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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• Taliban Storm Security Posts as Blasts Rock Kabul, Elsewhere VOA 25 Jul 2019 -- A series of attacks rocked Afghanistan Thursday, killing at least 58 people, including 38 members of Afghan security forces, as the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff met with Afghan officials.
• Pompeo, Ghani Agree To Accelerate Afghan Peace Talks RFE/RL 25 Jul 2019 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani have agreed that it was time to "accelerate efforts" to end the war in Afghanistan, a joint statement issued by the U.S. State Department said.
• At Least 50 Killed In Separate Attacks In Afghanistan Despite Peace Efforts RFE/RL 25 Jul 2019 -- More than 50 people have been killed in a wave of attacks across three Afghan provinces, including the capital, Kabul, despite renewed momentum in peace efforts to put an end to the country's nearly 18-year war.
• Afghan Official: Taliban Can Take Part In Presidential Election If Peace Talks Start RFE/RL 25 Jul 2019 -- The Taliban can take part in the September 28 presidential election if they start negotiations with the Afghan government, a spokesman for Afghan chief executive officer Abdullah Abdullah told local media outlet Tolo News on July 24.
• At Least 7 Killed, 21 Wounded in Attack Against Gov't Employees in Kabul Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- At least five people were killed and 10 others wounded when a blast rocked a bus carrying employees of the Afghan Ministry of Mines and Petroleum in the capital city Kabul on Thursday, an Interior Ministry spokesman said.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US 2020 Defense Budget May Lack Funds to Cover Trump's Space Force Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- On Wednesday, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee Rep. William "Mac" Thornberry told reporters that the fiscal year 2020 defense budget may not make room for US President Donald Trump's Space Force.
• Trump Promises Bigger Pentagon Budgets Coming VOA 25 Jul 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump may not be done building up the country's military.
• Guardsmen train with African ally to strengthen security, defense Army News 25 Jul 2019 -- More than 170 Soldiers and Airmen with National Guard units from North Carolina, Alabama, and New Jersey traveled to Botswana to partner with approximately 300 Botswana Defense Force service members at the Thebaphatswa Air Base, July 9-18, 2019 as part of Operation Upward Minuteman 2019.
• Guard members 'double-down' in preparation for Talon Strike 2019 Army News 25 Jul 2019 -- Guardsmen from Texas, Maryland and California launch intense planning and preparation sessions to kick-off Talon Strike 2019, a two-week training event, scheduled July 27 - Aug. 10, at Camp Bullis.
• Remarks by Secretary Mark T. Esper at a Full Honors Welcome Ceremony at the Pentagon DoD 25 Jul 2019 -- Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper
• US targets China as main competitor in promotional video for new weapon Global Times 25 Jul 2019 -- US missile maker Raytheon Co. provoked China with a promotional video in which the company showcases new defense technologies to defeat enemy missiles and other threats including China-made missiles. Chinese experts said that showed the US was targeting China as its major opponent and was likely to lead to a boycott by Chinese buyers.
• Amphibious raids: 31st MEU Golf Company provides lethality from sea USMC News 25 Jul 2019 -- The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit patrols the Indo-Pacific region, ready to respond to any threat with swiftness and lethality. As the only continuously forward deployed MEU, they require units that specialize in self-sufficient and rapid deployment. Golf Company, Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, fills this requirement as the MEU's amphibious raid company.
• Navy Announces Commissioning Date for the Future USS Cincinnati NNS 25 Jul 2019 -- The U.S. Navy has approved the commissioning date for the future littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20).
• USS Michael Murphy Provides Aid to Stranded Mariners NNS 25 Jul 2019 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) rescued distressed mariners at sea, July 24.
• Alaska Army National Guard responds to wildfires Army News 25 Jul 2019 -- The Alaska Army National Guard assisted local and state authorities in response to multiple wildfires throughout the state July 2-16, flying helicopters to scoop 600-gallon buckets of water from lakes and releasing over fires and hot spots.
• Chinese military to recruit more college students in 2019 People's Daily 25 Jul 2019 -- The Chinese military will increase the proportion of college students in its 2019 recruitment, according to a national conscription teleconference on Wednesday.
• Eleventh U.S. warship sails through Taiwan Strait since January (update) CNA 25 Jul 2019 -- Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) confirmed that a U.S. military vessel sailed through the Taiwan Strait Thursday, the 11th U.S. vessel to make such transit since the start of this year.
• China warns US warship's transit through Taiwan Straits Global Times 25 Jul 2019 -- Chinese officials and experts slammed the transit of a US warship Wednesday through the Taiwan Straits, calling it a provocation timed to coincide with the release on the same day of China's new national defense white paper which identified the opposition and containment of "Taiwan independence" as part of the Chinese military's fundamental goal.
• US Navy warship 'passes through Taiwan Strait' Press TV 25 Jul 2019 -- The US Navy says one of its warships has sailed through the strategic Taiwan Strait, which separates Taiwan from China, a provocative move likely to anger Beijing.
• Notice of F-16V fighter sale to Taiwan expected soon: U.S. lawmaker CNA 25 Jul 2019 -- U.S. lawmaker Michael McCaul said in an article published online Wednesday that he anticipates Congress will receive notification of the sale of dozens of F-16V fighter aircraft to Taiwan very soon.
• N.Korea fires 2 unknown projectiles Global Times 25 Jul 2019 -- North Korea fired two unidentified projectiles into the eastern waters early on Thursday, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
• North Korea fires 2 missiles toward Sea of Japan: South Press TV 25 Jul 2019 -- North Korea has fired at least two short-range missiles toward the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, South Korea says.
• Seoul Suspects North Korea Fired New Type of Missile - Joint Chiefs of Staff Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- A second short-range missile fired by North Korea on Thursday that flew 690 kilometres (428 miles), seems to be of a new type, South Korean media reported, citing an official from the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
• Servicepersons Play Key Role in Major Construction Projects of DPRK KCNA 25 Jul 2019 -- Servicepersons of the DPRK are playing a pivotal role in the country's important construction projects, under the slogan "Let the People's Army take charge of both national defence and socialist construction!".
• France to Deploy European Missile Defence in South of Turkey After First S-400s Deliveries - Report Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- Turkey adhered to the contract with Russia on S-400 procurements despite the intense pressure from Washington to drop it. Still, Turkey hasn't abandoned plans to acquire European and US-made air defences at the same time.
• Soon, India to Sign $2.6 Billion Anti-Submarine Chopper Deal With US Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- India and the US have been negotiating the purchase of US-made multi-mission helicopters that will provide the Indian Navy with the capability to perform anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions. The 24 naval helicopters will replace the Indian Navy's Sea King helicopters that have been in service for over 30 years.
• India May Select 'Electric Propulsion' for Its 65,000-Tonne Aircraft Carrier Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- The Indian Navy has conceptualised the propulsion for its 65,000-tonne next-generation aircraft carrier. The hybrid-electric propulsion system architecture comprises a combination of electric drive with conventional mechanical propulsion drives.
• India Considering How to Respond to Chinese Navy Raising Expenditure - Navy Chief Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- A day after a Chinese white paper on defence spoke of increasing the expenditure on their navy, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh said China's focus on its naval forces is "nothing new" and is in line with the ambition of becoming a global power.
• Trump vetoes trio of congressional bills prohibiting Saudi arms sales Press TV 25 Jul 2019 -- US President Donald Trump has vetoed three congressional resolutions barring billions of dollars in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have been committing war crimes in Yemen for over four years.
• US Senate committee backs Saudi sanctions measure Press TV 25 Jul 2019 -- The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Congress has backed legislation that would impose some sanctions on the Saudi ruling family and block some weapons sales, pushing back against US President Donald Trump's close ties to Riyadh.
• France Announces Plans to Develop Anti-Satellite Weapons Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- Last year, Paris announced it would spend 3.6 billion euros (over $4 billion) to renew military satellites, citing security concerns.
• Key US Base at Risk as Turkish-US Tensions Escalate VOA 25 Jul 2019 -- With the United States mulling sanctions over Turkey's recent procurement of Russian missiles, Ankara is warning that America's use of a critical military air base could be at risk.
• Turkey plans 2nd shipment of Russian S-400 missile systems Press TV 25 Jul 2019 -- Turkey has completely received its first shipment of Russian S-400 air defense systems and is getting ready for the second batch, setting the stage for a potential new showdown with the United States.
• First Shipment of Russia's S-400 to Turkey Completed as US Suspends Ankara From F-35 Programme Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- The first batch of Russian S-400 missile defence system components was delivered to Turkey on July 12 in accordance with a contract signed between the two countries in 2017.
• Trump vetoes resolutions blocking arms sales to Arab countries People's Daily 25 Jul 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday vetoed congressional resolutions that intend to block the Trump administration's efforts to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
• South Korea Provides Russia With Materials Allegedly Proving Airspace Violation - Reports Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- South Korean officials have provided their Russian colleagues with materials, including radar images and voice recordings of South Korean soldiers, that allegedly prove Russian aircraft illegally entered South Korean airspace earlier in the week, the Yonhap news agency reported.
• MiG-29 Fighter Jet Falls Into Caspian Sea, Pilot Missing - Azerbaijan's Defence Ministry Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- A search and rescue operation in the Caspian Sea is underway. The defence ministry has created a commission to probe the incident, while military prosecution has launched a criminal investigation over the crash.
• Bulgarian Defence Minister Restates Bulgaria Has No Intention of Attacking Russia With F-16s Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- Bulgaria's Defence Minister Krasimir Karakachanov has addressed a meeting of the Parliament's Defence Committee in the wake of President Rumen Radev vetoing a draft on the ratification of contracts for the purchase of F-16s.
• Gulf of Guinea Piracy Targeted at Ghana Maritime Conference VOA 25 Jul 2019 -- The Gulf of Guinea remains a hot spot for piracy, accounting for the vast majority of sea-going hostage seizures and kidnappings globally, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).
• Department Press Briefing – July 25, 2019 US Dept. of State 25 Jul 2019

Defense Industry

• Contracts for July 25, 2019

Other Conflicts

• 25 July 2019 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 25 Jul 2019
• Yemeni Houthis Carry out Drone Attacks on Abha Airport in Saudi Arabia - Reports Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- Yemen's Houthi rebel movement earlier in the day conducted drone strikes on Saudi Arabia's King Khalid military base, located near the Yemeni border, Almasirah broadcaster reported, citing a Houthi representative.
• Yemeni forces launch drone attack on warplane hangars in Saudi air base Press TV 25 Jul 2019 -- The spokesman for Yemeni Armed Forces says army troopers and allied fighters from Popular Committees have launched a string of airstrikes against military aircraft hangars in Saudi Arabia's southwestern region of Asir, using a squadron of domestically-manufactured Qasef-2K (Striker-2K) combat drones.
• Yemen's Rebels Say Carried Out Drone Strikes on Saudi Military Base - Reports Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- The Yemeni Houthi rebel movement had conducted drone strikes on Saudi Arabia's King Khalid military base, located near the Yemeni border, media have reported, citing the Houthis' representative.
• Syrian Refugees in Border Camp Face Humanitarian Crisis VOA 25 Jul 2019 -- As conditions deteriorate inside the Rukban Syrian refugee camp, close to the border with Jordan, thousands of people appear to be fleeing to government-controlled areas to avoid brutal desert heat and starvation.
• US, Turkey to continue talks on 'safe zone' in northern Syria Press TV 25 Jul 2019 -- Turkey says it will continue to discuss a planned demilitarization zone in northern Syria with the US after threatening to launch a new cross-border incursion into the Arab country.
• Libya's Haftar says victory imminent despite repeated fails Press TV 25 Jul 2019 -- Renegade Libyan general Khalifa Haftar has claimed that his forces will "soon" capture the capital, Tripoli, even as they have been unable to advance for almost the entire duration of their offensive.
• Libyan National Army Head Pledges to Soon 'Raise Banner of Victory' Over Tripoli Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the commander of the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA), said that his forces would soon raise the victory banner over the Libyan capital of Tripoli.
• Russia warns Ukraine of 'consequences' after tanker seized Press TV 25 Jul 2019 -- Russia warns Ukraine that it will soon face "consequences" after the latter seized a Russian oil tanker, claiming it had been involved in a November naval confrontation with Kiev.
• Ukrainian Authorities Seize Russian Tanker Implicated In Sailors' Detention RFE/RL 25 Jul 2019 -- Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) says it has seized a Russian tanker that Moscow allegedly used to block three Ukrainian naval vessels before detaining them and 24 Ukrainian sailors in November near Crimea.
• Ukraine's SBU Detains Russian Tanker in Sea of Azov Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- The Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday that Russia would retaliate urgently if Ukraine takes the Russians on the tanker hostage.
• US blocks UN motion condemning Israel's demolition of Palestinian homes Press TV 25 Jul 2019 -- The US has once again abused its veto power to block a UN Security Council (UNSC) draft resolution that would condemn Israel's demolition of Palestinian homes on the edge of the occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds earlier this week.
• Palestinian Authority Decides to Suspend All Agreements Signed With Israel - Report Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- PNA President Mahmoud Abbas has stated at a leadership meeting in Ramallah that a committee will be established to determine how to implement the decision.
• UN chief condemns deadly Somalia attacks on offices visited earlier by UN envoy UN News 25 Jul 2019 -- UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned Wednesday's deadly terror attacks in Somalia, that targeted the offices of the mayor of Mogadishu, reportedly killing six Government officials and injured several others.
• Despite 'considerable progress,' Somalia needs help tackling political, economic and rights challenges, says UN expert UN News 25 Jul 2019 -- Although Somalia has made "considerable progress" in its political, economic, social and human rights situation over the past six years, "there is much more to do," a United Nations expert said on Thursday, urging the international community to assist.

News Reports

• Senate Intel Releases Election Security Findings in First Volume of Bipartisan Russia Report Senator Burr 25 Jul 2019 -- Today, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) and Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) released "Russian Efforts Against Election Infrastructure," the first volume in the Committee's bipartisan investigation into Russia's attempts to interfere with the 2016 U.S. elections.
• US Senate Review Finds No Evidence Any Votes Changed in 2016 Elections Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- The US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence said in a report on Thursday that it had found no evidence any votes were changed in the 2016 presidential election despite what it called Russia's "extensive activity" against state and local election infrastructure.
• New US Asylum Restrictions Halted VOA 25 Jul 2019 -- The White House on Thursday blasted a federal court action temporarily blocking the Trump administration from enforcing a directive that disqualifies a significant proportion of mostly Central American asylum-seekers who reach the U.S.-Mexico border.
• Statement from the Press Secretary The White House 25 Jul 2019
• The United States Takes Action Against Corruption Network of Maduro-Aligned Associates US Dept. of State 25 Jul 2019 -- On July 25, the United States sanctioned five individuals involved in a complex network of bribery and money laundering that has been stealing from the people of Venezuela for years, as well as an additional five individuals and 13 entities connected to these corrupt actors. Among the individuals involved were Maduro's three stepsons (Walter, Yosser and Yoswal), and Colombian businessman, Alex Saab, the orchestrator of the corruption network, and sons of First Lady Cilia Flores.
• Treasury Disrupts Corruption Network Stealing From Venezuela's Food Distribution Program, CLAP US Treasury 25 Jul 2019 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Colombian national Alex Nain Saab Moran (Saab), a profiteer orchestrating a vast corruption network that has enabled former President Nicolás Maduro (Maduro) and his regime to significantly profit from food imports and distribution in Venezuela.
• US Treasury Department Announces New Venezuela-Related Sanctions Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- The United States has been imposing sanctions on Venezuela since a political-economic crisis erupted in the country in January and has frozen billions of dollars' worth of Venezuelan assets.
• Sudanese Military Arrests Senior Officers After Failed Coup Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- The Sudanese army has arrested several senior officers and politicians after thwarting a coup attempt last month, state media reported Wednesday.
• Israel claims busted 'Iran-directed' spy recruitment ring Press TV 25 Jul 2019 -- Israel claims it has dismantled an Iran-linked network that tried to recruit spies in the occupied territories, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip via social media.
• Austrian Police Say Searching for Russian National Suspected of Spying for Moscow Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- The Austrian Interior Ministry said a Russian national on a wanted list on suspicion of spying for the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) "to the detriment of the Republic of Austria".
• President Kim Il Sung, Iron-willed Commander of 20th Century KCNA 25 Jul 2019 -- The Korean people are significantly celebrating the 66th anniversary of the victory in the great Fatherland Liberation War (June 25, 1950-July 27, 1953), which was recorded as a brilliant chapter in the history of anti-imperialist struggle and the world history of wars.
• Campaign for Saving Electricity Brisk in DPRK KCNA 25 Jul 2019 -- A campaign for saving electricity is brisk in the DPRK.
• Brazil judge orders Petrobras to refuel stranded Iranian ships Press TV 25 Jul 2019 -- Brazil's highest judicial authority has ordered Petrobras to refuel two Iranian grain ships after the Brazilian state-run oil company refused to assist the vessels citing the United States sanctions targeting the Islamic Republic.
• Iran Informs UN of Probing How Seized UK Oil Tanker Violated Navigation Rules Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- Iran is investigating the ways in which the UK oil tanker seized by Tehran last week breached the rules of international navigation, Iran's authorities, the country's mission to the United Nations said in a letter to the UN Security Council on Wednesday.
• Should Beijing intervene forcefully in Hong Kong? Global TimesM.u< 25 Jul 2019 -- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) is in turmoil, the authority of the police is seriously challenged, and the SAR government faces serious difficulties in performing its duties. In these times, many people look to Beijing.
• Hong Kong Police reject protest plan Global Times 25 Jul 2019 -- Despite a ban by the Hong Kong police on the planned Yuen Long protest on Saturday, opposition groups have not stopped spreading assembly information.
• Critics Remember China's Li Peng as 'Butcher of Beijing' VOA 25 Jul 2019 -- Upon his death on Monday, Li Peng, China's former premier, was officially extolled as a time-tested statesman in China.
• European Commission Chief Juncker to Boris Johnson: Brexit Deal Cannot be Changed Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Boris Johnson have spoken on the phone for the first time since the latter was sworn in as UK prime minister and promised to take Britain out of the EU on 31 October with or without a formal withdrawal agreement.
• UK's Johnson Rejects Brexit Deal, Vows to Leave EU Without New Agreement VOA 25 Jul 2019 -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called on the European Union (EU) to reconsider its decision not to renegotiate the Brexit deal and vowed to withdraw from the 28-nation bloc without a new agreement if necessary.
• UN Nuclear Watchdog Appoints Romanian Diplomat As Acting Chief After Amano's Death RFE/RL 25 Jul 2019 -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has appointed Romanian diplomat Cornel Feruta as acting director-general until a new chief for the United Nations' nuclear watchdog is chosen following the death earlier this week of Yukiya Amano.
• Spain acting premier admits defeat in confidence vote after failure of coalition talks Press TV 25 Jul 2019 -- Spain's caretaker Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has admitted defeat in his bid to be confirmed as the country's premier after he failed to draw enough support to secure a post-election parliamentary vote of confidence.
• Spanish PM Sanchez Loses Confidence Vote After Rejecting Coalition Deal With Podemos Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- Now, Spanish King Felipe VI will have to meet with the leaders of the parliamentary factions to either propose another PM or hold another snap election, despite the fact that the previous vote occurred this April.
• Georgia's Ex-Defense Minister Okruashvili Arrested RFE/RL 25 Jul 2019 -- Georgia's former defense minister and current leader of the Victorious Georgia political party, Irakli Okruashvili, has been arrested by police in the Georgian capital Tbilisi.
• Embattled Atambaev Holds Talks With Putin In Moscow Amid Pressure In Kyrgyzstan RFE/RL 25 Jul 2019 -- Former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev, who faces five counts of criminally abusing his office when he held power from 2011 to 2017, has held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
• Moldovan Prime Minister Secures $45 Million In Aid In Brussels RFE/RL 25 Jul 2019 -- Moldova's new Prime Minister Maia Sandu visited Brussels on July 24 where she signed three financial assistance agreements worth $45 million with Johannes Hahn, the EU's enlargement commissioner.
• Tunisian President Mohamed Beji Caid Essebsi Dies - Presidency Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- The 92-year-old politician was admitted to a military hospital on Wednesday after suffering a "severe health crisis". He was previously treated by medics in June and had only appeared twice since leaving hospital on 1 July.
• Tunisian President Essebsi Dies at 92 VOA 25 Jul 2019 -- Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi has died at the age of 92.