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News Reports

Current Operations

• Taliban Attack on Afghan Spy Agency's Office Kills 11 VOA 13 Jul 2020 -- Officials in Afghanistan say a Taliban suicide assault on a provincial headquarters of the Afghan spy agency has killed at least 11 people and injured 63 others.
• Taliban Attack On Intelligence Agency Office Kills At Least 11, Wound Dozens In North Afghanistan RFE/RL 13 Jul 2020 -- A major Taliban attack on the offices of Afghanistan's main intelligence agency has killed at least 11 security personnel and wounded dozens of others, mostly civilians.
• Dozens wounded in blast, gunfire near Afghan intel agency office Press TV 13 Jul 2020 -- Dozens of people have been wounded in a car bomb blast followed by a shooting attack near an office of the Afghan intelligence agency in the northern province of Samangan.
• 11 killed in clashes after Taliban car bomb attack in Afghanistan's Samangan Press TV 13 Jul 2020 -- Eleven Afghan security personnel have been killed in clashes with the Taliban militants following a car bombing at a government compound in the northern province of Samangan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Army searches for improved mission systems in future aircraft Army News 13 Jul 2020 -- The Army is exploring improved mission systems configurations for both the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft and Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft, as project officials engage with industry in a collaborative market research effort this week.
• New COVID Cases Complicate US Military Missions in Japan, South Korea VOA 13 Jul 2020 -- The U.S. inability to contain the coronavirus at home is beginning to have a bigger impact on U.S. military missions overseas, some analysts warned Monday, as infections among American service members surge in Japan and South Korea.
• Air Force update for COVID-19 US Air Force 13 Jul 2020
• US, Japan Share Information About COVID-19 Surge at US Bases in Okinawa Sputnik 13 Jul 2020 -- Two US marine bases on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and Camp Hansen, were put on lockdown on Saturday in light of new COVID-10 clusters.
• US military puts marines in lockdown following coronavirus outbreak on Japan bases Press TV 13 Jul 2020 -- American military personnel in two US bases in Okinawa Prefecture in Japan have been put under lockdown after dozens of forces tested positive for COVID-19.
• 11 more U.S. soldiers in S.Korea test positive for COVID-19 People's Daily 13 Jul 2020 -- Eleven more U.S. soldiers in South Korea tested positive for COVID-19, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Monday.
• 18 sailors injured in fire on U.S. Navy ship in San Diego People's Daily 13 Jul 2020 -- Eighteen sailors were injured Sunday morning in a fire on a U.S. Navy ship at Naval Base San Diego in California, authorities said.
• DAF awards contract for first lot of F-15EX fighter aircraft US Air Force 13 Jul 2020 -- The Department of the Air Force has awarded a nearly $1.2 billion contract for its first lot of eight F-15EX fighter aircraft.
• AFRICOM Commander talks security partnerships with Spanish Defense Leaders AFRICOM 13 Jul 2020 -- The commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), Gen. Stephen Townsend, traveled to Spain July 8 to 9, 2020, to discuss partnerships in Africa with senior Spanish defense leaders and the U.S. country team.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper's Phone Call With Norwegian Minister of Defense Frank Bakke-Jensen DoD 13 Jul 2020
• 26TH MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT RETURNS FROM DEPLOYMENT USMC News 13 Jul 2020 -- The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit returned to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, marking the end of a seven-month deployment to the U.S. 2nd, 5th and 6th Fleets with the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group.
• Military Medicine Joining Forces to Fight COVID-19 All Around the World NNS 13 Jul 2020 -- From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the efforts of Navy Medicine's research and development enterprise (NMR&D) to support everything from outbreak response to laboratory detection and warships to floating hospitals highlights the speed and relevance of military medical and scientific capabilities that help make the U.S. armed forces so strong.
• COVID-19 Sharpened Focus on Trans-Atlantic Security Gaps, Defense Official Says DoD News 13 Jul 2020 -- The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a range of security issues that previously hadn't made it into NATO's discussions, a senior Defense Department official said.
• NATO maritime exercise Dynamic Mongoose ends in the High North NATO 13 Jul 2020 -- NATO maritime exercise Dynamic Mongoose concluded on Friday (10 July 2020) off the coast of Iceland. Ships, submarines, aircraft and personnel from six Allies took part in the anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare exercise.
• NATO Deputy Secretary General visits Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe NATO 13 Jul 2020 -- Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană visited Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium on Monday (13 July 2020). He had talks about NATO's military priorities with the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Tod D. Wolters, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Tim Radford, Chief of Staff, General Markus Kneip, and other senior commanders.
• Russia's Military Vehicles Manufacturer Develops New Lightweight Armoured Car Strela Sputnik 13 Jul 2020 -- Russia has developed a cutting-edge Strela armoured cross-country vehicle that is twice as light as the Tigr-type vehicles and has a higher speed, as well as better mine protection, Alexander Krasovitsky, the director general of Military Industrial Company (VPK), an armoured military vehicles manufacturer, said on Monday.
• China Rejects US Nuclear Talks Invitation as Beijing Adds to Its Arsenal VOA 13 Jul 2020 -- China has rejected any prospect of joining in nuclear talks with the United States and Russia, raising fears that nuclear weapons will become a new issue of contention between Washington and Beijing.
• 19th Chinese peacekeeping multi-functional engineering detachment to Lebanon ready to set out People's Daily 13 Jul 2020 -- On the morning of July 10, a gathering was held to mark the establishment of the 19th Chinese peacekeeping multi-functional engineering detachment to Lebanon.
• Chinese tracking ship Yuanwang-6 sets sail on monitoring missions PLA Daily 13 Jul 2020 -- China's space tracking ship Yuanwang-6 departed from a port in east China's Jiangsu Province Monday for multiple spacecraft monitoring missions.
• China mass producing advanced J-20B warplanes as tensions rise with US Press TV 13 Jul 2020 -- Beijing has reportedly begun mass producing a modified version of its fifth-generation Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter jets amid escalating China-US tensions, which have given rise to fears of a military conflict between the two sides.
• Beijing Places 'Heavy Orders' as J-20B Stealth Fighter Enters Mass Production Sputnik 13 Jul 2020 -- The world's third operational fifth-generation aircraft, the Chengdu J-20 "Weilong," has entered mass production, according to insider reports. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force has reportedly placed a large order, now that many of the jet's early problems have been sorted out.
• Israeli Air Force Rolls Out New Special Forces Wing to Address 'Growing Threats in Various Arenas' Sputnik 13 Jul 2020 -- The new unit is expected to take part in the IDF's so-called "war-between-war" campaign against Iran amid ongoing tensions between Tel Aviv and Tehran.
• Taiwan annual war games start with deployment of reserve forces CNA 13 Jul 2020 -- Taiwan's annual live-fire Han Kuang exercises (漢光演習) kicked off Monday with a simulated attack by China, to test the combat readiness of Taiwan's military and reserve forces.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany | 7/13/2020 The White House 13 Jul 2020

Defense Industry

• Contracts For July 13, 2020

Other Conflicts

• 13 July 2020 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 13 Jul 2020
• Women and girls deserve more protection in emergencies, UN rights council hears UN News 13 Jul 2020 -- The collective impact of climate change, COVID-19 and conflict mean that well over 200 million people will likely need humanitarian assistance by 2022, the UN's deputy rights chief said on Monday.
• U.S. Position on Maritime Claims in the South China Sea US Dept. of State 13 Jul 2020 -- The United States champions a free and open Indo-Pacific. Today we are strengthening U.S. policy in a vital, contentious part of that region – the South China Sea. We are making clear: Beijing's claims to offshore resources across most of the South China Sea are completely unlawful, as is its campaign of bullying to control them.
• US Toughens Stance on South China Sea, Calls Chinese Claims Illegal Radio Free Asia 13 Jul 2020 -- The United States on Monday announced a tougher stance against China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea, declaring them illegal and accusing Beijing of treating the disputed waters as a "maritime empire."
• US: China's Claims in South China Sea 'Completely Unlawful' VOA 13 Jul 2020 -- The United States said Monday China's claims to offshore resources across most of the South China Sea are "completely unlawful," as is Beijing's campaign of bullying to control them.
• How Discovery of Fresh Water Bolsters China Claims in Disputed Sea VOA 13 Jul 2020 -- Discovery of a rare freshwater reserve under one of its land holdings in a widely disputed sea gives China a boost in occupying the islet and offers it a new defense for its sovereignty claims if they land in international court.
• Oil Company Pulls Out of Vietnamese Oil Field as China Puts the Squeeze on Vietnam Radio Free Asia 13 Jul 2020 -- Vietnam has cancelled its contract with an oil rig originally meant to begin exploring at an oil field near Vanguard Bank, off Vietnam's southeastern coast, the owner of the rig has confirmed.
• Yemeni forces strike strategic positions in Saudi Arabia with drones, missiles Press TV 13 Jul 2020 -- Yemeni forces have carried out a major military operation against military and strategic positions in southwestern Saudi Arabia, a military spokesman says.
• Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Referral of A Targeting Operation Result to the Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) to Assess The Possibility of An Incident SPA 13 Jul 2020 -- Statement by the Official Spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen COL Turki Al-Malki: "The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition has referred one of the targeting operations results in the area of operations to the Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) to assess the possibility of an incident.
• The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Joint Coalition Forces Intercept, Destroy (2) Ballistic Missiles, (6) Bomb-Laden UAVs Launched by the Terrorist, Iran-Backed Houthi Militia Toward the Kingdom Targeting Civilians and Civilian Objects. SPA 13 Jul 2020 -- Statement by the Official Spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen COL Turki Al-Malki
• Yemeni Houthis Say Attacked Saudi Arabia's Jizan Oil Compound Sputnik 13 Jul 2020 -- The Houthis also claimed that they have killed several Saudi officers in the Yemeni city of Marib, during a meeting of military commanders.
• Can Iran Boost Syria's Air Defenses To The Detriment Of Israel? Radio Farda 13 Jul 2020 -- Tehran's new military agreement with Damascus has strengthened Syria's chances of receiving Iranian designed and produced air defense systems to boost the war-torn country's inefficient and weak anti-air networks.
• Kataib Hezbollah vows to drive US troops out of Iraq Press TV 13 Jul 2020 -- A security official for Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah has reiterated the resistance group's readiness to end the US military presence in Iraq.
• Five Daesh suicide bombers, two security forces killed in operation near Baghdad Press TV 13 Jul 2020 -- The Iraqi military says five Daesh suicide bombers and two security members have been killed during the Iraqi forces' raid against a hideout near the Arab country's capital of Baghdad.
• Libya oil company says UAE ordered Haftar's forces to re-impose blockade on crude exports Press TV 13 Jul 2020 -- Libya's national oil company says the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been behind a decision by eastern-based rebel forces to hinder its latest efforts to resume crude exports for the first time in six months and re-impose a blockade on the country's oil industry.
• Turkey Calls on Haftar's Troops to Withdraw From Sirte, Jufra Sputnik 13 Jul 2020 -- Units of the Libyan National Army, headed by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, must withdraw from Sirte and Jufra, and if they fail to do so a military operation against them will be launched, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday.
• Pakistan's Military Says Four Soldiers Killed In Shoot-Out In Northwest RFE/RL 12 Jul 2020 -- Pakistan's military says four soldiers and four "terrorists" were killed during a gunfight in the northwestern region of North Waziristan, which borders Afghanistan.
• Violence along the Armenia-Azerbaijan International Border US Dept. of State 13 Jul 2020
• New casualties on second day of clashes on Azerbaijan-Armenia border Press TV 13 Jul 2020 -- Casualties have been reported for a second day of clashes on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
• Deadly Clashes Along Azerbaijan-Armenia Border Enter Second Day Amid Calls For Restraint RFE/RL 13 Jul 2020 -- Deadly border clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan entered a second day, as the European Union and Russia urged restraint.
• Russian Foreign Ministry Concerned Over Escalation at Armenian-Azerbaijani Border Sputnik 13 Jul 2020 -- Moscow is seriously concerned about the recent escalation of the situation at the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and is ready to provide the necessary assistance to promote stabilisation, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday in a statement.
• A Reporter Looks Back: China Should Never Underestimate India Radio Free Asia 13 Jul 2020 -- The current standoff between the Chinese and Indian Armies in the Himalayas took me back nearly five decades to a time when India was battling its then arch-rival Pakistan.
• China Imposes Harsh Controls on Anniversary of Revered Lama's Death Radio Free Asia 13 Jul 2020 -- Authorities in western China's Sichuan province have imposed tight controls on the movements of Tibetans in Lithang, hometown of revered lama Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, five years after the well-loved religious teacher's death under suspicious circumstances in a Chinese prison, Tibetan sources say.
• Kosovo's Thaci Questioned By War-Crimes Prosecutors At The Hague RFE/RL 13 Jul 2020 -- Kosovar President Hashim Thaci has faced questioning by international war-crimes prosecutors at The Hague.
• UN condemns deadly attack against peacekeepers in Central African Republic UN News 13 Jul 2020 -- A UN peacekeeper from Rwanda was killed and two others were wounded in a deadly attack in the Central African Republic on Monday.

News Reports

• US Judge Wants Clarity on Roger Stone Prison Commutation VOA 13 Jul 2020 -- A U.S. judge in Washington on Monday ordered the government to explain the scope of President Donald Trump's commutation of the 40-month prison sentence she had imposed on his friend Roger Stone for political corruption.
• Duda Remains Poland's President, Ruling Party PiS Maintains Power Sputnik 13 Jul 2020 -- Incumbent Polish President Andrzej Duda has been reelected to sit another five-year presidential term after winning the presidential election with a narrow lead over key rival Rafal Trzaskowski, the candidate of the opposition Civic Platform party.
• Duda wins Poland presidential election in boost for planned judicial reforms Press TV 13 Jul 2020 -- Poland's incumbent Andrzej Duda has narrowly won the presidential election, paving the way for the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party to push ahead with its controversial judicial reforms at the parliament.
• Poland Presidential Election Likely Heading to Courts VOA 13 Jul 2020 -- Poland's incumbent President Andrzej Duda, a social conservative aligned with the ruling populist Law and Justice Party (PiS), secured a second term in office Sunday with a narrow margin of victory after an ill-tempered, mudslinging presidential race.
• UK selling spyware to 17 repressive regimes, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain Press TV 13 Jul 2020 -- Britain is providing more than a dozen repressive regimes around the world with wiretaps, spyware and other telecommunications interception equipment likely to be used to spy on dissidents, according to public records.
• Protesters In Russia's Far East Demand Release Of Regional Governor Charged With Murders RFE/RL 13 Jul 2020 -- Hundreds of demonstrators have continued to peacefully protest in Russia's Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk, demanding the release of the region's governor Sergei Furgal, who was arrested last week on charges of attempted murder and ordering the killings of two businessmen in 2004-2005.
• Russian Investigators Bring High Treason Charges Against Roscosmos Aide Safronov Sputnik 13 Jul 2020 -- Russian investigators have brought high treason charges against Ivan Safronov, a former defen?e journalist and currently an adviser to Russian space agency Roscosmos chief, lawyer Ivan Pavlov said on Monday, adding that Safronov keeps denying his guilt.
• Ex-Journalist Safronov Formally Indicted For High Treason By Russian Investigators RFE/RL 13 Jul 2020 -- Investigators of the Federal Security Service have formally charged an aide to the chief of Russia's Roskosmos space agency, journalist Ivan Safronov, with high treason.
• Israeli Court Blocks Amnesty International Attempt to Curb Spyware Firm NSO Sputnik 13 Jul 2020 -- In January, Amnesty International filed a lawsuit against Israeli cyber-intelligence firm NSO Group, urging the court to revoke the company's export license and restrict it from selling technology allegedly used to violate human rights across the globe.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on July 13, 2020 PRC MofA 13 Jul 2020
• Hong Kong to Probe Democratic Camp Primaries For Subversion Radio Free Asia 13 Jul 2020 -- Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam on Monday said the authorities are investigating whether or not the weekend's primaries, which saw more than 600,000 people show up to select pro-democracy candidates in September's Legislative Council (LegCo) elections, were in breach of a draconian security law recently imposed on the city by the ruling Chinese Communist Party.
• Over 600,000 Hong Kongers Vote in Opposition Primary VOA 13 Jul 2020 -- Over 600,000 Hong Kongers cast their ballots in the democratic camp primaries elections over the weekend, far exceeding the organizer's expected turnout in a poll widely seen as a sign of continuing opposition to the new national security law imposed by Beijing.
• HK 'opposition camp primaries' 'a political farce' Global Times 13 Jul 2020 -- The "Hong Kong pan-democracy camp" or opposition camp's so-called primary election is a political farce and mobilization for disrupting Legislative Council (LegCo) elections in September, mainland analysts said.
• HK to prepare for spike in youths in correctional facilities: dept chief Global Times 13 Jul 2020 -- The head of Hong Kong's Correctional Services Department (CSD) said a large number of young people are expected to be put into correctional institutions in the future, and the CSD will expand manpower and strengthen civic education for them.
• China Announces Sanctions Against US Lawmakers Over Uighur Issue VOA 13 Jul 2020 -- China has imposed sanctions on three U.S. lawmakers in retaliation for Trump administration's sanctions imposed over Beijing's treatment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province.
• China imposes reciprocal sanctions on US officials, organization over Xinjiang-related issues Global Times 13 Jul 2020 -- China's Foreign Ministry on Monday announced sanctions against the US Congressional-Executive Commission on China, Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Samuel Brownback, US Senator Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Republican Chris Smith, following the US' sanctions on Chinese officials over the Xinjiang issue.
• China sanctions US officials in retaliation for bans over Uighur Muslims Press TV 13 Jul 2020 -- Beijing has slapped sanctions on US officials, including two senators, in response to Washington's recent bans against senior Chinese officials over allegations of mistreating the Uighur Muslim community in the western Xinjiang region.
• China Levels Retaliatory Sanctions on US Officials Over Xinjiang Measures Radio Free Asia 13 Jul 2020 -- Beijing announced sanctions Monday on U.S. officials and a government agency in retaliation for ones leveled last week by the Trump administration against Chinese officials deemed responsible for abuses in northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).
• China Sanctions US Officials, Including Senators Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz Over Uighur Issue Sputnik 13 Jul 2020 -- In late May, the House of Representatives passed a bill stipulating sanctions against a number of Chinese officials over the alleged detention and torture of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang, an autonomous territory in the northwestern part of the country.
• Chinese Activists Mark Liu Xiaobo's Death Alone, Silently Radio Free Asia 13 Jul 2020 -- In the three years since the death in prison of Nobel peace laureate Liu Xiaobo, the ruling Chinese Communist Party has succeeded in suppressing free speech and public dissent to unprecedented levels, fellow activists said on Monday.
• Chinese firm's upgrade of Tanzania's largest port set to bolster handling capacity Global Times 13 Jul 2020 -- Large vessels from across the world will soon be able to anchor in Tanzania's largest Dar es Salaam Port following upgrades undertaken by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC).
• Media Report: US Frees Convicted Terror Financier as Part of Deal with Iran VOA 13 Jul 2020 -- A Lebanese businessman, who pleaded guilty in 2018 to violating U.S. sanctions, was released from U.S. federal prison last month and is now back in Lebanon, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons said in a report by Reuters.
• Iran: JCPOA product of openness to engagement IRNA 13 Jul 2020 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry in a message described nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as a product of Iran's openness to engagement.
• Iran informs JCPOA Joint Commission of Europeans' violation of commitments: Senior diplomat Press TV 13 Jul 2020 -- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi says the three European signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran have not abided by their commitments and this is why Iran has requested activation of the deal's dispute resolution mechanism in a letter to the European Union's foreign policy chief.
• JCPOA product of Iran's openness to engagement: Foreign Ministry Press TV 13 Jul 2020 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry says since its inception, the Islamic Republic has always been open to dialogue on critical issues on the basis of mutual respect.
• Explainer: Anger Among Iranians Over Long-Term Deal With China RFE/RL 13 Jul 2020 -- Iran is negotiating a controversial 25-year agreement with China that has led to accusations that parts of Iran are being sold to Beijing.
• FM spox says foreign elements behind attacks to Iran-China 25-year draft document IRNA 13 Jul 2020 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi on Monday said the smear campaign against the 25-year draft document for comprehensive cooperation between Tehran and Beijing has foreign roots.
• Iran-China ties to enter new phase by correct track laying: Mousavi ISNA 13 Jul 2020 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Seyyed Abbas Mousavi stressed that Iran- China relations will enter a new phase by the correct track laying.
• Iran-China deal to ditch dollar, bypass US sanctions: Leader's advisor Press TV 13 Jul 2020 -- An advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says a pending roadmap for strategic partnership between Iran and China is to help ditch the dollar in bilateral trade and bypass illegal and unilateral US sanctions.
• Zarif Dismisses Criticism Of China Pact As 'Rumors' By Ill-Wishers Radio Farda 13 Jul 2020 -- A top lawmaker in Iran has said that foreign minister Javad Zarif defended the Iran-China cooperation pact proposed document and told parliament today that talk about selling an island and cheap oil to China are mere rumors.
• 'Iran open to long-term roadmaps for cooperation with friendly countries' Press TV 13 Jul 2020 -- The Foreign Ministry says Iran is ready for setting out roadmaps similar to the one that is in the works with China, with other friendly countries, saying attacks targeting the pending arrangement with Beijing are definitely being orchestrated from abroad.
• Iran to double length of railways in 5 years: Minister Press TV 13 Jul 2020 -- Iran's transportation minister says the length of the country's railway network will double in the next five years as the country keeps making efforts to encourage increased rail freight services.
• Iranian Currency Takes Big Hit, Falling To New Record Low Radio Farda 13 Jul 2020 -- Iran's currency took another big hit on Monday, falling to 234,000 rials against the U.S. dollar despite official promises to prevent the further devaluation of the national currency.
• OPEC Report Shows Declining Oil Revenues For Iran And A Massive Budget Deficit Radio Farda 13 Jul 2020 -- In its new annual report published on Monday, July 13, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) announced Iran's revenue from total crude oil exports and oil products in 2019 was just over $19 billion, less than a third of the previous year.
• Tehran Rejected Washington's Demand for No Response to Soleimani's Assassination - Iranian Deputy FM Sputnik 13 Jul 2020 -- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsen Baharvand alleges that Tehran immediately rejected Washington's attempt at preventing a retaliatory attack by Iranian forces, shortly after the January assassination of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force commander Major General Qasem Soleimani.
• 'Faced with an assassination similar to Soleimani's, West would declare war' Press TV 13 Jul 2020 -- A UN special rapporteur, who has raised a firestorm by condemning the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, has once again denounced the United States' sheer disregard for international law.
• More Explosions, Fires At Industrial And Commercial Sites In Iran Radio Farda 13 Jul 2020 -- In Iran police is investigating the explosion of a gas tank and a fire at an industrial complex in the country's northeast, local news agencies reported. There were several condensate gas tanks at the location.
• Khamenei's 'Islamic Kindness' Turned Into Threats, Torture And Death Penalty Radio Farda 13 Jul 2020 -- Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's order to treat those jailed for protests in Iran in November 2019, may in fact have been a call for maximum pressure on inmates in security prisons.
• Judicial Official Says Several 'Spies' Convicted In Iran Radio Farda 13 Jul 2020 -- A judicial official in Iran has announced Monday that "several people" working for foreign intelligence organizations and opposition groups have been tried and their verdicts have been issued in the city of Kerman.
• Turkey asks over 100 countries to extradite Gulen network members Press TV 13 Jul 2020 -- The Turkish Justice Ministry has asked 105 countries, including the US and Germany, to extradite more than 800 people affiliated with a movement led by US-based opposition cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom the Ankara government accuses of having masterminded the July 2016 coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
• Lebanese lawmakers call on FM to take action against US envoy's anti-Hezbollah comments Press TV 13 Jul 2020 -- A group of Lebanese legislators have called on Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti to take proper measures against the US ambassador to Beirut over her comments against the Hezbollah resistance movement.
• As Lebanese Economy Sours, Masses Divided Over Key Goals and Hezbollah's Involvement in Politics Sputnik 13 Jul 2020 -- As Lebanon continues to plunge ever deeper into economic uncertainty, protesters who have been demanding the government introduce reforms, are still struggling to form a united front. But a Beirut-based political activist says the nation doesn't have the privilege to be split.
• Anti-Government Protests Against Corruption Intensify Across Bulgaria RFE/RL 13 Jul 2020 -- Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the Bulgarian capital of Sofia for a fifth-straight day on July 13 demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov's government over corruption.
• Bulgarians Vow To Continue Protests Against Government Corruption RFE/RL 13 Jul 2020 -- Thousands of Bulgarians held a fourth day of protests in Sofia and several other cities on July 12 against government corruption and said more similar rallies are scheduled to take place July 13 ahead of another nationwide protest later in the week.