Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Officials Release Details of Latest Strikes in Syria, Iraq AFPS 22 Jul 2017 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 15 strikes consisting of 28 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
  Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve. DoD Graphic
• Trump Blames New York Times for Ruining Plans to Kill IS Leader VOA 22 Jul 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump criticized The New York Times on Saturday on Twitter for allegedly ruining a U.S. attempt to assassinate Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
• Taliban abduct several, kill seven civilians in southern Afghanistan Press TV 22 Jul 2017 -- The Taliban militants have killed at least seven abductees after kidnapping dozens of civilians in southern Afghanistan, security sources say.
• 'We Don't Want Your Bases': Iraqi Vice-President Warns US Army to Back Off Sputnik 22 Jul 2017 -- The Iraqi army and Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), not the US, should take the credit for the recent liberation of Mosul from the Daesh terrorist group, Iraqi Vice-President Nouri al-Maliki said on Friday.
• Errant US Drone Strike Kills 15 Afghan Troops VOA 22 Jul 2017 -- Afghan Defense Ministry officials have confirmed that Friday's U.S. counterinsurgency airstrike in the southern Helmand province mistakenly killed at least 15 government troops.
• Egypt opens sprawling military camp, says largest in Middle East Press TV 22 Jul 2017 -- Egypt has opened a sprawling military base in the northwest of the country, which officials claim is the largest of its kind in the region.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Trump Helps Commission New Warship, Says Vessel Sends 'Message to the World' VOA 22 Jul 2017 -- President Donald Trump helped commission Saturday the USS Gerald R. Ford, a technologically-advanced nearly $13-billion warship that he said sends a "100,000 ton message to the world" and will cause enemies of the U.S. to "shake with fear."
• USS Gerald R. Ford Commissioned as Navy's Newest Carrier AFPS 22 Jul 2017 -- President Donald J. Trump and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis took part in commissioning the USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy's newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, named in honor of the 38th president, in Norfolk, Virginia, today.
• President Trump Commissions USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) NNS 22 Jul 2017 -- President Donald J. Trump commissioned the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) at a commissioning ceremony July 22.
• Pace of Change Complicates Signals Intelligence World, NSA Chief Says AFPS 22 Jul 2017 -- The National Security Agency has never seen the field of signals intelligence change as rapidly as it is right now, said agency director Navy Adm. Mike Rogers at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado today.
• 101st Soldiers learn critical lessons through exercises in the African bush Army News 22 Jul 2017 -- Patrolling across an open field in the African bushland after reports of a kidnapping by insurgents, Staff Sgt. Donovan Sweet unknowingly led his squad toward a looming ambush.
• Task Force Falcon train air defenses during Saber Guardian Army News 22 Jul 2017 -- 10th Combat Aviation Brigade's Task Force Falcon completed several days of air defense artillery training alongside units from the 10th Army Air & Missile Defense Command and Romanian Land Forces titled Tobruq Legacy in Capu Midia, Romania, from July 14-18.
• Task Force Falcon and Bulgarians combine forces for Saber Guardian Army News 22 Jul 2017 -- 1-501st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade, currently assigned to Task Force Falcon, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (LI), worked alongside Soldiers from the Bulgarian Land Forces and 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, during a combined arms live fire exercise (CALFEX) titled Peace Sentinel in Koren, Bulgaria, July 19-20.
• Iran launches line for mass-production of missile Press TV 22 Jul 2017 -- Iran has inaugurated the mass production line of the domestically-developed, long-range Sayyad (Hunter) 3 missile.
• Iran inaugurates production line for long-range "Sayyad-3" missile ISNA 22 Jul 2017 -- Iran inaugurated on Saturday a production line for a new version of an air defense missile dubbed 'Sayyad-3', an upgrade to previous versions of the missile.
• Iran Announces Launch of New Missile Production Line Sputnik 22 Jul 2017 -- With Washington and Tehran increasingly at odds, Iran has announced the launch of a new missile production line.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• South China Sea Dispute Smolders as Trump Administration Weighs Approach VOA 22 Jul 2017 -- The first six months of the Trump administration saw relatively few confrontations over the territorial disputes in the South China Sea; however, analysts and officials say the lack of public conflict does not mean the issues have disappeared.
• Syrian army declares cessation of operations east of Damascus Press TV 22 Jul 2017 -- The Syrian military has announced the cessation of hostilities between foreign-sponsored terrorist groups and government forces in parts of Eastern Ghouta near the capital Damascus, after Russia reached an agreement with the militants on the boundaries for a de-escalation zone there.
• U.S. Didn't Shut Down Anti-Assad Arms Program To Please Russia: U.S. General RFE/RL 22 Jul 2017 -- A top U.S. general confirmed on July 21 that the CIA is shutting down its program to equip and train rebels fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's army, but denied it is doing so to please Russia.
• Syria, Russia Announce Truce For Area Near Damascus RFE/RL 22 Jul 2017 -- Syria and Russia have announced agreement on a cease-fire in an area that is a stronghold of opposition forces near the capital, Damascus.
• Al-Rahman Legion Armed Opposition Not Part of De-Escalation Deal on E. Ghouta Sputnik 22 Jul 2017 -- Al-Rahman Legion (Faylaq Al-Rahman) armed opposition group in Syria's Eastern Ghouta did not sign the new de-escalation agreement, according to a source.
• Syrian Army Declares Ceasefire in Eastern Ghouta From Saturday's Noon - Reports Sputnik 22 Jul 2017 -- The Syrian armed forces announced the ceasefire regime in Eastern Ghouta starting Saturday noon, the local media reported.
• Jaysh al-Islam Leader Confirms Agreement on De-Escalation in Eastern Ghouta Sputnik 22 Jul 2017 -- Mohammed Alloush, political leader of Syrian armed opposition group Jaysh al-Islam stated that the agreement on de-escalation zone in Eastern Ghouta on the outskirts of Syria's capital of Damascus was reached and now it came into force.
• Hezbollah Carries Out Rocket Strike on Terrorists Near Syrian-Lebanese Border Sputnik 22 Jul 2017 -- Hezbollah launched a rocket strike on the supply lines and locations of the Jabhat Fatah al Sham terrorist group (formerly known as the Nusra Front, banned in Russia) on the Syrian-Lebanese border, according to a source.
• Agreements on Functioning of Eastern Ghouta Safe Zone in Syria Signed - MoD Sputnik 22 Jul 2017 -- The agreements on functioning of Eastern Ghouta de-escalation zone in Syria have been signed, the Russian Ministry of Defense said on Saturday.
• Syrian Army Announces Safe Zone for Eastern Ghouta VOA 22 Jul 2017 -- The Syrian army announced Saturday the end of fighting in parts of Eastern Ghouta after an agreement was struck between rebels and Russia, an ally of the Syrian regime.
• Philippine Lawmakers Vote to Extend Martial Law in Mindanao Region Till Year-End Sputnik 22 Jul 2017 -- Philippine lawmakers voted for the extension of the martial law in the southern Mindanao region until December 31, 2017, according to media reports.

News Reports

• Report: Sessions Discussed Policy With Russian Envoy VOA 22 Jul 2017 -- The Washington Post is reporting that Russia's ambassador to the U.S. told his supervisors in Moscow that he discussed campaign-related matters with Attorney General Jeff Sessions last year during the presidential election season, contrary to what Sessions has said.
• FSB Was Client Of Russian Lawyer At Center Of U.S. Election Probe RFE/RL 22 Jul 2017 -- Russia's FSB spy agency was a client of the Russian lawyer at the center of U.S. probes into Moscow's alleged attempts to meddle in the presidential election, media reported on July 21.
• U.S. Lawmakers Reportedly Agree On Sanctions For Russia, Iran, North Korea RFE/RL 22 Jul 2017 -- U.S. lawmakers say they have reached a bipartisan agreement on a bill that would bring new sanctions against Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
• North Korea Says South Will Pay 'Harshest' Price for Challenging Missile Tests Sputnik 22 Jul 2017 -- South Korea will pay a harsh price for condemning the North's most recent intercontinental ballistic missile test, Pyongyang mouthpiece Rodong Sinmun warned Saturday.
• Iran Rejects Trump Warning About U.S. Prisoners RFE/RL 22 Jul 2017 -- Iran has rejected demands by the United States that Tehran release Americans detained in Iranian prisons.
• Polish Senate Votes To Give Politicians Control Over Courts Despite EU Objections RFE/RL 22 Jul 2017 -- Poland's Senate on July 22 defied the European Union and approved legislation giving political leaders substantial control over the judiciary.
• Kyrgyzstan's Presidential Election: A Crowd of Candidates, Split Parties, And A Bit Of Chauvinism RFE/RL 22 Jul 2017 -- Campaigning has not even started for Kyrgyzstan's presidential race, in fact the registration process for candidates is not even finished yet, but it already seems clear this is going to be a wild ride.