• 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

Defense Policy / Programs

• Saudis, Arab states approved US deployment in Persian Gulf: Report Press TV 18 May 2019 -- Saudi Arabia and Persian Gulf states reportedly gave the green light to the US deploying its troops and warships to the region to counter what it describes as "imminent threat" from Tehran.
• Greece Gets First Upgraded Lockheed Martin P-3B Maritime Surveillance Aircraft Sputnik 18 May 2019 -- The Greek navy received its first modernised P-3B maritime surveillance aircraft from Lockheed Martin, a US global aerospace, defence and advanced technology company, the Greek Defence Ministry said.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Massacres won't weaken Yemeni nation: Houthi leader Press TV 18 May 2019 -- The leader of Yemen's Ansarullah movement has condemned the recent Saudi-led airstrikes on residential areas in the Yemeni capital Sana'a, saying the attacks won't weaken the nation's determination.
• Yemeni Official Condemns Houthi Pullout From UN-Watched Ports As 'Fake Move' Sputnik 18 May 2019 -- Hamzah Alkamaly, the Yemeni deputy minister for youth and sports, said that he regarded the withdrawal of Houthi forces from the three strategic Yemeni ports under a close watch of the United Nations as a "fake" move, while UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths only attempted to present it as progress.
• Syrian air defenses foil drones, rockets fired at key base Press TV 18 May 2019 -- Syria says its air defenses in the Hmeimim air base have thwarted projectiles and drones fired by terrorist groups.
• Syrian Air Defences Fire at Projectiles From Israeli-Held Territory Sputnik 18 May 2019 -- The report comes less than 24 hours after the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said that Syrian air defence systems shot down a number of "luminous objects" launched from "occupied territories."
• Escalating Violence in Syria's Idlib Province Could Turn into Bloodbath VOA 18 May 2019 -- A senior United Nations official warns the alarming escalation of hostilities in northern Syria's Idlib province could spiral out of control with disastrous consequences for its three million civilian inhabitants.
• UN blue helmets in South Sudan use Sustainable Development Goals to help build peace UN News 18 May 2019 -- The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has concluded the week by harnessing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to support the nation, including by offering free medical services, encompassing SDG 3's target on health coverage.
• Sudan dispatched 600 militiamen, mostly minors, to Yemen in April: Report Press TV 18 May 2019 -- Sudan has dispatched scores of militiamen, most of them under the age of 18, to fight alongside Saudi-led military forces against Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah fighters, a report says.
• Libyan GNA is Preparing for Broad Military Operation Against Haftar Army Sputnik 18 May 2019 -- The forces of the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) announced on Saturday preparations for a broader military operation in Tripoli against the Libyan National Army (LNA), headed by Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
• UPDATED: Guterres condemns armed attack against UN peacekeepers in Mali UN News 18 May 2019 -- A violent attack against the United Nation's Integrated Stabilization Mission for Mali (MINUSMA) that left one peacekeeper dead on Saturday, drew strong condemnation from Secretary-General António Guterres.

News Reports

• President Maduro declares beginning of Norway-brokered talks with opposition Press TV 18 May 2019 -- Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro has declared the beginning of negotiations with the US-backed opposition in an effort to resolve the political stalemate in the country following months of unrest.
• Maduro Says Mediation In Norway Seeks 'Peaceful Agenda' To End Venezuela Crisis RFE/RL 18 May 2019 -- Venezuela's embattled socialist president, Nicolas Maduro, has made his first public comments about mediation efforts taking place in Norway, saying government and the opposition representatives are seeking to "build a peaceful agenda."
• Venezuela Sells Additional $570mln in Gold, Skirts US Sanctions – Report Sputnik 18 May 2019 -- The US Treasury has imposed several rounds of sanctions on Venezuelan state companies since January, when opposition figure Juan Guaido proclaimed himself interim president, escalating the crisis in the South American country.
• Members of Venezuelan Military Say Waiting for US With Weapons in Their Hands Sputnik 18 May 2019 -- Venezuelan military personnel participated in the so-called march of loyalty, alongside President Nicolas Maduro, shouting that they are waiting for the United States with weapons in their hands.
• Venezuela Willing to Begin Dialogue With US on Basis of Mutual Respect, FM Says Sputnik 18 May 2019 -- Caracas is willing to engage in dialogue with the US administration on the basis of mutual respect, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza has said.
• Australian PM Morrison celebrates unexpected victory Press TV 18 May 2019 -- Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has celebrated election victory while the opposition leader conceded an unexpected defeat.
• Austrian Leader Calls For New Elections Amid 'Russian-Linked' Video Scandal RFE/RL 18 May 2019 -- Austria's chancellor has called for new elections amid a political scandal involving a secret video that showed his vice chancellor offering contracts to a potential Russian benefactor in exchange for political donations.
• Austria's Vice Chancellor Resigns VOA 18 May 2019 -- Austria's vice chancellor has resigned.
• North Korea Urges UN Chief to Take Action Over Ship's Seizure by 'Gangster' US Sputnik 18 May 2019 -- The US Justice Department on 9 May confirmed that US forces had detained a vessel that had allegedly been shipping coal from North Korea in violation of US sanctions and UN Security Council resolutions.
• DPRK Permanent Representative to UN Sends Letter to UN Secretary General KCNA 18 May 2019 -- Kim Song, permanent representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a letter to Antonio Manuel de Oliveira Guterres, secretary general of the United Nations, on Friday.
• Rice-transplanting Starts in DPRK KCNA 18 May 2019 -- Rice-transplanting started in the rural areas of the DPRK.
• North Korea asks UN chief to deal with ship seizure by 'gangster' US Press TV 18 May 2019 -- North Korea has called on UN chief Antonio Guterres to interfere in the "illegal" impounding of one of its largest cargo ships by the US, which it described as "a gangster country."
• US Okayed to Deploy Its Military in Gulf States Amid Iran Row - Reports Sputnik 18 May 2019 -- The Pentagon announced the deployment of its aircraft carrier strike group to the Gulf shortly after Tehran's move to backtrack on some of its obligations under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal on 8 May. While the US insists the deployment aims to grapple with what Washington sees as an Iranian threat, the Islamic Republic rejects the allegations.
• US warns airliners flying over Persian Gulf to exercise caution Press TV 18 May 2019 -- The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned US commercial airliners flying over the wider Persian Gulf faced a risk of being "misidentified" amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran.
• U.S. Warns Airliners Flying In Persian Gulf Amid Escalating Tensions With Iran RFE/RL 18 May 2019 -- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned U.S. commercial airliners flying over the waters of the Persian Gulf that they risk being misidentified amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
• Pompeo and Bolton tensions escalate over Iran policy: Report Press TV 18 May 2019 -- US media have reported of growing conflict between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton over Washington's Iran strategy.
• Iran able to defeat enemy in intelligence war: IRGC Commander IRNA 18 May 2019 -- Iran can defeat the enemy in the intelligence war, the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Chief Commander said on Saturday.
• EU's "resurgence", "studious" strive to rescue JCPOA IRNA 18 May 2019 -- The latest US nails on the coffin of the nuclear agreement amid the silence of Europe led Tehran's reciprocal action to reduce its volume of commitments.
• US should honor its obligations instead of pursuing threats: Iran ISNA 18 May 2019 -- Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Seyyed Abbas Mousavi insisted that US had better meet its promises, instead of threatening.
• EU seeks dialog with Iran, rejects provocation: German FM Press TV 18 May 2019 -- German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has said that the European Union will continue to reject "rhetorical provocation" against Iran as it seeks dialog with the country to resolve a dispute on its nuclear agreement with international powers.
• Iran surprised enemies with move on nuclear deal: IRGC Commander Press TV 18 May 2019 -- Chief Commander of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Hussein Salami has said that the United States and allies have been taken by surprise by Iran's recent decision to suspend parts of its commitments under an international nuclear deal, saying Washington expected Tehran to surrender in the face of mounting pressures.
• Saudi, UAE pressuring Egypt to take hostile stance against Iran: Report Press TV 18 May 2019 -- Saudi Arabia and the UAE have reportedly stepped up pressure on Egypt to make the North African country take an overtly hostile position against Iran.
• Tehran Finds New Ways to Export Oil Amid US Pressure – Iranian Official Sputnik 18 May 2019 -- Iranian oil exports have suffered a blow in May, sinking to 500,000 barrels a day or lower, amid the revival of the US sanctions against the Islamic republic. The International Energy Agency warned in its report issued this week that Iran's oil production could slump in May to its record-low level since the 1980s.
• There Will Be No War, We Don't Want It - Iran's Foreign Minister Sputnik 18 May 2019 -- The Iranian foreign minister suggested there is contradiction between Trump and his advisers advocating for a hardline policy towards Iran, saying the US does not seem to know what to think.
• China hopes Iran nuclear deal "fully implemented": FM Global Times 18 May 2019 -- China hopes to work with the Iranian side to eliminate complicated disturbing factors and make efforts for the full implementation of the Iran nuclear deal, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.
• France, UK, Germany defy US bid to ban Huawei equipment Press TV 18 May 2019 -- Several European nations have decided to break with US-led efforts to ban major Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei from their markets.
• China raps 'fabricated' US claims, says talks 'meaningless' Press TV 18 May 2019 -- China has dismissed US accusations of forcing firms to hand over technology as "fabricated" and suggested that a resumption of talks will be meaningless unless Washington changes course.
• Proposed Amendment Would Compel Hong Kong to Hand Criminal Suspects to China VOA 18 May 2019 -- Each week for the last five or six years, a man named Alan crosses into mainland China to work on sales for a packaging factory. His job, and the location, worry him now that Hong Kong is considering a law change that would compel Hong Kong to turn over criminal suspects to mainland China.
• Commissioner's office of China's foreign ministry in HK rejects Pompeo's remarks Global Times 18 May 2019 -- The Office of the Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Friday rejected US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's recent remarks over Hong Kong's amendments of fugitive offenders ordinance, saying the remarks were "irresponsible," and urged the United States to stop interfering in Hong Kong's internal affairs.
• China completes first successful liquid rocket engine trial Global Times 18 May 2019 -- The first 80-ton liquid-oxygen methane engine in China, named "Tianque" (TQ-12), completed successfully its trial test on Friday, Landspace, an emerging private Chinese rocket company, told the Global Times.
• China launches new BeiDou navigation satellite Global Times 18 May 2019 -- China sent a new satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) into space from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province at 11:48 p.m. Friday.
• Iraq will remain part of 'axis of resistance' despite foreign plots: Nujaba leader Press TV 18 May 2019 -- Iraq's Harakat al-Nujaba Secretary General Akram al-Kaabi says Iraq will remain part of the "axis of resistance" despite foreign-backed attempts to detach the Iraqi society from the regional developments.
• Ebola Containment Efforts in DRC Threatened by Insecurity, Underfunding VOA 18 May 2019 -- The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warns the Ebola epidemic in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo could spread to urban areas and across international borders because of heightened insecurity and a serious shortage of money. DR Congo Ministry of Health reports 1,739 cases of Ebola, including 1,147 deaths, which indicates a 66 percent fatality rate.
• Nigerian army opens fire on protesters demanding release of Zakzaky Press TV 18 May 2019 -- The Nigerian army has opened fire on protesters demanding the release of top Muslim cleric Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, who has been held for four years on trumped-up allegations.
• Elusive Bulgarian Politician On Track To Take Disappearing Act To Brussels RFE/RL 18 May 2019 -- Most politicians can't be seen enough when running for office. Delyan Peevski isn't most politicians.
• Armenian Court Orders Release Of Ex-President Kocharian From Pretrial Detention RFE/RL 18 May 2019 -- A court has ordered the release of former President Robert Kocharian from pretrial detention after current and former leaders of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region provided personal guarantees.