• 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

• Suicide Blast Kills Afghan Parliamentary Candidate VOA 09 Oct 2018 -- A suicide blast in southern Afghanistan has killed a parliamentary candidate along with nine supporters, a day after the Taliban insurgent group announced it would disrupt the upcoming national elections with violent attacks.
• Explosion at Election Campaign Office in Afghanistan Kills 10 - Official Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- The incident followed a blast at an election rally in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar, in which 14 people were killed and more than 30 were injured. Daesh* terror group claimed responsibility for the attack
• At Least Eight Killed In Afghan Election Rally Blast RFE/RL 09 Oct 2018 -- A suspected suicide bomb attack at an election rally in southern Afghanistan has killed at least eight people, officials say, as militants escalate their attacks across the country ahead of general elections scheduled for later this month.
• Deadly blast hits election rally in Afghanistan's Helmand Press TV 09 Oct 2018 -- A bomb attack at an election rally in southern Afghanistan has claimed the lives of at least eight people and wounded 10 others, local Afghan officials say.
• Guard members mobilize as Hurricane Michael approaches U.S. Army News 09 Oct 2018 -- Governors in Alabama, Florida and Georgia have declared states of emergency prior to the landfall of Hurricane Michael, which is predicted for Wednesday. And National Guard members are mobilizing to assist communities and residents in need.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Army strives to better enable small businesses in seminar Army News 09 Oct 2018 -- As Army leaders push modernization and acquisition reform, efforts are underway to make it easier for small businesses to step up and fill in gaps.
• Media Availability with Secretary Mattis before Honor Cordon Welcoming Greek Minister of Defense Kammenos to the Pentagon DoD 09 Oct 2018 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis
• Remarks by Secretary Mattis at an Honor Cordon Welcoming Greek Minister of Defense Kammenos to the Pentagon DoD 09 Oct 2018 -- Presenter: Secretary Of Defense James N. Mattis; Greek Minister of Defense Panagiotis Kammenos
• Democracy Providing Stability, Security in the Hemisphere, Mattis Says in Mexico AFPS 09 Oct 2018 -- Democracy is succeeding in Latin America and can be a beacon to the rest of the world, Defense Secretary James N. Mattis said yesterday at the Defense Ministerial in Cancun, Mexico.
• After hitting milestones, Futures Command looks ahead to more Army News 09 Oct 2018 -- In just a year, the Army Futures Command has officially stood up, opened a headquarters in the Texas capital, and created a group of cross-functional teams currently working to streamline an outdated acquisition process.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis' Meeting with Greek Defense Minister Panagiotis Kammenos DoD 09 Oct 2018
• Normandy Arrives in Zeebrugge, Belgium NNS 09 Oct 2018 -- The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) arrived in Zeebrugge, Belgium, for a scheduled port visit, Oct. 5.
• U.S. Navy Seabees Complete Well Drilling Operations in Colombia NNS 09 Oct 2018 -- Sailors assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 completed water-well drilling exploration operations Oct. 3 in the rural community of Riohacha, Colombia as part of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2018.
• Decatur Renders Assistance to Sri Lankan Fishermen NNS 09 Oct 2018 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Decatur (DDG 73) rendered assistance to seven distressed mariners, Oct. 7 - 8, whose fishing boat had suffered an engine malfunction, rendering the vessel inoperable.
• Secretary of the Navy Names Newest Freedom Variant Littoral Combat Ship NNS 09 Oct 2018 -- WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer announced today that the next Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship will be named USS Beloit (LCS 29).
• 'Accelerated Schedule:' US Army Prioritizing Long-Range Strike Munitions Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- The US Army seeks to field a new long-range precision strike munition by the early 2020s, expediting the timeline for onboarding the new weapon by about four years.
• Fiscal Year 2018 Sales Total $55.66 Billion DSCA 09 Oct 2018 -- The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announces Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of $55.66 billion for Fiscal Year 2018. The total sales figure includes all sales executed through the FMS program to include: $3.52 billion for cases funded by the State Department's Foreign Military Financing Program; $4.42 billion for cases funded under Defense Department authorities; and $47.71 billion funded by partner nations.
• USS Truman to Sail in Massive NATO Exercises Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is set to kick off the military alliance's biggest exercise in 20 years later this month, with the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group participating in the drills, NATO officials said Tuesday.
• Truman Continues to Support NATO Alliance; Anchors in Portsmouth, England NNS 09 Oct 2018 -- The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) wrapped up a week of events with NATO partners by anchoring off the coast of Portsmouth, England, Oct. 6.
• Secretary General thanks Slovenia for its contributions to NATO NATO 09 Oct 2018 -- Visiting Ljubljana on Tuesday (9 October 2018), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg congratulated Prime Minister Marjan Šarec on taking office and praised Slovenia's contributions to NATO. Slovenian troops serve in the Alliance's missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo, as well as in the NATO battlegroup in Latvia.
• Trident Juncture 2018 Press Conference with Admiral James G. Foggo, Commander of the Allied Joint Force Command in Naples, Italy, and Lieutenant General Rune Jakobsen, Commander of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters in Bodø, Norway NATO 09 Oct 2018 -- Piers Cazalet: Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, apologies for the delay this morning. We have just come out of a long North Atlantic Council meeting where the Admiral was briefing ambassadors on Trident Juncture. So if Admiral Foggo could first of all say a few words, and then we will pass to General Jakobsen. Admiral.
• Moscow to Establish Military Representation in CAR - Draft Document Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- Russia will offer the Central African Republic (CAR) to establish a representation of the Russian Defense Ministry at the CAR Defense Ministry, according to a document published on the official portal of legal information on Monday.
• CSTO to Start Tracking Down Militants, Routes of Arms Trafficking in 2019 Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) will start to hold special operations on detecting routes of movement of militants and arms trafficking into the areas of high terror activities, the CSTO deputy secretary general said on Tuesday.
• Iran's Minister of Defense: Iran becomes a power in air IRNA 09 Oct 2018 -- Iranian Minister of Defense says Iran has become a power in gaining significant development in the field of air power, with a revolutionary jihadist approach and with tolerance of fragile sanctions.
• Defense Minister: Iran turns to a power in aerial field IRNA 09 Oct 2018 -- Minister of Defense and Logistics of Armed Forces Brigadier General Amir Hatami said on Tuesday that Iran has turned to a power in aerial field.
• "Konarak" missile launcher warship joins Iranian Navy's fleet ISNA 09 Oct 2018 -- Iran's missile launcher warship dubbed "Konarak" has formally joined the country's Naval fleet.
• Poland Not Going to Join US Nuclear Sharing Program - Foreign Minister Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- Warsaw is not going to join the nuclear sharing program to gain access to US nuclear weapons, Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said in an interview.
• Pakistan Plans to Buy High-End Drones in China Amid India's S-400 Deal Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- If confirmed, the delivery of the state-of-the-art Wing Loong II drones to Pakistan would become China's largest such export deal to date.
• Defence Minister calls on 'unsung heroes' to help military respond to new threats UK MOD 09 Oct 2018 -- Defence Minister Stuart Andrew today called on hundreds of firms to help the military respond to emerging threats as quickly as possible, calling them the 'unsung heroes' behind the Armed Forces.
• UK Says Cyber Capabilities Would Be Used in 'Accordance With International Law' Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- The UK Foreign Office has declined to comment on media reports alleging that UK troops staged military exercises which included war-gaming a cyberattack to "black out Moscow" in response to "aggression," the Russia Embassy said late on Monday.
• Syria grants general amnesty for military deserters IRNA 09 Oct 2018 -- President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday issued the legislative decree granting a general amnesty for military deserters inside and outside the country and the crimes included in the Military Penalties Law issued by Legislative Decree No. 61 for 1950.
• Syrian President Assad grants amnesty to army deserters, draft dodgers Press TV 09 Oct 2018 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has signed a decree, granting amnesty to those who have either deserted the army or avoided military service, and giving them several months to report for duty.
• Russia delivers 3 battalion sets of S-300 systems to Syria for free: Source Press TV 09 Oct 2018 -- Moscow has reportedly supplied Syria with three battalion sets of S-300 missile defense systems of eight launchers each for free amid its widening row with Israel, whose air force recently helped the downing of a Russian aircraft in the Arab country.
• Taiwan conducts drill in presence of Paraguay president Press TV 09 Oct 2018 -- Taiwan's ground and air forces have conducted a drill, with the self-ruled island's president Tsai Ing-wen and Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benitez attending the military exercises.
• Ukraine evacuating 10,000 after ammo depot blasts Press TV 09 Oct 2018 -- Multiple blasts and an ensuing fire at an ammunition depot in northern Ukraine has prompted the compulsory evacuation of nearly 10,000 people in the area.
• Thousands Evacuated As Blasts, Blaze Rip Through Ukraine Ammo Dump RFE/RL 09 Oct 2018 -- An intense series of explosions and a fast-moving fire ripped through an ammunition depot in Ukraine, prompting the evacuation of thousands of people and igniting suspicions of sabotage in a country mired in a simmering war with Russia-backed separatists.
• Department Press Briefing - October 9, 2018 US Dept. of State 09 Oct 2018

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 09, 2018

Other Conflicts

• 9 October 2018 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 09 Oct 2018
• Consequences of severe global funding shortages for refugees and migrants 'all too real', warns UNHCR UN News 09 Oct 2018 -- Efforts to assist the tens of millions who've been forced from their homes are being increasingly constrained by severely limited funds, a new report from the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has warned, urging greater international attention and support.
• Yemeni Army targets Saudi mercenaries in Najran, ASir IRNA 09 Oct 2018 -- Yemeni Army targeted positions of the Saudi Army's mercenaries with Katyusha and artillery shells in Najrn and Asir military bases, south of the country.
• Saudis suffer heavy blow in Jizan from Yemeni forces IRNA 09 Oct 2018 -- Yemeni Army announced in a statement on Monday that the Army and popular committees inflicted heavy losses on Saudi Arabia in Jizan, south of the country.
• US Ambassador: Political Settlement Only Solution to Crisis in Yemen VOA 09 Oct 2018 -- The ongoing conflict in Yemen cannot be resolved militarily, rather efforts should be made by all parties to the conflict to find a political solution, the U.S. ambassador to Yemen told U.S.-funded Alhurra TV last week.
• Turkey 'Saber-Rattling' on US-Backed Militia in Syria VOA 09 Oct 2018 -- Turkey is threatening to eradicate the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia in Syria. But such a move would put it on a collision course with the United States, which backs the Syrian Kurdish group as a key ally in the war against Islamic State and curtailing Iran's influence.
• Netanyahu: World must recognize occupied Golan as Israel's Press TV 09 Oct 2018 -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the international community should recognize as "Israeli territory" the Golan Heights, a Syrian territory which has been under the regime's occupation for over five decades.
• Turkey arrests 90 over 'links to Kurdish militants' in several provinces Press TV 09 Oct 2018 -- Turkey has detained 90 people over suspected ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group in simultaneous operations conducted across eight provinces.
• Russia planning to turn Libya into 'new Syria': UK intelligence Press TV 09 Oct 2018 -- The UK intelligence agencies have reportedly warned Prime Minister Theresa May that Russia is sending weapons and troops to Libya in order to turn the North African country into a "new Syria," an allegation that is likely to further muddy the waters between Moscow and London.
• Reports Alleging Moscow's Military Plans in Libya Unfounded - Contact Group Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- The UK media reports about Russia's alleged plans to establish a stronghold against the West in Libya represent misinterpretation of Moscow's policy in the country, which only aims to restore economic ties with Tripoli, Lev Dengov, the head of the Russian Contact Group for intra-Libyan settlement, told Sputnik on Tuesday.
• UK Intel Claims Putin Aims to Make Libya "New Syria" to Pressure West - Reports Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- UK intelligence agencies have told Prime Minister Theresa May that Russia wanted to "turn Libya into a new Syria" in order to take control of migration flows and flood Europe with refugees, thus increasing its influence on the West, The Sun newspaper reported.
• Myanmar 'unwilling' to probe Rohingya genocide: UN Press TV 09 Oct 2018 -- The United Nations (UN)'s special envoy to Myanmar says the Myanmarese government is "unwilling" to investigate state-sponsored violence against the Rohingya Muslim community in the country, calling on the international community to take action before it is too late.

News Reports

• US Envoy to UN Haley Announces Resignation VOA 09 Oct 2018 -- U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is resigning.
• Remarks by President Trump in Meeting with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley The White House 09 Oct 2018
• US Ambassador to UN Nikki Haley resigns Press TV 09 Oct 2018 -- US President Donald Trump has accepted the resignation of UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.
• Nikki Haley Leaves The UN: What To Know And What Comes Next RFE/RL 09 Oct 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump caught Washington, and a good portion of the U.S. political world, off guard when he made the unexpected announcement that Nikki Haley, his ambassador to the United Nations, was leaving her post.
• 'Now We're Respected': Haley Stepping Down As U.S. Ambassador To UN RFE/RL 09 Oct 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has said Nikki Haley will be leaving her post as UN ambassador at the end of the year.
• DHS Announces Strategy to Protect the Homeland from Electromagnetic Incidents Department of Homeland Security 09 Oct 2018 -- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced the release of the Strategy for Protecting and Preparing the Homeland against Threats from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) and Geomagnetic Disturbance (GMD).
• Bellingcat: Second Novichok Suspect Also Honored By Putin As 'Hero Of Russia' RFE/RL 09 Oct 2018 -- Cybersleuthing group Bellingcat says it has found that two men that Britain suspects of poisoning former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter were awarded Hero of the Russian Federation medals by President Vladimir Putin four years ago for conducting covert operations in Ukraine.
• Bellingcat Claims Alleged Salisbury Suspect Bestowed Hero of Russia in 2014 Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- UK-based investigative blogger group Bellingcat presented on Tuesday a report claiming that "trained military doctor" Alexander Mishkin, the alleged true identity of Skripal poisoning suspect Alexander Petrov, received the Hero of the Russian Federation Award in 2014.
• Unmasking of 2nd Alleged Skripal Poisoner May Prompt Kremlin Purge of GRU VOA 09 Oct 2018 -- The unmasking of a second Russian intelligence officer suspected of carrying out a nerve-agent attack in England earlier this year is prompting behind-the-scenes fury in the Kremlin, which is likely to respond by purging the senior ranks of Russia's military intelligence service, the GRU, Russian media is reporting.
• After Meeting Kim, Pompeo Says Now Sees Path to Denuclearized North Korea Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday that after his recent meeting with North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un, he can now see a path forward toward the goal of denuclearizing North Korea.
• Critical food programmes in North Korea can't wait for 'diplomatic progress', UN food agency warns UN News 09 Oct 2018 -- North Korea's humanitarian situation remains dire, with widespread chronic food insecurity and malnutrition, the United Nations emergency food relief agency has warned, urging greater and sustained funding for its aid operations there.
• Iran finds creative ways as US cranks up pressure Press TV 09 Oct 2018 -- Iran is streamlining its oil export modalities and testing creative ways to thwart new US sanctions which are to kick in on November 4.
• IMF Says U.S. Sanctions Have Pushed Iran's Economy Into Recession RFE/RL 09 Oct 2018 -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that Iran's economy fell into a recession this year that will get worse next year as a result of renewed U.S. sanctions on Tehran.
• India to Continue Buying Iranian Oil Despite Possible US Sanctions - Minister Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- Indian companies will continue buying Iranian crude oil in November even despite the possible US objections and sanctions, Indian Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said.
• IMF: US-China Trade War to Hurt Global Economic Growth VOA 09 Oct 2018 -- The escalating U.S.-China trade war will inhibit global economic growth this year and next, the International Monetary Fund said Tuesday, even as U.S. President Donald Trump again threatened to impose higher tariffs on Chinese exports sent to the United States.
• Pakistan To Seek IMF Bailout To Quell Economic Crisis RFE/RL 09 Oct 2018 -- Pakistan's new government will start negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for emergency loans to ease a mounting balance of payments crisis, the Finance Ministry has announced.
• Saudi Consulate in Istanbul to Be Searched After Journalist Disappears - Ankara Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- On Friday, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced that he was ready to grant Turkish authorities permission to search for the missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi within the diplomatic facility.
• Pompeo Urges Saudi Govt to Support a Thorough Probe Into Khashoggi Disappearance Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- The United States urged Saudi Arabia to ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted into the vanishing of a prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, US State Secretary Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Monday.
• Independent inquiry needed into suspected 'enforced disappearance' of Saudi journalist: UN rights office UN News 09 Oct 2018 -- The "apparent enforced disappearance" of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was last seen reportedly visiting his country's consulate in Istanbul last week, requires a full investigation involving both Turkey and Saudi Arabia, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Tuesday.
• Turkey to Search Saudi Consulate in Missing Saudi Journalist Case VOA 09 Oct 2018 -- Turkey's Foreign Ministry says authorities will search Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul in connection with the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
• US Urges Transparent Investigation Into Disappearance of Saudi Journalist VOA 09 Oct 2018 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has called on Saudi Arabia to support a thorough, transparent investigation into the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who has not been seen since entering the country's consulate in Istanbul last week.
• Pompeo calls on Saudi Arabia to back 'thorough investigation' into missing journalist Press TV 09 Oct 2018 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has called on Saudi Arabia to back a "thorough investigation" into the disappearance of prominent Saudi dissident and journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who went missing after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last week.
• Turkey vows to put on trial all, including Saudi officials, tied to Khashoggi case Press TV 09 Oct 2018 -- An advisor to Turkey's president has vowed that the country will prosecute all those involved in the suspected kidnapping or murder of a dissident Saudi journalist in Riyadh's consulate in Istanbul, even if it involves the Saudi consul himself.
• NASA's Voyager 2 Probe Will Soon Leave the Solar System Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- Judging by a recent increase in cosmic rays, scientists estimate that the Voyager 2 probe may be nearing the edge of the solar system. Once it passes through the heliopause, the 41-year-old probe will become only the second man-made object to enter interstellar space.
• President to lay out strategies for Taiwan in National Day speech CNA 09 Oct 2018 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) will lay out three major strategies in her National Day speech to strengthen Taiwan's resilience amid the changing environment with the aim of making the country an indispensable member of the global community to safeguard its existence, a spokesman for the Presidential Office said Tuesday.
• Erdogan urges EU to be sincere about Turkish membership Press TV 09 Oct 2018 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the European Union (EU) to demonstrate sincerity about his country's accession to the 28-member politico-economic bloc.
• Hariri hopes for speedy Lebanon govt. formation after concessions made Press TV 09 Oct 2018 -- Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri says all political sides have made concessions on their demands for posts in the next Cabinet, expressing hope that a new government would be formed after President Michel Aoun returns from a trip abroad.
• Macedonia Name Change Goes To Parliament For Vote This Week RFE/RL 09 Oct 2018 -- Macedonia's government has asked parliament to start the process of amending the constitution to change the country's name, as called for under a deal with neighboring Greece to pave the way for Skopje to join NATO and the European Union.
• Macedonian PM Urges Parliament to Back Renaming for Sake of NATO, EU Accession Sputnik 09 Oct 2018 -- Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has called on the members of the parliament (the Assembly) to back the bill on changing the country's name, as it had been agreed upon with Greece, for the sake of Macedonia's future membership in the European Union and NATO.
• UN refugee agency ramps up support for Venezuelans, praises 'extraordinary solidarity' of Colombia UN News 09 Oct 2018 -- With the help of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), Colombia is showing "extraordinary solidarity" towards Venezuelans displaced amid the country's on-going economic and political crisis, said agency chief, Filippo Grandi on Tuesday.
• U.S. Raises Concerns About Bosnian Elections; Other Reaction Mixed RFE/RL 09 Oct 2018 -- The United States has expressed some concern about what it called "shortcomings" in Bosnia's election process even as it said it remains "committed to a stable and prosperous Bosnia and Herzegovina."
• Armenia's Pashinian, Tsarukian Agree To Force New Elections In December RFE/RL 09 Oct 2018 -- One week after being driven out of Armenia's governing coalition, Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) leader Gagik Tsarukian has committed himself to helping Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian force snap general elections in December.
• UN Calls for Release of Colombian Nationals Detained in Venezuela VOA 09 Oct 2018 -- The U.N. human rights office is calling on the Venezuelan government to release 59 Colombian nationals held without charge for more than two years under horrific conditions.
• Two Candidates Claim Victory in Cameroon Vote VOA 09 Oct 2018 -- Authorities in Cameroon are appealing for calm after hundreds of youths marched through the streets of Yaounde, celebrating what they called the victory of their candidate, Maurice Kamtos, in Sunday's presidential election. No results have been released yet from the election, in which eight candidates challenged longtime President Paul Biya.