Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 26 Jul 2017[PDF]
• Military Strikes Continue Against ISIS in Syria, Iraq AFPS 26 Jul 2017 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 27 strikes consisting of 32 engagements , Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• Dozens Killed In Taliban Attack On Afghan Military Base RFE/RL 26 Jul 2017 -- Afghanistan's Defense Ministry says 26 soldiers were killed and 13 wounded in a Taliban attack on a military base in the southern province of Kandahar, although other government officials said the death toll was at least 30.
• Taliban Storms Base in Afghan Kandahar, Killing at Least 26 Soldiers Sputnik 26 Jul 2017 -- The Taliban terrorist group (outlawed in Russia) stormed a base in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province, killing at least 26 Afghan soldiers and injuring 30 others, local media reported Wednesday, citing sources.
• Taliban militants kill 26 Afghan troops in raid on Kandahar army base Press TV 26 Jul 2017 -- Taliban militants have killed at least 26 Afghan soldiers and injured 30 more in an attack on an army base in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar Province.
• Moscow Calls Reports of Russia's Alleged Arms Supplies to Taliban 'Groundless' Sputnik 26 Jul 2017 -- The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that the claims that Russia is allegedly supplying weapons to the Taliban movement (banned in Russia) in Afghanistan were groundless.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Trump: Transgender People Barred from US Military VOA 26 Jul 2017 -- President Donald Trump says the U.S. military will no longer let transgender people serve in any capacity, reversing a policy former President Barack Obama's administration announced a year ago.
• Trump Bars Transgender People From U.S. Military RFE/RL 26 Jul 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that transgender people may not serve "in any capacity" in the U.S. military, reversing plans put in place by his predecessor Barack Obama.
• B-52 testers complete leaflet bomb drops AFNS 26 Jul 2017 -- An important part of U.S. military operations overseas is communicating with the local population. This can be done in a number of ways including something as simple as distributing leaflets.
• SecAF visits Nellis AFB Airmen, experiences Red Flag exercise AFNS 26 Jul 2017 -- Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson visited Nellis and Creech Air Force Bases, Nevada from July 17-21, 2017 to meet with Airmen and witness Red Flag, the U.S. Air Force's premiere multi-domain integration training exercise.
• Expeditionary Maintenance Units Keep Al Udeid Tankers on Schedule AFPS 26 Jul 2017 -- The 340th and 22nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Units work together around the clock here to inspect, repair, service, launch and recover the fleet of KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling tankers.
• Cavalry reconfigures time-tested tactics for 21st century battlefields Army News 26 Jul 2017 -- Visible waves of intense heat radiated off of the sand at the Udairi Range Complex as teams maneuvered the lanes, scanned their sectors, communicated among each other, and engaged targets.
• Soldiers and Airmen, train in Patriot North 2017 exercise at Fort McCoy Army News 26 Jul 2017 -- During the second half of July, Fort McCoy's Young Air Assault Strip on South Post and other post training areas were in use for the Patriot North 2017 Exercise - a joint agency civilian and military exercise sponsored by the National Guard Bureau.
• CSAF describes future of conflict AFNS 26 Jul 2017 -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein addressed the future of the Total Force, operations in space and the importance of a multi-domain, networked approach to warfare during an Air Force Association breakfast at the Mitchel Institute in Washington, D.C., July 26, 2017.
• USS Ross Completes Fifth FDNF Patrol July 26, 2017 NNS 26 Jul 2017 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) returned to Naval Station Rota, Spain, after completing a four month patrol that began April 3, 2017.
• John C. Stennis Completes Combat Systems Assessment NNS 26 Jul 2017 -- Sailors from USS John C. Stennis' (CVN 74) combat systems department completed a major readiness assessment, July 21.
• SPS-EPF 17 Engagements Begin in Honduras NNS 26 Jul 2017 -- U.S. service members and Honduran civilian and military officials commemorated the start of Southern Partnership Station-Expeditionary Fast Transport 2017 (SPS-EPF 17) events July 24, at the Honduran naval base in Puerto Castilla.
• NATO Deputy Secretary General and US Special Representative Kurt Volker hold talks on Ukraine NATO 26 Jul 2017 -- NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller welcomed Ambassador Kurt Volker, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations, to NATO Headquarters on Wednesday (26 July 2017). Ms. Gottemoeller and Ambassador Volker discussed the security situation in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv's reforms, and NATO's support for Ukraine.
• Russian Army Receives Iskander Missile System, Kalibr Cruise Missiles Sputnik 26 Jul 2017 -- The Russian defense industry has supplied the Russian Armed Forces with an Iskander-M missile system brigade set and 60 Kalibr cruise missiles alongside 17 planes and helicopters in May-June this year, Russian Defense Ninister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday.
• Number of States 'Building Up Military Presence' Near Russian Borders Increases Sputnik 26 Jul 2017 -- A number of foreign states are stepping up their military presence near Russia's borders citing the alleged threat of Russian actions in the Middle East and South Caucasus regions, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday.
• UK warplanes track Russian bombers over Black Sea Press TV 26 Jul 2017 -- A British Royal Air Force fighter jet based in Romania was launched to track two Russian strategic bombers operating near NATO airspace over the Black Sea.
• UK Destroyer visits Ukraine after completing multi-national naval exercise UK MOD 26 Jul 2017 -- HMS Duncan visited the Ukrainian port of Odessa this week in the first visit by a Royal Navy ship in eight years – the latest in a series of port visits and exercises conducted by the state of the art warship in the region.
• Turkey Wants to 'Ease Dependence on NATO' by Purchasing Russian S-400 Sputnik 26 Jul 2017 -- Russia and Turkey are currently at the final stage of negotiations regarding the delivery of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense systems to Ankara. The US signaled that Turkey buying the missiles would become a major concern for Washington.
• Turkey Hoping for Easing of Russian Sanctions With Missile Deal VOA 26 Jul 2017 -- Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Ankara has agreed to purchase Russia's S-400 missile systems, despite NATO concerns.
• Jazayeri: Iranian army to give crushing response to US ploys IRNA 26 Jul 2017 -- Iran's chief of staff of the armed forces spokesman Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri said on Wednesday that the Iranian armed forces are to give a crushing response to US ploys in order to reprimand them for any wrongdoings.
• Iran's missile program no breach of UN resolution: Foreign Ministry Press TV 26 Jul 2017 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi says the country's missile program is no breach of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorses the 2015 nuclear agreement between Tehran and the P5+1 group.
• North Korean missile could reach US in a year: Intelligence officials Press TV 26 Jul 2017 -- American intelligence agencies say that it will take only one year for North Korea to have missiles capable of reaching the United States.
• Indian Air Force Looks to Get Eyes in Skies Sputnik 26 Jul 2017 -- The Indian Air Force (IAF) has revived a five-years-old requirement of seven snooping aircraft to conduct signal intelligence and communications jamming (COMJAM) duties.
• Amid Ammo Shortage, Indian General Seeks More Funds to Counter China Sputnik 26 Jul 2017 -- Stressing for more defense expenditure in the backdrop of China's expansionist approach, India's top army general has said Delhi has to be prepared for the threat from Beijing in the coming years.
• India Launches Two Naval Patrol Vessels Built by Private Indian Defense Company Sputnik 26 Jul 2017 -- For the first time, the Indian Navy has launched two naval offshore patrol vessels (NOPVs) built by a private Indian defense company. The NOPVs were built by the Anil Ambani-led Reliance Defence and Engineering Limited at its Pipavav shipyard in the western state of Gujarat.
• Prince Salman seeking to remove head of Saudi national guard: Report Press TV 26 Jul 2017 -- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, who became the next in line for the throne by sweeping aside his father's nephew Mohammed bin Nayef, is now planning to secure his path to power by removing the kingdom's National Guard Minister Mutaib bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud , according to a new report.
• Canada to Buy Over 1,100 Machine Guns From Colt Sputnik 26 Jul 2017 -- Canadian Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan said that the Canadian government will purchase more than 1,100 new machine guns from a local business unit of the US-based Colt arms manufacturer in a deal worth around $25.6 million.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, 7/26/2017, #1 The White House 26 Jul 2017

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 26, 2017

Other Conflicts

• 26 July 2017 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 26 Jul 2017
• Beijing Confirms Putting Pressure on Hanoi to Stop South China Sea Oil Drilling Sputnik 26 Jul 2017 -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry verified media reports that Beijing pressured Hanoi to terminate an oil expedition in the South China Sea.
• Chinese Navy Expands Submarine Detection Testing in the South China Sea Sputnik 26 Jul 2017 -- The Chinese navy will conduct a massive experiment with underwater drones equipped with "real-time data transmission technology," in hopes of building up Beijing's capacity to detect hostile submarines in the South China Sea.
• UN: Saudi-led alliance responsible for refugee boat attack off Yemen Press TV 26 Jul 2017 -- UN investigators have censured as a violation of humanitarian law a deadly March attack by the Saudi-led military alliance fighting Yemen on a boat carrying Somali refugees off the coast of the impoverished country.
• Malnutrition and cholera 'a vicious combination' in war-torn Yemen - UN agency chiefs UN News 26 Jul 2017 -- In Yemen, the world's worst cholera outbreak is unfolding amid the world's largest humanitarian crisis, crippling health, water and sanitation facilities in the country, and creating ideal conditions for diseases to spread, according to the heads of three United Nations agencies.
• Nasrallah says Arsal operation decided solely by Hezbollah Press TV 26 Jul 2017 -- The secretary general of Lebanon's resistance movement Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah says a recent military operation by the group against terrorists in the Syria-Lebanon border region, which resulted in significant victories for the Lebanese forces, was solely an internal issue and no other party outside Lebanon was involved in the case.
• Putin Signs Decree Ratifying Agreement on Russian Air Group Deployment in Syria Sputnik 26 Jul 2017 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree on the ratification of the protocol to the agreement on the deployment of a Russian combat air group in Syria, according to the government portal of legal information.
• Four Russian Military Police Battalions Carrying Out Tasks in Syria Safe Zones Sputnik 26 Jul 2017 -- Four battalions of the Russian military police formed in the Southern Military District are currently carrying out tasks in the Syria de-escalation zones, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday.
• Trump Blames Iran, Hizballah For 'Humanitarian Catastrophe' In Syria RFE/RL 26 Jul 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump attacked Iran and the Hizballah militia that it backs in Syria and Lebanon, blaming them for creating a "humanitarian catastrophe" and threatening peace throughout the region.
• In Mosul and beyond, sustained efforts needed to support millions of displaced Iraqis - UN official UN News 26 Jul 2017 -- Witnessing "complete devastation" in districts of Mosul, a senior United Nations relief official visiting Iraq lauded the massive humanitarian effort under way while indicating that the crisis is "far from over," including for millions of Iraqis displaced throughout the country.
• Iraqi PM Promises Tal Afar, Hawija Liberation to Match Mosul's Sputnik 26 Jul 2017 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi pledged to liberate both the city of Tal Afar and Al-Hawija district from Daesh terrorist group in the same manner in which the liberation of Mosul was conducted.
• Italy Loses Patience With France's Macron Over Migrants, Libya VOA 26 Jul 2017 -- In the first flush of enthusiasm for France's Emmanuel Macron, the fresh young politician who upended French politics and snatched his country's presidency this year, Italian politicians were no different from European counterparts in seeing him as a JFK-type figure who'd help Europe overcome major challenges – from Brexit to the migrant crisis.
• One killed as Saudi forces shell homes in Shia town Press TV 26 Jul 2017 -- Saudi regime forces have launched a fresh wave of shelling attacks against a besieged town in Saudi Arabia's Shia-populated Eastern Province, killing at least one person and damaging several houses.
• DR Congo: UN rights chief names international investigators in Kasai abuses UN News 26 Jul 2017 -- The United Nations human rights chief today named three international experts to investigate reports of killings, mutilations, rapes and other abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) restive Kasai provinces.
• UN refugee agency seeks $9.5 million to assist Nigerian returnees from Cameroon UN News 26 Jul 2017 -- The UN refugee agency is seeking an additional $9.5 million to scale up its activities in northeast Nigeria, as a result of an unexpected surge in self-organized returns of Nigerian refugees mainly from Cameroon since the beginning of the year.
• Burundi: UN envoy reiterates inclusive dialogue, regional support to political process UN News 26 Jul 2017 -- The United Nations Special Envoy to Burundi today urged African leaders, in solidarity with the UN, to support an inclusive dialogue between the Government and the opposition in a country where political upheaval has resulted in insecurity since April 2015.
• UN condemns killing of two peacekeepers in Central African Republic UN News 26 Jul 2017 -- Secretary-General António Guterres and the United Nations Security Council have condemned yesterday's killing of two peacekeepers in the Central African Republic's (CAR) south-eastern city of Bangassou.
• Rebel Leader Excluded From South Sudan Peace Process VOA 26 Jul 2017 -- Civil society activists say a move to exclude South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar from a regional peace process will ensure that South Sudan remains engulfed in war.
• Extension of Philippine Martial Law Signals Long Fight Against Muslim Rebels VOA 26 Jul 2017 -- An extension of martial law in the Philippine south through December indicates the government lacks a quick way out of its armed conflict against a group of ISIS-inspired Muslim rebels, but underscores how seriously it's taking the fight.
• Drought, Conflict Displace 800,000 in Somalia: IOM VOA 26 Jul 2017 -- Somalia is suffering from a renewed displacement crisis as people flee drought and conflict, particularly in the country's southern region.

News Reports

• New US sanctions on Russia worries Brussels Press TV 26 Jul 2017 -- The European Union has expressed deep concern about a draft law of sanctions against Russia being debated in the US Congress, saying if it passes through, it could seriously affect the critical flow of energy from Russia to Europe.
• Russia gives solemn warning over US sanctions bill Press TV 26 Jul 2017 -- Russia says the recent approval of a sanctions bill against Moscow at the United States House of Representatives is a serious step toward destroying any chance for the improvement of ties with Washington.
• Kadyrov's Evolving Role In A Chechen-Avar Standoff In Daghestan RFE/RL 26 Jul 2017 -- Chechen Republic head Ramzan Kadyrov appears to have capitalized on Daghestani authorities' perceived failure to address grievances that led to a brawl between Chechens and Avars last month in order to cast Chechnya's controversial parliamentary chairman in the role of peacemaker.
• EU Adds Russians, Entities To Crimea Sanctions Over Siemens Case RFE/RL 26 Jul 2017 -- RFE/RL has learned that the European Union has added four Russian individuals and three Russian entities to its sanctions list after revelations that four gas turbines from the German company Siemens were "illegally" diverted from Russia to Ukraine's occupied Crimean Peninsula.
• Russia, EU Criticize U.S. Sanctions Legislation RFE/RL 26 Jul 2017 -- Russian officials and lawmakers are sharply criticizing U.S. legislation that would impose new sanctions on Moscow and make it harder for President Donald Trump to ease or lift punitive measures.
• Iran: US should fulfill JCPOA commitments IRNA 26 Jul 2017 -- Iran Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said on Wednesday that Washington should fulfill its obligations under the nuclear deal signed between Iran and the major world powers.
• Iran to retaliate U.S. new sanctions, breach of nuclear deal People's Daily 26 Jul 2017 -- Iran's President Rouhani said Wednesday Iran would respond in kind to any breach of the nuclear deal by the U.S. after its House of Representatives passed a new sanctions bill, state broadcaster IRIB reported.
• Iran warns fresh U.S. sanctions harm nuclear deal implementation People's Daily 26 Jul 2017 -- A senior Iranian official said Wednesday the fresh sanctions by the U.S. against Iran will have adverse impacts on the "successful" implementation of the nuclear deal, official IRNA news agency reported.
• Iran to face 'big problems' if it does not adhere to nuclear deal: Trump Press TV 26 Jul 2017 -- US President Donald Trump has threatened Iran with "big, big problems" if Tehran fails to comply with the 2015 nuclear agreement.
• Trump Warns Iran Faces 'Big Problems' If Doesn't Keep Honoring Nuclear Deal RFE/RL 26 Jul 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump issued another warning to Iran late on July 25, saying Tehran must honor its nuclear deal with world powers or face "big, big problems."
• Rohani Says Iran Will Respond If U.S. Enacts New Sanctions Bill RFE/RL 26 Jul 2017 -- Iranian President Hassan Rohani says his country will respond if the United States enacts a new sanctions bill.
• Iran to Take Countermeasures in Response to New US Sanctions Against Tehran Sputnik 26 Jul 2017 -- Iran will respond to new sanctions imposed by the US.
• N Korea Threatens to 'Wipe US From the Face of the Earth' With Nuclear Strike Sputnik 26 Jul 2017 -- North Korea has threatened to deliver a pre-emptive nuclear strike against the US. The threat came on the eve of the 64th anniversary of the end of the Korean War, North Korean agency KCNA reported.
• Top EU court keeps Hamas on 'terror' blacklist Press TV 26 Jul 2017 -- The European Union's top court has ruled that Hamas should remain on the 28-nation bloc's "terror" blacklist, rejecting an earlier decision by a lower court to remove the Palestinian resistance movement from the list.
• Ukraine Strips Ex-Georgian President Saakashvili Of Citizenship RFE/RL 26 Jul 2017 -- Ukraine's migration agency says Mikheil Saakashvili, the former Georgian president who later served as governor of Ukraine's Odesa region, has been stripped of his Ukrainian citizenship.
• Poroshenko Strips Ex-Georgian President Saakashvili of Ukrainian Citizenship Sputnik 26 Jul 2017 -- President Petro Poroshenko has issued a decree on revoking Ukrainian citizenship of the former leader of Georgia, ex-governor of the Odessa region Mikheil Saakashvili, Ukraine's State Migration Service said on Wednesday.
• Venezuela's opposition leader calls for nationwide strike Press TV 26 Jul 2017 -- Leopoldo Lopez, the top figure of Venezuela's opposition movement, has called for a general strike in the country to protest against government plans for carrying out reforms in the constitution.
• Saudi-led bloc of states undermining mediation efforts: Qatar FM Press TV 26 Jul 2017 -- Qatar's foreign minister, who is on a visit to the US, says the "negative behavior" of the Saudi-led bloc of blockaders is undermining the mediation efforts aimed at settling the unprecedented diplomatic crisis gripping the Persian Gulf region.