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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 18 Aug 2016 [PDF]
• Counter-ISIL Strikes Hit Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 18 Aug 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 Air Force Flies B-52 Bombers in Afghanistan for First Time in Decade Sputnik 18 Aug 2016 -- US Air Force Chief of Staff General David L. Goldfein announced in a media release Tuesday that Boeing B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers have completed airstrikes against targets in Afghanistan for the first time in ten years.
• US Commander to Afghan Leaders: Don't Let Political Process Undermine Security VOA 18 Aug 2016 -- The commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan urged Afghan leaders Thursday not to allow political differences to undermine recent security gains in the war-torn country.
• Louisiana National Guard Continues Flood Response Missions AFPS 18 Aug 2016 -- The Louisiana National Guard continues to conduct flood response and recovery missions, while prepositioning vehicles and assets in potentially flood-affected areas as directed by Gov. John Bel Edwards since operations began Aug. 12, according to a Louisiana National Guard news release.
• 146th Airlift Wing Joins California Guard Wildfire Fight AFPS 18 Aug 2016 -- The California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing has activated two C-130J Hercules aircraft, joining state and local authorities supporting firefighting efforts across the state at the request of Cal Fire.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Bucharest Denies Reports That U.S. Is Moving Nukes From Turkey To Romania RFE/RL 18 Aug 2016 -- The Romanian Foreign Ministry has rejected media reports that the United States was moving nuclear weapons from a base in Turkey to one in Romania.
• Pentagon Mute on Reports of US Nuclear Weapons Move From Turkey to Romania Sputnik 18 Aug 2016 -- The Pentagon could not provide any information concerning media reports that Washington was going to relocate nukes from Turkey's Incirlik airbase to Romania.
• US Transfers Nukes From Turkey to Romania Amid Rising Tensions Sputnik 18 Aug 2016 -- The United States has started to move nuclear arms deployed in Turkey to Romania amid rising tensions in relations between Washington and Ankara, media reported on Thursday, citing sources.
• 'Neighborhood Watch' helps Navy investigate satellite out of target orbit AFNS 18 Aug 2016 -- Air Force Space Command's "Neighborhood Watch" satellites, from the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program, recently responded to the Navy's request for help with a satellite of its own.
• Air Force aims to hasten foreign military sales process AFNS 18 Aug 2016 -- In remarks at the State Department's Foreign Press Center in New York Aug. 17, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James outlined the Air Force's multifaceted approach to expedite the service's portion of the foreign military sales process.
• Contingency response Airmen support exercise Northern Strike AFNS 18 Aug 2016 -- Airmen from the 821st Contingency Response Group here recently participated in exercise Northern Strike at Grayling Army Airfield and Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Michigan.
• Ike Conducts Port Visit in Bahrain NNS 18 Aug 2016 -- After 3 years, aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) returned to the Kingdom of Bahrain for a port visit, Aug. 13-17.
• Pacific Fleet Commander Refreshes Guidance to the Fleet NNS 18 Aug 2016 -- Adm. Scott H. Swift, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, recently issued updated guidance to the fleet all Pacific Fleet Sailors, uniformed and civilian, should read and understand.
• Japanese Minister of Defense Visits Camp Lemonnier NNS 18 Aug 2016 -- Camp Lemonnier welcomed Japanese Minister of Defense Tomomi Inada to the Horn of Africa, Aug. 15.
• NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville Participates in PANAMAX NNS 18 Aug 2016 -- United States Navy Southern Command/Fourth Fleet (USNAVSO/4F) wrapped up its annual defense of the Panama Canal exercise, more commonly known as PANAMAX, at Naval Station Mayport on August 4, 2016.
• Russia defends use of Iranian bases for airstrikes in Syria People's Daily 18 Aug 2016 -- Russian authorities are rebuffing US claims that Russia is violating UN sanctions on Iran.
• Russian Military Buildup in Crimea Not Directed Against NATO Sputnik 18 Aug 2016 -- The Russian military buildup in Crimea is not directed against NATO, Russia's envoy to the alliance said.
• Ukraine's President Not Excluding Martial Law, Total Mobilization Sputnik 18 Aug 2016 -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Thursday that he cannot rule out the introduction of martial law and a total mobilization.
• South Korea stages largest ever artillery drills near North border Press TV 18 Aug 2016 -- South Korea has launched large-scale artillery drills near the border with North Korea amid heightened tensions between the two neighbors.
• North Korea Threatens to Destroy US Military Bases in Asia-Pacific Region Sputnik 18 Aug 2016 -- Pyongyang has threatened to destroy all US military bases in the Asia-Pacific Region should Washington dare to take "an insane step," according to the North Korean Foreign Ministry's statement.
• DPRK slams US for nuclear arms buildup in Asia Pacific People's Daily 18 Aug 2016 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday slammed the United States for causing a nuclear arms buildup in the Asia Pacific.
• Iran, Iraq Should Set Up Joint Border Committees to Boost Security Sputnik 18 Aug 2016 -- Iran and Iraq should create joint border committees in order to strengthen regional security, Iranian Armed Forces chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, said Thursday.
• Afghanistan - Individual and Crew Served Weapons DSCA 18 Aug 2016 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Afghanistan for individual and crew served weapons, equipment, training, and support. The estimated cost is $60 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on August 17, 2016.
• August 18, 2016 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 18 Aug 2016

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 18, 2016
• Russia to Start Producing Engines for New Ilyushin Il-112 Plane in 2018 Sputnik 18 Aug 2016 -- Russia's Omsk Engine-Building Enterprise, part of the United Engine Corporation (UEC), will start serial production of the Klimov TV7-117ST engines for the new Ilyushin Il-112 light military transport plane in 2018, UEC said Thursday.

Other Conflicts

• 18 August 2016 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 18 Aug 2016
• 'We have to be the hope' for people most in need, says top UN humanitarian official UN News 18 Aug 2016 -- Praising the spirit and drive of relief workers, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O'Brien, has said the global humanitarian community is determined to not let political disagreements, conflicts or natural disasters get in the way of their ability to help the people who are most in need.
• UN reports reveal 'mixed' progress on efforts to end child refugee detention UN News 18 Aug 2016 -- While two new reports released today as part of a new global strategy by the United Nations refugee agency found an overall drop in the total number of refugee children detained in 12 focus countries, they also revealed mixed progress in two critical target areas: ensuring alternatives to detention, and improving detention conditions.
• 'False' Report on Vietnam Rocket Launchers Sparked Chaos in South China Sea Sputnik 18 Aug 2016 -- A Reuters report citing unnamed Western officials that Vietnam had deployed rocket launchers to the Spratly Islands and pointed them toward Chinese facilities led Beijing to call on Hanoi to "remember" the 1979 War that led to 137,000 Vietnamese deaths.
• MSF to Pull Staff Following Yemen Hospital Bombing VOA 18 Aug 2016 -- Doctors Without Borders said Thursday that it would evacuate staff from six hospitals in Yemen, following the deaths of more than a dozen people in the bombing of a hospital earlier this week.
• UN: Humanitarian Pause in Aleppo to Succeed Only if Supported by All Sides Sputnik 18 Aug 2016 -- A recently proposed humanitarian pause in Syria's Aleppo could succeed in provision of humanitarian assistance only if all the parties support it, Deputy Spokesperson of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) Jens Laerke told Sputnik on Thursday.
• Russian Tu-22M3, Su-34 Conduct Group Strike on Daesh in Syria From Iran, Russia Sputnik 18 Aug 2016 -- Russian Tu-22M3 and Su-34 bombers carried out group strikes on Daesh targets in Syria's Deir ez-Zor from airfields in Russia and Iran, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
• Russia jets fly from Iran for more anti-terror strikes in Syria Press TV 18 Aug 2016 -- Russia says its warplanes have launched airstrikes against terrorists in Syria from an Iranian air base for a third straight day.
• Russia says prepared for humanitarian pause in Aleppo Press TV 18 Aug 2016 -- Russia says it is ready to support a proposal by the United Nations for weekly 48-hour ceasefires in Aleppo in a bid to allow humanitarian aid deliveries to the contested northwestern Syrian city.
• UN halts Syria humanitarian task force amid intense fighting Press TV 18 Aug 2016 -- The United Nations has suspended a meeting of its humanitarian task force in Syria amid concerns over the ongoing conflict in the Middle Eastern country.
• Syria: Citing lack of action, UN envoy cuts short humanitarian taskforce meeting UN News 18 Aug 2016 -- The United Nations envoy for Syria abruptly suspended the regular international humanitarian taskforce meeting in Geneva today shortly after it started, saying it made "no sense" to continue unless there is a pause in the fighting so aid convoys could reach besieged areas of the war-ravaged country.
• Iraqi Military Kills 700 Daesh Militants During Liberation of Area Near Ramadi Sputnik 18 Aug 2016 -- The Iraqi troops have killed 700 Daesh terrorists during the operation to liberate Khalidiya Island in the Anbar province.
• New UN report lays bare widespread ISIL 'atrocities' committed against Yazidis in Iraq UN News 18 Aug 2016 -- A new United Nations report lays bare the widespread and systematic manner in which the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, Da'esh) has committed "terrible atrocities" against the Yezidi and other ethnic and religious communities, the UN envoy for Iraq said today, calling for the perpetrators to be fully and properly held to account.
• Ten killed as bombs hit Libya's GNA forces near Sirte Press TV 18 Aug 2016 -- Twin car bomb attacks have claimed the lives of at least 10 fighters with pro-government Libyan forces near the city of Sirte, where they are battling the Daesh Takfiri terrorists to drive them out of the North African country.
• Eleven militants killed in Pakistan's restive northwest Press TV 18 Aug 2016 -- Pakistan's military forces have killed about a dozen militants in the country's restive northwestern tribal region along the border with Afghanistan.
• Six killed in fresh PKK bombing, clashes in eastern Turkey Press TV 18 Aug 2016 -- A new bomb attack claimed by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and clashes with the militants have killed at least six members of Turkish security forces east of the country.
• DPR Claims Kiev Deploying Heavy Weaponry Near Contact Line in Donbass - DPR Sputnik 18 Aug 2016 -- The Ukrainian authorities are deploying heavy weaponry, including howitzers, mortars and tanks, near the line of contact in eastern Ukraine, the deputy defense minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic's (DPR), Eduard Basurin, said Thursday.
• Ukraine says seen heaviest shelling by pro-Russians in one year Press TV 18 Aug 2016 -- Ukrainian officials claim that pro-Russia forces operating in the east of the country have carried out the heaviest shelling of government positions in a year.
• Sudan: Ban 'disappointed' at failure to reach truce agreement UN News 18 Aug 2016 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed disappointment that Sudan's warring parties failed to reach an agreement on a cessation of hostilities in Darfur and the two states of Blue Nile and South Kordofan, during the last round of negotiations.
• South Sudan's Machar Flees to DRC VOA 18 Aug 2016 -- South Sudan's former first Vice President Riek Machar has fled to neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, where he may be ill or injured.
• South Sudan's Machar flees to neighboring state: Opposition Press TV 18 Aug 2016 -- South Sudan's rebel leader and former first vice president Riek Machar has reportedly left for a neighboring country weeks after he fled the capital, Juba.
• DRC Sees 2nd Day of Protests Against Massacres VOA 18 Aug 2016 -- Demonstrators took to the streets in eastern DRC for a second day to protest the massacre of at least 50 people in Beni territory during the weekend. Three people died when a demonstration turned violent Wednesday in Beni town, according to the United Nations.

News Reports

• Erdogan accuses Gulen of aiding PKK attacks in Turkey Press TV 18 Aug 2016 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the supporters of US-based opposition cleric Fethullah Gulen of aiding Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants in conducting new attacks in southeastern Turkey.
• More than 40,000 detained over coup attempt: Turkish PM Press TV 18 Aug 2016 -- Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim says more than 40,000 people have been detained in connection with last month's failed coup, which Ankara blames on US-based opposition cleric Fethullah Gulen.
• Turkey's Anti-Gulen Clampdown Rages Out Of Control RFE/RL 18 Aug 2016 -- On August 17, the Turkish prime minister issued a "special decree" announcing the release of 38,000 prisoners, not including any sentenced for murder, sexual abuse, or rape. This includes financial crimes.
• Turkish Police Raid More Businesses in Post-Coup Fallout VOA 18 Aug 2016 -- In a pre-dawn operation Thursday, Turkish police issued nearly 200 arrest warrants and raided more than 100 places as they searched for people alleged to have connections to U.S.-based cleric , Fetullah Gulen, who the government claims is behind an attempted coup last month.
• Cautious Debate In Iran Follows Russia's Use Of Military Base RFE/RL 18 Aug 2016 -- Russia's use of Iranian territory to launch air strikes in Syria this week has sparked cautious debate in Iran, where open discussions of sensitive foreign policy issues are rare and perceived affronts to national sovereignty could weigh heavily on a regime founded on promises to kick out foreign meddlers.
• Trump undermines US intelligence agencies ahead of briefing Press TV 18 Aug 2016 -- US presidential candidate Donald Trump says he does not trust the intelligence produced by the American spy agencies, citing the situation in the Middle East.
• Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Moscow, August 18, 2016 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 18 Aug 2016
• N Korea Strengthens Surveillance Over Diplomats, Business Staff After Defection Sputnik 18 Aug 2016 -- North Korean authorities reportedly tightened surveillance measures in regard to the country's diplomats and business personnel working abroad, following a recent defection of a senior diplomat.
• Taiwan will not seek U.N. membership: foreign minister CNA 18 Aug 2016 -- Taiwan will not seek membership in the United Nations, but will continue to pursue meaningful participation in U.N. specialized agencies, Foreign Minister David Lee (李大維) said Thursday.
• Existing cross-strait pacts to continue: Chinese official CNA 18 Aug 2016 -- A senior Chinese official has said that China will continue to honor its existing agreements with Taiwan but he has ruled out any new accords unless what Beijing sees as a precondition is met.
• Taiwan urges China to open doors wider for communication CNA 18 Aug 2016 -- A top Taiwan official in charge of Chinese affairs on Thursday called on Beijing to open its doors wider to Taipei for communication and dialogue on issues covered by the agreements signed between the two sides.
• MAC says it has not been invited to Taipei-Shanghai forum CNA 18 Aug 2016 -- Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Thursday that its officials have not been invited to attend the upcoming twin-city forum between Taipei and Shanghai.
• UN rights experts urge Philippines to end wave of extrajudicial killings amid major drug crackdown UN News 18 Aug 2016 -- Amid a recent massive anti-crime and anti-drug crackdown in the Philippines that has claimed the lives of more than 850 suspected criminals, two United Nations human rights experts today urged the Government to end the wave of extrajudicial executions and killings, stressing that drug charges should be "judged in a court of law, not by gunmen on the streets."
• Philippine Senator Vows to Continue Inquiry into President's Drug Crackdown VOA 18 Aug 2016 -- A Philippine senator has vowed to continue an official inquiry into President Rodrigo Duterte's incendiary anti-drug trafficking campaign despite his accusations and threats against her.
• Cambodian Crackdown Hardens Resolve Among Khmer Diaspora VOA 18 Aug 2016 -- The killing of independent analyst Kem Ley and a broad crackdown on dissent in Cambodia has hardened attitudes against Prime Minister Hun Sen among the Khmer diaspora living in Australia and the United States.
• Party Stripped Of Registration For Georgian Parliamentary Elections Amid 'Pro-Russia' Outcry RFE/RL 18 Aug 2016 -- The Centrist party, one of three dozen registered so far to participate in the Georgian parliamentary elections on October 8, has been stripped of that registration following widespread protests over an election campaign clip broadcast on August 13 by Georgia's Public Broadcaster that was widely perceived as pro-Russian.
• China, Myanmar agree to solve suspended dam issue People's Daily 18 Aug 2016 -- China and Myanmar agreed on Thursday to enhance cooperation between energy departments to find a proper solution for the suspended Myitsone Dam project.
• 25 Years Ago: Failed August Coup Changed U.S. Diplomatic Approach Toward Soviet Union RFE/RL 18 Aug 2016 -- A member of former U.S. President George H.W. Bush's administration says that until the attempted coup against Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev in August 1991, nobody in the U.S. government imagined the Soviet Union would collapse by the end of 1991.
• Thai army detains 15 over last week's bombings in tourist towns Press TV 18 Aug 2016 -- Thailand's military has detained at least 15 suspects following last week's deadly bomb and arson attacks in tourist resort towns, the Southeast Asian country's ruling junta says.