Further Reading

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• US airstrikes leave over a dozen civilian casualties in Syria Press TV 23 Jul 2016 -- More than a dozen civilians are dead or injured after US warplanes launch fresh airstrikes in Syria's northern province of Aleppo.
• Military Strikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq AFPS 23 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.
• 80 killed, 231 injured in Kabul bomb blasts Press TV 23 Jul 2016 -- Afghanistan's Interior Ministry says at least 80 people were killed and 231 others wounded in two bomb blasts in the capital Kabul.
• Afghan forces launch anti-Daesh operation in Nangarhar Press TV 23 Jul 2016 -- Afghan army forces have launched a major military operation against Daesh-linked Takfiri militants, who have been expanding their presence in the eastern province of Nangarhar.
• Afghan President Vows 'Revenge' After Kabul Attack RFE/RL 23 Jul 2016 -- Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has vowed to take "revenge" against those responsible for a suicide attack in Kabul that has killed at least 80 people, the deadliest attack to hit the Afghan capital since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.
• Afghanistan: UN condemns 'despicable' terrorist attack that leaves scores dead in Kabul UN News 23 Jul 2016 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and the head of the UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA), Tadamichi Yamamoto, have strongly condemned today's attack on a peaceful demonstration in Kabul that killed at least 59 people and injured some 245 others.
• IS Bombers Kill 80 During Protest in Kabul VOA 23 Jul 2016 -- The Islamic State terror group claimed credit for a bomb attack in Kabul on Saturday that killed at least 80 people and wounded 231 others during a protest rally.

Defense Policy / Programs

• CVN 77 Returns to Sea NNS 23 Jul 2016 -- USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) left Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) July 23 after completing a 13-month planned incremental availability (PIA).
• US Military Pushes for Closer Ties With Chinese Military VOA 23 Jul 2016 -- Despite Beijing's rejection of the recent tribunal ruling on the South China Sea issues, the U.S. military keeps pushing for closer ties with the People's Liberation Army.
• Russia Creating Cutting-Edge Universal Nuclear Battleship Sputnik 23 Jul 2016 -- Russia's Severnoye Design Bureau has started working on the Project 23560 Leader-class destroyer that will combine the features of a destroyer, large antisubmarine warship and guided missile cruiser.
• Over 100 Russian Northern Fleet Ships, Subs Take Part in Barents Sea Drills Sputnik 23 Jul 2016 -- Over 100 military ships, nuclear and diesel submarines, as well as auxiliary vessels of the Russian Northern Fleet took part in large-scale exercises in the Barents Sea and its southern inlet, the White Sea, the fleet's press service said Saturday.
• North Korea Begins Building Advanced Nuclear Armed Ballistic Submarine Sputnik 23 Jul 2016 -- Pyongyang moves closer to constructing a ballistic missile submarine capable of launching a nuclear payload towards the United States as the most militaristic country rattles its saber once more.
• Iran's Damavand Destroyer armed with chaff IRNA 23 Jul 2016 -- Iran's Damavand Destroyer was equipped with chaff, said Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habobollah Sayyari.
• Search underway for missing Indian air force plane Press TV 23 Jul 2016 -- India is still searching for an air force transport aircraft that disappeared over the Bay of Bengal with 29 people on board, with no indication of what happened to the ill-fated plane or sign of wreckage.
• UN approves resolution to rid Libya of chemical arms Press TV 23 Jul 2016 -- The UN Security Council has unanimously endorsed a resolution calling on the international community to assist the destruction of chemical arms in Libya, where the Daesh terror group has gained a foothold over the past months.
• U.S. postpones delivery of assault amphibious vehicles to Taiwan CNA 23 Jul 2016 -- A U.S. decision to postpone delivery of AAV-7 assault amphibious vehicles ordered by Taiwan is the result of discussion between Taipei and Washington, the Navy said Saturday.

Defense Industry

• Is a Secret Deal Underway for Russia's 1,616MPH Supersonic MIG-29M? Sputnik 23 Jul 2016 -- Reports indicate that Russia has produced as many as 46 new supersonic MiG-29M fighter jets with rumors that a buyer has been lined up for a $2 billion warplane contract.

Other Conflicts

• Editorial: China stays resolute in safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea People's Daily 23 Jul 2016 -- China recently issued a white paper to reiterate its stance on the South China Sea issue. In the document entitled China Adheres to the Position of Settling Through Negotiation the Relevant Disputes Between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, China stressed that it endeavors to achieve win-win outcomes through mutually beneficial cooperation and is committed to making the South China Sea a sea of peace, cooperation and friendship.
• How Beijing's Charm Offensive Allows China to Solve S China Sea Dispute Sputnik 23 Jul 2016 -- Following The Hague ruling on the South China Sea, Beijing has launched a diplomatic charm offensive aimed at solving the dispute through dialogue and consultation with parties directly concerned, and contrary to negative forecasts, China's realpolitik has borne fruit.
• Taiping Island-bound boat has friendly encounter with Philippines CNA 23 Jul 2016 -- One of a group of five Taiwanese fishing boats on their way to Taiping Island in the Spratlys had a friendly encounter with a boat of Philippine anglers in the South China Sea Saturday.
• Yemenis launch retaliatory missile attack on Saudi base Press TV 23 Jul 2016 -- The Yemeni army, backed by popular committees loyal to the Ansarullah movement, has fired a ballistic missile at a Saudi military base in retaliation for Riyadh's relentless attacks on the impoverished Arab nation.
• Iraqi forces kill Daesh's 2nd in command in Diyala Press TV 23 Jul 2016 -- The second in command of the Daesh terrorist group has been killed in an Iraqi military operation the country's eastern province of Diyala.
• Iraq Security Forces Eliminate Aide to Daesh Leader Baghdadi Sputnik 24 Jul 2016 -- Hashem Nasseef Jassem Al-Hayali, an aide of Daesh extremist group leader Abu Bakr Baghdadi has been eliminated by Iraqi security forces in a course of an operation in the eastern Diyala province, the country's Defense Ministry has announced.
• Armed Opposition in S. Sudan Names Replacement for Vice President VOA 23 Jul 2016 -- A senior faction of South Sudan's armed opposition has moved to replace its leader, First Vice President Riek Machar, who went into hiding this month for fear of being killed by supporters of his longtime rival, President Salva Kiir.
• South Sudan's Machar being replaced, aide says Press TV 23 Jul 2016 -- South Sudan's opposition has declared that its leader Riek Machar, who also serves as the war-torn country's vice president, is being replaced by one of his opponents.
• Kashmir will soon be part of Pakistan: PM ISNA 23 Jul 2016 -- Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the day is not far when struggle by Kashmiri people will meet success and Kashmir will be part of Pakistan.
• 19 Nigerian troops missing; feared abducted by Boko Haram Press TV 23 Jul 2016 -- The Nigerian military says 19 soldiers have gone missing after the Boko Haram Takfiri terrorist group ambushed military forces in the embattled northeastern province of Borno.

News Reports

• Turkish Schools, Charities Shut in First Decree of Emergency VOA 23 Jul 2016 -- More than 1,000 private schools and more than 1,000 associations and foundations have been closed in Turkey as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan released his first decree since declaring a three-month state of emergency.
• Turkey Wants Pakistan to Close Down institutions, Businesses Linked to Gulen VOA 23 Jul 2016 -- Pakistan is under renewed pressure from Turkish authorities to shut down educational institutions in the country and other business concerns run by Fethullah Gulen, the alleged mastermind of last week's failed coup plot in Turkey.
• Turkey arrests nephew of US-based cleric Gulen after coup attempt Press TV 23 Jul 2016 -- Turkish security forces have arrested a nephew of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen who is blamed for masterminding last weekend's failed military coup.
• Erdogan orders closure of thousands of Gulen-linked private schools, unions Press TV 23 Jul 2016 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ordered the closure of thousands of private schools, charities and other institutions over suspected links to US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, blamed for the last week failed coup attempt.
• Turkey detains nearly 300 presidential guards after failed coup IRNA 23 Jul 2016 -- Turkish authorities arrested 283 members of the presidential guard of Recep Tayyip Erdogan over alleged affiliation to the last week's failed coup.
• Turkey detains nearly 300 presidential guards after failed coup Press TV 23 Jul 2016 -- Turkish authorities have arrested 283 members of the presidential guard of Recep Tayyip Erdogan over alleged affiliation to the last week's failed coup.
• Turkey Issues List of Measures Taken Under Declared State of Emergency Sputnik 23 Jul 2016 -- The decree of the Turkish government titled "On the measures taken under the state of emergency" was published in the official Resmi Gazete newspaper, on Saturday.
• President Xi calls for better supervision of reform efforts People's Daily 23 Jul 2016 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for better supervision of reform efforts.
• U.S. urges Taiwan, China to keep channels of communication open CNA 23 Jul 2016 -- The United States urged Taiwan and China to keep channels of communication open on Thursday, after president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) expressed hope in a Washington Post interview that China would show more flexibility in dealing with cross-strait relations.
• Taiwan Leader's Party Expects Greater Beijing Flexibility on Cross-strait Ties VOA 23 Jul 2016 -- In a recent interview with The Washington Post, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen talked about Taiwanese-mainland relations, Taiwan independence, U.S.-Taiwan relations and the reason for Taiwan's rejection of the international arbitration of the South China Sea dispute.
• DPRK FM leaves for ASEAN Regional Forum People's Daily 23 Jul 2016 -- The Foreign Minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Ri Yong Ho departed Pyongyang on Saturday for the ASEANRegional Forum slated for July 26 in Laos.
• Sadr's supporters take to streets again for protest Press TV 23 Jul 2016 -- Supporters of Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have taken to the streets in Baghdad and Basra to call for economic and political reforms and end to corruption.
• IS Propaganda Video Threatens Azerbaijani Officials, Muslim Clerics VOA 23 Jul 2016 -- He calls himself Abdulla the Caucasian. With fair skin, red hair, a long beard and gold-toothed smile, wearing military-style attire and hugging his assault rifle, Abdulla speaks Azerbaijani during the half-hour long Islamic State propaganda video. His monologue has been translated into Russian, with Cyrillic subtitles running across the screen. He promises hell on Earth to Azerbaijan's government and its Muslim leaders who oppose IS.
• Armenia gunmen release all remaining hostages Press TV 23 Jul 2016 -- Armenian officials say a standoff between security forces and armed men in a police headquarters in the capital Yerevan is over as gunmen agree to release all the remaining hostages.
• Philippines President 'Not Afraid of Human Rights Concerns' VOA 23 Jul 2016 -- Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte is one who has never shied away from controversy - not during the election process and not since taking office on June 30.