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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 24 Aug 2016 [PDF]
• Counter-ISIL Strikes Hit Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 24 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.
• Centcom: Strike in Syria May Have Caused Civilian Casualties AFPS 24 Aug 2016 -- A strike yesterday on an Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant weapons facility near Raqqah, Syria, may have resulted in civilian casualties, according to U.S. Central Command's own post-strike assessment.
• US provides air cover for Turkey's operation against Daesh Press TV 24 Aug 2016 -- The United States says it will provide air cover for what Turkey calls operation against Daesh in Syria, according to Reuters.
• SuperCobra Chopper: US Marines New Secret Weapon in Fight Against Daesh in Libya Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- Under new commander Marine Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, AFRICOM has deployed the lethal helicopter in the Libyan theater to deplete and degrade violent extremists.
• Drone strike kills 5 people in southern Yemen Press TV 24 Aug 2016 -- A US drone strike has left five people claimed to be suspected al-Qaeda militants dead in southern Yemen.
• Seven Dead, 30 Wounded as Afghanistan University Attack Ends VOA 24 Aug 2016 -- Afghanistan police say at least seven people are dead and more than 30 wounded after a nearly 10-hour long attack on the American University of Afghanistan in Kabul ended Thursday.
• Attack Targets American University Of Afghanistan In Kabul RFE/RL 24 Aug 2016 -- At least one gunman has attacked the American University of Afghanistan campus, with students and officials reporting explosions and gunfire inside the grounds and at least 14 people reported injured.
• Afghanistan-Pakistan Border Closing Costing Locals, Traders VOA 24 Aug 2016 -- Hundreds of long-haul container trucks lined the street or crowded the dusty open yards on both sides of the Wesh-Chaman border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan Wednesday.
• 'Complex Attack' Reported at American University in Kabul VOA 24 Aug 2016 -- American University in Kabul came under attack by unknown militants Wednesday, and scores of students and teachers were trapped inside.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Air Force, Army planners find ways to see greater jump in airdrops AFNS 24 Aug 2016 -- An arriving C-130 Hercules taxies to a large hangar where about 60 Army paratroopers wait to board. Lugging about 100 pounds of gear, the Soldiers quickly line up and load into the aircraft as its four idling engines blow hot gusts over the tarmac.
• Force of the Future Aims to Increase Military's Geographic Diversity AFPS 24 Aug 2016 -- Defense Secretary Ash Carter has said many times that the majority of enlisted military recruits come from just six states and that he would like to see a more diverse recruitment pool. Some of his Force of the Future proposals are aimed at this issue.
• Abrams Tank's Major Upgrades to Give US Marines a 'Hunter-Killer' Edge Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- Modifications to the venerable Abrams tank cut target engagement time in half and allow for enhanced performance, making the lethal combat vehicle even more deadly.
• US Air Force Funds Laser Weapons Pod for Fourth-Generation Fighter Jets Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- After spending over $1 trillion on the F-35 Lightning II, the Pentagon is now funding a multi-million dollar weapons upgrade for its fourth-generation fighters.
• Marine Corps to deliver capability trifecta to tank commanders USMC News 24 Aug 2016 -- Marine Corps Systems Command is modernizing the tank commander's weapon station on the M1A1 tank by developing a suite of systems that give tank commanders and their gunners a hunter-killer edge over their enemies.
• Reserve Marines demonstrate an exceptional performance at Northern Strike 16 USMC News 24 Aug 2016 -- Reserve Marines from across the United States participated in exercise Northern Strike 16, Aug. 6-20, 2016 at the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Michigan.
• USS Richard E. Byrd, USS Pioneer Conduct Astern Replenishment-at-Sea NNS 24 Aug 2016 -- Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4) and Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship USS Pioneer (MCM 9) conducted a astern replenishment-at-sea in waters south of Japan, Aug. 24.
• Two MK VI Patrol Boats Report for Duty in Pacific NNS 24 Aug 2016 -- Commander, Task Force (CTF) 75 took permanent ownership of two MK VI patrol boats at Naval Base Guam, Aug. 24.
• 4 Iranian Vessels Sped Close to a US Ship, Navy Says VOA 24 Aug 2016 -- Four Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessels sped close to a U.S. guided missile destroyer in international waters Tuesday in an "unsafe and unprofessional" encounter, the U.S. Navy said Wednesday.
• U.S. Says Iranian Boats Harrassed U.S. Warship Near Strait Of Hormuz RFE/RL 25 Aug 2016 -- Four Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vessels "harassed" a U.S. warship near the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. defense officials said on August 24.
• United States to augment air policing over Bulgaria, demonstrating Allied solidarity NATO 24 Aug 2016 -- The US Air Force and the Bulgarian Air Force will jointly conduct air policing to protect Bulgarian airspace starting on 9 September 2016. Two US F-15 fighter jets will join Bulgaria's MIG-29s for a week on this mission, which is part of NATO's enhanced air policing measures for eastern Allies.
• Russia's 'Flying Tank' to Boast a Guided Missile Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- Armed with a newly developed guided missile system, Russia's Sprut-SDM1 self-propelled gun for the Russian Airborne Forces will be able to destroy tanks, helicopters and drones, the newspaper Izvestia wrote.
• Russian Armata Combat Vehicles to be Integrated Into Real-Time Control Network Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- New Russian combat vehicles will be integrated into the Andromeda-D automatic control system. This would enhance cooperation between Russia airborne and ground troops.
• China to Reorganize Over Half of Ground Forces to Form Smaller Divisions Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- China plans to reorganize over half of its army's 1.55-million ground troops in a bid to make the forces more agile.
• Chinese military jets enter overlapping ADIZ areas People's Daily 24 Aug 2016 -- South Korean media may have misinterpreted the recent entry of Chinese military planes into the overlapping areas of the two countries' air defense identification zones (ADIZ) as part of China's drills in the Sea of Japan, experts said.
• China, Japan, South Korea censure North's missile launch Press TV 24 Aug 2016 -- China, Japan and South Korea have denounced North Korea's latest missile test, calling on Pyongyang to refrain from "provocative" actions that could deteriorate the situation on the already-tense Korean Peninsula.
• North Korean Submarine Launch Shows Progress VOA 24 Aug 2016 -- North Korea's latest submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) test demonstrated real progress in advancing the military's ability to launch a nuclear strike on the U.S. mainland or any other target in the world.
• Japan Foreign Ministry Protests North Korea's Missile Launch Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- The Japanese Foreign Ministry issued a protest to North Korea over a ballistic missile launch on Wednesday, which Tokyo believed violated UN resolutions.
• US condemns N Korea missile test, says ready for 'any attack' Press TV 24 Aug 2016 -- The US military has denounced North Korea's ballistic missile as a "provocation" and vowed to defend Washington and its allies allies from any attack from the East Asian country.
• DPRK test-fires submarine-launched ballistic missile People's Daily 24 Aug 2016 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) test-fired a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast into the sea, South Korea's military said on Wednesday.
• S.Korea slams DPRK's test-firing of submarine-launched ballistic missile People's Daily 24 Aug 2016 -- South Korea on Wednesday slammed the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for its test-firing of a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast into the sea.
• S.Korea sees DPRK's submarine-launched missile technology as significantly improved People's Daily 24 Aug 2016 -- South Korea's military on Wednesday saw the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s submarine-launched missile technology as significantly improved as its flight distance far exceeded what Seoul's defense ministry regards as a success.
• Tokyo to Install Advanced Missiles Near East China Sea’s Contested Islands Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- Amid a spike in confrontations between Chinese and Japanese aircraft over the East China Sea, Tokyo has announced the deployment of an enhanced missile interception system near the disputed Senkaku Islands.
• Hamadan Only Airbase in Iran Used for Refueling Russian Aircraft - MP Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- Russian military aircraft in Iran are only allowed to refuel at the Hamadan airbase in accordance with existing agreements, the chairman of the Iranian parliamentary committee on foreign policy and national security said Wednesday.
• Russian planes only refueling at Nojeh Airbase: MP IRNA 24 Aug 2016 -- A senior member of the Iranian parliament (Majlis) has stressed that Russian planes would refuel only at Nojeh Airbase in west of the country.
• India May Spend Over $220 Bln to Buy Weapons in Next Decade - Reports Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- The Indian government may spend $223 billion by 2027 to acquire new weapon systems in order to increase the military preparedness of the country's Armed Forces, according to the NDTV broadcaster.
• India Orders Detailed Inquiry Into Sensitive Data Leak of Scorpene Sub Plans Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- An initial assessment by the Indian Navy confirmed that the leak was very serious.
• Kazakhstan's S-300 Systems to Join Integrated Air Defense With Russia Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- Kazakhstan will put five battalions of S-300 air defense systems on combat duty in the near future as part of the integrated regional air defense network with Russia, the commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces said Wednesday.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 8/24/16 The White House 24 Aug 2016
• August 24, 2016 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 24 Aug 2016

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 24, 2016

Other Conflicts

• 24 August 2016 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 24 Aug 2016
• Seoul makes a fuss about ADIZ entry People's Daily 24 Aug 2016 -- South Korean media reported on Monday that three Chinese strategic bombers trespassed into the overlapping area of China and South Korea's air defense identification zones (ADIZ) and approached the disputed Suyan Reef in a military drill by China in the East China Sea. The Chinese bombers left the area after being driven away by South Korea.
• Statement by NSC Spokesperson Ned Price on the UN-OPCW Report on Syria The White House 24 Aug 2016
• Analysis: Turkey Invades Syria As Race For Northern Aleppo Heats Up RFE/RL 24 Aug 2016 -- A new contest is raging in northern Syria. This time, however, it's not a battle but a race.
• Daesh Militants Leave Syrian Jarabulus, Retreat to Aleppo Amid Turkish Offensive Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- The Daesh militants are leaving the Syrian city of Jarabulus, which they controlled for over two years, following Turkish offensive, local media reported Wednesday.
• Operation in Jarablus Aims to Stop Democratization of Syria - Kurdish Party Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- The military operation by Turkish forces, backed by US-led coalition aircraft, to rid the Syrian border town of Jarabulus of Daesh militants is in reality an attempt to prevent Syria from democratization, co-chair of Syria's Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) Saleh Muslim told Sputnik.
• Turkey-Backed Free Syrian Army Takes Control of Jarablus Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- The Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army has taken control of the northern Syrian Jarablus that had been controlled by Daesh, Anadolu news agency reported.
• UN chief submits report related to use of chemical weapons in Syria to the Security Council UN News 24 Aug 2016 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today submitted a joint UN-Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) report to the Security Council outlining in-depth investigation into, as well as the findings, assessments and conclusions of, nine selected cases related to incidents involving the use of chemicals weapons in Syria.
• French intelligence orchestrated Ghouta poison gas attack: Syria ISNA 24 Aug 2016 -- Syria said that French intelligence agencies orchestrated the deadly chemical attack in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta to divert UN weapons inspectors from another incident carried out by militants in Aleppo.
• Damascus slams Turkey's military 'aggression' into Syrian territory Press TV 24 Aug 2016 -- Syria has denounced Turkey's recent military incursion into the Syrian territory, backed by the US-led coalition, saying the offensive violates the Arab country's sovereignty.
• Turkish special forces in Syrian territory 'to fight Daesh' Press TV 24 Aug 2016 -- Turkish special forces have entered Syrian territory in what they say is an operation against the Daesh terrorist group in a Syrian city near the Turkish border.
• Syria Condemns Turkish Incursion As Biden Visits Ankara RFE/RL 24 Aug 2016 -- Syria's government has condemned a Turkish military offensive in northern Syria, just hours after Turkish tanks and armored personnel carriers advanced into a part of Syria that has been under the control of Islamic State (IS) militants since July 2013.
• Turkish Forces Storm into Syria, Targeting Islamic State Militants, Kurds VOA 24 Aug 2016 -- Turkish tanks and special forces stormed into Syria on Wednesday, a sweeping military offensive aimed at clearing Islamic State militants and Syrian Kurds from the border region.
• Turkey Launches Military Operation on liberation of Syrian Jarablus - Reports Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- Turkish military launched a military operation to liberate the northern Syrian city of Jarablus.
• Iraqi forces close in on Qayyarah in lead-up to Mosul operation Press TV 24 Aug 2016 -- Iraqi forces have closed in on the center of Qayyarah as part of their action to purge the town of Takfiri Daesh terrorists in the lead-up to a wider operation in the nearby city of Mosul.
• UN will support Colombia's 'drive to build a future in peace,' says Ban as historic talks conclude UN News 24 Aug 2016 -- Congratulating the Colombian Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People's Army (FARC-EP) on reaching a deal to end more than 50 years of conflict, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today pledged the ongoing support of the United Nations system to the two sides as they muster the "equally determined and exemplary effort" that will be required to implement the agreements.
• Colombia, FARC Announce Historic Peace Deal VOA 24 Aug 2016 -- The longest-running armed conflict in the Western Hemisphere appears to be ending as the Colombian government reached a historic peace accord with rebel leaders Wednesday in Cuba.
• UN envoy encouraged by preparations for upcoming Palestinian local elevations UN News 24 Aug 2016 -- United Nations Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Piper today said he is encouraged by preparations for the early October poll across the occupied West Bank and Gaza – the first such concurrent elections in a decade – and appealed to all Palestinian parties to stick to the agreed code of conduct and to refrain from actions that could undermine the process.
• Machar's Treatment in Sudan Stirs No Objections in S. Sudan VOA 24 Aug 2016 -- South Sudan said Wednesday said that even though former rebel leader Riek Machar was being treated at a Sudanese hospital for an apparent chest infection and leg injury, it would not affect relations between the two countries.

News Reports

• Biden: US Will Listen to 'Every Scrap of Evidence' in Gulen Extradition Request VOA 24 Aug 2016 -- The United States held firm Wednesday in rebuffing Turkey's demand that it immediately extradite Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen whom Ankara blames for last month's failed military coup, saying it has yet to receive any evidence linking him to the putsch.
• US had no foreknowledge of Turkey coup attempt: Biden Press TV 24 Aug 2016 -- US Vice President Joe Biden has denied his country's involvement in last month's failed coup d'état against the Turkish government, insisting that Washington is the best friend of the Turkish people.
• Biden Pledges 'Unwavering Support' For Turkey's Democracy RFE/RL 24 Aug 2016 -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says Washington puts "paramount importance" on its relations with Turkey and is offering "unwavering support" for democracy in the country after the failed July military coup there.
• US Rebuffs Turkish Demand for Immediate Return of Cleric Ankara Blames for Failed Coup VOA 24 Aug 2016 -- The United States held firm Wednesday in rebuffing Turkey's demand that it immediately extradite Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen whom Ankara blames for last month's failed military coup, saying it has yet to receive any evidence linking him to the putsch.
• Turkey dismisses over 2,800 judges, prosecutors in post-coup purge Press TV 24 Aug 2016 -- Turkey has fired more than 2,800 judges and prosecutors in the latest wave of dismissal of the country's officials following the July 15 coup attempt.
• Turkey makes 'formal' request for extradition of Gulen: US Press TV 24 Aug 2016 -- Turkey has formally requested that the United States extraditie Pennsylvania-based opposition figure Fethullah Gulen, whom it accuses of orchestrating last month's failed coup, the US State Department says.
• Behind The Scenes In Ukraine, Ties To Putin Help Power Broker Pull Strings RFE/RL 24 Aug 2016 -- More than a decade ago, Viktor Medvedchuk became known as the "Gray Cardinal" because his low profile masked unparalleled clout in the halls of power in Ukraine.
• Dueling Indictments As Russia, Ukraine Target Each Other's Military Leaders RFE/RL 24 Aug 2016 -- Russia and Ukraine traded salvos this week with dueling criminal investigations against each other's top military brass, a new front in the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
• Ukraine should rely on own might to counter Russia: Poroshenko Press TV 24 Aug 2016 -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has underlined the need for Kiev to stand on its own feet rather than relying on Western support as it copes with resurging conflict in its eastern region.
• Ukraine Celebrates 25 Years Of Independence As Tensions With Russia Worsen RFE/RL 24 Aug 2016 -- Ukraine marked 25 years of independence from the Soviet Union on August 24 with a massive parade of soldiers and heavy weaponry through central Kyiv, in a show of force designed to boost the morale of the country's servicemen and reassure Ukrainians amid heightened tensions with Russia.
• Kyrgyzstan Seeks Release Of Detained Citizens As Border Tensions Rise With Uzbekistan RFE/RL 24 Aug 2016 -- Kyrgyz authorities say negotiations are under way with officials in neighboring Uzbekistan to secure the release of four Kyrgyz nationals detained by Uzbek police in a disputed border area abutting the two Central Asian states.
• Somaliland Petitions for Statehood VOA 24 Aug 2016 -- More than one million citizens have signed a petition calling for the recognition of Somaliland by the international community, Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo told reporters in Hargeisa Tuesday.
• Brazil top court rejects Rousseff requset to annul impeachment Press TV 24 Aug 2016 -- Brazil's Supreme Court has dismissed claims by suspended president, Dilma Rousseff, and her defense team about irregularities in a session in Congress, during which senators voted to open an impeachment trial against her.
• Armenian Gunman Seeks Mayor's Office Despite Discouragement RFE/RL 24 Aug 2016 -- A jailed Armenian activist who helped seize a Yerevan police station last month wants to run for mayor in his home town but hardline opposition representatives are discouraging him from doing so.
• Supreme Leader: Economy is top priority IRNA 24 Aug 2016 -- Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday economy is the country's top priority.
• President: Government managed to restore economic stability IRNA 24 Aug 2016 -- President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that creating economic stability is the biggest achievement of the government in the past three years.
• Iran eyes Nicaragua rival to Panama Canal Press TV 24 Aug 2016 -- Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Iran is interested in a massive project to build a canal across Nicaragua which will link the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
• Mississippi Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIL US Dept. of Justice 24 Aug 2016 -- Muhammad Oda Dakhlalla, 23, of Starkville, Mississippi, was sentenced today to serve 96 months in prison for conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
• Out of Thin Air! Russia to Revive Aerial Launches of Spaceplanes Sputnik 24 Aug 2016 -- Russia has revived the idea of launching spacecraft from the air. Currently, work is underway on a project called Vyuga in which Il-76 aircraft are set to carry space rockets into the outer layers of the atmosphere.
• China Gives Not So Warm Welcome to UN Envoy VOA 24 Aug 2016 -- The United Nations waited for more than a decade for Beijing to accept an invitation for its special envoy on extreme poverty and human rights to visit China. But when Beijing finally approved the request and allowed U.N. Special Rapporteur Philip Alston to visit this month, he was tailed by authorities and barred from meeting with academics.
• 3 Taiwan Political Figures, Set to Speak at Forum, Denied Entry to Hong Kong VOA 24 Aug 2016 -- Beijing has barred three Taiwanese political figures from attending a forum in Hong Kong, according to event organizers.
• Zimbabwe Police Fire Warning Shots to Disperse Protesters VOA 24 Aug 2016 -- Zimbabwean police fired shots into the air and used water cannon and tear gas in downtown Harare to disperse an anti-government protest Wednesday. Protesters looted a shop belonging to the country's vice president, while some people, including a journalist, were assaulted by police.
• Zambian President Turns Down Request to Meet with Main Opposition Leader VOA 24 Aug 2016 -- Zambia's ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party says President Edgar Lungu will not meet with main opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema from the United Party for National Development (UPND).
• UN rights experts call on Bangladesh to annul death sentence against opposition member UN News 24 Aug 2016 -- Amid reports that the trial of Mir Quasem Ali, a senior opposition member, and its appeal processes were marred with irregularities and failed to meet international fair trial and due process standards, a group of United Nations human rights experts have urged the Government of Bangladesh to annul the death sentence imposed upon him, and to re-try him in compliance with international standards.