Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 25 Jul 2017[PDF]
• Inherent Resolve Strikes Target ISIS in Syria, Iraq AFPS 25 Jul 2017 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 27 strikes consisting of 29 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• Task Force Saber exploits the initiative in the fight against ISIS Army News 25 Jul 2017 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory against ISIS in the city of Mosul, July 9, 2017. Supporting the fight against ISIS is the 29th Combat Aviation Brigade's 4th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment. Organized as Task Force Saber, the 4th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment provides reconnaissance, surveillance, logistical support and offensive strike capabilities while supporting partner forces in both Iraq and Syria.
• Update: air strikes against Daesh UK MOD 25 Jul 2017 -- The RAF are continuing to take the fight to Daesh in Iraq and Syria.
• Centcom: U.S. Ship Fires Warning Shots as Iranian Vessel Makes 'Unsafe' Approach AFPS 25 Jul 2017 -- A U.S. coastal patrol ship participating in a coalition exercise in the Persian Gulf fired warning shots today after warning an Iranian naval vessel that was conducting what U.S. Central Command officials called "an unsafe and unprofessional interaction" in international waters.
• US Warship Fires Warning Shots at Iranian Military Vessel VOA 25 Jul 2017 -- A U.S. Navy ship patrolling in the Persian Gulf fired warning shots at an Iranian Revolutionary Guard ship that came dangerously close to the vessel.
• Mattis: Overspending on Afghan Army Uniforms Exposes Waste VOA 25 Jul 2017 -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis says an inspector general's report detailing as much as $28 million in overspending on uniforms for the Afghan National Army not only exposes waste, but also "serves as an example of a complacent mode of thinking."
• Mattis blasts Pentagon for buying camouflage useless in Afghanistan Press TV 25 Jul 2017 -- US Secretary of Defense James Mattis has blasted the Pentagon for wasting millions of dollars on getting the wrong camouflage uniforms for Afghan soldiers.

Defense Policy / Programs

• U.S. Special Operations Forces Train With Ukrainian Counterparts AFPS 25 Jul 2017 -- Across southern Ukraine, U.S. special operations forces trained with Ukrainian special operators and conventional U.S. and Ukrainian naval forces during Sea Breeze 2017, July 10-21.
• Network communications across coalition vital, say generals Army News 25 Jul 2017 -- Joint and coalition partners must train together on the use of their military communications networks whenever possible to build familiarity and to identify incompatibilities well in advance of when those networks will be needed during actual conflict, said Maj. Gen. Mitchell L. Kilgo.
• North Carolina Guardsman bridges the communication gap in Romania Army News 25 Jul 2017 -- Exercise Saber Guardian 17 was a U.S. European Command training event that took place in July, in Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria and involved more than 25,000 service members from over 20 allied and partner nations.
• Talisman Saber 17 a success, 31st MEU Marines re-embark aboard BHR ESG USMC News 25 Jul 2017 -- Marines and Sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit completed the biennial Exercise Talisman Saber, re-embarking aboard the U.S. Navy ships of the USS Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group off the coast of Queensland, Australia, July 23-25, 2017.
• U.S. Naval Special Warfare Operators Train with Ukrainian SOF at Sea Breeze 17 NNS 25 Jul 2017 -- Across Southern Ukraine, U.S. special operations forces trained with Ukrainian SOF and conventional U.S. and Ukrainian naval forces during Sea Breeze 17, July 10-21.
• QLLEX 2017 conducted at Manchester Fuel Depot NNS 25 Jul 2017 -- NAVSUP FLC Puget Sound, U. S. Army 475th Quartermaster Group and the Defense Logistics Agency conducted QLLEX at the Manchester Fuel Depot July 17-24.
• USS Pinckney Tests Mass Casualty Response Team NNS 25 Jul 2017 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 91) tested the readiness of its mass casualty response team during a simulated real-world scenario July 21.
• USNS Montford Point Concludes Skin-To-Skin Operations in Saipan NNS 25 Jul 2017 -- The expeditionary transfer dock USNS Montford Point (T-ESD 1) wrapped up a series of "skin-to-skin" operations in the vicinity of Saipan, June 22.
• Truman Completes Sea Trials NNS 25 Jul 2017 -- USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) returned to its homeport at Naval Station Norfolk for the first time in nearly a year, following the completion of sea trials.
• Ready Railgun: Electromagnetic Weapon Primed for Operational Demos NNS 25 Jul 2017 -- At the recent Naval Future Force Science and Technology Expo, the Office of Naval Research (ONR) announced that the Navy's electromagnetic railgun is out of the laboratory and ready for field demonstrations at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division's new railgun Rep-Rate Test Site at Terminal Range.
• Trump reportedly approves US Navy's annual operation plan in South China Sea People's Daily 25 Jul 2017 -- US President Donald Trump has reportedly approved a plan to give the US navy more freedom to carry out patrols in the South China Sea, but an expert said that the US might be wasting its time.
• US blames human error for missile test failure Press TV 25 Jul 2017 -- The US military has blamed human error for a botched ballistic missile intercept test in late June, an embarrassing failure amid an ongoing row with North Korea over its missile program.
• Lithuanian Military Gathers Data on Russian-Chinese Naval Drills for NATO Sputnik 25 Jul 2017 -- Vilnius is collecting data on Russian-Chinese naval exercises in the Baltic Sea with a goal of handing that information to other NATO countries.
• Swedish military plans 'largest' drills in 20 years along with NATO troops Press TV 25 Jul 2017 -- The Swedish military has announced plans to hold its "first and largest" wargames in over 20 years, involving all of the country's military branches along with forces from several NATO member states.
• US Military Chief Hails Sweden's Baltic Island as 'Strategically Important' Sputnik 25 Jul 2017 -- Amid Sweden's extensive preparations for Aurora 17, the upcoming major military exercise with a historic appearance of American tanks, a US military chief suggested that no island was more important than Sweden's Gotland, which is looking forward to an extensive remilitarization on the pretense of a "Russian threat."
• Active Phase of Russian-Chinese Drills Kicks Off in Baltic Sea Sputnik 25 Jul 2017 -- Russian and Chinese vessels left the military harbor of Baltiysk to participate in the active phase of the Russian-Chinese drills Joint Sea-2017, according to 1st Rank Roman Martov.
• Was China Spying on US-Australia War Games? Sputnik 25 Jul 2017 -- Canberra says a Chinese intelligence-gathering ship was spotted near Australia as major biennial joint military exercises with the US were wrapping up.
• Merchant ship collides with UAE Navy boat off UAE territorial waters: UAE General Command of the Armed Forces SPA 25 Jul 2017 -- A merchant ship collided with a UAE Navy boat during a routine mission by the latter off the UAE territorial waters in the Arabian Gulf, this morning, the General Command of the Armed Forces announced in a statement, according to WAM.
• Defence Minister announces helicopter work will stay in the UK UK MOD 25 Jul 2017 -- Minister for Defence Procurement Harriett Baldwin is pleased to announce that work on the AW159 Wildcat helicopter produced by Leonardo Helicopters in Yeovil will continue in the UK.
• Chief of the Defence Staff strengthens bonds with India UK MOD 25 Jul 2017 -- The Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach GBE KCB ADC DL, paid a visit to India this week to further reinforce an already robust UK-India defence and security partnership.
• Xi calls for united efforts to deepen military reform People's Daily 25 Jul 2017 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for all-out efforts to push forward military reform with the support of the entire nation and the Communist Party of China (CPC).
• Chinese jets' intercept of US recon plane 'legitimate and professional' People's Daily 25 Jul 2017 -- China's defense ministry on Tuesday rejected US accusations that two Chinese jets conducted an "unsafe" intercept of a US EP-3 reconnaissance plane flying in international airspace over the East China Sea.
• Beijing Urges US to Avoid Provocative Actions in China's Coastal Area Sputnik 25 Jul 2017 -- China hopes that the US Navy will avoid provocative actions in China's coastal area, as they may have a negative impact on the relations between the two countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang said Tuesday.
• China Blasts US Over Surveillance Flights After Midair Confrontation VOA 25 Jul 2017 -- China is defending last weekend's encounter between two of its fighter jets and a U.S. military surveillance plane over the East China Sea.
• N Korea appears to be preparing for new missile test: South Korean source Press TV 25 Jul 2017 -- North Korea appears to be preparing for another missile launch weeks after it sparked an international uproar by its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, a South Korea source says.
• India to Shed More Rules to Bag $5 Billion Foreign Investment in Defense Sputnik 25 Jul 2017 -- After failing to get foreign investment despite rejigging rules several times, the Narendra Modi government is mulling easing foreign direct investment (FDI) rules in the defense sector once again with the intention of inviting major global defense firms.
• IRGC foils US warship's provocative move in PG IRNA 25 Jul 2017 -- Third Naval Region of Islamic Revolution Guard Corps' public relations office said it has foiled the US warship's provocative move against an Iranian Navy patrol boat in the Persian Gulf.
• IRGC says neutralized provocative US Navy move in Persian Gulf Press TV 25 Jul 2017 -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says it has frustrated a provocative move by a US Navy ship in the Persian Gulf after it allegedly fired warning shots at an Iranian vessel.
• Iraq seeks 'substantial' Russian military, political presence: Maliki Press TV 25 Jul 2017 -- Iraqi Vice President Nouri al-Maliki has called for "substantial" Russian military and political presence in the terror-ravaged country, saying this would bring "balance" to the entire region.
• With Washington's Blessing, Seoul to Mount 1-Ton Warhead on Ballistic Missile Sputnik 25 Jul 2017 -- Seeking to increase the chances of taking out North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the event of war, South Korea wants to boost its 500-mile range ballistic missile warhead from 1100 pounds to one ton.
• South Korea Launches Corruption Investigation Into F-35, KF-X Deals Sputnik 25 Jul 2017 -- South Korean officials have opened an investigation into defense acquisition contracts for F-35 and KF-X aircraft pushed for by former President Park Geun-hye, who was sentenced to prison in March for abusing the power of her office, bribery, coercion and leaking classified information.
• Taiwan will not dodge any military threats: defense ministry CNA 25 Jul 2017 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Tuesday that Taiwan will not take any action that could start a war with China but at the same time will not back down from any threats.
• Any US decision to send arms to Ukraine hinders peace talks: Russia Press TV 25 Jul 2017 -- Russia has warned that a possible US decision to funnel lethal weapons to Ukraine would set back peace efforts and fuel Ukraine's persistent civil war.
• New Envoy Volker Says U.S. Considering Sending Arms To Ukraine RFE/RL 25 Jul 2017 -- The new U.S. special envoy for efforts to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine, Kurt Volker, says Washington is considering sending Kyiv weapons to help government forces defend themselves against Russia-backed separatists.
• Department Press Briefing - July 25, 2017 US Dept. of State 25 Jul 2017

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 25, 2017

Other Conflicts

• 25 July 2017 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 25 Jul 2017
• VOA Exclusive: ASEAN, China Expected to Endorse Initial Code of Conduct in South China Sea VOA 25 Jul 2017 -- After more than 15 years of intermittent talks, ASEAN member nations and China are expected to endorse the draft framework for a non-binding code of conduct that commits to cooperation rather than confrontations in the contested South China Sea, the Voice of America Khmer service has learned.
• China, Japan dispute over Diaoyutais regular occurrence CNA 25 Jul 2017 -- The continuing dispute between China and Japan over sovereignty of the Diaoyutai Islands in the East China Sea has become a regular occurrence since Tokyo made moves to nationalize the island chain in 2012, a senior Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) official has said.
• Faction Leader Claims 30,000 Afghans Fighting in Iraq, Syria VOA 25 Jul 2017 -- A prominent former Afghan insurgent leader Tuesday said 30,000 of his countrymen are fighting in Syria and Iraq.
• Trump appears to back ending covert CIA program in Syria Press TV 25 Jul 2017 -- US President Donald Trump has seemingly backed a decision to halt support for foreign-backed militants in Syria, inadvertently confirming the existence of a covert CIA program to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
• Trump: Secret U.S. Program To Support Syrian Rebels 'Dangerous, Wasteful' RFE/RL 25 Jul 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump said he has ended a secret program to support rebels fighting against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad because it was "massive, dangerous, and wasteful."
• Syrian Army 18 Miles From Daesh-Held Raqqa, Could Liberate City Within Hours Sputnik 25 Jul 2017 -- The city of Raqqa, which is considered to be Daesh militants' major stronghold in Syria, could be liberated within five hours by the Syrian army that is stationed 30 kilometers away from the city, a Syrian army brigadier general told Sputnik on Tuesday.
• Syrian Government Warplanes Breach Truce for 2nd Day VOA 25 Jul 2017 -- Syrian government warplanes broke a cease-fire agreement Monday for the second consecutive day with airstrikes on districts in rebel-held Eastern Ghouta near the country's capital, Damascus, say political activists.
• Battle with Nusra Front at Syria-Lebanon border 85% done: Hezbollah Press TV 25 Jul 2017 -- The Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement says its battle to eliminate members of the foreign-sponsored and Takfiri Jabhat Fatah al-Sham – previously known as the Nusra Front – militant group from the Syria-Lebanon border is 85 percent complete as it is continuing its campaign to take their last remaining footholds on the frontier.
• Macron: Libya Elections May Take Place in Spring 2018 Sputnik 25 Jul 2017 -- French President Emmanuel Macron said stated that Prime Minister of the Libyan Government of National Accord Fayez Sarraj and Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Khalifa Haftar agreed during a meeting in France on a plan to take Libya out of crisis.
• Libya National Accord Government, National Army Agree on Security Plan Sputnik 25 Jul 2017 -- Prime Minister of the Libyan Government of National Accord Fayez Sarraj and Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Khalifa Haftar decided to create a roadmap on the issues of security and defense of the Libyan territory from threats and trafficking of all kinds.
• Libyan Factions Agree to Cease-fire Deal VOA 25 Jul 2017 -- Both sides in the Libyan conflict agreed to the terms of a cease-fire agreement Tuesday during talks mediated by French President Emmanuel Macron.
• Beijing Calls on India to Withdraw Troops From Chinese Territory in Donglang Sputnik 25 Jul 2017 -- India must pull its military units back from Chinese territory in Donglang at the Indian-Chinese border near the state of Sikkim to de-escalate tensions, Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi said on Tuesday.
• Indian, Chinese NSAs Likely to Meet in Shadow of Border Standoff Sputnik 25 Jul 2017 -- Amid the ongoing border standoff between India and China, the two sides' National Security Advisers (NSA) are expected to meet on the sidelines of a BRICS NSA's meet in Beijing this week.
• India Begins Tunnel Work Through Himalayas to China Border Sputnik 25 Jul 2017 -- India's Border Roads Organisation (BRO) will construct two-lane tunnels bypassing a mountain pass at 13,700 feet in Arunachal Pradesh to gain faster access to the China border. The tunnel will connect the Army's 4 Corps HQ in Tezpur to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, which is 22 miles from the border.
• UN chief condemns suicide attacks on camps in northeastern Nigeria UN News 25 Jul 2017 -- Strongly condemning yesterday's suicide attacks on the two camps for internally displaced persons in northeastern Nigeria, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for the perpetrators of this "heinous" act to be swiftly brought to justice.
• Turkish President Criticizes Israel Over Al-Aqsa VOA 25 Jul 2017 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticized Israel for security measures at the al-Aqsa Mosque, also known as the Temple Mount, in Jerusalem. Rising tensions over the mosque could threaten attempts at rapprochement between Israel and Turkey.
• Hamas calls for urgent intervention to stop Israel's Judaization Press TV 25 Jul 2017 -- The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement has called for the immediate intervention of Muslim states as well as international bodies to stop the Tel Aviv regime's Judaization policies at al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the occupied Old City of Jerusalem al-Quds.
• Amid rising tensions in Jerusalem, UN envoy warns of 'grave risk' of escalation in Middle East UN News 25 Jul 2017 -- The United Nations envoy on Middle East peace has warned that developments over the past 11 days at holy sites in the Old City in Jerusalem have demonstrated the "grave risk" that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could become a religious conflict that could ultimately engulf the rest of the region.

News Reports

• Trump's Son-in-Law Answers More Questions on Russia Contacts VOA 25 Jul 2017 -- Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, faced questions for three hours in a closed-door interview Tuesday with the House Intelligence Committee as part of its investigation of Russian meddling in last year's presidential election.
• US House Set to Vote on Russia Sanctions VOA 25 Jul 2017 -- The U.S. House of Representatives is likely to approve new sanctions Tuesday against Russia for its meddling in last year's presidential election, at the same time giving Congress new powers to review any attempt by President Donald Trump to ease penalties imposed on Moscow.
• EU Readies For Transatlantic Fight Over New U.S. Sanctions On Russia RFE/RL 25 Jul 2017 -- When it comes to Europe's energy security and dependence on Russia for natural gas, Brussels has a message in mind for Washington: don't make our business your business.
• New US Anti-Russian Energy Sanctions to Have 'Brutal' Impact on Europe if Passed Sputnik 25 Jul 2017 -- Major European energy projects could be affected by sanctions if the US Congress passes a bill to punish businesses working to develop, upgrade and maintain Russian-related projects anywhere in the world. European Commission chief spokesperson Margaritis Schinas said the move would impact Europe's "energy independence and security interests."
• Russian Terrorism Suspects Allege Torture At 'Secret' FSB Site RFE/RL 25 Jul 2017 -- Lawyers for two Kyrgyz-born brothers charged in a deadly bombing on a St. Petersburg subway train in April have asked Russian authorities to investigate their clients' claims that they were tortured at a "secret jail" outside Moscow.
• DPRK denounces CIA director's threat to remove its supreme leadership People's Daily 25 Jul 2017 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Tuesday denounced the recent threat made by Mike Pompeo, director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), to "remove the supreme leadership" of the DPRK.
• 'Merciless Blow': North Korea Vows Nuclear Strike if US Attempts Regime Change Sputnik 25 Jul 2017 -- North Korea has vowed to unleash a "merciless blow at the heart of the US with our powerful nuclear hammer" if the Americans attempt to depose their leader Kim Jong-Un - and intelligence officials say that the DPRK may be able to back that threat up, years ahead of schedule.
• India Gets President, the Second Lower Caste One in Caste Sensitive Society Sputnik 25 Jul 2017 -- Ram Nath Kovind took oath as India's 14th President on Tuesday morning. The 71-year-old Kovind is only the second lower caste president after KR Narayan. Kovind is also the first member of the ruling Hindu nationalist party BJP to become president.
• House OKs New Sanctions Against Iran as Tehran Flexes Military Muscle VOA 25 Jul 2017 -- The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Tuesday in favor of imposing new sanctions on Iran, a move that most likely will further exacerbate tensions between Washington and Tehran.
• Iran will respond to US sanctions in kind: Larijani Press TV 25 Jul 2017 -- Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani says the lawmakers are closely monitoring all moves by the United States, particularly the bid to slap new sanctions against the Islamic Republic and Russia, and will make swift decisions accordingly.
• Myanmar Moves to Amend Controversial Online Defamation Law VOA 25 Jul 2017 -- Amid mounting pressure from diplomats and the media, Myanmar's parliament is soon expected to amend a heavily criticized law that has been used to restrict freedom of expression online.
• Saudi Arabia, allies put 18 Qatar-linked entities, people on 'terror' list Press TV 25 Jul 2017 -- The Saudi-led quartet of Arab countries has unveiled a new terrorist blacklist of 18 entities and individuals, six of them from Yemen, over having suspected "direct or indirect" ties with Qatari authorities, as an unprecedented diplomatic rift between the Persian Gulf peninsular emirate and the four siege states is increasingly deepens.
• Turkish diplomacy ends in Persian Gulf without results Press TV 25 Jul 2017 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has wrapped up a tour of Arab countries involved in a dispute but has failed to help bring the feuding sides closer to one another.
• Four Arab States Add 9 Entities, 9 People to Terror List Over Ties to Qatar Sputnik 25 Jul 2017 -- Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt added nine people and nine organizations to its unified terrorist list over alleged ties to Qatar, local media reported Tuesday.
• Maduro accuses CIA of plotting with neighbors against Venezuela Press TV 25 Jul 2017 -- The Venezuelan president says Mexico and Colombia are working hand in glove with the US spy agency CIA in an American "plot" to overthrow the legitimate government in Caracas.
• Kenyatta's Team Blames Rules, Format for No-Show at Debate VOA 25 Jul 2017 -- With just two weeks to go before Kenya's elections, the nation watched the lead opposition candidate for president, Raila Odinga, debate solo Monday after his top opponent, President Uhuru Kenyatta, refused to show for the live event.
• Presidential Age Limit Stirs Debate in Uganda VOA 25 Jul 2017 -- Uganda's parliament is considering an amendment to the country's constitution on land issues, but it is another proposed revision, not on the table, that is sparking the fiercest debate.