Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• 2,500 US troops out of Iraq as part of full withdrawal plan: Al-Kadhimi Press TV 04 Oct 2020 -- The Iraqi prime minister says as many as 2,500 US troops have left the country as part of agreements reached with Washington to enable a full withdrawal of American troops.
• Millions of Afghan Children Out of School; Ghani Faces Backlash Over Disputed Remarks VOA 04 Oct 2020 -- The World Bank says almost half of Afghanistan's 18,000 schools lack proper buildings and an estimated 3.7 million children are still out of the classroom despite massive investment in the education sector.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Readout of Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper's Meeting With Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Dr. Khalid bin Muhammad Al-Attiyah DoD 04 Oct 2020
• Russian Navy Tracking Movements of UK's Dragon Warship in Black Sea, MoD Says Sputnik 04 Oct 2020 -- Russia's Black Sea Fleet is tracking the movements of the UK warship HMS Dragon, which has entered the Black Sea, the Russian Ministry of Defence said on Sunday.
• Two Indian Naval Personnel Die in Glider Crash in Southern India, Report Sputnik 04 Oct 2020 -- An Indian Navy captain was killed on Friday in a similar accident at Karwar in Karnataka state, after a glider crashed into the Arabian Sea. While the captain Madhusudhan Reddy died, the instructor of the glider escaped unhurt.
• Experts urge Taiwan to prepare for war of attrition with China CNA 04 Oct 2020 -- Two local military experts recently called on Taiwan's armed forces to be prepared for a war of attrition with China, following an increase in Chinese military maneuvers near Taiwan in recent months with the aim of wearing down the nation's military.
• PLA continues drills, patrols in Taiwan Straits during national holidays Global Times 04 Oct 2020 -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is apparently continuing its combat-oriented exercises and combat readiness patrols in the Taiwan Straits, as it reportedly sent warplanes to the region again on Sunday, marking the fourth consecutive day since the start of the eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn holiday period on Thursday. It also seems as if the PLA's sorties are wearing out the military on the Taiwan island, observers said on Sunday.
• Demolition of U.S.-Funded Cambodia Navy Facility a 'Sovereign' Decision-Defense Minister Radio Free Asia 04 Oct 2020 -- Cambodia has demolished U.S.-funded facilities at a naval base as part of plans to replace them in larger port facility elsewhere, the country's defense minister said in a weekend interview, rejecting Washington's concerns about the plan and possible Chinese involvement as meddling it its sovereignty.
• Cambodia confirms razing US-built military facility at Ream Naval Base Press TV 04 Oct 2020 -- Cambodia has confirmed it demolished a US-built military facility on its largest naval base amid concern in Washington that the Southeast Asia country is planning to host the Chinese military.
• Estonia Set to Beef Up Coastal Defence Line to Be Able to 'Plug' Gulf of Finland Sputnik 04 Oct 2020 -- Earlier, it was stated that Estonia's ambitious defense spending in 2021 would rise to constitute 2.29 percent of Gross Domestic Product, exceeding the NATO membership requirement of a minimum 2 percent of GDP.
• Secretary Michael R. Pompeo Remarks to Traveling Press US Dept. of State 04 Oct 2020

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Turkish artillery strikes Syrian military positions in Idlib, no casualties reported Press TV 04 Oct 2020 -- A London-based war monitoring group says Turkish military units have hit the positions of Syrian government troops in the eastern part of the country's northwestern province of Idlib with no immediate report of casualties.
• Heavy Fighting Continues Around Nagorno-Karabakh VOA 04 Oct 2020 -- Heavy fighting continued Sunday between Armenian and Azerbaijan forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily ethnic Armenian region in Azerbaijan.
• Shadow of doubt over Armenia-Azerbaijan dispute IRNA 04 Oct 2020 -- Clashes between Armenia and the over the Nagorno-Karabakh region is continuing at a time while numerous international requests for putting an end to the dispute between the two countries has not worked and there are serious concerns over the deterioration of the situation.
• Iran calls on warring parties to respect civilians' rights IRNA 04 Oct 2020 -- Embassy of Iran in Baku in a statement has called on the conflicting parties namely Azerbaijan and Armenia to respect the rights of the innocent civilians.
• Ilham Aliyev vows to return Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan, demands Armenian pullout timetable Press TV 04 Oct 2020 -- Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev says Nagorno-Karabakh region is an inalienable part of Azerbaijan and that it must return to the country, demanding that neighboring Armenia set a timetable for a swift pullout from the disputed enclave.
• Turkey lambastes Armenia for 'attacks' on civilians in Azerbaijan's Ganja Press TV 04 Oct 2020 -- Turkey says Armenia's 'attacks' on civilians in the Azerbaijani city of Ganja constitute disregard for laws and regulations amid a recent flare-up of clashes in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
• Iran's Baku embassy condemns attacks on civilians, nonmilitary sites in Karabakh war Press TV 04 Oct 2020 -- Iran's embassy in Baku has strongly condemned recent attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets during the ongoing clashes between the Republic of Azerbaijan and neighboring Armenia, urging both sites to respect the law of war and protect civilian lives.
• Clashes intensify in Karabakh; Azerbaijan claims advances Press TV 04 Oct 2020 -- Intense fighting rages on between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Karabakh region, with Baku claiming to have captured a string of villages in heavy clashes over the mountain enclave.
• Azerbaijan Demands Armenia Set Timetable For Troops Withdrawal RFE/RL 04 Oct 2020 -- Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has demanded that Armenia set a timetable for withdrawing from Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding Azerbaijani territories, saying that Azerbaijan would not end military action until that happened.
• Azerbaijan's President Says Will Agree to Ceasefire If Armenia Vows to Withdraw Troops From Karabakh Sputnik 04 Oct 2020 -- Major fighting in the contested South Caucasus region of Nagorno-Karabakh began last Sunday, with both sides accusing one another of starting the conflagration, and claiming that their forces have killed thousands of enemy troops.
• Armenian Defence Ministry Claims Karabakh Forces Destroyed Three Azerbaijani Jets Sputnik 04 Oct 2020 -- Sunday marks the seventh day of intense fighting in the contested South Caucasus region of Nagorno-Karabakh between Azerbaijani and Armenian Karabakh defence forces. The conflict started after both sides accused one another of shelling and air attacks starting September 27.
• Heavy Fighting by Armenia, Azerbaijan Around Nagorno-Karabakh VOA 04 Oct 2020 -- Heavy fighting continued among Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenian and Azerbaijan forces Saturday in the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian region in Azerbaijan.
• Atal Tunnel to have limited benefit to India in wartime Global Times 04 Oct 2020 -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Atal Tunnel at Rohtang at an altitude of above 10000 feet in Himachal Pradesh. Upon the inauguration's completion, Modi said the tunnel would provide "new strength" to the country's border infrastructure.
• Sudanese gov't, armed groups sign peace deal to end conflicts People's Daily 04 Oct 2020 -- After a full year of negotiations, the Sudanese government and armed groups on Saturday signed a final peace deal in South Sudan's capital Juba to end armed conflicts.
• Shrugging off global outcry, Israel moves to build 4,500 settler units Press TV 04 Oct 2020 -- Despite international outcry against the Tel Aviv regime's policies of land grab and illegal settlement expansion, Israel will build yet another 4,500 settler units in the occupied West Bank.
• Separatist Fighting Continues in Cameroon a Year After Major National Dialogue VOA 04 Oct 2020 -- October 4 marks a year since Cameroon held its Major National Dialogue to solve the Anglophone separatist crisis that has killed at least 3,000 people in four years. Cameroonians and some participants at the dialogue say that fighting has continued unabated and that most parts of the English-speaking regions are ungovernable, an indication the event was a failure, but the government maintains it was successful.
• 3 Arrested in Belgium, Suspected of Involvement in 1994 Rwanda Genocide VOA 04 Oct 2020 -- Belgium has arrested and charged three men suspected of involvement in the 1994 Rwanda genocide.

News Reports

• Trump Leaves Hospital Briefly; Doctors Report 2 Drops in Oxygen Saturation VOA 04 Oct 2020 -- After tweeting a video early Sunday evening saying he's "getting great reports" from his doctors, U.S. President Donald Trump promised a little surprise for his supporters outside the hospital where he is being treated for COVID-19.
• Trump COVID-19 Treatment Continues; Doctors say He Has Experienced Oxygen Saturation Drops Twice VOA 04 Oct 2020 -- Doctors treating U.S. President Donald Trump revealed on Sunday that their patient, hospitalized for COVID-19, experienced "two episodes of transient drops in his oxygen saturation." COVID-19 is the disease caused by the coronavirus.
• Trump Failed to Disclose Early Positive Result From Rapid Coronavirus Test - Reports Sputnik 04 Oct 2020 -- US President Donald Trump received a positive result from a rapid test for the coronavirus on Thursday but decided not to disclose the result while waiting for a more thorough screening, The Wall Street Journal reports citing anonymous sources.
• Trump Agitated by Media Coverage Reporting His Condition as Concerning, Reports Suggest Sputnik 04 Oct 2020 -- US President Donald Trump has been following media coverage of his hospitalization and was reportedly agitated by descriptions of his condition as concerning, CNN reported on Sunday citing sources.
• Trump in hospital after contracting COVID-19, as fallout roils U.S. People's Daily 04 Oct 2020 -- With mild symptoms after testing positive for COVID-19, U.S. President Donald Trump is working from the presidential offices at Walter Reed military medical center.
• Trump says feeling "much better," calls coming days "real test" People's Daily 04 Oct 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump, who's staying at a military hospital for COVID-19 treatment, said Saturday he is feeling "much better" while calling the comings days "real test" for his condition.
• Trump mad at Meadows for contradicting his doctor: Reports Press TV 04 Oct 2020 -- US President Donald Trump is reportedly furious at White House chief of staff Mark Meadows after he contradicted his doctor on Trump's health condition.
• White House issues a series of contradictory messages about Trump's condition Press TV 04 Oct 2020 -- The White House has said that US President Donald Trump, who is at a military hospital with COVID-19, feels very well and wants to get back to work but will remain hospitalized.
• Trump not out of danger, his symptoms 'very concerning,' says US official Press TV 04 Oct 2020 -- US President Donald Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows, says his symptoms are "very concerning," while his doctor shifts the timeline of his test and treatment.
• In The Cross Fire: Ukraine's Outsized Role In The Race For The White House RFE/RL 04 Oct 2020 -- Ukraine's role in the U.S. presidential campaign has been more a matter of politics than of policy.
• Iran to increase nuclear power capacity to 3GW: Minister Press TV 04 Oct 2020 -- Iran's Minister of Energy Reza Ardakanian says electricity generation through a nuclear power plant located on the Persian Gulf coast would triple to reach 3 gigawatts (GW).
• US has no right to initiate 'snapback' mechanism against Iran: Germany FM Press TV 04 Oct 2020 -- German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has once again reaffirmed commitment of the three European signatories to a 2015 nuclear agreement signed between Iran and major world powers, saying the United States has left the deal and has no right to reinstate the United Nations' sanctions against Tehran through a so-called snapback mechanism.
• Defying US sanctions, Iran completes 2nd fuel delivery mission to Venezuela Press TV 04 Oct 2020 -- The third and final vessel from a fuel-laden Iranian flotilla has entered Venezuela's waters, completing a second such mission in less than a year in defiance of American sanctions targeting both nations.
• Minsk protest turns violent; police use water cannons Press TV 04 Oct 2020 -- Thousands of Belarusian protesters have defied government warnings and flocked to the streets in the country's capital of Minsk to demand the release of jailed activists of the opposition, forcing riot police to use water cannons to disperse the demonstrators.
• Russian Military Creep In Belarus Raises Security Alarms RFE/RL 04 Oct 2020 -- Russia's support of Alyaksandr Lukashenka may come at a price that could alter the balance of power in Europe as the Kremlin flexes its military might on the eastern fringes of NATO and exacts concessions from the embattled Belarusian strongman.
• Belarus Police Use Water Cannons To Disperse Protesters RFE/RL 04 Oct 2020 -- Tens of thousands of Belarusians took to the streets in support of the country's political prisoners on October 4, the eighth weekend in a row of protests against long-time ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
• Minsk Subway Temporarily Shuts Downtown Stations Amid Planned Opposition Protests Sputnik 04 Oct 2020 -- Eight stations of the Minsk subway (Metro) have been temporarily closed for entry and exit amid calls by the Belarusian opposition for the country's population to stage protests on Sunday, the press department of the Belarusian capital's subway system said.
• Thousands Take to Streets of Minsk in Ongoing Protests VOA 04 Oct 2020 -- Police in Minsk, Belarus used water cannon to disperse crowds as protests against President Alexander Lukashenko continued for the ninth straight Sunday. An estimated 100,000 people took to the streets of the capital Sunday.
• New Caledonia Votes Against Independence From France, Preliminary Results Show Sputnik 04 Oct 2020 -- About 54.1 percent of voters in the French South Pacific territory of New Caledonia spoke on Sunday against the independence from France, the Nouvelle-Calédonie la 1ère broadcaster reported, citing preliminary results after processing 155,000 out of 180,000 ballots.
• New Caledonia Votes to Remain French VOA 04 Oct 2020 -- The South Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia has voted to remain part of France, election authorities announced.
• EU, UK agree to step up Brexit talks to close 'significant gaps' People's Daily 04 Oct 2020 -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the head of the EU's executive, Ursula von der Leyen, agreed in a phone call on Saturday to step up Brexit talks to close "significant gaps" barring a new trade partnership.
• Pro-Government Parties Ahead As Ballot Counting Begins In Kyrgyz Elections RFE/RL 04 Oct 2020 -- Officials in Kyrgyzstan are counting ballots from the October 4 parliamentary elections that took place amid fears of vote-buying and reports of attacks on journalists.
• Kyrgyzstanis are Voting in Parliamentary Elections VOA 04 Oct 2020 -- Voters in Kyrgyzstan are casting their ballots Sunday in the country's parliamentary election in which 16 parties are competing for the 120 seats in the legislature.
• Jordan king accepts PM's resignation ahead of November elections Press TV 04 Oct 2020 -- Jordan's King Abdullah II has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Omar al-Razzaz ahead of parliamentary elections next month as the country grapples with its worst economic crisis.
• Fuel-Starved Venezuela Reportedly Receives Third Shipment of Gasoline From Iran Sputnik 04 Oct 2020 -- Two out of a flotilla of three Iranian-flagged tankers arrived in fuel-starved Venezuela on 29 and 30 September, as the South American state boasting the world's largest oil reserves, was forced to close gas stations across the country due to shortages, triggering protests among the population.