Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• US seeking to eliminate Iraqi Hashd al-Sha'abi by force: Report Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- A political adviser to Iraqi officials and leading member of the State of Law Coalition says the United States is trying to eradicate the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), better known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha'abi, by force and has even devised an action plan for such a purpose.
• Car Bombing Kills At Least 14, Wounds Scores In Afghanistan RFE/RL 18 Oct 2020 -- More than a dozen people have been killed and more than 100 wounded after a car bomb was set off outside a local police headquarters in Ghor in central Afghanistan.
• Afghanistan's Top Negotiator In Iran Amid Peace Talks With Taliban RFE/RL 18 Oct 2020 -- Afghanistan's top peace negotiator has arrived in neighboring Iran as intra-Afghan peace negotiations are under way in the Gulf state of Qatar.
• Zarif discusses mutual ties with Afghanistan's Abdullah IRNA 18 Oct 2020 -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh in a Twitter message on Sunday said that Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's talks with the chairman of Afghan Peace Council Abdullah Abdullah began.
• Foreign Minister Zarif says Iran supports peace process in Afghanistan Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the Islamic Republic supports peace talks between the government of Afghanistan and the Taliban militant group as well as the agreements reached between the two sides.
• Afghanistan bloodshed: Multiple casualties as powerful blast hits police HQ Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- A huge explosion targeting the police headquarters in the western Afghan province of Ghor has left at least 12 civilians dead and more than 100 others wounded.
• US Forces in Afghanistan Deny Violating Taliban Peace Deal With Helmand Airstrikes Sputnik 18 Oct 2020 -- The United States rejects Taliban accusations of violating the peace deal between the two sides signed earlier this year in Doha, US Forces in Afghanistan Spokesman Sonny Leggett said on Sunday.
• Taliban Say US Airstrikes in Afghanistan 'Direct Violation' of Doha Agreement Sputnik 18 Oct 2020 -- The United States' move to resume "excessive" airstrikes in Afghanistan amid clashes in the southern province of Helmand presents a grave violation of the Doha agreement, the Taliban said on Sunday.
• Car Bombing Kills 15 Afghans; Taliban Accuse US of Deal Violations VOA 18 Oct 2020 -- A suicide bomber has detonated his explosives-packed vehicle outside a provincial police headquarters in central Afghanistan, killing at least 15 people and wounding more than 150 others.

Defense Policy / Programs

• USS Roosevelt Arrives in Algiers US Navy 18 Oct 2020 -- The Arleigh Burke guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) conducted a port visit in Algiers, Algeria, Oct. 18.
• Alliance Attitudes: U.S. Election Pits Vocal NATO Backer Biden Against Frequent Critic Trump RFE/RL 18 Oct 2020 -- A year ago, when the U.S. Senate voted its approval for North Macedonia to become the newest member of NATO, Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden took to Twitter the following day to show his support for the decision.
• Russia to respond to US missile deployment in Asia Pacific: Envoy Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- Russia's ambassador to Washington has warned against US deployment of missiles in the Asia-Pacific region, saying Moscow will take reciprocal measures to counter such provocation.
• China unveils first practical drone swarm tech, 'to be used in amphibious landing missions' Global Times 18 Oct 2020 -- China has grasped the technology to practically use a drone swarm, a concept featuring the simultaneous and coordinated operation of a large number of drones that could prove to be very difficult to defend against, a Chinese arms firm recently demonstrated in tests. Capable of deployment from the ground, sea and air, this new tool could play a vital role in challenging missions including amphibious landing operations, analysts said on Sunday.
• China passes law restricting sensitive technology export to US Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- China has passed a new law that restricts export of sensitive items vital to national security in reprisal for a similar move by the United States.
• Indian Navy – Sri Lanka Navy Maritime Exercise SLINEX-20 off Trincomalee India PIB 18 Oct 2020 -- The Eighth Edition of annual Indian Navy (IN) – Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) bilateral maritime exercise SLINEX-20 is scheduled off Trincomalee, Sri Lanka from 19 to 21 October 2020.
• BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile Successfully Test Fired from Indian Navy's Stealth Destroyer, INS Chennai India PIB 18 Oct 2020 -- BrahMos, the supersonic cruise missile was successfully test fired today from Indian Navy's indigenously-built stealth destroyer INS Chennai, hitting a target in the Arabian Sea. The missile hit the target successfully with pin-point accuracy after performing high-level and extremely complex manoeuvres.
• India successfully test-fires BrahMos supersonic cruise missile Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- India has successfully test-fired a supersonic cruise missile amid a persisting standoff with China in eastern Ladakh region bordering the two countries.
• India Successfully Test-Fires BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile Sputnik 18 Oct 2020 -- The Indian Military has already deployed BrahMos cruise missiles, which have a 400 km range, and Nirbhay cruise missiles, which have an 800 km range, in the Ladakh region, as border tensions with China continue to simmer despite several rounds of military, diplomatic and political talks.
• Russian officials stress developing defense ties with Iran IRNA 18 Oct 2020 -- Russian officials have announced that they will develop technical-military cooperation with Iran after lifting arms embargo against Iran.
• With Iran arms embargo terminated, Moscow vows to continue military cooperation with Tehran Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- Russia says it will continue military and technical cooperation with Iran against the background of the expiry of a longstanding United Nations embargo on arms sales to and from the Islamic Republic.
• Status of UN Arms Embargo on Iran US Dept. of State 18 Oct 2020 -- "On September 19, virtually all UN sanctions on Iran returned, including re-imposition of the UN arms embargo. Accordingly, the export of certain conventional arms to Iran is a violation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1929 and the procurement of any arms or related materiel from Iran is a violation of UNSCR 1747."
• JCPOA impacts come to light by expiry of arms embargo IRNA 18 Oct 2020 -- Impacts of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action came to light by the expiry of Iran arms embargo 13 years after its imposition by the United Nations.
• Legal obstacles US faced to extend Iran arms embargo IRNA 18 Oct 2020 -- Countdown for the lifting of a 2007 arms embargo against Iran came to an end on Sunday although the United States had launched a campaign to extend the restrictions on Iran from several months ago.
• Speaker: End of Iran arms embargo great failure for US government IRNA 18 Oct 2020 -- Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said that lifting the arms embargo on Iran was a great failure for the US government and it is a victory for Iranian nation when the US snapback attempt was thwarted by the United Nations Security Council.
• Iran engaging in legitimate arms trade in accordance with int'l law, on basis of national interests ISNA 18 Oct 2020 -- Permanent Mission of Iran to the United Nations in a statement announced that Iran engages in legitimate trade—in accordance with international law and on the basis of its national interests—with other countries, including in the realm of the arms trade.
• Iran's Foreign Ministry releases statement on termination of UNSC provisions on arms restrictions ISNA 18 Oct 2020 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry released a statement on termination of UNSC provisions on arms restrictions and travel ban, saying the definitive and unconditional termination of arms restrictions and travel bans requires no new resolution.
• Iran says UN arms embargo lifted People's Daily 18 Oct 2020 -- A United Nations-imposed arms embargo on Iran ended officially on Sunday in line with a 2015 landmark nuclear deal, the Iranian foreign ministry said.
• Iran declares official termination of UN arms embargo Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry says the UN Security Council's arms restrictions against Tehran have all been terminated in defiance of the United States' efforts.
• Defense Minister says Iran will sell weapons to countries despised by US Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- Iran's defense minister says the country is going to support the countries that seek to defend their existence now that the UN Security Council's restrictions on Tehran's arms trade are lifted.
• Pompeo warns of sanctions for arms sales to Iran despite ban lifting Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- The United States has threatened to impose sanctions on any individuals and entities that get engaged in arms transfer to and from Iran, claiming that the sales to Tehran would be in breach of United Nations resolutions despite the lifting of a decade-long arms embargo on the Islamic Republic.
• Iran's UN mission hails end of 'unjust' arms embargo Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations hails the end of a "baseless, unjust, and unlawful" arms embargo against the Islamic Republic that has just expired.
• Iranians Demand President Rouhani's Execution, MP Says Radio Farda 18 Oct 2020 -- The Chairman of the Iranian parliament's influential Commission for National Security and Foreign Policy, Mojtaba Zonnour, said that President Hassan Rouhani deserves to be executed a thousand times a day, and that the Iranian people would agree with his views.
• U.S. Threatens Sanctions On Iranian Arms Sales As Tehran Says Embargo Lifted RFE/RL 18 Oct 2020 -- The United States has threatened to sanction any individual or entity selling conventional weapons to Iran, hours after Tehran claimed that a UN embargo on such sales had been lifted.
• Iran Says UN Arms Embargo On Conventional Weapons Has Ended RFE/RL 18 Oct 2020 -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry says a UN embargo on conventional arms sales to Iran was lifted on October 18 under the terms of the 2015 landmark nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.
• China beefing up coastal missile deployment to target Taiwan: report CNA 18 Oct 2020 -- China has been building up its coastal missile deployment in preparation for a possible invasion of Taiwan, Hong Kong media reported Sunday.
• Rumored PLA deployment of DF-17 hypersonic missiles near Taiwan Straits could deter US meddling in China's internal affairs: analysts Global Times 18 Oct 2020 -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has deployed its most advanced hypersonic missile, the DF-17, to the Chinese mainland's southeast coast near the island of Taiwan, Hong Kong media reported on Sunday, sparking fear on the island. Although the reports are merely speculation, the PLA missile that is impossible to be intercepted can effectively deter Taiwan secessionists, control the Taiwan Straits and keep foreign interventions away, Chinese mainland analysts said on Sunday.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Yemeni fighters hit positions of Saudi Arabia's mercenaries, fatalities reported Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- Yemeni army soldiers, backed by fighters from allied the Popular Committees, have reportedly mounted an offensive in the southwestern province of Dhale, where dozens of Saudi-sponsored militiamen loyal to former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi were killed.
• The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen: Terrorist Houthi Militia Launches Ballistic Missile (Sunday) Morning from (Sana'a), Falls Short in (Sa'dah) SPA 18 Oct 2020 -- Statement by the Official Spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen COL Turki Al-Malki
• Yerevan Says Karabakh Army Knocks Out 4 Attacking Azerbaijani Tanks South of Contact Line Sputnik 18 Oct 2020 -- The Defence Army of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has knocked out four attacking Azerbaijani tanks south of the contact line, the Armenian Defense Ministry said on Sunday morning, hours after a fresh ceasefire took effect in the region.
• Yemen: Combatants 'have to find strength' to end fighting, says UN humanitarian official UN News 18 Oct 2020 -- Parties to the conflict in Yemen must do more to protect civilians, a senior UN humanitarian official there has said, as the number of civilian deaths has witnessed a sharp rise over the last few weeks in the war-ravaged country.
• Armenia, Azerbaijan Exchanging Accusations of Violating Humanitarian Truce VOA 18 Oct 2020 -- Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other Sunday of violating a new humanitarian cease-fire in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, just hours after it took effect.
• Karabakh calmer but warring sides report violations of new truce Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- Armenia and Azerbaijan have accused each other of violating a new ceasefire over Karabakh, shortly after a new ceasefire went into effect overnight.
• Armenia, Azerbaijan Accuse Each Other Of Violating Fresh Cease-Fire RFE/RL 18 Oct 2020 -- Armenia and Azerbaijan have accused each other of violating a new cease-fire aimed at stopping the fighting over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
• Turkey's Erdogan Blames US, Russia & France for Helping Arm Armenia Sputnik 18 Oct 2020 -- Armed clashes in Nagorno-Karabakh region broke out on 27 September, with both Armenian and Azerbaijani sides accusing each other of firing the first shot.
• Both sides obliged to 'spare and protect civilians' over Nagorno-Karabakh fighting declares UN's Guterres UN News 18 Oct 2020 -- The UN Secretary-General on Sunday condemned "all attacks on populated areas" in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh zone of conflict, as Armenia and Azerbaijan reportedly accused each other of violating the latest humanitarian ceasefire agreement.
• Turkish Cypriots vote in presidential run-off amid tensions Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- Turkish Cypriots have begun voting in a tight run-off election to pick a new president, amid an escalation of tensions between Turkey and Greece over a territorial dispute in the Mediterranean Sea.
• Erdogan Congratulates Pro-Turkey Winner in Northern Cyprus Presidential Election Sputnik 18 Oct 2020 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated the president-elect of the unrecognized Republic of Northern Cyprus, Ersin Tatar, on his victory in Sunday's election.
• Turkish Cypriots vote in presidential run-off amid tensions Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- Turkish Cypriots have begun voting in a tight run-off election to pick a new president, amid an escalation of tensions between Turkey and Greece over a territorial dispute in the Mediterranean Sea.
• Erdogan Congratulates Pro-Turkey Winner in Northern Cyprus Presidential Election Sputnik 18 Oct 2020 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated the president-elect of the unrecognized Republic of Northern Cyprus, Ersin Tatar, on his victory in Sunday's election.

News Reports

• Latest Terror Attack in France Sparks Anger, Fear VOA 18 Oct 2020 -- France saw countrywide rallies defending free speech and secularism Sunday, while the government discussed a stronger response to Islamist extremism following the brutal killing of a French schoolteacher last week.
• Laws amended to further regulate use of national flag, emblem PLA Daily 18 Oct 2020 -- Amendments to the National Flag Law and the National Emblem Law were adopted by China's top legislature Saturday in Beijing.
• China's FY satellites contributes to production, lifts people's livelihood People's Daily 18 Oct 2020 -- According to China Meteorological Administration (CMA), 4 to 5 typhoons might be generated in northwest Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea, and 1 or 2 of them could possibly hit or have an obvious impact on the coastal areas in south China.
• Complying with FATF to expose Iran's efforts to evade US sanctions: Expert Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- Iran would enjoy almost no benefit if it fully complies with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international bloc to fight money laundering and terrorism financing, says a senior expert who believes such a move would even harm Iran's efforts to evade illegal and inhumane sanctions imposed by the United States.
• US court sentences Iranian CEO to 23 months over alleged sanctions violations Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- A court in the US state of Minnesota has sentenced an Iranian national to nearly two years in federal prison over accusations of violating US sanctions.
• Rouhani: Govt. foiled ominous US plot to disintegrate Iran Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- President Hassan Rouhani says the Iranian government, through its calculated planning, has managed to thwart a scheme hatched by the United States to break up the country.
• Thai protesters defy ban to call for reforms, PM seeks talks Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- Thousands of protesters have once again taken to the streets of Thailand's capital, Bangkok, to continue their call for reforms in the monarchy and the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha despite a ban on large gatherings.
• Thai Protesters Defy Ban on Large Gatherings VOA 18 Oct 2020 -- Thousands of demonstrators continued to protest Thailand's prime minister in Bangkok Sunday, defying a ban on gatherings of more than four people.
• Belarusian Police Detain More Than 90 As Protests Enter 11th Week RFE/RL 18 Oct 2020 -- Belarusian police detained more than 90 people during the latest rally to demand that authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka step down as a political standoff enters its 11th week.
• Turkish president announces more gas reserves in Black Sea People's Daily 18 Oct 2020 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Saturday that Turkey found more gas reserves in the Black Sea.
• Michael Gove creates more confusion over post-Brexit trade talks Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- Just a day after Downing Street said that post-Brexit trade talks are effectively "over", the Cabinet Office Minister, Michael Gove, has created yet further confusion by claiming that the door to further talks is "still ajar".
• Bolivians cast votes in presidential polls, hope it will restore political stability Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- Bolivians began voting on Sunday in a presidential election many hope can restore stability to a nation that plunged into turmoil after a fraught and eventually voided vote last year, leaving the country in the hands of an interim president.
• New Zealand PM Ardern wins 2nd term in landslide victory Press TV 18 Oct 2020 -- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she will form a government within three weeks, as her center-left Labour Party won a landslide victory in the country's general elections.
• Conde Seeks Controversial Third Term in Guinea Elections VOA 18 Oct 2020 -- Voters in Guinea went to the polls Sunday to cast ballots for a president, as incumbent Alpha Conde seeks a controversial third term.