but if the July 4 bombings in Saudi Arabia demonstrate anything to a global audience forcibly becoming, if not numbed, then wearily resigned to the horrors of jihadist violence, it's that his playbook is still in full effect - albeit with some major alterations.