Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
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Current Operations

• White House Denies Trump Having Been Informed About Alleged Russian Bounty Intelligence Sputnik 27 Jun 2020 -- US President Donald Trump was not informed about the alleged intelligence that reportedly suggested that Russian intelligence had solicited killings of US troops by the Taliban* in Afghanistan, the White House said.
• Report: Russian Military Intelligence Paid Afghan Militants To Target U.S. Troops RFE/RL 27 Jun 2020 -- U.S. intelligence officials have concluded that Russian military intelligence offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan, The New York Times reported.
• Taliban Refutes Reports on Russia's Alleged Role in Killings of US Troops in Afghanistan Sputnik 27 Jun 2020 -- Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid refuted on Saturday the recent reports citing US intelligence assessments alleging that Russian intelligence has solicited killings of US troops by the Taliban in Afghanistan, saying that these rumors are set to create obstacles to US pullout from the country.
• Russian Diplomat Says Reports on Moscow's Role in Killings of US Troops in Afghanistan 'Fake News' Sputnik 27 Jun 2020 -- Media reports citing US intelligence assessments alleging that Russian intelligence has solicited killings of US troops by the Taliban in Afghanistan are yet another fake news pursing to disrupt the Afghan peace process, a representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
• At Least 15 Taliban Members Killed, 6 Injured by NATO Forces in South Afghanistan Sputnik 27 Jun 2020 -- Fifteen members of the Taliban group were killed and six others were wounded in an attack by the NATO-led international forces in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province, the provincial governor's press office said in a statement on Saturday.
• Bomb explosion kills two Afghan human rights workers in Kabul: Officials Press TV 27 Jun 2020 -- Two Afghan human rights workers have lost their lives in a bomb explosion in the capital Kabul, officials say.
• Bomb Kills Afghan Rights Activists in Kabul VOA 27 Jun 2020 -- Afghan officials said Saturday a roadside bomb blast in Kabul has killed two members of the national human rights monitoring group.

Defense Policy / Programs

• What Iranian Authorities Hid About The Big Explosion In East Tehran Radio Farda 27 Jun 2020 -- On June 25, Tehran residents were treated to an unusual sight, a bright orange light in the nighttime sky over Eastern Tehran. Iranian officials soon claimed that what had happened was a mere explosion of industrial gas tanks in the general area of Parchin, the site of Iran's vast explosives, rocket, and ammunition manufacturing complex. Yet a closer examination of videos posted on social media seemed to suggest that the blast took place in the Khojir region of Tehran, something finally confirmed by satellite pictures a day later.
• Israeli Blog Says Images Confirm Mystery Iran Blast Was In Missile Industries Factory Radio Farda 27 Jun 2020 -- In a tweet on Friday Intelli Times, an online Israeli intelligence blog, said they could confirm from satellite images that the blast in Tehran on Thursday occurred at a facility at Khojir in the southeast of the capital.
• Tehran Blast Took Place at Missile Production Facility, News Agency Claims, Citing Satellite Images Sputnik 27 Jun 2020 -- A large explosion woke up the residents of the Iranian capital with a huge dawn-like blaze seen to the east of the city. The blast, officially attributed to an explosion of a leaky gas tank, shattered windows in some buildings, but ultimately resulted in no casualties.
• Iran's IRGC to receive 'surprise systems' soon: Top general Press TV 27 Jun 2020 -- The chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the force is to receive "surprise systems" in the near future, stressing that a US bid to extend an arms embargo on Iran would have no effect on the country's defense capabilities.
• Border Guard: Three Iranian Boats Were Spotted After Entering Saudi Waters SPA 27 Jun 2020 -- The Official Spokesperson for the Border Guards stated that maritime border guard patrols monitored at 18:30, on Thursday, 4/11/1441 AH, three Iranian boats after they entered the Saudi waters, where they were immediately followed up and repeated warnings issued to them to stop, but they refused to respond.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Militants Shell Towns in Syria's Idlib, Aleppo, Russian Military Says Sputnik 27 Jun 2020 -- Militants from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham* terrorist group have attacked three settlements in the Syrian provinces of Aleppo and Idlib, Rear Admiral Alexander Shcherbitsky, the head of the Russian Defence Ministry's centre for Syrian reconciliation, said on Friday.
• UN Warns of Risk to Civilians in Libya VOA 27 Jun 2020 -- The United Nations has warned of a looming risk to the lives of tens of thousands of civilians in a coastal Libyan city, calling on the United States to play a more active diplomatic role to prevent further conflict in the oil-rich country.
• Israeli warplanes conduct fresh airstrikes against positions in besieged Gaza Strip Press TV 27 Jun 2020 -- Israeli warplanes have carried out fresh airstrikes against the besieged Gaza Strip, targeting a number of areas in the south and center of the Palestinian enclave.
• EU Slams Turkey's Actions Along Greek Border, Drilling in East Mediterranean VOA 27 Jun 2020 -- The European Union's top diplomat has voiced concern about deteriorating relations between Greece and Turkey. Rallying to the defense of Greece, an EU member state, though, Josep Borrell warned Turkey that any attempt to undermine Greece's borders and rights would be considered an equal affront to the EU. The EU official, however, fell short of spelling out any potential reprisals against Turkey.

News Reports

• Russian Tu-142MK Aircraft Escorted by US and Norwegian Fighters Over Arctic and Pacific Oceans Sputnik 27 Jun 2020 -- Three of the Russian bombers were performing a scheduled mission over the Barents and Norwegian Seas, while another four planes flew over the Pacific Ocean, the Russian Defence Ministry said, stressing that the flights were conducted in strict compliance with international regulations.
• Macron To Travel To Russia 'Soon' To Continue Dialogue With Putin RFE/RL 27 Jun 2020 -- French President Emmanuel Macron said on June 27 that he plans to visit Russia "soon" to continue talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on key issues like security and climate change.
• France's Macron to Travel to Russia Soon VOA 27 Jun 2020 -- French President Emmanuel Macron said Saturday that he would soon hold more "trust-building" talks in Russia with counterpart Vladimir Putin.
• US Spending Report Sheds Light on China's Global Propaganda Campaign VOA 27 Jun 2020 -- This month China reported to the U.S. Department of Justice that one of its English language publications has paid $19 million to U.S. media since November 2016, including $12 million in payments to major U.S. newspapers like The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.
• US court's espionage ruling unfair: Chinese prof's family Global Times 27 Jun 2020 -- The family of Zhang Hao, a Chinese professor from Tianjin University arrested in May 2015 by the US and charged with economic espionage, said the US justice system is unfair, after a federal judge convicted Zhang of economic espionage on Friday.
• Chinese Professor Convicted of Stealing Trade Secrets for China VOA 27 Jun 2020 -- A U.S. judge found a Chinese professor guilty of economic espionage, stealing trade secrets and conspiracy following a four-day trial that ended Friday.
• US Highlights Uyghur Detention Camps in International Torture Victim Message Radio Free Asia 26 Jun 2020 -- The United States highlighted the detention of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in China in remarks honoring worldwide victims of torture Friday, as Uyghur and Tibetan rights groups called on the international community to hold Beijing accountable for its abuses of human rights.
• HK school head proposes separate course for HK nat'l security law Global Times 27 Jun 2020 -- The education authority in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) plans to introduce the national security law for Hong Kong to students through courses to enhance patriotism and correct the "wrong thoughts" of young people.
• National security law to be introduced to students: HK education chief Global Times 27 Jun 2020 -- The national security law for Hong Kong will be introduced to local students through courses, Hong Kong Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung told media on Friday.
• China urges US to withdraw decision to impose visa restrictions over Hong Kong Global Times 27 Jun 2020 -- China on Saturday expressed strong opposition to the US’ wrongful decision to impose visa restrictions on Chinese officials over Hong Kong-related issues, and vowed to continue taking strong measures to uphold national security.
• Washington's Hong Kong bill slammed People's Daily 27 Jun 2020 -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government on Friday expressed strong opposition to the passage of the Hong Kong Autonomy Act by the United States Senate.
• U.S. lawmakers introduce Taiwan Fellowship Act CNA 27 Jun 2020 -- U.S. lawmakers have introduced the Taiwan Fellowship Act to help U.S. federal government officials gain a better understanding about Taiwan, said Democratic Senator Edward Markey, one of the lawmakers proposing the act, on Friday.
• North Korea: 'Only option left to counter nuclear with nuclear' Press TV 27 Jun 2020 -- North Korea says Washington has left Pyongyang with no choice but to "counter nuclear with nuclear" in a bid to confront hostile US policies against the Asian country.
• Leader hails anti-graft fight by Iran's Judiciary, urges continuation 'without negligence' Press TV 27 Jun 2020 -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has hailed Iran's Judiciary drive against corruption, saying the battle should continue "without negligence."
• Influential Cleric Tells Khamenei Iran's 'Current Situation Cannot Continue' Radio Farda 27 Jun 2020 -- One of Iran's most high-ranking and politically prominent clerics has warned the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that his regime's popularity and legitimacy has been seriously damaged mainly because of injustice as well as economic and cultural problems.
• Iran's Khamenei Warns Of Worsening Economy If Coronavirus Remains Unchecked RFE/RL 27 Jun 2020 -- Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned the country's economic problems could worsen if the coronavirus spreads unchecked.
• Exclusive: What Fugitive Iran Judge Told A Court In Romania Before His Mysterious Death Radio Farda 27 Jun 2020 -- The fugitive Iranian judge Gholamreza Mansouri who was found dead in suspicious circumstances at a Bucharest hotel on June 19, had told an extradition hearing in Romania that the corruption charges against him had been a "bogus scenario".
• Eight Iran November Protesters Sentenced To Death In Isfahan Radio Farda 27 Jun 2020 -- The Head of the Justice Department of Isfahan Province on Friday said eight individuals have been sentenced for "corruption on earth", a charge carrying the death sentence according to Iran's Islamic Penal Code.
• UK Reportedly Ready to Pump $600 Million into US Satellite Operator as Alternative to EU's Galileo Sputnik 27 Jun 2020 -- In 2018, then-UK Prime Minister Theresa May pulled out of the EU's Galileo satellite navigation system project as Brussels excluded London from its development in preparation for Brexit.
• UK Prime Minister Johnson Says Britain Ready for 'Australia Terms' of Brexit if No Deal Reached Sputnik 27 Jun 2020 -- The UK officially left the EU on 31 January 2020, and is currently going through a transition period lasting until December 31, 2020. Until then, London and Brussels will be trying to negotiate further arrangements,
• Lebanon blames 'foreign interference' for riots, slams blocking of roads Press TV 27 Jun 2020 -- The Lebanese interior and municipalities minister has blamed recent violent street protests on foreign meddling and funding, vowing to sue those blocking roads during the riots.
• In Turkmen Disaster Zone, Officials Are Quick To Scrub Phones But Slow To Rebuild RFE/RL 27 Jun 2020 -- Two hours of electricity a day. Phone and Internet mostly cut off, though users can catch an occasional signal. And homes still lying in ruins.
• PM Hoti Says Kosovo 'Committed' To U.S.-Led Talks With Serbia Despite Thaci Blow RFE/RL 27 Jun 2020 -- Kosovo's Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti on June 27 said his government remains "committed to the process" despite the sudden postponement of a U.S.-mediated Serbia-Kosovo presidential summit hoping to chip away at nearly two years of diplomatic deadlock.
• Malawi Opposition Leader Wins Fresh Elections with Landslide Victory VOA 27 Jun 2020 -- In Malawi, the leader of the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Lazarus Chakwera, won the country's historic presidential election rerun, which came after the nullification of last year's polls that gave President Peter Mutharika his second term.
• Malawi's President Says Ballot Monitors Beaten, Intimidated During Election Rerun Sputnik 27 Jun 2020 -- The president of Malawi, Peter Mutharika, has said on Saturday that polling monitors were beaten and intimidated during the country's election rerun, with domestic media reporting that the opposition Tonse Alliance is well on its way to a victory at the polls.