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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 17 Jul 2018 [PDF]
• 54 freed in Afghan raid on Taliban prison in Helmand Press TV 17 Jul 2018 -- At least 54 people have been released from a prison run by Taliban in Afghanistan's southern province of Helmand, where militants are in control of the majority of districts.
• Bomb Kills 20 In Afghanistan, As Army Frees Dozens Of Prisoners RFE/RL 17 Jul 2018 -- A suicide bomber has killed 20 people in northern Afghanistan, including a Taliban commander, an Afghan official says.

Defense Policy / Programs

• U.S. military firepower arrives in Lebanon, bolsters partnership and fight against ISIS Army News 17 Jul 2018 -- The U.S. Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC) continues to deliver foreign military sales materiel and services to Lebanon as the Middle East nation continues its fight against ISIS.
• LCS Anti-Submarine Warfare Mission Package Completes Two Testing Milestones NNS 17 Jul 2018 -- Program Executive Office Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC) announced the successful completion of two Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Mission Package testing milestones, July 16.
• USS Montgomery (LCS 8) Completes Combat System Ship Qualification Trials NNS 17 Jul 2018 -- Sailors aboard the Independence variant littoral combat ship USS Montgomery (LCS 8) successfully completed Combat System Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQT), July 1.
• USS Buffalo (SSN 715) Holds Inactivation Ceremony Celebrating 35 Years of Service NNS 17 Jul 2018 -- The crew of the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Buffalo (SSN 715) held an inactivation ceremony, July 16, at the Keyport Undersea Museum, celebrating the boat's 35 years of service.
• US, Philippines Conclude Maritime Training Activity Sama Sama 2018 NNS 17 Jul 2018 -- The U.S. and Philippine navies concluded Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Sama Sama 2018 at Naval Station Ernesto Ogbinar, July 17.
• HSC-25 Rescues Commercial Mariner Off Guam NNS 17 Jul 2018 -- Sailors assigned to the Guam-based "Island Knights" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 rescued a commercial mariner with a medical emergency aboard a cargo ship approximately 120 miles West of Guam Sunday.
• Press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the conclusion of the Brussels Summit NATO 17 Jul 2018
• Russian MoD Ready to Discuss START Treaty, Intensify Contacts Sputnik 17 Jul 2018 -- The Russian Defense Ministry is ready for the practical implementation of agreements in the area of global security reached in Helsinki between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, the ministry's spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, told reporters on Tuesday.
• Tajikistan, Russia begin joint anti-Taliban military drills near Afghan border Press TV 17 Jul 2018 -- Tajikistan and Russia have commenced joint military exercises near the Tajik-Afghan border in a bid to boost the Central Asian country’s readiness in warding off potential attacks by the Afghanistan-based Taliban militant group.
• Apache choppers key part of deterrence strategy: Tsai CNA 17 Jul 2018 -- The commissioning of Taiwan's Apache attack helicopters is an important milestone in meeting the Armed Forces' "multiple deterrence" strategy in the event of an enemy invasion, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Tuesday.
• Taiwan's military monitoring PLA movements closely: MND CNA 17 Jul 2018 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Tuesday that the military has a firm grasp of any activity carried out by China's People's Liberation Army near Taiwan, and is monitoring the Chinese movements closely.
• S.Korea, DPRK completely restores military hotline in western region People's Daily 17 Jul 2018 -- South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) completely restored a military hotline in the western region, allowing the military authorities of the two sides to contact through phone call and fax, Seoul's defense ministry said Tuesday.
• Danish Official Rings Alarm as Half of Young Men Unfit for Military Service Sputnik 17 Jul 2018 -- In 2017, 48 percent of young Danes were considered unable to serve, which is not only a record high, but a rise of 20 percent within a matter of two decades. This triggered the concern of the head of a soldiers' union about the general health of young men in the Scandinavian country.
• Iran to take part in joint defense cooperation with Pakistan IRNA 17 Jul 2018 -- Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Force vows for joint defence production with Pakistan.
• Iran, Pakistan to jointly produce defense equipment: Top general Press TV 17 Jul 2018 -- Iran’s top military commander has emphasized the importance of enhancing defense relations with Pakistan, saying the two neighbors are seeking to jointly manufacture defense equipment.
• U.S. Seeks To Persuade Turkey To Reject Russia, Buy U.S. Missile-Defense System RFE/RL 17 Jul 2018 -- The U.S. State Department says it is working to persuade NATO ally Turkey to purchase Raytheon Patriot missile-defense systems rather than a rival Russian missile system.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 17, 2018

Other Conflicts

• 17 July 2018 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 17 Jul 2018
• Iran's military presence in Syria relies on agreements: Envoy IRNA 17 Jul 2018 -- Future decision on Iran's military presence in Syria depends on Damascus-Tehran agreement, a senior official in Iran's foreign ministry said.
• US-Backed Syrian Kurdish Forces Prepping Team for Talks with Damascus – Reports Sputnik 17 Jul 2018 -- The Syrian Democratic Forces' (SDF) plans for talks with the government come on the heels of the Helsinki summit meeting between Presidents Putin and Trump, where the two men focused extensively on the Syrian conflict and ways to resolve the country's ongoing humanitarian crisis.
• Syrian army advances in Daraa countryside as terrorists flee IRNA 17 Jul 2018 -- A Syrian military source announced on Monday the liberation of strategic hill of al-Harra and four villages in the northwestern countryside of Daraa after eliminating terrorists' gatherings in them.
• Iraqi, Kurdish Troops Clear ISIS Safe Haven AFPS 17 Jul 2018 -- Iraqi forces, including peshmerga troops, conducted coordinated clearance operations July 16 to eliminate the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria presence in Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials announced today.
• Human Rights Watch urges Myanmar to address illegal land confiscations Press TV 17 Jul 2018 -- Human Rights Watch has called on authorities in Myanmar to compensate for illegally confiscated land and reform laws to protect farmers.
• The world 'must rally’ to support one million Rohingya refugees, UN Migration chief says UN News 17 Jul 2018 -- A failure to remain focused on the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh "would have tragic outcomes" for the nearly one million children, women and men living in Cox’s Bazar, said William Lacy Swing, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), on Tuesday.
• OSCE's Ukraine Observer Mission 'Concerned' About Reported Russian Spy Leak RFE/RL 17 Jul 2018 -- Russian intelligence has acquired internal documents of the international team monitoring the conflict in eastern Ukraine, including dossiers with personal information about its hundreds of staff members, from a spy, likely a staff member, according to German broadcaster ARD.
• In West Africa and the Sahel, signs of democratic progress amid continued 'devastating’ violence: UN UN News 17 Jul 2018 -- There have been "positive developments" when it comes to democratization across the vast West Africa and Sahel region, but that has been "competing with the volatile security situation" particularly around areas where terrorist groups are active such as the Lake Chad Basin, the head of the UN Office for the region (UNOWAS) told the Security Council on Tuesday.
• Cameroon Separatists Embark on Kidnapping Spree VOA 17 Jul 2018 -- Armed separatists fighting for the creation of an English-speaking state in Cameroon have abducted at least seven traditional rulers they accuse of collaborating with the government. Some of the leaders are also accused of calling for the participation in this year’s presidential poll, against the wishes of the armed groups.

News Reports

• Trump 'Accepts’ US Intel on Russia Meddling VOA 17 Jul 2018 -- President Donald Trump reversed himself Tuesday, saying he accepted the U.S. intelligence community's conclusion that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election, a day after siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin's denial that Moscow had interfered.
• Trump and Europe: Friend or Foe? VOA 17 Jul 2018 -- Europeans have reacted with a mixture of alarm and relief to Monday’s summit between President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
• Trump Says He Accepts That Russia Meddled In 2016 U.S. Election RFE/RL 17 Jul 2018 -- President Donald Trump says he accepts the U.S. intelligence community's conclusion that Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential election in his favor. But he says Russian actions did not have any impact on the outcome of the vote.
• Trump Faces Tidal Wave Of Criticism Over Handling Of Summit With Putin RFE/RL 17 Jul 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump was met with a tidal wave of criticism from friends and critics alike after his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with most saying his embrace of Putin while belittling U.S. agencies and allies was a betrayal of what the United States stands for.
• Trump 'Accepts' US Intel on Russia Meddling, Says 'Could Be Other People Also' Sputnik 17 Jul 2018 -- US President Donald Trump spoke to US media in Washington on Tuesday afternoon about his one-on-one meeting in Helsinki with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
• Trump, Putin call their talks successful People's Daily 17 Jul 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed his first one-on-one summit meeting with US President Donald Trump as "successful and useful". And Trump described Putin as a "good competitor", while calling that a compliment, after their two-hour closed-door discussions in Helsinki on Monday.
• Trump meeting with Putin draws rebuke from Republican leaders Press TV 17 Jul 2018 -- US President Donald Trump’s news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday has stunned Republican Party lawmakers in Congress, who are warning Trump not to treat Putin as an ally.
• Russian woman arrested in Washington, charged with spying for Moscow Press TV 17 Jul 2018 -- A Russian woman has been arrested and charged in the United States with conspiracy to act as a Russian government agent by developing ties with American citizens and infiltrating political groups.
• Russian Woman Charged Under U.S. Foreign-Agent Law RFE/RL 17 Jul 2018 -- U.S. prosecutors have arrested a Russian woman and charged her with acting as an unregistered foreign agent for the Russian government.
• Back To Business As Usual: Russian Analysts See Helsinki Meeting As Opening To Normalization RFE/RL 17 Jul 2018 -- Much of the immediate U.S. reaction to the July 16 Helsinki summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been characterized by some strident adjectives -- "disgraceful," "treasonous," "imbecilic," "appeasing," and the like.
• Iran: Nuclear deal parties expected to guarantee oil sale IRNA 17 Jul 2018 -- Iran's government spokesman said on Tuesday that Tehran expects signatories of the nuclear deal to guarantee Iran's oil sale rather than preventing its halt.
• Russia reiterates supporting JCPOA IRNA 17 Jul 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized supporting Iran nuclear deal famously known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
• ICJ confirms Iran's lawsuit against US over re-imposing sanctions Press TV 17 Jul 2018 -- The International Court of Justice has confirmed Iran's filling of a lawsuit against the United States over its re-imposing sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
• Iran ready to increase enrichment if deal fails: AEOI Press TV 17 Jul 2018 -- Spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi says Tehran is prepared to increase its uranium enrichment to higher levels if nuclear deal salvaging with the EU fall through.
• U.S. Open To Limited Exemptions From Sanctions On Iranian Oil Exports RFE/RL 17 Jul 2018 -- Countries that continue to import Iranian oil could avoid penalties by making "significant reductions" by the time Washington reimposes sanctions on Tehran later this year, top U.S. officials have said.
• Iran Sues U.S. At World Court For Leaving Nuclear Deal RFE/RL 17 Jul 2018 -- The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has confirmed that Iran has filed a lawsuit against the United States over the reimposition of sanctions against Tehran by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, claiming the move violates the nuclear treaty Tehran signed with the United States and five other world powers.
• Iran Ready to Boost Uranium Enrichment if Talks With EU Fail - Official Sputnik 17 Jul 2018 -- Uncertainty over the Iran nuclear deal has been growing ever since Washington withdrew from the deal, with Tehran threatening to relaunch its nuclear program if the agreement breaks down.
• Iran Files Lawsuit Against US Over Sanctions Sputnik 17 Jul 2018 -- The United States has imposed several rounds of sanctions against Tehran following President Trump's decision on the withdrawal from the historic 2015 nuclear deal.
• Xi urges open world economy People's Daily 17 Jul 2018 -- China and the European Union should make concerted efforts to safeguard multilateralism, the rules-based free trade system and an open world economy, President Xi Jinping said on Monday.
• Congo Ebola Outbreak Expected to End Next Week VOA 17 Jul 2018 -- The World Health Organization says it expects the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo to be over on July 24. That will mark 42 days, two incubation periods of 21 days each, since the last patient infected with the Ebola virus was released from care.
• Taiwan still willing to engage in communications with China: Tsai CNA 17 Jul 2018 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) reiterated Tuesday that Taiwan is still willing to engage in communications with China but will only do so on an equal footing with no political conditions attached.
• Taiwan's New Southbound Policy in line with U.S. Indo-Pacific policy CNA 17 Jul 2018 -- Taiwan's New Southbound Policy is compatible with the United States' Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) strategy, and helps to improve regional stability while fostering stronger alliances, U.S. scholars said Monday.
• Proposed Legislation Stokes New Crackdown as Emergency Rule Ending in Turkey VOA 17 Jul 2018 -- A state of emergency imposed in Turkey following a failed coup two years ago this week is set to end in the coming days. But there are concerns that the government will maintain draconian measures under a different guise.
• Egypt parliament gives immunity to officers involved in post-2013 coup crackdown Press TV 17 Jul 2018 -- A controversial bill has cleared the Egyptian parliament, granting immunity from prosecution to the senior military officers who may have had a role in a deadly crackdown that followed ex-president Mohamed Morsi’s ouster.
• Nicaragua must end demonstrator killings and seek a political solution in wake of 'absolutely shocking’ death toll: UN chief UN News 17 Jul 2018 -- The United Nations Secretary-General has called on the Nicaraguan Government to end violence against demonstrators which has cost an estimated 280 lives, and begin a national "political dialogue" to end the crisis which has gripped the country for nearly three months.