Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Strikes Continue in Effort to Defeat ISIS in Syria, Iraq AFPS 29 Jul 2017 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 19 strikes consisting of 26 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• Taliban Militants Blow Up Dam in Southern Afghanistan Sputnik 29 Jul 2017 -- Member of the Taliban terrorist group, banned in Russia, have blown up a dam in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar leaving a swathe of agriculture land without water, local media reported Saturday.
• As Trump Ponders Afghanistan, Minerals Loom Large VOA 29 Jul 2017 -- What does a president who campaigned on an "America First" foreign policy do with the longest war in U.S. history? That is the dilemma for Donald Trump as the White House conducts a policy review of Afghanistan, where U.S. troops have fought for nearly 16 years.

Defense Policy / Programs

• USS Gerald R. Ford Completes First Arrested Landing and Launch NNS 29 Jul 2017 -- Less than one week after Pres. Donald J. Trump commissioned the U.S. Navy's newest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) launched and recovered its first fixed-wing aircraft July 28, 2017, off the coast of Virginia. The first arrested landing, or "trap", occurred at 3:10 PM (EST) and the first catapult launch happened at 4:37 PM (EST).
• Bonhomme Richard arrives in Brisbane, Australia NNS 29 Jul 2017 -- The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) arrived in Brisbane, Australia, for a scheduled port visit, July 29.
• 'Marawi Should Be a Wake-Up Call': USPACOM Head Warns of Daesh Migration to Asia Sputnik 29 Jul 2017 -- Though Daesh is slowly being crushed in the Middle East, the fight against the terrorist group and its ideology is not over: it's just moving to the Pacific, the head of US forces in the Pacific said Friday.
• US, Iranian Ships Have Close Encounter in Persian Gulf VOA 29 Jul 2017 -- The Pentagon on Saturday strongly countered Iran's claim that a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier had fired warning shots at one of its ships in an "unprofessional" manner.
• US repeats provocative acts in Persian Gulf: IRGC IRNA 29 Jul 2017 -- US has repeated its provocative and unprofessional acts in the Persian Gulf, the public relations office of IRGC 4th naval zone announced on Saturday.
• US defends its provocation against Iran in Persian Gulf Press TV 29 Jul 2017 -- The United States is defending its provoking move against Iranian ships in the Persian Gulf as "professional."
• Iran's IRGC reports 2nd US naval provocation in Persian in less than a week Press TV 29 Jul 2017 -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has reported a second provocation by US warships in the Persian Gulf waters less than a week after a similar incident in the same region.
• Iran's Revolutionary Guards Accuse US Warships of New 'Provocation' in the Gulf Sputnik 29 Jul 2017 -- Iran's elite force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Saturday that a new "provocative" incident took place in the Persian Gulf as US Navy ships approached Iranian patrol vessels.
• Iran Condemns Sanctions, Says It Will Pursue Missile Program 'With Full Power' RFE/RL 29 Jul 2017 -- Iran has condemned new sanctions passed by the U.S. Congress over its missile program and vowed to continue it.
• Kim: 'All US' Within Reach of North Korea Missiles VOA 29 Jul 2017 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un claimed Saturday that his country possesses missiles that could strike the entire United States mainland, following a test launch Friday.
• Trump Criticizes China Following North Korean Missile Launch VOA 29 Jul 2017 -- President Donald Trump is again criticizing China for failing to stop North Korea's ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs.
• EU denounces DPRK's latest test-launch of ballistic missile People's Daily 29 Jul 2017 -- The European Union (EU) on Friday lashed out at the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the wake of the country's latest test launch of a ballistic missile, saying the move is in outright violation of its international obligations.
• DPRK confirms successful test-firing of fresh ICBM, arousing wide concern People's Daily 29 Jul 2017 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Saturday confirmed the successful test-firing of a second intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) simulating its maximum range, which it said can cover all the territories of the United States.
• China raps North Korea missile test, calls for restraint Press TV 29 Jul 2017 -- Beijing has censured Pyongyang's reported launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), also calling on all sides to observe restraint in response to the test and avoid acts that could escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
• N Korea says whole US mainland within range of its ICBMs Press TV 29 Jul 2017 -- Pyongyang confirms that it has launched another intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un saying the whole US mainland is now within the range of the newly-tested guided missile.
• S. Korea to consult with U.S. on revised guideline to increase payload of indigenous missile People's Daily 29 Jul 2017 -- South Korea's presidential Blue House said Saturday that the country would consult with the United Stateson the revision of the bilateral missile guideline to increase the payload of the indigenous ballistic missiles.
• China urges ROK, U.S. to stop THAAD deployment People's Daily 29 Jul 2017 -- China on Saturday strongly urged the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States to respect China's concerns and stop the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Outsiders stirring up trouble in region: China Press TV 29 Jul 2017 -- Beijing has hit back at Britain's plan to dispatch a warship to the South China Sea, which has long been at the center of a dispute between China and its neighbors, warning the outsiders against "stirring up trouble" in the region.
• Driving Force Behind China's Island Building in South China Sea is Xi Himself Sputnik 29 Jul 2017 -- President Xi Jinping is himself is driving China's controversial island-building and other practices in the disputed South China Sea, according to a Communist Party publication.
• Yemeni naval forces target Emirati vessel off Mukha coast Press TV 29 Jul 2017 -- Yemeni naval forces, backed by fighters from Popular Committees, have reportedly targeted an Emirati military vessel in a missile attack off the coast of the country's southwestern province of Ta'izz.
• Ansarullah of Yemen targets UAE warship IRNA 29 Jul 2017 -- Yemen's Ansarullah forces targeted on Saturday a military warship belonging to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Mocha coast in east of Yemen.
• Yemeni forces seize several Saudi military bases, outposts in Jizan region Press TV 29 Jul 2017 -- Yemeni army troops, backed by fighters from allied Popular Committees, have managed to seize several strategic Saudi military bases and outposts in the Arab kingdom's southwestern Jizan region, inflicting casualties on Saudi forces.
• Houthi Rebels Attack Yemeni Port With Boat Bomb - Reports Sputnik 29 Jul 2017 -- Yemen's port of Mocha was attacked by Houthi rebels on Saturday be sending there a boat loaded with explosives, media reported citing the statement of the Saudi-led coalition.
• Yemeni General: Army Shot Down Coalition Plane Over Saudi Soil for 1st Time Sputnik 29 Jul 2017 -- A representative of the Yemeni Army, brigadier general Aziz Rashid, told Sputnik about an incident involving a reconnaissance aircraft of the Saudi-led coalition that took place on July 25.
• Will IS Losses in Iraq, Syria Boost al-Qaida? VOA 29 Jul 2017 -- As Islamic State militants continue to lose territory in their declared caliphate in parts of Iraq and Syria, officials and analysts are expressing concern that al-Qaida is making efforts to turn those losses into gains for itself.
• Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters to participate in liberation of Tal Afar: Abadi Press TV 29 Jul 2017 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says pro-government fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), commonly known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha'abi, will take part in a planned offensive to recapture the northern city of Tal Afar from the Daesh terrorist group.
• Officials: 19,000 Daesh militants, supporters in Iraq, Syria Press TV 29 Jul 2017 -- High-ranking Iraqi security officials say there are about 7,000 Daesh terrorists and supporters remaining in the Arab country.
• 2 killed as Saudi police intensify attacks on besieged Shia-populated town Press TV 29 Jul 2017 -- Saudi security forces have killed at least two young men in a besieged town in the kingdom's Shia-populated Eastern Province, as the Riyadh regime continues its heavy-tactics crackdown there, targeting dissidents.
• Saudi Shias told to leave Awamiyah or die: Sources Press TV 29 Jul 2017 -- Local sources in the al-Awamiyah town in Saudi Arabia's Shia-populated Eastern Province say the locals have been told to either leave their homes or face death at the hands of security forces.

News Reports

• Trump Replaces His Chief of Staff VOA 29 Jul 2017 -- The White House chief of staff has been replaced with a retired Marine Corps general who has been running the Department of Homeland Security.
• White House Says Trump Will Sign Russia Sanctions Bill RFE/RL 29 Jul 2017 -- The White House announced late on July 28 that U.S. President Donald Trump has decided to sign legislation strengthening sanctions against Russia over its alleged meddling in the U.S. presidential election.
• Trump to Approve Sanctions Bill; Russia Imposes Its Own VOA 29 Jul 2017 -- The White House says President Donald Trump approves of Congress' new sanctions against Russia and he intends to sign the bill.
• EU Launches Legal Action Over Poland's Court Reforms VOA 29 Jul 2017 -- The European Union has launched an infringement procedure against Poland over reforms the country made to its judiciary, which the EU fears will affect the impartiality of Poland's courts.
• Venezuela Readies for Controversial Vote, More Protests VOA 29 Jul 2017 -- Venezuela's opposition is calling for more protests Sunday, the day of a controversial vote called by President Nicolas Maduro on whether to rewrite the nation's constitution.
• South Korea Leader Mulls Unilateral Sanctions on North After Missile Test Sputnik 29 Jul 2017 -- Moon Jae-in ordered state ministries to consider slapping Pyongyang with unilateral sanctions.
• Pakistan's ousted prime minister nominates younger brother as successor Press TV 29 Jul 2017 -- Pakistan's deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has nominated his brother to be his successor and a nominee to contest the 2018 general elections and his close ally to be interim premier, as hundreds of supporters of ousted Sharif held a demonstration in the capital Islamabad against a Supreme Court decision that disqualified him on corruption charges.
• Pakistan's Deposed PM Nominates Brother As Successor RFE/RL 29 Jul 2017 -- Pakistan's deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has named his brother, Shahbaz, as his successor and nominated former Oil Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi as an interim premier.
• Pakistan's Ruling Party Picks Interim Successor for Ousted PM Sharif VOA 29 Jul 2017 -- Pakistan's ruling party has appointed an interim chief executive of the country, raising opposition complaints, a day after the Supreme Court ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for concealing assets.
• Global reactions to Iran space rocket test IRNA 29 Jul 2017 -- Iran's launching of its newly-developed satellite carrier, nicknamed Simorgh, into the space has caused different reactions across the globe.
• Allies follow suit day after US kicked up a fuss about Iran space launch Press TV 29 Jul 2017 -- Three European allies of the US have engaged in rhetoric against Iran after the country successfully tested a satellite-launch rocket, urging Tehran to halt all its missile activities.
• New Launch Pads Signal More Rocket Launches For India Sputnik 29 Jul 2017 -- A new launch pad being built at India's Sriharikota space center of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will have the capacity to launch more rockets next year.