• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• More US troops to hit frontlines in Afghanistan Press TV 25 Dec 2017 -- More American troops are gearing up to hit the frontlines in Afghanistan, says General John Nicholson, who commands US forces in the country.
• At Least Six Civilians Killed In Suicide Blast Near Afghan National Intelligence Office RFE/RL 25 Dec 2017 -- A suicide bomber blew himself up near Afghanistan's national intelligence agency compound in Kabul early on December 25, killing at least six civilians, security officials say.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Biggest seaplane graceful as a swan People's Daily 25 Dec 2017 -- The world's largest amphibious aircraft, the Chinese-made AG600, carried out its maiden flight on Sunday morning in Zhuhai, a coastal city in Guangdong province.
• China Stages Maiden Flight of 'World's Biggest' Amphibious Plane Sputnik 25 Dec 2017 -- China's AG600, a huge amphibious plane has successfully undergone its first flight. While many claim that the AG600 is the world's largest amphibious plane, we here at Sputnik must observe that there have been other, larger examples of this kind of flying machine.
• President promotes 31 generals CNA 25 Dec 2017 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has approved the promotion of 31 senior military personnel, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced Monday.
• China's Military Flybys Raise Alarm in Taiwan VOA 25 Dec 2017 -- Taiwan is facing a new source of pressure from rival China as the communist government increasingly often sends military aircraft to skirt the island, a challenge to the local armed forces.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• China Ramps Up South China Sea Presence Achieving 'Striking Results' - Reports Sputnik 25 Dec 2017 -- China has built 290,000 square meters (29 hectares) of facilities on the islands disputed by the country's neighbors in the region.
• S.China Sea island construction strengthens defense, helps locals People's Daily 25 Dec 2017 -- China has accelerated construction and enhanced its military presence on South China Sea islands and shoals over the past year as territorial tensions with neighboring countries are subsiding.
• Yemeni forces' missile kills several Saudi mercenaries in Sana'a prov. Press TV 25 Dec 2017 -- Yemeni forces have fired a Zelzal 2 (Earthquake-2) ballistic missile at a position of Saudi-backed mercenaries in the Nihm district of the country's western Sana'a province, inflicting heavy casualties on them.
• At least 30 killed in Saudi airstrikes in Sana'a, other cities Press TV 25 Dec 2017 -- At least 30 people have been killed in new Saudi airstrikes hitting various areas across Yemen, including the capital Sana'a, the al-Masirah television network reports.
• Syrian forces, allies advance against militants in area near Israel Press TV 25 Dec 2017 -- Syrian army troops and their allies have made significant territorial gains in the last militant-held enclave near a strategic border area with Israel and Lebanon.
• Syrian Army Advances on Rebel-Held Bastion Near Israel-Lebanon Border Sputnik 25 Dec 2017 -- The enclave of Beit Jin is the last rebel-held bastion in Western Ghouta. The Syrian Army and its allies began an operation to retake the area two months ago.
• Syrian Army Surrounds Terrorist Stronghold Near Damascus - Reports Sputnik 25 Dec 2017 -- The Syrian government forces surrounded a stronghold of militants from Jabhat al-Nusra in a settlement south-west of Damascus, local media reported on Sunday.
• Kyiv, Separatists Agree On Prisoner Exchange In Eastern Ukraine RFE/RL 25 Dec 2017 -- Ukrainian authorities and Russian-backed separatists have confirmed that a major prisoner exchange will take place between the two sides of the conflict on December 27.
• Nine DR Congo soldiers killed in 2 militia attacks Press TV 25 Dec 2017 -- A suspected rebel militia group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has killed at least nine military forces during two separate attacks in the country's volatile east.
• Guatemala becomes first country to move embassy to Jerusalem al-Quds after US Press TV 25 Dec 2017 -- Guatemala has announced that it will be moving its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem al-Quds, making it the first country to follow in the footsteps of US President Donald Trump.
• Embassy Move 'Disqualifies' US as Peace Mediator Says Palestine Sputnik 25 Dec 2017 -- The United States cannot ethically act as a peace broker in the Middle East, due to its stated bias and violations of international law, said Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas.
• Palestine Calls Guatemalan Embassy Move 'Shameful', Israeli PM Blesses Morales Sputnik 25 Dec 2017 -- Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales has announced the decision to move the country's embassy in Israel to the disputed city of Jerusalem, following the similar US' ruling.
• Israel Welcomes Guatemala's Announcement on Future Embassy Move VOA 25 Dec 2017 -- Israel is welcoming Guatemala's decision to follow the United States in planning to transfer its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

News Reports

• Russia bars opposition figure Navalny from running for president Press TV 25 Dec 2017 -- Russia's Central Election Commission has barred opposition figure Alexei Navalny from running for president in the March 18 election.
• Russia's Election Commission Rejects Navalny's Presidential Bid RFE/RL 25 Dec 2017 -- Russia's Central Election Commission (CEC) has rejected anticorruption activist and opposition politician Aleksei Navalny's bid to run against President Vladimir Putin in the presidential election in March, saying he was ineligible because of a past criminal conviction.
• Navalny Calls for Presidential Election Boycott After Being Barred as Candidate VOA 25 Dec 2017 -- Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny is calling for a boycott of the country's next presidential ballot after election officials barr

• DPRK condemns new UN sanctions resolution as act of war People's Daily 25 Dec 2017 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) issued on Sunday a strong-worded statement condemning the latest UN resolution to impose more sanctions over its nuclear and missile programs, calling it "an act of war."
• China calls on all countries to take steps to reduce tensions in Korean Peninsula Press TV 25 Dec 2017 -- China has called on the international community to put in constructive efforts in an attempt to ease escalating tensions in the Korean Peninsula after North Korea described the UN's latest round of sanctions against Pyongyang as an "act of war" and tantamount to a total economic blockade.
• North Korea Advises US to Give Up 'Pipe Dream' of Pyongyang Abandoning Nukes Sputnik 25 Dec 2017 -- North Korea has responded to the latest Washington-drafted sanctions against the country, unanimously approved by the UN Security Council over its recent launch of a ballistic missile, claimed capable of reaching "anywhere in the US".
• Russia, China Urge Peaceful Resolution to North Korea Tensions VOA 25 Dec 2017 -- Russia and China each signaled Monday a desire for a peaceful resolution to the tensions surrounding North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile activity.
• IAEA sole judge in JCPOA issue: Iran IRNA 25 Dec 2017 -- Top Iranian Foreign Ministry official said on Monday that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the only eligible entity to judge Iran's compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
• Convicted spy confessed to Mossad ties: Tehran prosecutor IRNA 25 Dec 2017 -- A convicted spy, whose death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court of Iran, admitted that he had eight meetings with secret agents of Israeli regime's Mossad intelligence agency, Tehran prosecutor announced.
• Turkish Government Fires Thousands More as 2016 Coup Blowback Continues Sputnik 25 Dec 2017 -- Turkey has fired 2,756 more people from its public service sector for alleged ties to terror groups in reaction to 2016's attempted military coup.
• Critics Say Turkey's New Emergency Decree Could Incite Vigilante Groups VOA 25 Dec 2017 -- Lawyers and politicians in Turkey are warning that a new emergency decree could incite violence, and encourage formation of vigilante groups.