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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Militants Attack Supply Convoy On Its Way to US Base in Iraq - Security Source Sputnik 12 Jul 2020 -- A supply convoy headed to a US military base in Iraq came under attack, an Iraqi security source said.
• Militants Kill 4, Injure 10 Members of Afghan Security Forces in Country's North, Media Reports Sputnik 12 Jul 2020 -- At least four members of the Afghan security forces have been killed and 10 others injured in an armed clash with Taliban militants in the northern Afghan province of Baghlan, TOLOnews reported on Sunday, citing a security source.
• Taliban: Calls for Halting War Before Afghan Peace Talks 'Illogical' VOA 12 Jul 2020 -- Afghanistan's Taliban has dismissed as "illogical" escalating domestic and foreign calls for the insurgent group to cease hostilities before the commencement of intra-Afghan peace negotiations.
• As U.S. Moves To Exit Afghanistan, Rivals Prepare To Swoop In RFE/RL 12 Jul 2020 -- The U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 was backed by most countries in the region, who shared the goal of ousting the extremist Taliban regime and eliminating the allied Al-Qaeda terrorist network.
• Four Afghan Soldiers Killed In Suspected Taliban Attack RFE/RL 12 Jul 2020 -- An Afghan official said four government soldiers were killed after suspected Taliban militants attacked a security post in central Afghanistan.
• Taliban Say Have No Intention to End Hostilities Before Intra-Afghan Talks Sputnik 12 Jul 2020 -- The Taliban* are not going to stop hostilities before intra-Afghan talks, viewing any calls for a ceasefire in absence of negotiations as "illogical," the radical movement's spokesman said on Sunday.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Statement from the Chief of Naval Operations on fire aboard USS Bonhomme Richard NNS 12 Jul 2020 -- Today, we suffered a terrible tragedy aboard USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) when a fire broke out aboard the ship while in port San Diego. At this point, 17 Sailors and four civilians are being treated for non-life threatening injuries at a local hospital.
• PLA's upgraded Type 052D destroyer makes training debut in E.China Sea amid tensions in Taiwan Straits Global Times 12 Jul 2020 -- Amid rising tensions across the Taiwan Straits with the US military's increasingly frequent operations in the region, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy recently held drills in the East China Sea, with the latest, more powerful, anti-stealth aircraft-capable version of the Type 052D destroyer making its first public appearance, according to military reports over the weekend.
• Rollout of Spearfish Torpedo Fails As Royal Navy Has No Submarines to Test Them Sputnik 12 Jul 2020 -- Head of Britain's Armed Forces, General Nick Carter, has been criticised over the MoD's "shambolic" procurement policies, after admitting decisions to sell off vehicles had been made before the country decided on its strategic interests in an impending integrated review.
• Commander: Iran's Army Aviation Service missiles range to reach 100 km IRNA 12 Jul 2020 -- Commander of Iran's Army Aviation Service (Havanirooz) Brigadier-General Yousef Ghorbani said on Sunday that the aviation service will be provided with 20 km and 100 km range missiles.
• Iranian Air Force to 'Soon' Be Equipped With 100-Kilometre Range Missiles Sputnik 12 Jul 2020 -- Last month, Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadran announced that Tehran would soon start manufacturing a new class of supersonic cruise missiles known as the Talaeey-e to complement the subsonic weapons currently in service.
• Iran Guards Deny Suing Journalists For Army Interview Critical Of IRGC Radio Farda 12 Jul 2020 -- Iran's Revolutionary Guard has denied Sunday suing five IRNA directors and journalists for publishing an interview with a senior Army general criticizing the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps, IRGC.
• Taiwan's combined arms battalions to debut in annual war games CNA 12 Jul 2020 -- Taiwan's annual Han Kuang military exercises (漢光演習) that begin Monday will feature the debut of Taiwan's combined arms battalions.
• Public air raid drill coming Tuesday, but different from the past CNA 12 Jul 2020 -- Taiwan's annual public air drills will be held Tuesday afternoon, but pedestrians and vehicles will not be asked to stop in their tracks during the 30-minute exercise, according to the Ministry of National Defense.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Ten Deaths Reported in Arab Coalition's Airstrike in Yemen's Northwest Sputnik 12 Jul 2020 -- Ten people have been killed in the Arab coalition's airstrike in northwestern Yemen, the Houthi-run Al Masirah broadcaster reported on Sunday.
• Yemen's Houthis agree to give UN access to stranded oil tanker: Sources Press TV 12 Jul 2020 -- Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement has agreed to provide the United Nations with access to an abandoned oil tanker that risks causing environmental disaster off the western coast of the country.
• Fresh Saudi airstrike kills nearly dozen civilians in northern Yemen Press TV 12 Jul 2020 -- Nearly a dozen civilians, mostly women and children, have been killed when Saudi military aircraft struck a residential area in Yemen's northwestern province of Hajjah as the Riyadh regime presses ahead with its bombardment campaign against its southern neighbor.
• Russia's air defenses repel drone attack on Hmeimim base in Syria Press TV 12 Jul 2020 -- Russian air defenses have repelled a drone attack launched by unidentified militants on the strategic Hmeimim airbase in Western Syria, the Russian defense ministry says.
• Air Defence Systems Repel Militant Drone Attacks on Hmeimim Airbase, Russian Military Says Sputnik 12 Jul 2020 -- Militants in Syria have attempted to launch a drone attack on the Khmeimim airbase, although the unmanned flying vehicles were shot down by air defence systems, Rear Admiral Alexander Shcherbitsky, the head of the Russian Defence Ministry's centre for Syrian reconciliation, said on Sunday.
• Syrian Kurds Alarmed Over UN Security Council Vote on Aid VOA 12 Jul 2020 -- Kurdish officials in northeast Syria are expressing disappointment following a vote by the United Nations Security Council that failed to address "the deteriorating humanitarian situation" in that part of the war-torn country.
• Syrian govt. forces block US convoys in Hasakah, force them to turn back Press TV 12 Jul 2020 -- Syrian government forces have blocked three US military convoys as they tried to pass through the country's northeastern province of Hasakah, amid lingering public resentment over the deployment of occupying American troops in the regions.
• SDF militants kidnap Syrian civilians for forced recruitment: Report Press TV 12 Jul 2020 -- The Kurdish-led militants of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which enjoy Washington's support, have kidnapped a number of young people in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah apparently for forced recruitment.
• Libya rebels say will continue blockade on oil despite deal with govt. Press TV 12 Jul 2020 -- Rebels in Libya say they will continue a blockade on the country's oil industry despite an agreement with the Tripoli government on reopening oil ports and fields.
• Azerbaijan, Armenia Trade Accusations Over Deadly Border Fighting RFE/RL 12 Jul 2020 -- Azerbaijan and Armenia have accused each other of violating the fragile cease-fire along their border.
• Two Azerbaijani soldiers killed in clashes with Armenian forces on border Press TV 12 Jul 2020 -- Two Azerbaijani soldiers have been killed in an armed conflict with Armenian forces in the border region.
• Azerbaijan Reports Clashes at Border With Armenia, Says Both Sides Suffer Losses Sputnik 12 Jul 2020 -- Armenian military opened fire at the border with Azerbaijan on Sunday, provoking clashes that resulted in losses on both sides, the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said on Sunday.

News Reports

• Former Special Counsel Defends Probe Into Russian Interference In 2016 Election RFE/RL 12 Jul 2020 -- Former U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who conducted a probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, has defended his investigation and said the conviction of Roger Stone, an adviser to President Donald Trump, was handled properly.
• Robert Mueller Supports Stone's Conviction, Says Russia Investigation Was 'of Paramount Importance' Sputnik 12 Jul 2020 -- According to the White House, Stone, a former advisor to President Trump, is a victim of the Russia investigation and efforts by the Democrats to undermine the Trump presidency.
• Top Democrats Blast Trump's Commutation of Roger Stone Sentence VOA 12 Jul 2020 -- Two leading U.S. Democrats on Sunday condemned President Donald Trump's clemency for his long-time friend Roger Stone, wiping out his 40-month prison sentence for political wrongdoing, saying it was a perversion of American legal standards.
• Trump Says 240 Miles of Wall on Border With Mexico Complete Sputnik 12 Jul 2020 -- US President Donald Trump said last month that that the wall on the southern border has helped curb illegal immigration and the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.
• Polish Presidential Runoff Too Close to Call: Exit Polls VOA 12 Jul 2020 -- Poland's presidential runoff between the right-wing incumbent and the liberal mayor of Warsaw is too close to call, exit polls said Sunday.
• Poland's Election Watchdog Reports Rise in Irregularities During Presidential Runoff Sputnik 12 Jul 2020 -- Poland's National Electoral Commission has recorded a rise in irregularities during Sunday's presidential runoff compared to the first round of the race, the watchdog's chief, Sylwester Marciniak, said.
• Hundreds Protest For Second Day In Russia's Khabarovsk After Arrest Of Popular Governor RFE/RL 12 Jul 2020 -- Hundreds marched through Khabarovsk amid a second day of protests in the Russian Far Eastern city over the arrest of a popular regional governor.
• Tragic Magic: Moscow City Contract Written With Disappearing Ink, Deputy Alleges RFE/RL 12 Jul 2020 -- A deputy in a local Moscow council said a city contract to replace an elevator in an apartment building was written with disappearing ink, potentially allowing the company to inflate the price.
• Nearly 600,000 Vote in Opposition Primaries in Hong Kong Radio Free Asia 12 Jul 2020 -- More than half a million people turned out in Hong Kong over the weekend to vote in primary elections to select pro-democracy candidates for September's general election.
• US' efforts to woo Europe to contain China a daydream Global Times 12 Jul 2020 -- As US policy on China has become increasingly reckless and unrestrained, which is manifested in constant smears and sanctions, especially after the newly enacted national security law for Hong Kong, it has draw ire from rational voices within some European countries.
• Interview: National security law helps HK recover original aspiration of "one country, two systems": Basic Law drafter People's Daily 12 Jul 2020 -- The law on safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) helps Hong Kong society recover the original aspiration of "one country, two systems" and draws a clear bottom line for its future practice, Maria Tam Wai-chu, one of the drafters of the HKSAR Basic Law, has said in an interview with Xinhua.
• National security law marks turning point for Hong Kong's education: HKSAR chief executive People's Daily 12 Jul 2020 -- Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said on Saturday that the promulgation and implementation of the law on safeguarding national security in the HKSAR marks a turning point for Hong Kong's education.
• Hong Kong Casts Symbolic Protest Vote VOA 12 Jul 2020 -- Nealry 600,000 people cast their votes in an unofficial primary in Hong Kong Sunday to determine which pro-democracy leaders will run for office in September.
• Beidou Navigation Satellite System mirrors China's ambition of independent innovation People's Daily 12 Jul 2020 -- As a Long March-3B rocket blasted off at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan province on June 23, sending the last Beidou Navigation Satellite-3 constellation satellite into the space, China accomplished the full deployment of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) constellation six months ahead of schedule.
• North Korea says UK will 'pay the price' for new sanctions Press TV 12 Jul 2020 -- North Korea says the United Kingdom will "pay the price" for the imposition of new sanctions on Pyongyang.
• Fire contained at Iranian petrochemical complex: Official Press TV 12 Jul 2020 -- Iranian officials say a fire that caused a short halt to production at a major petrochemical plant located southwest of the country has been fully contained.
• Khamenei Strikes A Balance, Telling Iran's Parliament Not To Impeach Rouhani Radio Farda 12 Jul 2020 -- In a rare address to the Iranian parliament (Majles), Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has made it clear that impeaching President Hassan Rouhani is out of the question.
• Ukrainian Jet Downing Caused by Misaligned Radar, Tehran States Sputnik 12 Jul 2020 -- A Boeing 737 operated by Ukraine International Airlines, crashed in January soon after departing from an airport in Tehran. The catastrophe claimed the lives of 176 passengers and crew.
• Iran: 'Human Error' Caused Ukraine Crash VOA 12 Jul 2020 -- Iran claims "human error" was responsible for the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane earlier this year that killed all 176 people on board.
• Ukraine plane downed due to radar operator's error: Iran Civil Aviation Organization Press TV 12 Jul 2020 -- The Civil Aviation Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran (CAO.IRI) says the mismanagement of an air defense unit's radar system by its operator was the key "human error" that led to the accidental downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane in early January.
• Iran Civil Aviation Says Military Approved Flight Of Downed Ukraine Airliner Radio Farda 12 Jul 2020 -- Iran's Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) has blamed the "forgetfulness" of an Iranian air defense unit's commander for shooting down Ukraine International Airlines' (UIA) flight 752 on January 8 over Tehran, killing all 176 aboard.
• Iran Says Misaligned Radar, Human Error To Blame For Downing Of Ukrainian Airliner RFE/RL 12 Jul 2020 -- Iranian authorities say a misaligned missile battery and miscommunication between soldiers and superior officers were to blame for the January downing of a Ukrainian jetliner that killed 176 people.
• Vaezi: Enemies misportray 25-year draft document with China to use as pressure leverage IRNA 12 Jul 2020 -- Head of Iran's Presidential Office Mahmoud Vaezi says that the enemies misportray the issue of Iran-China 25-year plan for comprehensive cooperation to use as a leverage for pressure.
• Top Rouhani Aide Says Iran-China Pact Can Be Finalized By March 2021 Radio Farda 12 Jul 2020 -- President Hassan Rouhani's chief of staff has said the coronavirus pandemic delayed negotiations on a proposed Iran-China 25-year pact, but probably a final agreement can be reached by March 2021, when the current Iranian calendar year ends.
• Supreme Leader: All Iranians should act in unison against enemy IRNA 12 Jul 2020 -- The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei underlined that all Iranians should stand up against the enemy and act in unison in this regard.
• U.S. admits failure of sanctions against Iran: Ayatollah Khamenei ISNA 12 Jul 2020 -- The chairman, representatives, and a group of staff members from the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis) met with the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei via video conference on Sunday.
• Saudi crown prince prime suspect in Khashoggi murder case: UN official Press TV 12 Jul 2020 -- A senior UN official says Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is a prime suspect in the murder of well-known Saudi journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul back in October 2018.
• Bulgarians stage anti-corruption rallies for third day Press TV 12 Jul 2020 -- Thousands of people have flocked to the streets in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia and several other major cities, calling for the resignation of the government of Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and the country's chief prosecutor over corruption charges.
• Leaders Of Kosovo, Serbia To Hold Talks In EU Effort To Reboot Dialogue RFE/RL 12 Jul 2020 -- Kosovo and Serbia were set to resume European Union-brokered talks after the two sides agreed to move forward with proposals to normalize relations between them.
• Fifth Night Of Anti-Government Protests In Belgrade Remain Peaceful RFE/RL 12 Jul 2020 -- Several thousand people gathered in front of the Serbian parliament building in Belgrade on July 11 for a fifth consecutive night of anti-government protests that started over the government's plans to reintroduce a coronavirus lockdown.
• 4 Killed in Protests Calling for Mali's President to Resign VOA 12 Jul 2020 -- Mali's president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has dissolved the country's constitutional court, after four people were killed in street protests over the weekend.
• Mali's opposition says more figures arrested after anti-government protests Press TV 12 Jul 2020 -- The opposition in Mali says security forces have detained two of its senior figures after anti-government protests that saw at least three people killed in the streets of the capital, Bamako.
• Major Oil-Producing Nations To Discuss Possible Easing Of Production Cuts RFE/RL 12 Jul 2020 -- The OPEC oil cartel was set to convene this week for discussions on whether to increase oil production amid signs that global demand was returning to pre-pandemic levels