Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Another bomb explosion targets US military convoy near Baghdad in two days Press TV 22 Aug 2020 -- An explosion has reportedly targeted a US military convoy west of Iraq's capital.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Backs Down From Proposal to Add China to New START Talks, Set Other Conditions, Moscow Says Sputnik 22 Aug 2020 -- The United States has backed down from a proposal to add China to the talks on the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) but set other conditions with the negotiations still being bogged down, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Saturday.
• Photo: China's Final Type 055 Destroyer Spotted Preparing for Possible Launch Sputnik 22 Aug 2020 -- New reports from Chinese social media platforms Weibo and WeChat reveal that Beijing's eighth and final Type 055 destroyer may be ready for launch soon, as the stealth guided-missile destroyer was spotted receiving a new paint job at a Dalian shipyard.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Joint Coalition Forces Intercept, Destroy Bomb-Laden (UAV), (1) Ballistic Missile Launched by Terrorist, Iran-Backed Houthi Militia Towards Kingdom SPA 22 Aug 2020 -- Statement by the Official Spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen COL Turki Al-Malki said that the "Joint Coalition forces have intercepted and destroyed this evening (Saturday) a bomb-laden UAV launched toward civilians and civilian objects in the Southern Region.
• Syria calls on UN to end Hasakah water supply cut by Turkish forces Press TV 22 Aug 2020 -- Syria has appealed to the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres to intervene immediately and to utilize all available means in order to stop Turkish military forces' decision to cut off water supply for thousands of people in the Arab country's northeastern province of Hasakah.
• Iraqi Protesters Continue Assault on Pro-Iranian Militias in Basra, Nasiriyah VOA 22 Aug 2020 -- Iraqi state TV reported that government security forces blocked main arteries Saturday in the southern port city of Basra after protesters torched the local parliament building and a number of Shiite militia headquarters in response to the killings of protest leaders.
• UN Invites Libyan Tribes to Participate in Crisis Settlement, Country's Elders Council Official Says Sputnik 22 Aug 2020 -- Libyan tribes have been invited to participate in the political process on the Libyan crisis settlement by the United Nations, Senussi al-Haleeq, the deputy chairman of the Supreme Council of Libyan Sheikhs and Elders, which supports the Libyan National Army, said on Saturday.
• Israeli artillery shells two Hamas positions in southern Gaza Strip Press TV 22 Aug 2020 -- Israeli artillery units have struck the southern flank of the besieged Gaza Strip as the Tel Aviv regime presses ahead with its acts of aggression against the impoverished Palestinian coastal enclave.
• Israel-U.A.E. Normalization On Agenda As Pompeo Visits Middle East RFE/RL 22 Aug 2020 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit Israel and the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) next week to discuss the normalization of diplomatic ties between Israel and the U.A.E.

News Reports

• Former U.S. Green Beret Charged In Russian Espionage Conspiracy RFE/RL 22 Aug 2020 -- U.S. federal prosecutors have charged a former U.S. Army Green Beret living in northern Virginia with spying for Russia from 1996 to 2011.
• Comatose Russian Opposition Leader in Germany for Treatment VOA 22 Aug 2020 -- A plane carrying Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, who is in a coma after a suspected poisoning, touched down Saturday morning in Berlin, where he will receive medical attention at Charité Clinic, the city's main hospital.
• Navalny arrives in Germany despite allies' claim of Russia ban Press TV 22 Aug 2020 -- Alexei Navalny, a Russian opposition figure who is reportedly suffering a serious health condition, has arrived in Germany for medical treatment despite claims Moscow has banned his transport.
• 'Extensive' Tests Under Way On Putin Foe Navalny At Berlin Hospital RFE/RL 22 Aug 2020 -- The Berlin hospital where Aleksei Navalny is being treated said on August 22 that doctors had begun "extensive" diagnostic tests on the Russian opposition politician.
• Envoys Optimistic after Meeting with Mali Military Junta VOA 22 Aug 2020 -- West African envoys led by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said they were optimistic after talks in Mali's capital city of Bamako with the military junta that forced President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to resign and disband the government earlier this week.
• Envoys Arrive in Mali to Meet With Military Junta, Ousted President Keita VOA 22 Aug 2020 -- West African envoys led by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan arrived Saturday in Mali's capital city of Bamako to meet with the military junta that forced President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita's resignation and the government's disbanding earlier this week.
• Chinese banking regulator accuses the US of gross interference in response to its 'sanctions' on 11 officials Global Times 22 Aug 2020 -- The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) spokesperson accused the US of grossly intervening in other countries' internal affairs in response to the US' move of imposing sanctions against 11 Chinese officials.
• Tsai gives scathing response to ex-President Ma's warning of war CNA 22 Aug 2020 -- Former President Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) on Saturday accused the Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) administration of pushing Taiwan to the brink of war with China, drawing the ire of Tsai and her officials, who said that peace cannot be achieved by being weak on sovereignty issues.
• IAEA Chief To Visit Tehran Amid Heightened Tensions Over Iran Sanctions Radio Farda 22 Aug 2020 -- In a tweet on Saturday the International Atomic Agency (IAEA) Chief Rafael Grossi said he will travel to Tehran on Monday to address the outstanding questions related to the Agency's safeguards in Iran.
• IAEA chief to visit Tehran on Monday ISNA 22 Aug 2020 -- Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi in a tweet announced that he will travel to Tehran on Monday.
• IAEA chief due in Iran in line with mutual cooperation, interaction: Envoy Press TV 22 Aug 2020 -- Iran's permanent representative to Vienna-based international organizations says UN nuclear agency chief Rafael Grossi will visit Tehran to discuss ongoing interactions and cooperation between the country and the atomic watchdog.
• IAEA Chief To Visit Iran This Week Seeking 'Concrete Progress' In Inspections Standoff RFE/RL 22 Aug 2020 -- UN atomic-agency boss Rafael Grossi says he will travel to Iran on August 24 to seek "concrete progress" in a dispute between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Tehran over nuclear "safeguards" and blocked inspections in Iran.
• Iran warns of proportional action against US bid to re-impose sanctions ISNA 22 Aug 2020 -- Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Majid Takht Ravanchi stressed that Tehran's action against Washington's attempts to reinstate the UN sanctions would depend on how seriously the US threats would harm the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the UNSC Resolution 2231.
• Zarif explains why US has no right to recourse to UNSCR 2231 Press TV 22 Aug 2020 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has posted a video about the remarks made by some American officials, explaining "in their own words" why Washington has no right to recourse to the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 to return the UN sanctions against Iran.
• Pompeo pushes for extension of Iran sanctions, dismissing opposition Press TV 22 Aug 2020 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that the Trump administration will continue Washington's illegal push for an extended arms embargo against Iran despite being almost unanimously rejected by members at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
• US snapback mechanism nothing but propaganda ploy to save Trump: Iran's Shamkhani Press TV 22 Aug 2020 -- Iran's top security official says the United States' attempt to reinstate the United Nations sanctions on Tehran is nothing but a propaganda ploy to save US President Donald Trump ahead of the November presidential election.
• 13 out of 15 UNSC members reject US bid to snapback Iran sanctions: Report Press TV 22 Aug 2020 -- A new report says 13 countries of the 15-member United Nations Security Council (UNSC) have expressed their opposition to the US push to trigger the so-called snapback provision in the 2015 nuclear deal aimed at reinstating UN sanctions against Iran, leaving Washington one again isolated on the issue like never before.
• This Week in Iran Policy US Dept. of State 22 Aug 2020
• Belarus president blames US, Europe for riots in Belarus after re-election Press TV 22 Aug 2020 -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has hit out at the US and allied European nations, saying they are sponsoring violent protests by opposition supporters across the country following his landslide re-election victory.
• Belarus Opposition Leader To Meet Leading U.S. Diplomat In Lithuania RFE/RL 22 Aug 2020 -- Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya will meet on August 24 with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun in a sign of U.S. participation in seeking a peaceful resolution to a disputed presidential election in Belarus.
• Belarus Will React Without Warning to Attempts Aimed at Violating Its Border, Lukashenko Says Sputnik 22 Aug 2020 -- Earlier in the day, Lukashenko said that putting the army on combat alert and deploying troops on Belarus' western borders was his main decision in 25 years.
• Belarus Opposition Calls on West to Reaffirm Country's Territorial Integrity VOA 22 Aug 2020 -- Belarus opposition figures are urging Western governments to collectively make it clear to the Kremlin that Russia must avoid a military intervention to save Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.
• UN Calls on Belarus to Release Peaceful Protesters Arbitrarily Detained VOA 22 Aug 2020 -- The U.N. Human Rights office is calling on Belarusian authorities to immediately release all people unlawfully arrested during anti-government protests, which broke out nearly two weeks ago in the wake of allegedly fraudulent presidential elections.
• Belarus Blocks Scores of News Sites Amid Protest, International Outcry VOA 22 Aug 2020 -- A Minsk-based journalism trade group is calling on the Belarusian Information Ministry to immediately unblock more 50 news media websites in what they're describing as a virtual blackout of reporting on protests over authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko's bid to extend his 26 years in power.
• Palestinian state creation, Saudi price for normalization with Israel: Saudi prince Press TV 22 Aug 2020 -- Amid reports of covert contacts between Riyadh and Tel Aviv, a senior member of the Saudi royal family claims the kingdom will not follow the United Arab Emirates in normalizing ties with Israel until the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem al-Quds as its capital.
• Even Two Decades After Massive Cyanide Spill, Kyrgyz Poisoning Victims Get Scant Compensation RFE/RL 22 Aug 2020 -- More than 22 years after a deadly cyanide spill contaminated a remote mountain river of Kyrgyzstan, a Bishkek court has ruled in the case of more than two dozen residents of the northeastern village of Barskoon thought to have been poisoned by a transport accident near the Canadian-Kyrgyz gold-mining operation.
• Mexican President Defends Brother Receiving Cash from Supporter VOA 22 Aug 2020 -- Mexico's president on Friday called on authorities to investigate videos showing his brother receiving cash but said the money was part of fundraising and used for 2015 regional elections, not corruption.
• Turkish-Discovered New Black Sea Gas Reserve Valued at $65 Billion, Energy Minister Says Sputnik 22 Aug 2020 -- The approximate value of the large gas reserve in the Black Sea which Turkey said it discovered earlier in the day is $65 billion, Turkish Energy Minister Fatih Donmez said on Friday.
• Ebola Spreading Rapidly in DR Congo's Equateur Province VOA 22 Aug 2020 -- The World Health Organization is concerned by the rapid increase and spread of the deadly Ebola virus in remote, densely forested areas of Equateur province in the northwestern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.