09 August 2019 Military News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

American surveillance drone crashes near Baghdad: Report Press TV 09 Aug 2019 -- An American surveillance drone has crashed northwest of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, according to a report.

Who's Who Among The Afghan Presidential Candidates RFE/RL 09 Aug 2019 -- Seventeen men will contest Afghanistan's presidential election in a race among old power brokers -- ex-government officials, prominent technocrats, and a notorious former warlord.

Defense Policy / Programs

Department of Defense Enterprise Cloud and its Importance to the Warfighter Media Roundtable DoD 09 Aug 2019-- Department of Defense Chief Information Officer Dana Deasy and Director, Joint Artificial Intelligence Center Lieutenant General Jack Shanahan
Comfort Starts Providing Medical Assistance in Panama Following Opening Ceremony NNS 09 Aug 2019-- Host nation government officials, partner nation representatives and senior leadership from the hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) attended an opening ceremony to mark the beginning of the ship's medical mission in Colon, Panama Aug. 7.
Combat simulations used for first time at Camp Edwards on Cape Cod Army News 09 Aug 2019 -- The Massachusetts Army National Guard performed a military exercise on Cape Cod, July 27 - August 8 aimed at training and evaluating combat support units engaged in a campaign against a modern, professional enemy force.
Readout of the Defense Ministerial Meeting Between the Republic of Korea and the United States DoD 09 Aug 2019
Surface Forces Host Staff Talks to Increase Readiness NNS 09 Aug 2019 -- Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CNSP) and Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic (CNSL) participated in Surface Type Commander Staff Talks, Aug. 7-8, at Naval Station Norfolk.
First Marine to Begin F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter Training NNS 09 Aug 2019 -- Marine 1st Lt. Catherine Stark earned her Wings of Gold as a Marine Corps aviator with Training Air Wing 2, Naval Air Station Kingsville, Aug. 2 and is now preparing to begin training on her assigned fleet aircraft: the F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.

US Defense Secretary Vows Close Collaboration with South Korea VOA 09 Aug 2019 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Friday the U.S. and South Korea share a "vision of a peaceful" Korean Peninsula and declared the two allies would keep collaborating on North Korea and other issues.
Trump Shares Kim's Opposition to US-South Korea War Games VOA 09 Aug 2019 -- Shortly after the top military leaders in the U.S. and South Korea preached closer cooperation on multiple issues confronting Asia, U.S. President Donald Trump sided with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in his opposition to U.S.-South Korean war games.

NATO Completes Upgrade of Aegis Ashore Missile System in Romania Sputnik 09 Aug 2019 -- NATO has completed a scheduled upgrade of a land-based Aegis Ashore ballistic missile system in Romania, which the military alliance said was purely defensive in nature.

Two Tu-95 bombers conduct flights over Bering Sea Global Times 09 Aug 2019 -- Two Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers carried out 10-hour flights with the company of U.S. aircraft over the Bering Sea as part of the Ocean Shield-2019 naval exercises, the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday.
New Blasts At Site Of Siberian Ammo Depot Tragedy Injure At Least Eight RFE/RL 09 Aug 2019 -- At least eight people have been injured, including "servicemen and law enforcement officers," in new explosions on August 9 at a Russian ammunition depot in Siberia where blasts killed one person and injured a dozen more earlier this week.
Panic Buying And Toxic Rocket Fuel: What Exactly Happened At A Russian Missile Test Site? RFE/RL 09 Aug 2019 -- There are reports of panic buying of iodine drops in Severodvinsk. Emergency officials reported a spike in background radiation. The White Sea bay where both the shipbuilding port and the regional capital Arkhangelsk are located has been ordered closed for swimming and fishing, due to the presence of toxic rocket fuel.

Ammunition Depot in Southern Turkey Near Syrian Border Hit by Explosions - Reports Sputnik 09 Aug 2019 -- Several blasts have hit a weapons depot in the southern Turkish town of Reyhanli, located in Hatay Province close to the Syrian border, NTV reported on Friday.

IRGC commander says borderlines define national strategic identity IRNA 09 Aug 2019 -- The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Major General Hussein Salami stressed that security was the immediate demand of the people and border the national strategic identity.

North Korea Fires More Missiles After Trump Receives 'Beautiful Letter' VOA 09 Aug 2019-- North Korea has launched more ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast, its fifth such test in just over two weeks.

Japan Mulls Own Patrols in Gulf Amid Reluctance to Join US-Led Mission to Counter Iran - Reports Sputnik 09 Aug 2019 -- Tokyo is reportedly considering its own operations and has no plans to join a US-led coalition tasked with securing oil shipping routes amid tanker seizures in the region.

Bipartisan Group Of U.S. Lawmakers Oppose Plan To Freeze Foreign Aid RFE/RL 09 Aug 2019-- Republican and Democratic lawmakers have joined forces to oppose moves by the White House that critics fear could lead to sharp cuts in foreign aid for health, peacekeeping, narcotics control, and other programs.

Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One Departure The White House 09 Aug 2019

Defense Industry

Contracts For Aug. 9, 2019

Other Conflicts

9 August 2019 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 09 Aug 2019

Chinese Survey Ship, Escorts Leave Vietnam Waters, Hanoi Says Radio Free Asia 09 Aug 2019-- A Chinese survey ship and vessels sailing in support have left Vietnam's territorial waters, a Vietnamese foreign ministry spokeswoman said late this week, according to media reports.

Renewed infighting between militias serving Saudi, UAE leaves 8 Yemenis dead Press TV 09 Aug 2019-- At least eight civilians have lost their lives in Yemen's port city of Aden - which bases the ex-government - during renewed infighting between Emirati-backed separatists and Saudi-backed militia loyal to former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.
WFP to Resume Food Aid to Yemenis in Houthi-Controlled Area VOA 09 Aug 2019-- The World Food Program said Friday that it would resume food aid next week to 850,000 Yemeni civilians in Sanaa who have not received rations for two months.
Yemen's Famine: Not Enough Food - and Plenty of Blame to Go Around VOA 09 Aug 2019 -- The World Food Program's partial aid suspension in Yemen has increased concerns for families.
UN food aid to Yemen will fully resume after two-month break, as Houthis 'guarantee' delivery UN News 09 Aug 2019 -- Life-saving food aid distribution is set to resume to 850,000 people in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, following guarantees by Houthi opposition forces that the supplies will reach those who need them most, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday.

Syrians protest against US-backed SDF militants Press TV 09 Aug 2019 -- People in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah have protested against the practices of the Kurdish-led militants from the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Syrian Army Repels Terrorist Attack in Idlib De-Escalation Zone, Suffers Casualties Sputnik 09 Aug 2019 -- At least 10 Syrian army soldiers were killed and 21 wounded while repelling an attack by militants in the Idlib de-escalation zone on Friday, Maj. Gen. Alexei Bakin, head of the Russian centre for Syrian reconciliation, reported.

Pakistan halts final rail link with India in Kashmir dispute Press TV 09 Aug 2019 -- Pakistan has decided to suspend the last rail link to India in reaction to New Delhi's revocation of the autonomy of the disputed Kashmir region.
Pakistan Urges International Community to Help Avert Alleged "Genocide in Kashmir" Sputnik 09 Aug 2019 -- Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged the international community to play its role in addressing the situation in Indian-administered Kashmir and help avert, what he called "genocide in Kashmir".
US Says Will Continue to Support Direct Dialogue Between India, Pakistan on Kashmir Sputnik 09 Aug 2019 -- The United States has said it is closely watching the impact of India's recent move to alter the territorial status of Jammu and Kashmir and urged both New Delhi and Islamabad to engage in direct dialogue to resolve issues of concern.
Pakistan Cabinet Approves Trade Suspension, Train Service Stop With India Over Kashmir Row Sputnik 09 Aug 2019 -- Pakistan earlier paused diplomatic and trade ties with India, protesting against New Delhi's decision to cancel the autonomy of the Muslim-dominated Jammu and Kashmir - contested lands between the two neighbouring countries.

Eight Ethnic Rakhine Men Charged in Myanmar For Alleged Arakan Army Links Radio Free Asia 09 Aug 2019-- Eight ethnic Rakhine men, including several deported by Singapore in July, were formally charged Friday in Yangon under Myanmar's Counter-Terrorism Law for allegedly providing financial support to the rebel Arakan Army in its fight against Myanmar forces in war-ravaged Rakhine state, a court official and a defense attorney said.
Myanmar Military Prevents Lawmaker, NGOs From Accessing Displaced in Rakhine State Radio Free Asia 09 Aug 2019-- The Myanmar military has denied community leaders and NGOs access to civilians in war-torn Rakhine state's Minbya township, who have been displaced by local clashes between government soldiers and the rebel Arakan Army, a regional lawmaker said Friday.
More than half a million Rohingya in Bangladesh get ID cards for first time: UN refugee agency UN News 09 Aug 2019 -- More than 500,000 Rohingya refugees who fled a brutal crackdown in Myanmar two years ago, have received identification cards that the UN insisted on Friday were critical to safeguarding their right to return home.

Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders ready for talks with UN chief on improved relations UN News 09 Aug 2019 -- Leaders of the Greek and Turkish parts of the divided island of Cyprus have agreed to meet with the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, in order to "plan the way forward", and improve the daily lives of all Cypriots, a statement from the UN Mission in Cyprus, declared on Friday.

UN: Malians Need Protection as Country Descends into Chaos VOA 09 Aug 2019 -- The U.N. refugee agency is urging countries to provide international protection and asylum to people fleeing the increasingly chaotic conditions in Mali.

Equatorial Guinea's Border Wall Plans Provoke Anger in Cameroon VOA 09 Aug 2019 -- Cameroon has instructed its military to be on the alert as Equatorial Guinea says it is building a border wall to stop Cameroonians and West Africans from illegally entering its territory. Equatorial Guinea's announcement comes as officials of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) regional economic bloc, of which Equatorial Guinea is a member, are encouraging the free movement of people and goods to boost economic growth in the region.

Mogadishu Mayor Targeted by Female Bomber VOA 09 Aug 2019 -- The Somali government says the recent explosion that fatally injured the mayor of Mogadishu was carried out by a female suicide bomber with special needs who was assisted by a second woman.

News Reports

Trump picks new acting intelligence chief Global Times 09 Aug 2019 -- US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that he will name Joseph Maguire, the current director of the National Counterterrorism Center, as the country's new acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI).

Nadler: House Judiciary doing 'formal impeachment proceedings' Press TV 09 Aug 2019 -- US House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerry Nadler has announced that his panel is officially conducting an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.

US sanctions will worsen situation for long-suffering Venezuelans: UN warns Press TV 09 Aug 2019 -- The United Nations' human rights chief has warned that the latest US sanctions against Venezuela will worsen the situation for millions of "long-suffering" people across the oil-rich country.

Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova on the sidelines of the Terra Scientia National Educational Youth Forum, Solnechnogorsk, August 9, 2019 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 09 Aug 2019
The Week In Russia: Putin's Long (Blame) Game And The Moscow Protests RFE/RL 09 Aug 2019 -- Blaming the West has long been a go-to strategy for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was tapped to be prime minister by Boris Yeltsin 20 years ago and has been in power ever since. Amid a tense summer showdown with opponents and ordinary citizens over elections in Moscow, he has not publicly pointed the finger at foreign forces -- but his government has.
Teflon Putin? Over 20 Years In Power, Scandals Don't Seem To Stick To The Russian President RFE/RL 09 Aug 2019 -- Vladimir Putin was not well known when President Boris Yeltsin picked him as prime minister on August 9, 1999, a key point in his meteoric rise to power. But years earlier, back in his hometown of St. Petersburg, he attracted the attention of local lawmakers who uncovered what they alleged was a multimillion-dollar kickback scheme and accused Putin, a deputy mayor, of masterminding it.

International Aid Group: North Korea's Food Shortages Worsened by Drought VOA 09 Aug 2019-- North Korea, buffeted by the worst drought in more than 35 years and anticipating summer flooding, faces deepening food shortages, even as the regime spends millions of dollars to skirt international sanctions in order to expand its nuclear weapons program.

Iranian Citizen Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Facilitate the Illegal Export of Technology to Iran US Dept. of Justice 09 Aug 2019-- Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Erica H. MacDonald, Assistant Director John Brown of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division and Special Agent in Charge Jill Sanborn of the FBI Minneapolis Division today announced the guilty plea of Negar Ghodskani, 40, for her participation in a conspiracy to illegally export controlled technology from the United States to Iran.
Iran's Foreign Minister Says Outside Presences In Gulf Bring 'Insecurity' RFE/RL 09 Aug 2019-- Iran's foreign minister has described "any extra-regional presence" in the Persian Gulf as a "source of insecurity" and said his country "won't hesitate to safeguard its security" in the strategic waterway that abuts eight Middle Eastern states and serves as a vital conduit for global oil and gas supplies.
France says needs 'no permission' for Iran dialogue in rebuke to Trump Press TV 09 Aug 2019 -- France's top diplomat has said that Paris "needs no permission" to engage in dialogue with Iran, responding to an earlier tweet made by US President Donald Trump scolding French President Emmanuel Macron over the matter.
Extra-regional presence in Persian Gulf source of insecurity: Zarif Press TV 09 Aug 2019 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has condemned the United States' attempts to set up a military coalition in the Persian Gulf to counter what it calls the "Iran threat," stressing that the presence of extra-regional military forces in the strategic region will act as a "source of insecurity."
Iran says reserves right to counter Israeli presence in US-led coalition in Persian Gulf Press TV 09 Aug 2019 -- Iran says it considers possible Israeli presence in a US-led coalition in the Persian Gulf as a clear threat to its national security, and reserves the right to counter it.
US goes all out in spying on Iran's oil sales: NY Times Press TV 09 Aug 2019 -- The CIA spy ring dismantled by Iran's Intelligence Ministry last month was trying to gather intelligence on Iran's oil sales, a new report by The New York Times reveals.

Senator Calls for Probe Into Possible Chinese Investments in Philippine Islands Radio Free Asia 09 Aug 2019-- A Philippine senator is seeking an investigation into potential Chinese investments on three islands in the northern Philippines, including one near a former U.S. naval base, saying this has "strategic security implications" for the country.
Ex-HK police commander returns to deal with unrest Global Times 09 Aug 2019-- Former deputy commissioner of the Hong Kong police Lau Yip-shing, who handled the Occupy Central Movement in 2014, returned to the police department Friday from retirement to help deal with the ongoing unrest.
Hong Kong Protesters Expected to Defy Police VOA 09 Aug 2019-- Anti-government protesters in Hong Kong are expected to defy police and march in four weekend protests, all of which officials banned because of safety concerns in a move that critics said further stifles freedoms in the Chinese territory.
Lam warns of long-term impact on HK Global Times 09 Aug 2019 -- Hong Kong is now facing a situation more serious than SARS epidemic and previous financial crises, warned Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Friday, and she called on society to stop the violence and restore Hong Kong's plummeting economy, which was hit by "economic tsunami."
US operates thuggish diplomacy in Hong Kong Global Times 09 Aug 2019 -- Hong Kong netizens recently exposed a photo of a US diplomat meeting with several radical opposition figures including Joshua Wong during a sensitive period. Hong Kong media further reported that the diplomat, Julie Eadeh, political unit chief of the US consulate general in Hong Kong, had been involved in "color revolutions" in other countries. The article said her husband is also a US diplomat. It quoted a US church publication and mentioned her other family members.
Op-ed: Time to stop violence and restore order in Hong Kong People's Daily 09 Aug 2019 -- Over the past two months, the protests in Hong Kong have gone beyond assembly or demonstration and have evolved into extreme violence. Hong Kong has been left in a state of shock by the acts of protesters, increasing intensity and escalating destructions, posing significant economic and social threats to the city. Hong Kong cannot afford any more chaos.
China again warns US to stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs Press TV 09 Aug 2019 -- China has once again warned the United States to stop meddling in Hong Kong's affairs, as the city continues to witness unrest.
US calls China 'thuggish' for revealing 'behind the scenes hand' in Hong Kong Press TV 09 Aug 2019 -- The US has accused the Chinese government of "thuggish" behavior for allegedly disclosing the photograph of an American diplomat, who met with anti-government protesters in Hong Kong.
Thousands Gather at Hong Kong Airport Amid Ongoing Anti-Extradition Protests Radio Free Asia 09 Aug 2019 -- Thousands of anti-extradition protesters gathered in the arrivals hall of the Hong Kong International Airport on Friday, greeting new arrivals to the city with a rendition of "Do You Hear The People Sing!" in English and recent video footage of police violence against them.
Hong Kong Protesters Return to Airport to Drum up International Support VOA 09 Aug 2019 -- Thousands of protesters returned to Hong Kong International Airport for the second time in as many weeks Friday to raise global attention to their fight against the local government and a controversial extradition bill.

ICE Arrests 680 Suspected Undocumented Immigrants in Mississippi Raid Sputnik 09 Aug 2019 -- Immigration officials raided five Mississippi food processing plants Wednesday, arresting 680 mostly Latino workers in a move witnesses said came with "no warning." The operation has been described as possibly the largest conducted thus far in any single state.

No Plan to Revoke Special Status of North-Eastern Indian States - Gov't Sputnik 09 Aug 2019 -- The Indian government said it has no plans to revoke Article 371 of the Indian Constitution that grants special provisions to the North-Eastern Region after Jammu and Kashmir were split into two union territories.

Former Presidential Candidate Babanov Returns To Kyrgyzstan RFE/RL 09 Aug 2019 -- A former Kyrgyz presidential candidate who fled the country amid a criminal probe has returned home from his self-imposed exile.
Former Kyrgyz President Atambaev Charged With Corruption, To Be Detained At Least Until August 26 RFE/RL 09 Aug 2019 -- Former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev has officially been charged with corruption, a day after he was arrested by police following a deadly standoff with security forces at his residential compound on the outskirts of the capital, Bishkek.

Italy's Salvini Tells Prime Minister Snap Election Needed Due to Gov't Coalition Crisis Sputnik 09 Aug 2019 -- Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who is also the leader of the Lega party, said on Thursday that he had informed the country's prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, that a snap election was needed, since the parliament no longer had a majority to support the government.

As Trump Scales Back, Asian Heavyweights Prep for World's Biggest Trade Pact VOA 09 Aug 2019 -- The world's biggest free trade pact may be just months from final signatures after talks this month appeared to bring the trade group's 16 members closer to agreement.

Armenian Court Seeks ECHR 'Advisory Opinion' Over Coup Case Against Ex-President Kocharian RFE/RL 09 Aug 2019-- The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) says Armenia's highest court has requested an "advisory opinion" on part of that country's Criminal Code punishing the "overthrow of the constitutional order," further complicating official efforts in Yerevan to punish a former president for his actions following postelection violence a decade ago.

Report: Eritrean High Schoolers Face Forced Labor, Abuse VOA 09 Aug 2019-- For many teens, the last year of high school is a time of excitement filled with studies, athletics and dances. But young Eritreans spend the year at a military camp preparing for mandatory conscription and indefinite national service, where they face physical and mental abuse.

Arkansas Man Charged With Providing Material Support to Al Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula While Overseas US Dept. of Justice 09 Aug 2019-- Bilal Al-Rayanni, also known as Bilal Kassim Alawdi, 28, a Yemeni national and resident of Helena-West Helena, Arkansas, was charged on August 8 in a two-count superseding indictment with providing and attempting to provide material support to Al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula, also known as Ansar al-Shari'a, a designated foreign terrorist organization, and making a false statement in a passport application.

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