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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• At Least 17 Afghan Soldiers Killed In Taliban Attacks RFE/RL 14 Oct 2018 -- Taliban fighters have attacked two checkpoints in Afghanistan's western province of Farah, killing at least 17 Afghan soldiers and abducting 11 others, officials say.
• 'US Agrees to Discuss Troop Pullout': Claim Afghan Taliban Officials Sputnik 14 Oct 2018 -- Reports coming after a Friday meeting in Doha, Qatar, between US diplomats and top Afghan Taliban officials suggest that Washington has agreed to discuss bringing its troops home and end America's 17-year war in Afghanistan.
• UN chief condemns deadly attacks in Afghanistan UN News 14 Oct 2018 -- Denouncing lethal attacks targeting electoral activities in Afghanistan as the country prepares to go to polls later this week, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called on all parties to ensure a peaceful and orderly elections.
• U.S. Envoy Briefs Afghan Leaders On Peace Effort After Meeting Taliban RFE/RL 14 Oct 2018 -- The U.S. envoy on an Afghanistan peace initiative has met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah in Kabul, a day after he held talks in Qatar with Taliban leaders.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Trump Suggests Defense Chief Could Leave VOA 14 Oct 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump is suggesting Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis could be one of his next key officials to leave the government.
• Trump Expresses Possibility Defense Chief Mattis 'Could Be' Leaving RFE/RL 14 Oct 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump says he does not know whether Defense Secretary James Mattis is planning to step down, but he told a TV interview that he sees the four-star general as "sort of a Democrat" who just might leave.
• Pentagon Report Reveals US Weapons Systems' Cyber Vulnerability Sputnik 14 Oct 2018 -- On Saturday, the US Government Accountability Office released a report, in which it specifically underscored that the Pentagon has yet to resolve "the scale of [cyber] vulnerabilities" to US weapons systems.
• Grounded No More: Inspected US F-35 Stealth Fighters Free to Fly Sputnik 14 Oct 2018 -- Earlier this week, the United States temporarily suspended all F-35 operations worldwide after the first-ever crash of the advanced F-35 Lightning II fighter jet in September.
• US Air Force confirms major damage to F-22 stealth jets in Hurricane Michael Press TV 14 Oct 2018 -- The US Air Force has confirmed that a number of its advanced F-22 Raptor fighter jets sustained damage as Hurricane Michael ploughed through a military base in the state of Florida.
• NAS Pensacola Designated as the New Remote Safe Haven NNS 14 Oct 2018 -- Commander, Navy Region Southeast, Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar has designated the area within 150 miles of Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, as the new remote safe haven for Naval Support Activity Panama City personnel and families who evacuated due to Hurricane Michael. The new safe haven becomes effective Friday, Oct. 19.
• Kearsarge ARG Underway for Final Pre-deployment Exercise NNS 14 Oct 2018 -- The units of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) departed Naval Station Norfolk, Oct. 13, to conduct a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX).
• Trump Admits US Lags Behind Russia, China on Space Force Creation Sputnik 14 Oct 2018 -- In June, the US President ordered the country's Department of Defense to "immediately begin the process necessary to establish a Space Force as the sixth branch of the armed forces."
• Trim the Fat: One Third of American Youth Unfit for Military Service, Study Says Sputnik 14 Oct 2018 -- The year 2018 is the first year since 2005 that the US military could not fulfill its recruitment quota.
• Strange aircraft makes stealthy appearance at air force gala Global Times 14 Oct 2018 -- The silhouette of an unknown aircraft was spotted at an evening gala for China's strategic bomber division, leading military observers to speculate on Sunday that it could be the new H-20 stealth bomber.
• German Army's Newest Assault Rifles Fail Tests Amid Equipment Shortages – Report Sputnik 14 Oct 2018 -- The leak from the German military has revealed that none of the firearms submitted as possible replacements for the G36 rifle meet the army's standards. This has compounded the German Defense Ministry's existing supply problems.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• UN relief official in Yemen condemns 'horrific' attack on passenger buses UN News 14 Oct 2018 -- Condemning an attack on passenger buses in Yemen's Hudaydah governorate, the top United Nations humanitarian official in the country has called on warring parties "to do everything possible" to protect civilians.
• Three Saudi soldiers killed in clashes with Yemeni army in border areas Press TV 14 Oct 2018 -- At least three Saudi soldiers have been killed in clashes with Yemeni forces in border areas of the war-ravaged country, a report says.
• Yemeni missile hits gathering of Saudi-backed forces Press TV 14 Oct 2018 -- A ballistic missile fired by Yemen's Army and popular Houthi Ansarullah movement has hit a gathering of Saudi-backed militants in Sana'a province, the country's Military Information Center said on Sunday.
• Syria army makes new advance in al-Safa hills, Sweida IRNA 14 Oct 2018 -- The military operations conducted by the Syrian Arab Army continued in the rocky cliffs adjacent to al-Safa hills in Sweida eastern Badyia (desert), tightening grip on Daesh (ISIS) remnants positioned in the area.
• Terrorists fire shells from Idlib buffer zone, kill 2: Report Press TV 14 Oct 2018 -- Terrorists have reportedly fired mortar shells from a planned buffer zone in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, killing two Syrian soldiers.
• Syrian Militants Partially Withdraw Weapons From Idlib - Militia Commander Sputnik 14 Oct 2018 -- Militants of illegal armed groups in the south-west of the Syrian province of Idlib comply with the ceasefire regime and partially withdrew heavy weapons from the demilitarized zone on the border with the province of Hama, Nabil, the commander of the Christian militia of Al-Suqaylabiyah city, told Sputnik.
• Iran's Revolutionary Guards Vow to Keep 'Effective' Presence in Syria Sputnik 14 Oct 2018 -- Tehran has repeatedly insisted that Iran has limited its assistance to Syria in the fight against Islamist extremists to the provision of military advisers, and that no regular forces are present.
• Violence will not deter Somali people in their pursuit of peace, says UN chief, in wake of lethal attacks UN News 14 Oct 2018 -- Strongly condemning twin suicide attacks in Baidoa, southwestern Somalia, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has reiterated the Organization's support and solidarity with the country's people and Government.
• Rohingya Refugees in India Rattled After First-Ever Deportations VOA 14 Oct 2018 -- The Rohingya camps in India's Haryana state, adjoining the capital, New Delhi, lie far from the country's northeast from where Indian authorities deported seven Rohingya men to Myanmar earlier this month. But the first-ever deportations have caused deep worries here of more repatriations of the Muslim minority that fled persecution and violence in Myanmar.

News Reports

• Chinese Envoy Says US Charge of Election Interference 'Groundless' VOA 14 Oct 2018 -- China's ambassador to the U.S. says many accusations the Trump administration has made against Beijing are "groundless", including election interference.
• US-led intelligence alliance builds coalition to counter China Press TV 14 Oct 2018 -- The Five Eyes US-led intelligence alliance has started to exchange classified information on China's foreign activities with other nations concerned about Beijing's growing power, according to a report.
• Diplomat arrested in Germany enjoys full immunity: Iran Press TV 14 Oct 2018 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman says an Iranian diplomat, who was arrested in Germany on the false charges of being linked to a bomb attack plot in the French capital, Paris, enjoys full diplomatic immunity.
• Member Of Iranian Military Arrested Over Ahvaz Parade Attack RFE/RL 14 Oct 2018 -- Iranian authorities have arrested a member of the country's military in connection with last month's deadly attack on a military parade in the city of Ahvaz, local media report.
• Iran says in 'safe zone' in face of sanctions with high oil prices Press TV 14 Oct 2018 -- Iran says it has no concerns over the potential impacts of returning US sanctions on its oil exports given that it is already selling its crude oil higher than the price tag it has set in its annual budget plan.
• President Rouhani: US defeated against Iran righteousness, prudence IRNA 14 Oct 2018 -- It is common knowledge that legally and politically speaking, the US has been defeated by breaking international commitments and Iran was victorious, said Iran's president on Sunday.
• Rohani Accuses United States Of Seeking Regime Change In Iran RFE/RL 14 Oct 2018 -- Iranian President Hassan Rohani says the United States is seeking regime change in Tehran. Speaking at a ceremony to mark the beginning of the new academic year at Tehran University on October 14, Rohani accused the U.S. government of employing tactics such as psychological and economic warfare to spark a change of leadership in Iran.
• Arab States Support Terror Inside Iran - Intel Ministry Sputnik 14 Oct 2018 -- Iranian intelligence officers have neutralized a terrorist group in the country's western province of Kermanshah, the Ministry of Intelligence said on Sunday.
• Iran Accuses US of Regime Change Attempt, Downplays Effect of Sanctions Sputnik 14 Oct 2018 -- Tensions between Tehran and Washington escalated after President Trump announced the US's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the reinstatement of anti-Iranian sanctions in early May.
• Pakistan Holds General, Provincial By-Elections In 35 Constituencies RFE/RL 14 Oct 2018 -- Pakistani voters headed to the polls on October 14 to elect 11 members of the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, and fill 24 seats in provincial assemblies.
• Saudis Rebuff Trump Threat of Sanctions for Missing Journalist VOA 14 Oct 2018 -- Saudi Arabia has rebuffed U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to punish it over the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, saying Sunday it would retaliate with "greater" economic actions of its own if Trump were to sanction Riyadh.
• S. Arabia vows response if Khashoggi case triggers sanctions IRNA 14 Oct 2018 -- Saudi Arabia said on Sunday it would retaliate to possible economic sanctions taken by other states over the case of Jamal Khashoggi, state news agency SPA reported.
• Saudi source: Reconciliation with Iran possible if sanctions imposed Press TV 14 Oct 2018 -- As global pressure mounts on Saudi Arabia to hold the kingdom responsible over the fate of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a new report indicates that Riyadh is preparing a list of countermeasures, including reconciliation with Iran, to push back against possible punishments.
• UK, France, Germany demand 'detailed' Saudi response, 'credible' probe on Khashoggi Press TV 14 Oct 2018 -- Britain, France and Germany have called on Saudi Arabia to provide a "detailed" response about the mysterious disappearance of anti-Riyadh journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who is believed to have been murdered at the Saudi consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul.
• Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques calls Turkish President SPA 14 Oct 2018 -- Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud telephoned his brother Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to thank the president for welcoming the kingdom's proposal to form a joint working group to discuss the disappearance of Saudi citizen Jamal Khashoggi.
• Saudi Arabia is always a lofty sky, stubborn before its enemies and dearly loved by its citizens, Minister Awwad tweets SPA 14 Oct 2018 -- Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad, Minister of Media, said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will remain that lofty, difficult for its enemies to harm it and dearly-loved in the souls of its citizens, under the prudent leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Crown Prince, Vice President of the Council of Ministers and Minister of Defense.
• General / Official Source: KSA confirms its total rejection of any threats and attempts to undermine it SPA 14 Oct 2018 -- An official source stated that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and from its leading position in the Arab and Islamic worlds has played a prominent role throughout history in achieving security, stability and prosperity of the region and the world, leading efforts in combating extremism and terrorism, enhancing economic cooperation and consolidating peace and stability in the region and the world and it is still working with brotherly and friendly countries to promote these goals, basing all of this on its own status as a platform of revelation, and the Qiblah of Muslims.
• Saudi media calls Khashoggi disappearance 'conspiracy' Press TV 14 Oct 2018 -- Government-backed Saudi Arabian media outlets are trying to portray the disappearance of prominent journalist Jamal Khashoggi as a "conspiracy" targeting the kingdom.
• US would be 'punishing itself' if it halts Saudi arms sales: Trump Press TV 14 Oct 2018 -- President Donald Trump says the United States would be "punishing itself" if it halted weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, as pressure mounts on him to take action over the suspected murder of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul.
• Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim officially returns to political life after election win Press TV 14 Oct 2018 -- Anwar Ibrahim, a prominent politician and former deputy prime minister of Malaysia, has won a seat in parliament in a crucial by-election, in a historic return to political life.
• Children in Ebola-Affected DRC Return to School VOA 14 Oct 2018 -- The U.N. children's fund reports the vast majority of children living in Ebola-affected areas of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have returned to school where they are taught ways to avoid infection.
• Syria, Jordan agree to reopen vital border crossing Press TV 14 Oct 2018 -- Syria and Jordan say they have reached an agreement to reopen a key border crossing between the two Middle Eastern countries, three years after the vital commercial lifeline fell to foreign-backed militant groups from the Syrian side and the traffic was suspended.
• Macedonia Lawmakers To Debate Name Change On October 15 RFE/RL 14 Oct 2018 -- The Macedonian parliament is set to debate on October 15 proposed constitutional amendments to change the country's name and settle a decades-old dispute with neighboring Greece.