Further Reading

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Inherent Resolve Strikes Target ISIL in Syria, Iraq AFPS 17 Jul 2016 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• US-led Airstrikes From Turkey Resume Against IS VOA 17 Jul 2016 -- United States-led coalition airstrikes from Turkey are again being carried out against Islamic State after airspace in the country had been closed following Friday's coup attempt.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Filling bigger boots at Rim of the Pacific 2016 USMC News 17 Jul 2016 -- In 1971, the first Rim of the Pacific exercise took place in Hawaii. This biennial exercise has flourished, drawing more nations and service members each year. RIMPAC 16, the largest exercise in the series, hosts 26 nations, 49 ships, six submarines, nearly 200 aircraft, and 25,000 personnel.
• Armata Tanks to Get Russian-Made Sights as MoD Phases Out Imports Sputnik 17 Jul 2016 -- The next generation of armored vehicles based on the Armata and Kurganets tracked platforms will feature Russian-made sight matrices instead of French ones now, Gazeta.ru wrote citing Defense Ministry sources in Moscow.
• Iran Navy to send 42nd flotilla to high seas Press TV 17 Jul 2016 -- The 42nd flotilla of the Iranian Navy plans to set off for high seas to safeguard maritime routes used by Iranian vessels operating in international waters.
• May urged to delay vote on 'immoral' Trident Press TV 17 Jul 2016 -- The Scottish National Party (SNP) has called on new British Prime Minister Theresa May to delay a parliamentary vote on the renewal of Trident, saying it is wrong to spend billions of pounds to expand the country's "immoral" nuclear weapons program.

Defense Industry

• Airbus to Retrofit the C-295 Cargo Jet With Laser-Guided Anti-Tank Missiles Sputnik 17 Jul 2016 -- Airbus wants to turn its military cargo aircraft C-295 into full-fledged combat jet by arming it with laser-guided missiles, laser-guided anti-tank missiles and laser-guided bombs.

Other Conflicts

• Hague tribunal on South China Sea unlawful from beginning: Beijing Press TV 17 Jul 2016 -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong says a South China Sea arbitration case ruling is unlawful and an attempt to deny Beijing's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.
• Aboard US Carrier, Cambodian Brass Survey South China Sea VOA 17 Jul 2016 -- Amid the baking surface heat of a vast oceanic expanse, crewmembers of the USS Ronald Reagan go about their business as fighter jets burst from the deck of the enormous aircraft carrier.
• Tokyo Provokes Beijing, Demands Adherence to the South China Sea Ruling Sputnik 17 Jul 2016 -- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wasted no time following The Hague's ruling that China has no legal basis to territory that has long been in its control, a ruling that may also impact Tokyo and Beijing's longstanding dispute over the Senkaku Islands.
• Chinese premier wins backing over South China Sea at ASEM Summit People's Daily 17 Jul 2016 -- In Mongolia over the weekend, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's effort to promote China's stance on the South China Seaissue received broad support during the 11th Asian-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit.
• Yemen rival parties reconvene peace talks in Kuwait Press TV 17 Jul 2016 -- The UN-mediated negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict in Yemen have resumed in Kuwait City after a 15-day suspension.
• Syria fully cuts militant route to Aleppo Press TV 17 Jul 2016 -- Syrian government forces have completely cut off the only main road used by foreign-backed militants into Aleppo.
• Total of 188 Settlements Have Joined Syria Ceasefire - Russian Military Sputnik 17 Jul 2016 -- The number of settlements which agreed to join the Syrian ceasefire has increased to 188, Russian Center for reconciliation of opposing sides in Syria said on Sunday.
• Syrian Army, Militia Groups Liberate Town of Kinsabba From al-Nusra Front Sputnik 17 Jul 2016 -- The Syrian Army and militia groups have liberated the town of Kinsabba in the northwest of the country near the border with Turkey, a source told RIA Novosti on Sunday.
• Army, Peacekeepers Liberate South Somalia Port From Al-Shabaab Militants Sputnik 17 Jul 2016 -- The Somali army supported by the African Union peacekeepers have pushed the Al-Shabaab militants away from the key port town in southern Somalia, local media reported on Sunday.
• India closes Kashmir newspapers amid unrest Press TV 17 Jul 2016 -- Authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir have shut down newspaper offices and printing presses as part of an information blackout following a week of unrest in the disputed region.
• United States Reassures Support to South Sudan US Dept. of State 17 Jul 2016 -- The United States wants to reassure the people and the government of South Sudan that we are not planning, nor will plan, to target any government or military leaders; nor will we import special military equipment with the goal of destabilizing South Sudan.

News Reports

• During coup bid Erdogan's plane was in sights of rebel jets Press TV 17 Jul 2016 -- During the failed coup in Turkey, two rebel F-16 fighter jets had Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's plane in their sights, but refrained from opening fire, says a report.
• Four Inconvenient Questions About The Turkish Coup Attempt RFE/RL 17 Jul 2016 -- Shortly after the failed coup attempt in Turkey, which has left nearly 300 people dead, some 6,000 suspects were arrested, most of them judges, prosecutors, and army officers. Many of the arrests happened in the first 24 hours - the rest took place the next day.
• Kerry Rejects Hints of US Role in Turkish Coup VOA 17 Jul 2016 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has denounced suggestions that Washington was involved in Friday's failed coup in Turkey.
• Could Turkey Become US Ally 'Like Pakistan'? VOA 17 Jul 2016 -- How the Turkish government deals with the aftermath of the July 15 attempted military coup could have lasting implications for U.S.-Turkish relations, according to some U.S. foreign policy experts.
• Turkish acting army chief says 104 coup plotters killed, 1,563 soldiers detained People's Daily 17 Jul 2016 -- Turkey's acting army chief Gen. Umit Dundar said Saturday that 104 coup plotters have been killed and 1,563 soldiers detained.
• Turkish president urges Obama to extradite leader of opposition movement People's Daily 17 Jul 2016 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday reiterated a call for his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama to hand over the leader of an opposition movement accused of being behind the coup attempt in Turkey.
• Turkey reopens air base used by US apparently to target Daesh Press TV 17 Jul 2016 -- The Turkish government has reopened an air base in the south of the country used by American forces to allegedly target Daesh terrorists, the Pentagons says.
• Erdogan's military aide detained after coup: Media Press TV 17 Jul 2016 -- A top military adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been detained in the wake of the recent abortive coup, local media say.
• Turkey detains coup plotters at base used by US: Media Press TV 17 Jul 2016 -- Turkey has detained a senior air force general and other officers accused of involvement in a failed military coup at a key air base used by US forces for raids in Syria, Turkish media reports say.
• Turkey turmoil: Foreign plot or staged coup Press TV 17 Jul 2016 -- Some of the soldiers detained in Turkey have reportedly told interrogators they were not aware they were part of a coup attempt.
• U.S.-Based Turkish Cleric Rejects Coup Plot Charges RFE/RL 17 Jul 2016 -- Turkish Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen has rejected any involvement in the failed coup attempt against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
• Erdogan Signals Turkey Could Restore Death Penalty Following Failed Coup RFE/RL 17 Jul 2016 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erodgan says his country would consider reinstating capital punishment in the wake of the July 15 failed military coup attempt.
• Meet Exiled Muslim Cleric Wanted in Turkey for Allegedly Instigating Coup Sputnik 17 Jul 2016 -- Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the attempted coup in Turkey was organized by people living in the United States. In particular, he accused the social activist and cleric Fethullah Gülen and urged Obama to extradite him to Ankara.
• 'Heavy Purges' Will Weaken Turkish Military and Ankara Sputnik 17 Jul 2016 -- Even before the unsuccessful coup attempt was over, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to "cleanse" the army, promising that the mid-rank military officers who tried to depose him on July 15 "will pay a heavy price." But looming purges will not only weaken the military, but also Turkey.
• Turkey Assured US of Commitment to Fight Daesh - Kerry Sputnik 17 Jul 2016 -- US State Secretary John Kerry said Sunday that the United States expected operations of the international anti-Daesh coalition to get back to normal soon following the interruption caused by the coup attempt in Turkey after Ankara assured Washington of their commitment to anti-terrorist efforts.
• 42 Helicopters Missing in Turkey Sparking Concerns of a Second Coup Attempt Sputnik 17 Jul 2016 -- At least 42 helicopters have gone missing from Turkey's military inventory in the wake of the failed coup attempt on Friday evening causing concern that there may be another act to the attempted overthrow of Erdogan.
• Erdogan Not Ruling Out Death Penalty For Coup Supporters Sputnik 17 Jul 2016 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is not ruling out instituting of death penalty for participants of the thwarted military coup in the country, media reported on Sunday.
• Turkey's Failed Military Coup: 'Spur-of-the-Moment Event' Vs Planned Action Sputnik 17 Jul 2016 -- An unsuccessful attempt to overthrow Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has caught the country and the world by surprise. Questions remain as to who was truly behind the coup carried out by a group of middle-rank military and law enforcement officers and whether it was a well-planned operation, considering how quickly it failed.
• Erdogan Vows to Rid Turkey of 'Virus' Behind Failed Coup VOA 17 Jul 2016 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is promising to rid Turkey of people involved in Friday's failed coup attempt, as authorities continued to carry out arrests of those allegedly responsible.
• Salehi terms Iran nuclear case closure a miracle IRNA 17 Jul 2016 -- Head of Iran Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi said on Sunday the adversaries had brought unfounded accusations about Iranian nuclear program, so that closure of the nuclear case was a miracle.
• Velayati criticizes US for breaching JCPOA IRNA 17 Jul 2016 -- Head of the Center for Strategic Research of Expediency Council Ali-Akbar Velayati said on Sunday that the Americans have not honored their commitment to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
• Araqchi downplays Congress measures, holds US gov't responsible for JCPOA implementation IRNA 17 Jul 2016 -- Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday that the US government has to refrain from any measure that would violate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
• Iran discuss selling heavy water with 4 countries ISNA 17 Jul 2016 -- Spokesman of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi said that Iran has held talks with 3-4 countries on selling heavy water.
• Iran decries US failure to fulfill JCPOA obligations Press TV 17 Jul 2016 -- A senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has slammed the United States for its failure to remain committed to last year's nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries.
• Saudi Arabia uncooperative in Bin Laden probe: 9/11 report Press TV 17 Jul 2016 -- Saudi Arabia has refused to cooperate with US-led investigations about former al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden and other terror suspects before and after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks, according to newly declassified documents.
• French Police Release Estranged Wife of Nice Attacker VOA 17 Jul 2016 -- French police Sunday released the estranged wife of the truck driver who ran down nearly 300 Bastille Day revelers in the French resort of Nice, but are still questioning six others to see if the attacker was acting alone.
• U.S. Should Draw Lesson from Korean War KCNA 17 Jul 2016 -- The United States is now intensifying its military movement to drive the situation of the Korean peninsula to an extreme.
• Recent Developments in Bahrain US Dept. of State 17 Jul 2016 -- The United States is deeply concerned by the decision of a Bahraini court to dissolve the opposition Al Wefaq political society and liquidate its assets.
• Bahrain court dissolves main opposition group al-Wefaq Press TV 17 Jul 2016 -- A court in Bahrain has dissolved the country's main Shia opposition group, the al-Wefaq National Islamic Society, almost a month after the regime suspended its activities.
• One Dead As Armed Men Storm Yerevan Police Station, Take Hostages RFE/RL 17 Jul 2016 -- A group of armed men from an opposition group stormed a district police headquarters and exchanged gunfire with police in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, early in the morning on July 17, the National Security Service said in a statement.