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News Reports

Current Operations

• Pakistan-US Cooperation 'Has Rekindled Hope' for Afghan Peace VOA 16 Jul 2019 -- Pakistan said Tuesday its cooperation in facilitating ongoing peace talks between the United States and the Taliban to end the war in Afghanistan has led to a "gradual warming up" in Islamabad's turbulent relationship with Washington.
• At Least 76 Civilian Casualties in Bombings in Afghanistan in Past 24 Hours - Sources Sputnik 16 Jul 2019 -- At least 76 Afghan civilians were killed or wounded in separate incidents across the country on Monday, marking another deadly day for the country despite US-Taliban peace talks aimed at ending the country's 18-year war, local officials and sources said.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Esper would continue Pentagon emphasis on readiness, partnerships, reform Army News 16 Jul 2019 -- Army Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper told senators that he would continue to prioritize training, modernization, building alliances and partnerships and reforming the Pentagon if he's confirmed to serve as secretary of defense.
• Field artillery back to emphasizing 'charts and darts' Army News 16 Jul 2019 -- With the growing threat of cyberattacks, the U.S. Army Field Artillery School has placed a renewed emphasis on learning manual methods of fire direction and gunnery.
• Milley talks modernization at confirmation hearing Army News 16 Jul 2019 -- The effects of delayed defense budgets, the dearth of confirmed civilian leadership in the Pentagon, modernization, Afghanistan, and great power competition were all topics the president's nominee to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff faced from the Senate Armed Services Committee at his confirmation hearing.
• Battle Group Poland participates in epic 'Tank Battle' Army News 16 Jul 2019 -- Service members from NATO's enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Poland partnered with the host nation and participated in the annual "Tank Battle" event at the Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Jul. 13.
• Kearsarge and Arlington Return to Homeport NNS 16 Jul 2019 -- More than 4,500 Sailors and Marines serving in the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) will return July 18 from a scheduled deployment.
• RAF Lakenheath breaks ground on future F-35 infrastructure US Air Force 16 Jul 2019 -- Leaders of the 48th Fighter Wing in partnership with Defence Infrastructure Organisation and members of the local community, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the new F-35 Lightning II infrastructure at RAF Lakenheath, July 15.
• Pentagon Nominee Calls Conventional and Nuclear Forces Best Deterrent Against 'Russian Aggression' Sputnik 16 Jul 2019 -- In February US announced the start of the withdrawal process from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty under the pretext that Russia was violating the accord. Media reports, however, have suggested that Washington is hoping to strike a new agreement that would include both Russia and China.
• Stoltenberg Promises 'Credible & Effective' Response by NATO if Russia Leaves INF Treaty Sputnik 16 Jul 2019 -- Earlier in the month, Russian President Vladimir Putin enacted the official suspension of Russia's participation in the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) Treaty, several months after the US announced its exit from the deal.
• Bulgaria Links Hacking Attack To Plans To Buy Military Jets From U.S. RFE/RL 16 Jul 2019 -- A massive hacking attack in Bulgaria via a Russian website might be linked to Sofia's decision to buy military jets from the United States, the Balkan country's interior minister said, as the government's Security Council gathered to assess the situation.
• Britain to Send Third Warship to the Persian Gulf - MoD Sputnik 16 Jul 2019 -- The news comes after London earlier this month accused Tehran of attempting to seize a British tanker in the Persian Gulf, which Iran has strongly denied.
• MOD update on the UK military presence in the Gulf UK MOD 16 Jul 2019 -- The UK has a long-standing maritime presence in the region.
• Iran on the Brink of Unveiling New Homegrown Armored Military Vehicles Sputnik 16 Jul 2019 -- Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami announced Sunday that the country's military experts are working towards providing its armed forces with a new military vehicle.
• China's peacekeeping efforts hailed by African leaders Global Times 16 Jul 2019 -- The first China-Africa Peace and Security Forum convened in Beijing on Monday and Tuesday, with almost 100 senior defense and military representatives from 50 African countries in attendance, including 15 defense ministers and army chiefs, as well as the African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security. China's peacekeeping efforts in Africa were hailed by African leaders who recognized the service and devotion of the Chinese military.
• US needs to get used to China sanctions: experts Global Times 16 Jul 2019 -- The US should get used to China's sanctions on US companies involved in a possible arms sale to the island of Taiwan, and the US has no right to criticize the sanctions as it does this all the time, Chinese experts said on Tuesday.
• Trump blames Obama, says US will not sell Turkey F-35 fighters Press TV 16 Jul 2019 -- US President Donald Trump says Washington will not sell Turkey advanced F-35 fighter jets over Ankara's decision to purchase Russian S-400 missile defense systems.
• Trump Balks At Cancellation Of F-35 Jet Sales To Turkey, Blames Obama RFE/RL 16 Jul 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has deplored the inability of the United States to sell Turkey F-35 fighter jets because it has chosen to purchase a Russian air-defense system.
• Defense Secretary Nominee Slams Turkey's S-400 Deal as 'Wrong' VOA 16 Jul 2019 -- President Donald Trump's nominee to be the next secretary of defense has slammed Turkey's acceptance of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system, parts of which were delivered last week, as "wrong."
• Turkey's Erdogan: Russian S-400 Missiles To Be Deployed By April 2020 RFE/RL 15 Jul 2019 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said its Russian-made S-400 missile-defense system will be fully deployed in April 2020.
• All S-400 defense systems will be installed by April 2020: Turkey's Erdogan Press TV 16 Jul 2019 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says all the Russian S-400s received by his country will be fully deployed in April 2020, and that Ankara seeks to produce the missile defense systems jointly with Moscow.
• Turkey Meets Pledge to Buy World's Most Powerful S-400 Air Defence Systems From Russia - Erdogan Sputnik 16 Jul 2019 -- The Turkish Defence Ministry announced on Friday the beginning of the delivery of elements of the S-400 to the country. The information was later confirmed by Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation.
• Iran denies its missile program could be up for negotiation with US Press TV 16 Jul 2019 -- Iran has strongly dismissed a report that the Islamic Republic's missile program could be a topic for negotiation with the United States, emphasizing that its missiles are absolutely and under no condition negotiable with anyone, any country or for any period.
• Trump Says 'Lot Of Progress' With Iran On Missiles Despite Denials From Tehran RFE/RL 16 Jul 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump says "a lot of progress" has been made toward ending a tense standoff with Iran, even as tough language continues to be exchanged between the two sides.
• Department Press Briefing – July 16, 2019 US Dept. of State 16 Jul 2019

Defense Industry

• Contracts for July 16, 2019

Other Conflicts

• 16 July 2019 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 16 Jul 2019
• Yemeni army forces, allies attack drone hangars in Saudi Arabia's Jizan airport Press TV 16 Jul 2019 -- The spokesman for Yemeni Armed Forces says army troopers and allied fighters from Popular Committees have used a squadron of domestically-manufactured Qasef-2K (Striker-2K) combat drones to strike hangars in Saudi Arabia's Jizan airport.
• Yemen conducts retaliatory drone attacks on Saudi Arabia's King Khalid air base Press TV 16 Jul 2019 -- Yemeni armed forces have launched fresh drone strikes on King Khalid air base in Saudi Arabia's southwestern Asir Province in retaliation for the kingdom's bloody military aggression against the impoverished country.
• Plane Hangars at Saudi Arabia's Jizan Airport Attacked by Yemeni Houthis - Report Sputnik 16 Jul 2019 -- The Houthis launched multiple attacks against the Jizan Airport earlier this month, targeting Saudi military facilities.
• Joint Statement on Hostilities in Tripoli US Dept. of State 16 Jul 2019 -- The text of the following statement on Libya was released by the Governments of Egypt, France, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• Ukrainian Official Says Agreement Reached On Prisoner Swap With Separatists RFE/RL 16 Jul 2019 -- Advisers to the leaders of Germany, France, Russia, and Ukraine -- the four countries part of the so-called Normandy format for talks aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine -- have reached an agreement on a prisoner swap between Kyiv and Russia-backed separatists, a senior Ukrainian official has said.
• Pakistan fully reopens airspace as India tensions ease Press TV 16 Jul 2019 -- Pakistan has fully reopened its airspace to civil aviation, months after it imposed restrictions following an aerial confrontation with neighboring India.
• EU imposes sanctions on Turkey over Cyprus drilling Press TV 16 Jul 2019 -- The European Union has agreed to impose punitive measures against Turkey over its drilling operations off the coast of Cyprus, in a move censured by Ankara as "biased."
• Turkish Foreign Minister Says Fourth Exploration Ship to be Sent to Eastern Mediterranean - Reports Sputnik 16 Jul 2019 -- The news comes after earlier in the day the EU imposed restrictions on Ankara for drilling off the coast of Cyprus, where the island nation and a member of the bloc has exclusive economic rights.
• On Public Designation, Due to Gross Violations of Human Rights, of Burmese Military Officials US Dept. of State 16 Jul 2019 -- Special Briefing by Senior State Department Officials
• Public Designation, Due to Gross Violations of Human Rights, of Burmese Military Officials US Dept. of State 16 Jul 2019 -- Today, the Department of State is publicly designating the following individuals and their immediate family members for the named individuals' responsibility for gross human rights violations, including in extrajudicial killings in northern Rakhine State, Burma, during the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya:
• Refugees Blame DRC's Chronic Violence on Battle for Mineral Wealth VOA 16 Jul 2019 -- For decades, the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo -- the Ituri and North Kivu provinces especially -- has endured ethnic violence leaving thousands dead and many more seeking refuge in neighboring countries.

News Reports

• UNHCR: A Coordinated Regional Approach Needed to Resolve US Asylum Problem VOA 16 Jul 2019 -- The U.N. refugee agency is reiterating its call for countries in the Americas to work together to develop a coordinated regional response to the growing Central American migration and asylum problem.
• Trump administration tightens US asylum laws Press TV 16 Jul 2019 -- The administration of US President Donald Trump set a new policy for immigrants applying for asylum in the United States, requiring them to first apply for asylum in a "third country" through which they had traveled on the way to the United States.
• 'Severe' new US asylum restrictions will put vulnerable families at risk, UN refugee agency says UN News 16 Jul 2019 -- Deeply concerned about the new rule barring from asylum the majority of people crossing the southern land border of the United States, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has warned that the 'severe' measure will endanger vulnerable people in need of international protection from violence or persecution.
• Sudan's Women Demand Power in New Government VOA 16 Jul 2019 -- Activists are calling on Sudan's military and opposition leaders to open the country's political process to women when the sides begin to implement their recent power-sharing deal.
• Spokesperson for DPRK Foreign Ministry on DPRK-U.S. Working-level Talks KCNA 16 Jul 2019 -- A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) gave the following answer to a question put by KCNA on July 16, with regard to the DPRK-U.S. working-level talks.
• U.S. Hit for Seeking to Wage Joint Military Drill against DPRK KCNA 16 Jul 2019 -- A spokesperson for the DPRK Foreign Ministry made public the following press statement on Tuesday:
• US-South Korea Drills Could Impact Nuclear Talks, Says North VOA 16 Jul 2019 -- North Korea has criticized U.S. plans to hold a joint military exercise next month with South Korea, suggesting the drills could negatively impact upcoming working-level nuclear talks with Washington.
• Pompeo Hopes US, North Korea to Be More 'Creative' at Denuclearisation Talks Sputnik 16 Jul 2019 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has expressed hope that both Washington and Pyongyang will demonstrate more "creative" approaches at the denuclearisation talks, offering ideas that have not been raised before.
• EU Renews Sanctions on North Korea in Response to Pyongyang's Nuclear Program Sputnik 16 Jul 2019 -- The European Union has renewed sanctions on North Korea in response to the latter's nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programs, a statement from the US council said. Currently, at least 57 persons and 9 entities fall under new EU sanctions imposed on North Korea.
• Department of Justice Announces Extradition of Iranian National and Unsealing of Charges against Two Other Men for Exporting Carbon Fiber from the United States to Iran US Dept. of Justice 16 Jul 2019 -- Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman for the Southern District of New York, Assistant Director John Brown of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division and Assistant Director in Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. of the FBI's New York Field Office announced the extradition of Behzad Pourghannad and the unsealing today of a three-count indictment charging Pourghannad, Ali Reza Shokri and Farzin Faridmanesh with exporting carbon fiber from the United States to Iran.
• Trump withdrew from JCPOA in hopes of zero enrichment for Iran: Zarif Press TV 16 Jul 2019 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), under the delusion that the measure would stop Tehran's uranium enrichment activities.
• US lawmakers introduce resolution for re-entry into Iran nuclear deal Press TV 16 Jul 2019 -- Lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled US House of Representatives are introducing a resolution for Washington's re-entry into the Iran nuclear deal, which President Donald Trump quit.
• Iran comes to assistance of disabled foreign oil tanker in Persian Gulf Press TV 16 Jul 2019 -- The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry says the country's naval forces have assisted a foreign crude oil tanker in the Persian Gulf, after they received a request for help from the vessel.
• Iran Willing to Talk with US if Trump Lifts Sanctions VOA 16 Jul 2019 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif says his country is willing to negotiate with the U.S., but only if it lifts harsh economic sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
• No Evidence of Russia Buying Iran's Oil in Claimed Defiance of US Sanctions VOA 16 Jul 2019 -- A Russian bid to defy U.S. sanctions on Iran appears to have failed, with Russian energy experts saying Moscow has made no recent purchases of Iranian oil as part of a sputtering 2014 deal with Tehran.
• AEOI spokesman: Iran's enriched uranium not to go beyond 4.5% IRNA 16 Jul 2019 -- Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said on Tuesday that Tehran will not go beyond the 4.5% uranium enrichment level at this juncture and this has been confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
• There is face-saving solution to exit current situation: Iran FM Zarif IRNA 16 Jul 2019 -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says his country will resist any pressure, stressing that there is "face-saving" solution to exit the current situation.
• Iran will sell its oil, but never its dignity: FM Zarif IRNA 16 Jul 2019 -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says his country will sell oil but not its dignity, in a reference to talks under the US sanctions and pressures.
• Returning of Iran to JCPOA very easy: Jahangiri ISNA 16 Jul 2019 -- Iranian First-Vice President Es'haq Jahangiri said only a few hours would be enough for Iran to return to its commitments within the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), but European sides should ask U.S. to lift sanctions instead of calling Iran to stay committed to the deal.
• Door open to diplomacy if Trump lifts sanctions on Iran: Zarif ISNA 16 Jul 2019 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran does not want a war with the U.S. but said President Donald Trump must lift harsh economic sanctions on Tehran to clear the way for negotiations.
• Europeans will be 'sanctioned to ground' for Iran ties: Graham Press TV 16 Jul 2019 -- The United States should sanction "to the ground" European countries that continue to trade with Iran under the 2015 nuclear deal and refuse to join America's pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic, says top Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.
• Iran will not leave UK piracy unanswered: Leader Press TV 16 Jul 2019 -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has denounced Britain's illegal seizure of an Iranian oil tanker, warning that the act of "piracy" will not go unanswered.
• Zarif: Hawks around Trump won't succeed in selling war Press TV 16 Jul 2019 -- While warning against a potential military attack targeting Iran, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the warlike officials around US President Donald Trump will not succeed in enabling such a course of action against the Islamic Republic.
• Iran's Supreme Leader Vows Response To British 'Piracy' RFE/RL 16 Jul 2019 -- Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says Tehran will retaliate over the seizure of an Iranian tanker by British authorities.
• UN Voices Concern Over U.S. Travel Limitations On Iran's Foreign Minister RFE/RL 16 Jul 2019 -- The United Nations has voiced its concern to the United States over travel restrictions on Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during his visit to New York this week for a UN meeting.
• Trump Sincere in Overtures to Iran to Negotiate New Nuclear Agreement - US Iran Envoy Sputnik 16 Jul 2019 -- The offers made by US President Donald Trump to negotiate a new nuclear agreement with Iran are sincere, US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook said on Tuesday.
• Netanyahu Compares EU Response to Iran's Enrichment Level Breach to 1930s Nazi Appeasement Policy Sputnik 16 Jul 2019 -- Earlier, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said that none of the signatories to the Iran nuclear deal consider Tehran's move to exceed the limits imposed on its Uranium stockpiles and enrichment level to be sufficient reason to withdraw from the agreement.
• 'US is Always Welcome for Negotiations' - Iranian FM Zarif Sputnik 16 Jul 2019 -- Iran's top diplomat provided insight into how the two nations might find a way out of the tense situation that Washington has driven them into. According to Zarif, Iran is willing to talk, if the US takes certain steps first.
• U.S. urges China to stop imposing political views on U.S. companies CNA 16 Jul 2019 -- The U.S. State Department on Monday urged China to stop imposing its political views on U.S. companies, in response to Beijing's threat last week to impose sanctions on American companies selling weapons to Taiwan.
• Ebola emergency meeting to go ahead as UNICEF warns of higher risk to very youngest children UN News 16 Jul 2019 -- Ahead of a key expert meeting convened by the United Nations to decide whether to declare the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) an international health emergency, the UN Children's Fund UNICEF warned that the epidemic "is infecting more children" than earlier outbreaks.
• Children Hardest Hit by Ebola Epidemic in DR Congo VOA 16 Jul 2019 -- The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is affecting more children than normal. The United Nations Children's Fund says kids represent nearly one-third of current total cases, compared to about 20 percent in previous outbreaks.
• Terrorist Designation of Ali Maychou US Dept. of State 16 Jul 2019 -- The U.S. Department of State (DOS), in concert with the U.S. Department of Treasury, took action today targeting Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a West-African terrorist group designated as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in September 2018.
• Treasury Targets Al-Qa'ida in Mali US Treasury 16 Jul 2019 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), in concert with the Department of State, took action today targeting Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a west African terrorist group designated in September 2018, by designating a JNIM leader as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism.
• Law On Ukraine State Language Comes Into Force RFE/RL 16 Jul 2019 -- The law on Ukraine's state language came into force on July 16, two months after former President Petro Poroshenko endorsed it days before leaving office.
• European Parliament Narrowly Approves Von Der Leyen As President RFE/RL 16 Jul 2019 -- The European Parliament has narrowly confirmed Ursula von der Leyen as the next president of the European Commission, making her the first woman to lead the continental body.
• The New Government of the Kingdom of Thailand US Dept. of State 16 Jul 2019
• Thailand's Opposition Parties Aim to Amend Pro-Military Constitution VOA 16 Jul 2019 -- Having trounced the military's proxy at the polls in March, Thailand's pro-democracy parties may very well have formed the country's next government by now were it not for the new Constitution the military drafted after seizing power in 2014.
• Italy's Salvini Shrugs Off 'Russia Allegations,' Doubles Down on Immigration VOA 16 Jul 2019 -- Italy's deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, is shrugging off allegations that his populist party sought secret Russian funding and is doubling down on his defense of "Christian culture" and the issue that has rewarded him the most in the voting booths – immigration.