Further Reading

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 21 Jul 2016 [PDF]
• Joint Statement by Foreign and Defense Ministers of the Expanded Small Group of the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL / Daesh US Dept. of State 21 Jul 2016 -- The Foreign and Defense Ministers of the Counter-ISIL (Da'esh) Coalition Small Group, Military Coalition and members that have made major non-military contributions met today in Washington at the invitation of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter to build momentum and accelerate the multi-front campaign to defeat Da'esh in Iraq and Syria.
• Press Availability after the Counter-ISIL Ministerial Meeting US Dept. of State 21 Jul 2016 -- Remarks by John Kerry, US Secretary of State
• Carter Praises Momentum in the Counter-ISIL Fight, Results on the Ground AFPS 21 Jul 2016 -- Defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is more than a one-country, one-military or one-ministry job, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said in remarks this morning just before the first meeting of diplomatic, defense and civilian leaders whose nations are involved in the counter-ISIL coalition.
• Military Strikes Hit ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 21 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.
• Dunford Says Aviation Brings 'Asymmetric Advantage' to Afghan Force AFPS 21 Jul 2016 -- As the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff attended briefings at the U.S. Air Force's 438th Air Expeditionary Wing at Kabul International Airport here, a special delivery arrived for the Afghan air force.
• Taliban Insurgents Overrun Northern Afghan District VOA 21 Jul 2016 -- Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan have overrun a remote northern district after days of intense clashes with government forces, officials confirmed to local media on Thursday.

Defense Policy / Programs

• A RUT above the rest: 11th MEU conducts urban raid and reconnaissance training USMC News 21 Jul 2016 -- As part of the second large-scale exercise of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit's pre-deployment training and certification cycle, the MEU's Maritime Raid Force concluded their participation in the Realistic Urban Training Exercise, or RUT, which took place at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, June 12-23, 2016.
• Under Secretary of the Navy Visits Newest Amphib during RIMPAC NNS 21 Jul 2016 -- Under Secretary of the Navy Dr. Janine Davidson visited amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) while the ship was underway participating in the 2016 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, July 18.
• US Naval Warship to Make First Visit to New Zealand Since 1980s VOA 21 Jul 2016 -- A U.S. naval warship will visit New Zealand later this year, ending a three-decade-old stalemate over the South Pacific nation's nuclear-free policy.
• Trump Challenges NATO Mutual Defense Clause VOA 21 Jul 2016 -- U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is questioning whether the United States would automatically defend other NATO allies if they were attacked, a bedrock principle of the U.S.-European military alliance since the end of World War II.
• Washington may not defend NATO allies: Trump Press TV 21 Jul 2016 -- US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump says under his leadership the Washington may not remain committed to the protection of NATO allies.
• Trump Raises Questions About U.S.'s NATO Commitment To Baltics RFE/RL 21 Jul 2016 -- U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump says if he were president he would not automatically come to the aid of the Baltic states if they were invaded by Russia.
• Trump Statement on NATO Proves Inability to Become US Commander in Chief Sputnik 21 Jul 2016 -- Donald Trump's statement on protecting NATO allies prove he is "ill-prepared" to be the country's commander-in-chief, a foreign policy adviser for his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, said in a statement Thursday.
• Trump Deems Permanent US Military Presence Abroad 'Unnecessary' Sputnik 21 Jul 2016 -- Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has said he supports sending US troops abroad, though it is not necessary to deploy forces overseas on a constant basis.
• Trump Comments on Withdrawing US Forces from Asia Raise Alarm VOA 21 Jul 2016 -- Alarm is being expressed following the 2016 Republican Party presidential nominee's latest comments questioning the need to keep nearly 80,000 U.S. military personnel in Northeast Asia.
• North Korea Makes Progress on Ballistic Missile Submarine Shipyard Sputnik 21 Jul 2016 -- Work on the launching way and construction hall of North Korea's Sinpo South Shipyard project is now externally complete, according to a US-based monitoring project.
• S. Korean Opponents Argue THAAD May Do More Harm Than Good VOA 21 Jul 2016 -- Thousands of residents from the planned deployment site of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system rallied in the South Korean capital Thursday to denounce the system as a health and safety threat to their communities.
• South Korean President Defends Missile Defense Plan VOA 21 Jul 2016 -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye is defending her decision to deploy a U.S.-built missile defense system on the country's southeastern peninsula, as protests against the plan continue.
• India Moves Nearly One Hundred Tanks, Troops to Chinese Border Sputnik 21 Jul 2016 -- With tensions rising between China and India, New Delhi has deployed nearly 100 tanks to its eastern border.
• Iran Defense Minister Confirms Receipt of Russian S-300 Systems Sputnik 21 Jul 2016 -- Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan confirmed the delivery of the Russian-made S-300 air defense systems, noting that they were already partially deployed in the country, Iran's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee spokesman Seyed Hossein Naghavi Hosseini said Wednesday.
• Why Czech Republic Seeks to Buy Used German Leopard Tanks Sputnik 21 Jul 2016 -- The Czech military has recently expressed an interest in purchasing a number of surplus Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks from Spain.
• UK Sub Collides With Merchant Ship in Gibraltar Waters Sputnik 21 Jul 2016 -- A British sub collided with a merchant vessel off the coast of Gibraltar while performing a training exercise, the UK Defense Ministry informed.
• Background Briefing on Secretary Kerry's Trip to Vienna US Dept. of State 21 Jul 2016
• July 21, 2016 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 21 Jul 2016
• Press Briefing by the Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 7/21/2016 The White House 21 Jul 2016

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 21, 2016

Other Conflicts

• 21 July 2016 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 21 Jul 2016
• UN officials alarmed by closure of access route in eastern Aleppo; call for 'humanitarian truce' UN News 21 Jul 2016 -- The United Nations humanitarian chief today expressed grave alarm over developments in the eastern part of Aleppo city in Syria, where civilian, humanitarian and commercial movements have been effectively cut off following the closure of the last remaining access route in and out of the area.
• Al-Qaeda arm in Syria executes 14 'pro-government forces' Press TV 21 Jul 2016 -- The al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front has executed 14 captives it accused of fighting for the Syrian government in retaliation against army gains near the capital, Damascus.
• Syria Kurdish forces give Daesh 48 hrs to pull out of Manbij Press TV 21 Jul 2016 -- Syrian forces have given the Takfiri Daesh terrorists 48 hours to abandon the embattled northern city of Manbij near the Turkish border.
• Syrian Fighters Give IS 48-Hour Deadline to Leave Syria's Manbij VOA 21 Jul 2016 -- U.S.-backed fighters in Syria Thursday gave Islamic State jihadists 48 hours to evacuate their stronghold in the northern city of Manbij. The forces surrounded the city last month and have been slowly closing in on it.
• Statement by the Co-Hosts Canada, Germany, Japan, Kuwait, The Netherlands, and the United States at the July 20 Pledging Conference in Support of Iraq US Dept. of State 21 Jul 2016
• Iraq defense minister calls for improved security to match gains against militants Press TV 21 Jul 2016 -- The Iraqi defense minister has called for better security inside the Arab country as the military continues making gains against Daesh militants across the country.
• Italy to Provide $33Mln Aid Package, $440Mln Loan to Iraq in 2016-2018 Sputnik 21 Jul 2016 -- Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said that Italy will provide funding worth 30 million euros from 2016 to 2018 to Iraq and grant a 400-million-euro loan for the same period.
• Libya unity govt. condemns French military presence Press TV 21 Jul 2016 -- The unity government in Libya has condemned the presence of French military forces in the country following the revelation that such forces are operating on the ground in Libya.
• Proposed GOP Stance on Ukraine Sparks Controversy VOA 21 Jul 2016 -- At this week's Republican National Convention, a mini-drama has surfaced over what the party's platform has to say about the conflict in Ukraine.
• Civilians Subjected To Unlawful Detentions, Disappearances, Torture In Eastern Ukraine, Watchdogs Say RFE/RL 21 Jul 2016 -- Civilians have been subjected to extended arbitrary detention, disappearances, and even torture by both sides in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, two leading rights watchdogs warn in a joint report.
• Ban welcomes new agreement with Inter Parliamentary Union; reiterates concern at South Sudan crisis UN News 21 Jul 2016 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today signed a new partnership agreement with the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) that will further strengthen the collaboration between the two organizations in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
• South Sudan: UN human rights expert calls for the release of journalist Alfred Taban UN News 21 Jul 2016 -- A United Nations human rights expert today urged the Government of South Sudan to immediately release Alfred Taban, a prominent journalist and chief editor of the daily English newspaper, Juba Monitor.
• Nigeria kills 42 Boko Haram militants, rescues 80 women, children Press TV 21 Jul 2016 -- Nigeria's military has rescued at least 80 children and women in an operation against the Boko Haram Takfiri terrorist group in the country's troubled northeast.
• Report: Pro-Government Militia Takes Control of Northern Malian City VOA 21 Jul 2016 -- A pro-government Taureg militia group was reported Thursday to be taking control of Mali's northern city of Kidal, after fighting broke out between the militia and a coalition chiefly made up of former Taureg rebels.

News Reports

• In Wake Of Blown Coup, Turkey Takes Global Aim At Gulen Movement RFE/RL 21 Jul 2016 -- In the wake of last week's failed Turkish coup, a battle over the Gulen movement is shaping up in Kyrgyzstan that may soon be played out in many more countries.
• Ban urges Turkish authorities to respect constitutional order, human rights amid state of emergency UN News 21 Jul 2016 -- Following the declaration of a three-month state of emergency in Turkey as a result of an attempted military coup late last week, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Turkish authorities to ensure that constitutional order and international human rights law are fully respected.
• Top Turkey Official: 'Mutual Benefit Approach' to Relations With US VOA 21 Jul 2016 -- Turkish-U.S. relations will not be significantly affected by last week's failed coup and Turkey will take a "mutual benefit approach" to diplomacy between the two countries, Turkey's chief of international relations told VOA on Thursday.
• Turkey to Suspend European Convention on Human Rights VOA 21 Jul 2016 -- Turkey says it will suspend the European Convention on Human Rights during the three-month state of emergency it declared to purge perpetrators of last week's failed coup.
• Turkey To Suspend European Rights Convention, Says Deputy PM RFE/RL 21 Jul 2016 -- Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus has said Turkey will suspend its duty to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights during the current three-month state of emergency following an abortive coup last week.
• Turkish Intelligence Spied on People Involved in Coup Attempt Sputnik 21 Jul 2016 -- The people involved in the recent coup attempt in Turkey were kept under surveillance by the country's intelligence service, according to a high-ranking member of the Turkish ruling party.
• Turkish Police Stopped Military From Bringing Rockets to Ankara Sputnik 21 Jul 2016 -- Twenty trucks loaded with the Kasirga rockets were stopped by police on the road to Ankara after leaving the base of the Turkish 58th Artillery Brigade during the coup attempt, according to local media.
• Assad Believes Erdogan Used Coup as Pretext to Carry Out Purge in Turkey Sputnik 21 Jul 2016 -- Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has used the pretext of the recent coup attempt to carry out his extremist policies in the country, Syrian President Bashar Assad said.
• Kerry: IS Losing Money and Fighters, But Still a Terror Threat VOA 21 Jul 2016 -- While the Islamic State group continues to lose ground and fighters in Iraq and Syria, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says the militant organization is morphing into a different type of threat that likely will be more difficult to defeat.
• France Launches Probe Into Security Measures in Nice VOA 21 Jul 2016 -- French police conducted a counter-terrorism operation in the Argenteuil area north of Paris Thursday near a mosque and an Islamic library, authorities said.
• UN chief hails JCPOA as 'historic achievement' IRNA 21 Jul 2016 -- In a statement on Wednesday, the UN chief congratulated Iran and the participants in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the first anniversary of the "historic achievement" and commended progress made so far.
• Commander warns enemy plots to turn country insecure IRNA 21 Jul 2016 -- Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Mohammad-Ali Jaafari on Thursday warned that enemies have diversified plots to make the country insecure.
• Iran busts terror cell in east, detains 40: Interior minister Press TV 21 Jul 2016 -- Iranian security forces have arrested 40 members of a terror cell that planned to carry out attacks in the eastern parts of the country, the interior minister says.
• U.S. Treasury Blacklists Three Al-Qaeda Leaders Living In Iran RFE/RL 21 Jul 2016 -- The United States has blacklisted three Al-Qaeda leaders living in Iran, saying they had helped the Islamist militant group on the battlefield, with finance and logistics, and in mediating with Iranian authorities.
• Kuwait court upholds death for alleged spy cell member Press TV 21 Jul 2016 -- Kuwait's court of appeals has upheld the death sentence for a citizen allegedly convicted of "spying for Iran" as part of a cell accused of trying to destabilize the Persian Gulf country.
• Iraqi prime minister accepts another minister's resignation Press TV 21 Jul 2016 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has accepted the resignation of another minister amid growing public demands for reform, as a protracted bid to reshuffle his cabinet finally gathers momentum.
• As DR Congo polls approach, UN rights chief warns of threats to free speech, public assembly UN News 21 Jul 2016 -- Concluding a four-day mission to Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, today commended the country's efforts to strengthen human rights but cautioned that some of these advances may be under threat, especially what he saw as repression against opposition parties in the coming elections.
• French president calls for Brexit talks as soon as possible Press TV 21 Jul 2016 -- French President Francois Hollande says Brexit talks must start "as soon as possible," stressing that Britain should not have access to the European Union's single market unless it allows free movement of EU workers.
• Russian Agent Sentenced to 10 Years for Acting as Unregistered Russian Government Agent and Leading Scheme to Illegally Export Controlled Technology to Russian Military US Dept. of Justice 21 Jul 2016 -- Alexander Fishenko, a dual citizen of the United States and Russia, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and ordered to forfeit more than $500,000 in criminal proceeds following his guilty plea on Sept. 9, 2015 to a 19-count indictment. Fishenko pleaded guilty to acting as an agent of the Russian government within the United States without prior notification to the Attorney General, conspiring to export and illegally exporting controlled microelectronics to Russia, conspiring to launder money and obstruction of justice.
• Russian Agent Sentenced for Illegally Exporting US High-tech Gear VOA 21 Jul 2016 -- A federal court in New York on Thursday sentenced an admitted agent of the Russian government to 10 years in prison and ordered him to forfeit $500,000 in profit he'd gained from his criminal activity, which focused on acquiring and secretly shipping abroad high-tech microelectronics for Russian military equipment.
• Xi orders China's developed east to better aid poor west People's Daily 21 Jul 2016 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged developed regions in the east help their partner regions in the west better fight poverty.