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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 17 Aug 2016 [PDF]
• U.S. Airstrikes Hit ISIL Targets in Libya AFPS 17 Aug 2016 -- U.S. Africa Command officials today announced results of precision airstrikes conducted Aug. 16, against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant targets in Sirte, Libya.
• Largest Province in Afghanistan May Fall to Taliban 'Any Time' Sputnik 17 Aug 2016 -- As Lashkar Gah, the besieged capital of Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan, is suffering a major humanitarian catastrophe, officials warn that it may not be long before the whole province falls to the Taliban, Nasima Naiazi, a member of the provincial legislature, told Sputnik.
• Rights Group: Use of Afghan Schools For Military Missions Threatens Children's Lives VOA 17 Aug 2016 -- A new report finds state security forces in Afghanistan are increasingly using schools in Taliban-held areas for combat missions, threatening children's lives and education.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Bomber trio participates in first integrated bomber operation in Pacific AFNS 17 Aug 2016 -- History was made Aug. 17 when all three of Air Force Global Strike Command's strategic power projection bombers, the B-52 Stratofortress, B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit, simultaneously took to the sky during their first integrated bomber operation in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
• Colombian airmen join counterparts in Louisiana for Green Flag East AFNS 17 Aug 2016 -- Forty-five Colombian airmen and four Colombian Air Force A-29B Super Tucanos are operating from Barksdale Air Force Base as part of exercise Green Flag East.
• US, South Korean forces integrate at Daegu for Buddy Wing training AFNS 17 Aug 2016 -- Fighter squadrons across the Korean Peninsula routinely participate in Buddy Wings to enhance the interoperability of U.S. and South Korean air forces.
• NMCB 11 Takes Charge, Relieves NMCB 133 NNS 17 Aug 2016 -- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11 assumed charge of the Seabees' Europe and Africa Naval Construction Force missions from NMCB 133 during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Mitchell in Naval Station Rota, Spain, Aug. 16.
• USS Nevada Reaches 30 Year Milestone NNS 17 Aug 2016 -- The Blue and Gold crews of Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Nevada (SSBN 733) celebrated the ship's 30th anniversary with a ceremony at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Aug. 12.
• Bonhomme Richard Visits White Beach, Embarks Marines NNS 17 Aug 2016 -- Amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) made a port visit to White Beach, Okinawa, Aug. 17
• China forms its first standing peacekeeping force in UN history People's Daily 17 Aug 2016 -- A total of 180 officers from frontier forces across China are currently undergoing training for China's first standing peacekeeping force in UN history. After passing a UN assessment, the squad is expected to be activated in October, ready to be charged with dangerous, challenging peacekeeping missions.
• China 'to upgrade Syria military ties' Press TV 17 Aug 2016 -- China is to provide enhanced military cooperation with Syria, whose own military is involved in fighting a foreign-backed militancy in the country.
• Beijing's New Corvette Enters Service in East China Sea Sputnik 17 Aug 2016 -- A Type 056 Jiangdao-class corvette equipped with torpedo and missile launchers has joined China's People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN) East Sea Fleet, amid rising tensions between Beijing and Tokyo over disputed areas in the East China Sea.
• India's 'Great Wall' Against China Along Border Region Sputnik 17 Aug 2016 -- India is slowly and steadily beefing up military capabilities along the Chinese border.
• North Korea resumes plutonium production at Yongbyon Press TV 17 Aug 2016 -- North Korea has resumed plutonium production by reprocessing spent fuel rods at its main Yongbyon nuclear facility, citing the United States' hostile policy toward Pyongyang.
• US: N. Korean Plutonium Reprocessing Violates UN Resolutions VOA 17 Aug 2016 -- The United States expressed fresh concern about North Korea after Pyongyang indicated renewed nuclear activity that would allow it to churn out at least enough plutonium for one bomb annually.
• North Korea Resumes Work on Weapons-Grade Plutonium Production – Reports Sputnik 17 Aug 2016 -- North Korea on Wednesday resumed processing nuclear fuel for the production of weapons-grade plutonium at an experimental nuclear reactor in the city of Yongbyon north of capital Pyongyang, Japanese media reported, citing North Korean nuclear authorities.
• Supreme National Security Council authorizes Russian jetfighters to use Iran airspace IRNA 17 Aug 2016 -- The Supreme National Security Council authorized the Russian jetfighters to use Iranian Nojeh air base, western Iran, Senior member of parliament Alaeddin Boroujerdi said on Wednesday.
• Moscow: Deploying Russian bombers in Iran not against UNSC Resolution 2231 ISNA 17 Aug 2016 -- Russian Defense Ministry said that deployment of the country's bombers in Iran does not run counter to the UNSC resolutions, Russian Interfax news agency reported.
• Russia has no military base in Iran: Majlis speaker Press TV 17 Aug 2016 -- Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani says neither Russia nor any other countries have a permanent military base in the Islamic Republic.
• Russia Uses Iran's Airfield Only to Refuel Bombers - Senior Iranian MP Sputnik 17 Aug 2016 -- Russia uses a western Iranian airbase only to refuel its long-range strategic bombers striking Daesh terrorist group targets in Syria, a senior Iranian lawmaker said Wednesday.
• Russia's Use of Iranian Air Base Does Not Violate UNSC Resolutions - Senator Sputnik 17 Aug 2016 -- Russia's use of the Hamadan airfield in western Iran for launching strikes against terrorist targets in Syria is "obviously" not violating the UN Security Council's resolutions concerning Iran, Chairman of the Russian Federation Council's Committee on Foreign Affairs Konstantin Kosachev said Wednesday.
• Iran Navy encountered with pirates, escorted more than 3,200 vessels IRNA 17 Aug 2016 -- Navy Commander Rear-Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said on Wednesday that Iranian Navy forces were engaged in more than 210 cases of encounter with sea pirates and escorted more than 3,200 cargo ships and tankers.
• MOD buys third record-breaking UAV UK MOD 17 Aug 2016 -- The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has today announced it has ordered a third, record-breaking, Zephyr-S Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), as part of a £13-million contract with Airbus Defence and Space (ADS).
• August 17, 2016 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 17 Aug 2016

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 17, 2016

Other Conflicts

• 17 August 2016 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 17 Aug 2016
• China, ASEAN Approve Two Documents on Dealing With Disputed Waters Emergencies Sputnik 17 Aug 2016 -- China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) approved two documents on handling unplanned encounters and emergencies in disputed waters, Chinese media reported Wednesday.
• China, ASEAN eye South China Sea code of conduct in 2017 Press TV 17 Aug 2016 -- China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plan to resolve disputes on the South China Sea by the middle of next year through using a regional framework of regulations.
• Indonesia Sinks 60 Foreign Fishing Ships VOA 17 Aug 2016 -- Indonesia on Wednesday sunk 60 foreign fishing ships it says it captured for unlawfully fishing in its territorial waters. The move coincided with the country's independence day observances.
• War costs Yemen $14bn in damage and economic losses: Report Press TV 17 Aug 2016 -- A confidential report says Yemen's war has cost it over $14 billion in damage to infrastructure and economic losses as Saudi Arabia pushes ahead with its deadly military campaign against its neighbor.
• Yemen rally backs political council formation, parliament reopening Press TV 17 Aug 2016 -- People in Yemen have held a huge demonstration to express their approval of the formation of the Higher Political Council and the reopening of the parliament in the crisis-hit country.
• Yemen: Ban again calls for end to hostilities as ground fighting, airstrikes escalate UN News 17 Aug 2016 -- Alarmed by escalating airstrikes and ground fighting in Yemen and along the Saudi Arabia-Yemen border since, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon repeated his call on all the parties to the conflict to immediately cease all hostilities and for the Yemeni parties to return to the recently-ended direct talks facilitated by his envoy.
• Militant rocket attack kills seven civilians in Syria's Aleppo Press TV 17 Aug 2016 -- At least seven civilians, including two women and a child, have lost their lives in a rocket attack by foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants against a residential district in Syria's conflict-plagued northwestern city of Aleppo.
• With Use Of Iranian Base, Russia Is Trying To Send Clear Message RFE/RL 17 Aug 2016 -- On August 15, Al-Masdar News, an outlet with close ties to the Syrian government's security apparatus, released photos of a Russian TU-22M3 long-distance strategic bomber, which were reportedly taken at the Hamadan airfield in Iran.
• Why Russia Uses Iran's Hamadan Airfield for Airstrikes in Syria Sputnik 17 Aug 2016 -- The Russian Defense Ministry has deployed Tu-22 strategic bombers to an airbase in Iran. According to experts, the measure would intensify bombings against Daesh militants in Syria to decide the battle for Aleppo.
• Russian Su-34 Jets Deployed in Iran Conduct Airstrikes Against Daesh in Syria Sputnik 17 Aug 2016 -- Russian Su-34 jets deployed in Iran conducted airstrikes against Daesh in Syria's Deir ez-Zor, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
• Russian Planes Conduct More Syria Airstrikes From Iran VOA 17 Aug 2016 -- Russian warplanes flew from Iran to carry out airstrikes in Syria for a second day Wednesday.
• Frayed IS Fighters Plot Strategy in Northern Syria VOA 17 Aug 2016 -- Pushed from their strategic stronghold of Manbij in northern Syria in recent days by U.S.-backed forces, retreating Islamic State fighters are scrambling over how and where to next make a stand.
• Armed Forces Minister welcomes liberation of Manbij UK MOD 17 Aug 2016-- Freeing of the strategic town in northern Syria is the latest gain in the fight against Daesh.
• Iraqi forces recapture 4 villages south of Mosul from Daesh Press TV 17 Aug 2016 -- Iraqi government forces have managed to gain more ground in the troubled northern province of Nineveh as they are pushing to drive Takfiri Daesh terrorists from the strategic militant-held city of Mosul.
• Peshmerga Sends Daesh Running for the Hills Ahead of Mosul Offensive Sputnik 17 Aug 2016 -- Iraqi Kurds, assisted by US warplanes, pushed Daesh out of 12 villages, destroying military hardware and killing 180 militants in the province of Erbil ahead of a major operation to free Mosul, the second largest city in the country that has been Daesh's stronghold since June 2014, Peshmerga commander Livan Nurettin told Sputnik.
• Daesh on Brink of Being Kicked Out From Libya's Sirte Sputnik 17 Aug 2016 -- Daesh terrorists have lost almost all the territory they have seized in the Libyan city of Sirte to the forces of Government of National Accord (GNA), GNA head of intelligence Col. Ismail Shukri said on Wednesday.
• Joint Statement on Libya by the Governments of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States US Dept. of State 17 Aug 2016
• Crimea Calls on EU to Stop Violating Helsinki Accords Ensuring Free Movement Sputnik 17 Aug 2016 -- The European Union must stop violating the Helsinki accords by preventing Crimean people from meeting their relatives, who live in the EU countries, Georgy Muradov, Crimea's permanent representative with the Russian president, said on Wednesday.
• UN faces funding shortfall for Sudan's humanitarian needs Press TV 17 Aug 2016 -- The United Nations says it faces a funding shortfall of more than USD 700 million for Sudan's 2016 humanitarian needs.
• UN launches probe into accusations against UNMISS in S Sudan Press TV 17 Aug 2016 -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has launched an investigation into allegations that the world body's peacekeepers in South Sudan failed to properly protect the people attacked at a hotel compound in Juba in July.
• South Sudan: UN chief launching special investigation into July hotel attack UN News 17 Aug 2016 -- Alarmed by preliminary findings on the 11 July attack on a hotel in Juba, South Sudan, in which one person was killed and several civilians were raped and beaten by men in uniform, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has decided to launch an independent special investigation to examine this and other incidents and evaluate the overall response by the UN mission there.
• UN and Ugandan government cut food rations amid influx of South Sudanese refugees UN News 17 Aug 2016 -- Appealing to donors to urgently help bolster the humanitarian response in Uganda following an influx of thousands of people fleeing violence in neighbouring South Sudan, the United and the Ugandan Government today announced that they will be forced to halve food rations or cash assistance in Uganda and put priority focus on those refugees most in need.
• South Sudan's First Vice President Says Country Is 'Peaceful and Quiet' VOA 17 Aug 2016 -- South Sudan's new First Vice President Taban Deng Gai is asserting his country is "peaceful and quiet" and moving ahead with reforms following clashes in the capital that killed some 300 people last month.
• Officials Scramble to Contain Cholera at Refugee Center in Uganda VOA 17 Aug 2016 -- Officials in northern Uganda say dozens of cholera cases have been reported at a reception center for South Sudanese refugees. Cholera is an infectious disease usually spread through contaminated water that causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. Left untreated it can lead to death. Health officials are using cholera kits and increasing screenings to try to stop the spread of the disease. But between overcrowding and ongoing heavy rains, this could prove challenging.
• Security Council strongly condemns killings in eastern DR Congo, calls for government probe UN News 17 Aug 2016 -- The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the 13 August killing of at least 50 civilians in a village in the restive North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), by suspected members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
• Indian Government Holds High Level Security Meeting as Kashmir Tensions Grow Sputnik 17 Aug 2016 -- The death of a popular rebel leader six weeks ago has spurred Kashmiris to take to the streets in protest of the Indian ruling government.
• Gunmen attack Indian army convoy in Kashmir, kill 3 Press TV 17 Aug 2016 -- Unknown gunmen have killed two soldiers and a police officer in Indian-administered Kashmir amid heightened tensions in the disputed Himalayan region.
• UN rights chief appeals to India and Pakistan for 'full and unhindered' access to Kashmir UN News 17 Aug 2016 -- Expressing deep regret at the failure of Indian and Pakistani authorities to grant the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) access to Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-administered Kashmir respectively, the UN rights chief today voiced concern about recent allegations of serious violations and reiterated a request for access to the region.
• Biden Restates U.S. Commitment To Kosovo, Urges Reconciliation With Serbia RFE/RL 17 Aug 2016 -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has pledged that the United States will "stand by the people of Kosovo" and urged the country to continue normalizing ties with neighboring Serbia and improve the rule of law.

News Reports

• Turkey to Free 38,000 Inmates to Make Room for Coup Detainees VOA 17 Aug 2016 -- Turkey is set to release 38,000 prisoners in an apparent move to make space for thousands of people arrested as part of an investigation into last month's failed coup. Meanwhile, more putsch-related dismissals and arrests are taking place, despite calls for proportionality from Ankara's Western allies.
• DPRK Foreign Ministry Spokesman Denounces U.S. Nuclear Arms Buildup KCNA 17 Aug 2016 -- A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK issued a statement on Wednesday in connection with the fact that the situation on the Korean peninsula has entered a very grave phase due to the U.S. ceaseless nuclear arms buildup targeting the DPRK.
• China to limit operations of North Korea's Air Koryo Press TV 17 Aug 2016 -- China has decided to "limit" the operations of North Korea's national carrier, Air Koryo, after one of its aircraft made an emergency landing in July due to a fire on board.
• North Korea's Deputy Ambassador Defects in London Sputnik 17 Aug 2016 -- A top North Korean diplomat has abandoned his post in the UK and defected with his wife and children to seek asylum in South Korea. The dramatic move comes as 13 other North Korean defectors have also been given permission to apply for asylum.
• UK-Based North Korean Diplomat Defects to South Korea VOA 17 Aug 2016 -- The second highest ranking official at North Korea's embassy in London has defected to South Korea, according to the South Korean Unification Ministry.
• Larijani: Iranian nation expects parties to JCPOA to honor pledges IRNA 17 Aug 2016 -- Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said on Wednesday that the Iranian people expect the western states to fulfill their pledges to implement the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
• Shamkhani: Tehran never tolerates violating sprit of JCPOA IRNA 17 Aug 2016 -- Secretary of Iran's National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said on Wednesday that the Islamic Republic of Iran never tolerates violating the sprit of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action by the parties to JCPOA.
• Iran expects US to abide by JCPOA commitments: Zarif ISNA 17 Aug 2016 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said Tehran expects the US's JCPOA commitments not to be only on "paper."
• JCPOA implementation two-way street: Iran's president Press TV 17 Aug 2016 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says both sides to Iran's nuclear agreement need to abide by their compliments if they want the deal to yield the best result.
• Iran expects West's commitment to JCPOA: Larijani Press TV 17 Aug 2016 -- Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani says Iran expects the Western side to Iran's nuclear agreement to abide by its commitments.
• US gave another $1.3 billion of Iran money' ISNA 17 Aug 2016 -- US payment of $400 million of Iranian money which sparked outcry among American politicians was followed by another transfer of $1.3 billion, it has been reported.
• 'US gave another $1.3 billion of Iran money' Press TV 17 Aug 2016 -- US payment of $400 million of Iranian money which sparked outcry among American politicians was followed by another transfer of $1.3 billion, it has been reported.
• Contentious Dam Project Tops Myanmar Leader's China Visit VOA 17 Aug 2016 -- The fate of a long-suspended and contentious Chinese dam project in Myanmar is expected to be a key topic of discussion during State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi's visit this week to China.
• Report Ties Trump Manager To U.S. Lobbying Funded By Yanukovych Government RFE/RL 17 Aug 2016 -- The Associated Press reports that political consultant Paul Manafort, the chairman of Republican candidate Donald Trump's U.S. presidential campaign, may have helped former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's government funnel millions of dollars to U.S. lobbyists in a way that obscured the source of the funding.
• Tajik Government Stakes Out Expanded Power Over Media RFE/RL 17 Aug 2016 -- through a state broadcast committee -- has the right to "regulate and control the content of all television and radio networks regardless of their type of ownership."
• Zambia Opposition Party to Challenge Presidential Poll Outcome VOA 17 Aug 2016 -- Zambia's main opposition, the United Party for National Development (UPND), plans to petition the Constitutional Court on Friday regarding the outcome of the August 11 presidential poll won by incumbent President Edgar Lungu.
• Fears of Liquidity Trap May Worsen China's Debt Problem VOA 17 Aug 2016 -- China's policymakers are struggling with how to deal with how to stimulate the economy at a time when there could be more than half-a-trillion dollars of bad debt.