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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• US forces to stay in Iraq 'as long as needed': Coalition Press TV 19 Aug 2018 -- A spokesman for the US-led coalition purportedly fighting Daesh says American forces will stay in Iraq "as long as needed," amid reports that the terrorist organization is making a comeback in Iraq and neighboring Syria.
• Bolton Open to Hiring For-Profit Mercenaries in Washington's 17-Year Afghan War Sputnik 19 Aug 2018 -- White House national security adviser John Bolton stated on Sunday that he is interested in a proposal by Erik Prince - founder of private military company Blackwater - to shift the prosecution of the 17-year US war in Afghanistan away from the Pentagon to private mercenaries.
• Afghan president announces ceasefire with Taliban Press TV 19 Aug 2018 -- Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has announced a ceasefire agreement with the Taliban militant group to mark Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, an important festival on the Islamic calendar.
• Afghan President Calls 'Conditional' Cease-Fire As Taliban Seizes Northern District On Independence Day RFE/RL 19 Aug 2018 -- Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has called a "conditional" cease-fire with the Taliban to mark the Eid al-Adha holiday, just hours after insurgents said they had seized a district center in the northern province of Faryab.
• Bolton Open to Hiring For-Profit Mercenaries in Washington's 17-Year Afghan War Sputnik 19 Aug 2018 -- White House national security adviser John Bolton stated on Sunday that he is interested in a proposal by Erik Prince - founder of private military company Blackwater - to shift the prosecution of the 17-year US war in Afghanistan away from the Pentagon to private mercenaries.
• Pompeo Welcomes Ceasefire Announcement Between Afghan Government, Taliban Sputnik 19 Aug 2018 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed a Muslim Eid holiday ceasefire announcement by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, saying that Washington is ready to facilitate direct peace talks between the authorities and the Taliban.
• Statement On Afghan Government's Ceasefire Announcement US Dept. of State 19 Aug 2018
• US Says It Supports Afghan-Taliban Talks as Kabul Declares Conditional Cease-Fire VOA 19 Aug 2018 -- The U.S. is ready to "support, facilitate and participate in direct negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday, the same day Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced details for a new cease-fire.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Ronald Reagan Strike Group Conducts Air Defense Exercise NNS 19 Aug 2018 -- The Ronald Reagan Strike Group, including Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54), participated in an air defense exercise (ADEX) while underway in the Philippine Sea, Aug. 16.
• Undersea Rescue Command, Chilean Submarine Complete CHILEMAR VIII NNS 19 Aug 2018 -- Undersea Rescue Command (URC) and the Chilean submarine CS Simpson (SS 21) completed the submarine search and rescue exercise CHILEMAR VIII off the coast of San Diego, Aug 3-7.
• U.S., Indonesia Reach New Levels in Information Sharing at CARAT Indonesia 2018 NNS 19 Aug 2018 -- The U.S. and Indonesian navies successfully utilized the Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System (CENTRIXS) during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Indonesia 2018 to communicate and share information through secure channels, Aug. 10-17.
• 'French Can't Fight Own Wars': Paris Reportedly Makes UK Defense Chief 'Livid' Sputnik 19 Aug 2018 -- Last month, the UK sent three Royal Air Force helicopters and about 100 troops to Mali to help French forces combat jihadists still active in the region.
• Chinese president says military must resist 'corrosion' of corruption Press TV 19 Aug 2018 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping says the military must resist the "corrosion" of corruption and ensure the fight against graft is deepened.
• Russia, India Engaged in Talks on 5th Generation Fighter Jet - UAC Sputnik 19 Aug 2018 -- Moscow and New Delhi are going ahead with discussions on the fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) project despite media reports on India's withdrawal, Yury Slyusar, the president of the Russian United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), said on Sunday.
• Iran to unveil new fighter jet: Defense Minister ISNA 19 Aug 2018 -- Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami announced that the country will unveil a new fighter jet on Wednesday August 22 coincided with Iran's Defense Industry Day.
• Iran to unveil new fighter jet, boost missile power: Minister Press TV 19 Aug 2018 -- Iran's defense minister has hailed the country's military achievements, announcing plans to unveil a new fighter jet this week and continue enhancing missile capabilities.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• 140 Saudi-led forces killed in Yemen in 48 hours IRNA 19 Aug 2018 -- According to Yemeni sources, at least 140 forces affiliated with Saudi-led coalition were killed in a conflict with Yemeni army and popular committees during the past 48 hours.
• Saudi military base hit by Yemen ballistic missile IRNA 19 Aug 2018 -- Yemen Army's missile unit fired a Badr 1 ballistic missile at a Saudi military base in south of the country late Saturday.
• Saudi airstrike off Hudaydah coast leaves 13 Yemeni fishermen dead Press TV 19 Aug 2018 -- More than a dozen Yemeni fishermen have lost their lives and several others sustained injuries when Saudi fighter jets targeted their fishing boats off the coast of the western province of Hudayadah as the Riyadh regime continues its atrocious military campaign against its crisis-hit southern neighbor.
• Syrian army destroys Jabhat al-Nusra gatherings in Hama IRNA 19 Aug 2018 -- Units of the Syrian Arab Army pushed ahead with military operations against the dens and gatherings of Jabhat al-Nusra and associated terrorist groups in the northern countryside of Hama, SANA reported.
• Syria's military intelligence officer assassinated: Report Press TV 19 Aug 2018 -- A Syrian military intelligence officer has reportedly been assassinated in the west-central Hama Province, the second such killing in two weeks blamed on Israel's Mossad spy agency.
• Merkel implicitly rejects Putin's call to help Syria reconstruction Press TV 19 Aug 2018 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel seems to have rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin's call to financially contribute to the Syria reconstruction.
• US cuts Syria 'stabilization' fund, vows to continue anti-Damascus bid Press TV 19 Aug 2018 -- The US has reportedly cut its $230 million funding for the so-called Syria stabilization projects, citing increased contributions from the Saudi regime and other coalition allies, but vowed to remain active in its anti-Damascus bid in the terror-ravaged country.
• Trump Wants Saudis, 'Other Rich Countries' to Pay as US Slashes Aid for Syria Sputnik 19 Aug 2018 -- Earlier, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said that some 230 million dollars in US stabilization funds for Syria will be redirected "to support other key foreign policy priorities."
• Serb Rejection of Report on Srebrenica Massacre Sows Division VOA 19 Aug 2018 -- Senior U.N. Human Rights officials condemn the decision by the Republika Srpska National Assembly in Bosnia and Herzegovina to take back its endorsement of a report acknowledging the massacre of thousands of Muslims in Srebrenica.

News Reports

• Trump Lashes Out at NY Times Story on White House Counsel and Russia Probe VOA 19 Aug 2018 -- President Donald Trump is lashing out at The New York Times for Sunday's story reporting that White House lawyer Don McGahn has cooperated extensively with the special investigation into Russian election interference.
• Trump says he has 'nothing to hide' from Russia probe Press TV 19 Aug 2018 -- US President Donald Trump says he has "nothing to hide" from US Special Counsel Robert Mueller who is investigating alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.
• Trump Denounces Probe Into Russian Election Meddling As 'McCarthyism At Its Worst' RFE/RL 19 Aug 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has denounced an investigation into ties between Russia and his 2016 election campaign, calling the probe "McCarthyism at its WORST!"
• Brennan Threatens to Sue Trump to Stop Revoking Security Clearances VOA 19 Aug 2018 -- Former CIA Director John Brennan is threatening to sue President Donald Trump to stop him from stripping security clearances from other officials who criticize him.
• Iran looking for solutions to sell oil, transfer revenues under US bans: First VP Press TV 19 Aug 2018 -- Iran's First Vice President Es'haq Jahangiri says Tehran is looking for solutions to continue selling its crude oil after the United States re-imposed its sanctions on the country's energy sector in early November.
• Zarif: U.S. 'Action Group' Will Fail To Overthrow Iran Regime RFE/RL 19 Aug 2018 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that a newly established Iran Action Group in the U.S. State Department aims to overthrow Iran's clerical establishment, but it would fail.
• Iraqi political parties agree to establish core alliance Press TV 19 Aug 2018 -- Iraqi political parties have agreed on establishing a core alliance in an attempt to form a new government.
• Iraqi Supreme Court ratifies parliamentary vote Press TV 19 Aug 2018 -- Iraq's Supreme Court has ratified the outcome of the contested May 12 parliamentary elections in the country, giving the victor, Muqtada al-Sadr and his coalition, a constitutional deadline of 90 days to form a government.
• Iraqi Supreme Court Ratifies Parliamentary Election Results - Reports Sputnik 19 Aug 2018 -- The Federal Supreme Court of Iraq has ratified the results of the country's parliamentary election, which took place on May 12, the Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported Sunday, citing a court's representative.
• Pakistan's Khan Pledges Reforms to Counter Corruption, Poverty VOA 19 Aug 2018 -- Pakistan's newly elected Prime Minister Imran Khan, in his maiden speech to the nation Sunday night, promised wide-ranging reforms to combat corruption and cut government expenditures to tackle a crisis-ridden national economy.
• Merkel, Putin Exchange Views On Ukraine, Syria, Iran, Pipeline RFE/RL 19 Aug 2018 -- The Kremlin says German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a ""very serious and detailed" three-hour discussion during their meeting outside of Berlin, including an exchange of views on Ukraine, Syria, Iran, and a crucial pipeline project.
• Merkel, Putin Complete 'Serious and Detailed' Talks After Three Hours, Kremlin Says RFE/RL 19 Aug 2018 -- A Kremlin spokesman says talks between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin ended after three hours, calling the conversation "very serious and detailed."