• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• U.S. Prevents Iran from Seizing Two Merchant Tankers in Gulf of Oman CENTCOM 05 Jul 2023 -- On July 5, U.S. forces prevented two attempted commercial tanker seizures by the Iranian Navy after the Iranians had opened fire in one of the incidents near the coast of Oman.
• U.S. Navy Says Iran Tried To Seize Two Oil Tankers Near Strait Of Hormuz RFE/RL 05 Jul 2023 -- Iran tried to seize two oil tankers in international waters near the strategic Strait of Hormuz early on July 5, firing shots at one of them, the U.S. Navy said.
• Informed Iranian source denies US claim Tehran sought to seize tankers in Persian Gulf Press TV 05 Jul 2023 -- Iran made no attempt to seize oil tankers in the Persian Gulf on Wednesday, an informed Iranian defense source has told Iranian Persian-language media, denying an earlier US claim accusing Tehran of trying to take control of two ships.
• Russian unprofessional behavior over Syria - 5 July 2023 CENTCOM 05 Jul 2023 -- Earlier today at approximately 10:40 A.M., Russian military aircraft engaged in unsafe and unprofessional behavior while interacting with U.S. aircraft in Syria. While three U.S. MQ-9 drones were conducting a mission against ISIS targets, three Russian fighter jets began harassing the drones. Against established norms and protocols, the Russian jets dropped multiple parachute flares in front of the drones, forcing our aircraft to conduct evasive maneuvers.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Senior Defense Official Holds a Background Briefing on the Findings and Recommendations of the Comprehensive Review of Department of Defense Security Programs, Policies, and Procedures DoD 05 Jul 2023
• Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Approves Findings, Recommendations on 45-day Security Review DoD 05 Jul 2023-- Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has completed his review of the findings and recommendations of the comprehensive review of Department of Defense security programs, policies, and procedures that he directed the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security (USD(I&S)), in coordination with the DoD Chief Information Officer and the Director, Administration and Management, to conduct.
• Austin Directs DOD Components to Reinforce Classified Safeguards Following Security Review DoD News 05 Jul 2023 -- Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has tasked Defense Department components with implementing a series of recommendations aimed at improving classified information safeguards. This action follows the Pentagon's review of departmentwide security programs and policies undertaken after the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information discovered online in the spring.
• Fact Sheet on DOD 2023 Security Review: Findings and Recommendations DOD 05 Jul 2023
• Secretary of Defense Memorandum on Security Review Follow-on Actions DOD 05 Jul 2023
• Pentagon to Enhance Security for Classified Intelligence VOA 05 Jul 2023 -- The U.S. Defense Department will not order a sweeping overhaul of its security procedures following a review of the leak of hundreds of classified documents earlier this year on a social media platform popular with gamers.
• Pentagon Says Identified Areas to Improve Security Posture in Light of Teixeira Leak Sputnik 05 Jul 2023 -- The US Department of Defense (DoD) said on Wednesday that following a 45-day review it has found several areas where the department should improve its security posture and accountability measures in light of the Jack Teixeira leakage incident.
• 7th Army Training Command Joint Multinational Simulation Center hosts multinational command post exercise Army News 05 Jul 2023 -- 7th Army Training Command's Joint Multinational Simulation Center housed a multi-corps, multinational, multi-domain (M3) command post exercise (CPX) from June 5 - 14, 2023 during Defender 23.
• Exercise Intrepid Maven 23.4 to Commence in Jordan USMC News 05 Jul 2023 -- Approximately 450 Marines and Sailors, alongside partnering infantry and artillery elements of the Jordanian Armed Forces, are participating in Exercise Intrepid Maven 23.4, set to occur at various locations within Jordan from July 3-13, 2023.
• U.S., Allied Forces Conduct Exercise Pacific Vanguard 2023 US Navy 05 Jul 2023 -- Maritime forces from Royal Australia Navy (RAN), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy, and the U.S. Navy are underway July 4, conducting cooperative maritime exercise Pacific Vanguard (PV) 2023.
• Readout of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities Dr. Mara Karlin's Visit to Australia DoD 05 Jul 2023
• Biden Meets Swedish PM as Turkey Signals No to Sweden Joining NATO VOA 05 Jul 2023 -- U.S. President Joe Biden met with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson as the White House works to persuade Turkey to approve Sweden's NATO accession ahead of the alliance's summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, next week.
s militants.
• Readout of President Biden's Meeting with Prime Minister Kristersson of Sweden The White House 05 Jul 2023
• Remarks by President Biden and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of Sweden Before Bilateral Meeting The White House 05 Jul 2023
• No: 166, 5 July 2023, Press Release Regarding the Extension of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's Tenure Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs 05 Jul 2023
• NATO stresses need for de-escalation for lasting security in Kosovo and stability in the Western Balkans NATO 05 Jul 2023 -- NATO's Assistant Secretary General for Operations, Tom Goffus, reiterated NATO's steadfast commitment to promote regional stability during a visit to Kosovo on Wednesday (5 July 2023).
• NATO extends Secretary General Stoltenberg's mandate to October 2024 People's Daily 05 Jul 2023 -- Jens Stoltenberg's mandate as the secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will be extended by a further year until Oct. 1, 2024, the transatlantic alliance announced on Tuesday.
• Northern Fleet's Tu-142 anti-submarine aircraft performs scheduled flight in Arctic Russia MoD 05 Jul 2023-- Tu-142 anti-submarine aircraft of the Air Force and Air Defence of the Northern Fleet carried out another scheduled flight over the neutral waters of the Arctic Ocean.
• Pacific Fleet corvettes Gromkiy and Sovershenniy make business call at Chinese naval base of Shanghai Russia MoD 05 Jul 2023-- A detachment of Pacific Fleet warships comprising corvettes Gromkiy and Sovershenniy, which are on assignment in the Asia-Pacific region, made a business call at the People's Liberation Army Navy's Shanghai Naval Base.
• Long-range aviation pilots conduct flying and tactical exercises on Kola Peninsula and in Siberia Russia MoD 05 Jul 2023-- Flight and tactical exercises of long-range aviation crews using Tu-160 and Tu-95ms aircraft have started in Irkutsk and Murmansk regions.
• NATO Summit: Will Allies Agree to Fast-Track Ukraine's Membership? VOA 05 Jul 2023 -- Renewed military support for Ukraine will top the agenda as NATO prepares for its annual two-day summit July 11 and 12 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Kyiv is urging the alliance to fast-track its membership application at the meeting.
• Ukrainian president, NATO chief hold phone conversation ahead of alliance's summit People's Daily 05 Jul 2023 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday held a phone conversation with Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg ahead of the alliance's upcoming summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.
• German Parliament Approves Purchase of 60 Chinook Helicopters From US' Boeing Sputnik 05 Jul 2023 -- The defense committee of the German parliament approved the purchase of 60 CH-47F Chinook heavy military transport helicopters from US company Boeing, a German daily reported on Wednesday.
• Seoul Believes Debris of N. Korea's Military Satellite Has 'No Military Utility' Sputnik 05 Jul 2023 -- South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) believes the extracted wreckage of North Korea's military satellite, which Pyongyang attempted to launch in late May, had "no military utility," the national news agency reported Wednesday, citing the military.
• JAPAN INDIA MARITIME EXERCISE 2023 (JIMEX 23) India PIB 05 Jul 2023 -- The seventh edition of the bilateral Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2023 (JIMEX 23) hosted by the Indian Navy, is being conducted at/ off Visakhapatnam from 05 -10 July 2023
• Poland-UK strategic partnership Republic of Poland 05 Jul 2023-- On 4-5 July 2023, Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau paid a visit to London. The main item on the agenda were the Polish-British consultations in the Quadriga format with the participation of Foreign Ministers, Zbigniew Rau and James Cleverly, and Defence Ministers, Mariusz Błaszczak and Ben Wallace.
• UK and Poland strengthen foreign policy, security and defence cooperation UK MOD 05 Jul 2023 -- The UK and Polish Foreign and Defence secretaries signed the 2030 Strategic Partnership following talks at Lancaster House.
• Gabrielius Landsbergis: the Indo-Pacific Strategy is a new and significant step in strengthening cooperation with the region Lithuania MFA 05 Jul 2023-- The 5 July Government meeting has approved Lithuania's Indo-Pacific strategy - for secure, resilient, and prosperous future prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Strategy lays down the key interests of Lithuanian activities and priority actions in the region. The document aims at contributing to greater Lithuanian security, higher economic well-being and networking in the Indo-Pacific region.
• First batch of German armour vests delivered to warehousing facility at Šiauliai Lithuania MND 05 Jul 2023-- Nearly 10 thousand tactical vests worth of EUR 18 million has been acquired for the needs of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
• The President: Strategic partnership between Lithuania and Poland takes on a new meaning President of the Republic of Lithuania 05 Jul 2023-- On Wednesday, President Gitanas Nausėda met with Polish President Andrzej Duda, who is on a state visit to Lithuania. The Lithuanian and Polish leaders discussed preparations for the NATO Summit in Vilnius, the security situation in the region and bilateral cooperation.
• A look at Defence 26 June - 2 July Netherlands Ministry of Defence 05 Jul 2023

Defense Industry

• Contracts For July 5, 2023

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News
• UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Omar Abdi's remarks at the UN Security Council Open Debate: How to prevent and respond to grave violations against children in armed conflict UNICEF 05 Jul 2023
• 'Bold and resolute' action needed to protect children affected by war UN News 05 Jul 2023 -- Last year, 27,180 grave violations were committed against children caught up in war - the highest number ever verified by the UN, the Security Council heard on Wednesday.
• Q&A: Nine Out of 10 Afghan Households Lack 'Adequate' Food, WFP Top Official Says VOA 05 Jul 2023 -- The deputy executive director and chief operating officer for the U.N. World Food Program, Carl Skau, says that Afghanistan is facing a dire humanitarian situation with nine out of 10 Afghan families lacking adequate food and "children and pregnant women are the hardest hit."
• UN humanitarian leaders urge renewal of authorization for northwest Syria cross-border lifeline UNOCHA 05 Jul 2023 -- Four million people in northwest Syria - most of them women and children - rely on humanitarian aid to survive following years of conflict, economic shocks, disease outbreaks, and spiraling poverty compounded by the devastating earthquakes.
• Israel Ends Its Siege of Jenin, Leaving Widespread Destruction in West Bank Refugee Camp VOA 05 Jul 2023 -- Israel's military on Wednesday ended its two-day siege of the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, with residents emerging from their homes or returning from nearby shelters to find widespread destruction in their community.
• Israel Conducts Gaza Airstrike After Ending West Bank Raid VOA 05 Jul 2023 -- Israel's military said Wednesday it carried out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip in response to rocket fire, targeting a weapons production site used by suspected Hama
• Israeli army withdraws from Jenin after 2-day military operation People's Daily 05 Jul 2023 -- The Israeli army withdrew on Tuesday night from the northern West Bank city of Jenin and its refugee camp, ending a two-day large-scale military operation there, Israeli and Palestinian sources said.
• Aid workers hunt for bodies after shelling, air raids in Myanmar's Shan state Radio Free Asia 05 Jul 2023 -- At least 28 civilians have been killed in nearly six weeks of fierce fighting between junta forces and ethnic armies in Myanmar's eastern Shan state, aid workers told RFA Wednesday.
• Sudan: top UN officials sound alarm at spike in violence against women and girls WFP 05 Jul 2023 -- Senior United Nations officials today voiced shock and condemnation at increasing reports of gender-based violence in Sudan - including conflict-related sexual violence against internally displaced and refugee women and girls - since fighting erupted in the country more than 11 weeks ago.
• UN voices 'shock and condemnation' as gender-based violence soars across Sudan UN News 05 Jul 2023 -- The UN's top humanitarian officials on Wednesday voiced shock and condemnation over increasing reports of gender-based violence in Sudan as the military power struggle there continues.
• Sudan: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the armed conflict EC/CEU 05 Jul 2023-- The European Union (EU) strongly condemns the ongoing fighting in Sudan, as well as the continued refusal of the parties to the conflict to seek a peaceful solution.
• Telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan President of Russia 05 Jul 2023 -- Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, at the initiative of the Armenian side.
• EU Envoy Says Pristina Must Take Steps To De-Escalate Tensions Before Sanctions Will Be Eased RFE/RL 05 Jul 2023 -- The European Union will not lift political and economic sanctions on Kosovo unless the government in Pristina de-escalates tensions with ethnic Serbs, the EU envoy for dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia said on July 4 after a meeting with Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
• Serbian President Vucic Says Serbs in Kosovo Facing Greatest Persecution in 15 Years Sputnik 05 Jul 2023 -- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Wednesday that the current persecution of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija is the greatest in the last 15 years.
• WFP funding crisis leaves millions stranded without aid in West Africa UN News 05 Jul 2023 -- Funding constraints mean that the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has been forced to limit emergency aid to only 6.2 million of the most vulnerable people in need across West Africa, scaling back from an initial target of assisting 11.6 million, the agency announced on Wednesday.

News Reports

• Navalny Raps 'Nonsense' Evidence Presented At His Trial, Earning Laughs In Courtroom RFE/RL 05 Jul 2023 -- Jailed Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny tweeted on July 5 that lyrics from popular Russian hip-hop artist Morgenshtern have been entered as evidence in his current closed-door trial in which he faces an additional three decades in prison on charges of "extremism."
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on July 5, 2023 PRC MofA 05 Jul 2023
• US urged to address China's concerns ahead of Yellen's visit Global Times 05 Jul 2023 -- As US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is set to arrive in Beijing on Thursday to kick off a long-awaited visit, many in China are watching the latest round of talks between Chinese and US officials with mixed feelings, with businesses and analysts welcoming the trip while remaining cautious over the potential breakthroughs it could achieve.
• China Cancels Visit by European Union's Foreign Policy Chief VOA 05 Jul 2023 -- The European Union says China has canceled a planned visit by Josep Borrell, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy.
• China-EU high-level exchanges continue amid Borrell's trip snub Global Times 05 Jul 2023 -- The high-level exchanges between China and the EU have continued moving forward in some practical areas of cooperation such as climate change despite reports which claimed that top EU diplomat Josep Borrell's scheduled trip to China was shelved.
• MAC urged to raise China travel advisory due to new spying laws CNA 05 Jul 2023 -- The opposition Taiwan Statebuilding Party (TSP) on Wednesday urged Taiwan's government to upgrade a travel advisory for China, Hong Kong, and Macau after Beijing recently adopted two laws on foreign relations and counter-espionage activities.
• Despite bounty, Hong Kong labor activist vows to keep fighting authoritarian rule Radio Free Asia 05 Jul 2023 -- Despite having a bounty on his head, exiled Hong Kong trade unionist Mung Siu-tat has vowed to keep fighting against the Chinese Communist Party's authoritarian rule from overseas.
• Former Hong Kong Lawmaker Says China Using 'Terror' To Muzzle Dissent Overseas VOA 05 Jul 2023 -- China's Foreign Ministry has told Australia to stop sheltering fugitives and "stop lending support for anti-China" elements.
• 4 Members of Defunct Pro-Democracy Party Arrested in Hong Kong VOA 05 Jul 2023 -- Hong Kong police have arrested four members of the defunct pro-democracy party Demosisto on suspicion of collusion with foreign forces, a key violation of the city's national security law.
• The 'Curse of 35' in China: Job-hunters battle age discrimination Radio Free Asia 05 Jul 2023 -- When China put an end to the grueling lockdowns, mass testing and compulsory quarantines of the zero-COVID era, most people were hoping life would get back to normal.
• Chinese mainland willing to engage in positive interaction to maintain peace: Taiwan Affairs Office Global Times 05 Jul 2023 -- The Chinese mainland is willing to work together with various political parties in Taiwan, including the Kuomintang (KMT), to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits on the common political basis of upholding the "1992 Consensus" and opposing "Taiwan independence," for the benefit of compatriots on both sides of the straits, said Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, as a press conference on Tuesday.
• Proposed expansion to reinforce U.S. commitment to Taiwan: AIT CNA 05 Jul 2023 -- A proposed expansion of the American Institute in Taiwan's (AIT) office compound in Taipei to land adjacent to the compound is meant to reinforce America's "rock-solid commitment to Taiwan," it said Wednesday.
• International Coordination and Response Group for the victims of Flight PS752: joint statement, 5 July 2023 UK FCDO 05 Jul 2023 -- The International Coordination and Response Group have filed an application with the International Court of Justice instituting proceedings against Iran
• Four Countries Ask International Court to Hold Iran Responsible for Airliner Downing VOA 05 Jul 2023 -- Canada, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom have asked the International Court of Justice to hold Iran responsible for the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane over Tehran that killed all on board and provide compensation to the families of those killed.
• Iran: Executions and detentions in spotlight at Human Rights Council UN News 05 Jul 2023 -- Iran faced calls on Wednesday from top UN-appointed rights investigators to halt the executions of people sentenced to death in connection with anti-Government demonstrations that have continued since the death in custody of Mahsa Amini last September.
• The regime cannot ignore calls for change: UK and partners call out Iran over executions UK FCDO 05 Jul 2023 -- The UK's Minister of State for the Middle East has urged the Iranian regime to end the surge in executions, following a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council.
• UN Investigators: Iran Must End Brutal Crackdown on Protesters VOA 05 Jul 2023 -- U.N. investigators have condemned the failure of Iranian authorities to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the in-custody death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini 10 months after she was arrested by the so-called morality police for allegedly not covering her hair properly with a hijab or headscarf.
• Iranian FM: Significant issue at SCO focusing on peace, int'l security ISNA 05 Jul 2023 -- Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stressed that one of the significant issues for Iran at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is focusing on peace and international security.
• International aid groups still unable to deliver supplies to Cyclone Mocha victims Radio Free Asia 05 Jul 2023 -- Nearly two months after Cyclone Mocha devastated Myanmar's Rakhine state, international organizations are still unable to travel to affected areas to provide humanitarian aid.
• Son Of Former Would-Be Belarusian Presidential Candidate Sentenced To Eight Years RFE/RL 05 Jul 2023 -- The son of jailed Belarusian presidential hopeful Viktar Babaryka has been convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison on charges that he and other activists rejected as trumped up.
• Transcript of Special Briefing by Foreign Secretary on the 23rd Summit of the SCO Council of Heads of State India MEA 05 Jul 2023
• PM call with the President of the United Arab Emirates: 5 July 2023 Gov.UK 05 Jul 2023
• Bolivian president rebukes restrictions imposed by U.S. financial system People's Daily 05 Jul 2023 -- Bolivian President Luis Arce on Tuesday rejected constraints imposed by the U.S. financial system, urging the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) to "reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar."
• A year into office, Marcos embraces US in balancing act with China Radio Free Asia 05 Jul 2023 -- Amid increasing tensions in Asia during his first year in power, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has embraced the United States and other democratic allies, and shifted away from six years of his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte's pivot to China.
• Laos turns to China for gasoline imports amid economic crisis Radio Free Asia 05 Jul 2023 -- Laos has begun importing gasoline from China instead of purchasing it from neighboring Thailand amid an ongoing economic crisis, including surging inflation that has prompted one lawmaker to call for an increase in salaries for domestic workers and state employees.
• Experts: Cambodia Deepens Reliance on China Ahead of Election VOA 05 Jul 2023 -- China-funded development projects in Cambodia are a mixed bag for the country as some see them as an opportunity to improve the country's poor infrastructure while others raise concerns about Cambodia's economic dependence on China, according to analysts.
• Cambodia declares Meta oversight board members 'persona non grata' Radio Free Asia 05 Jul 2023 -- Cambodia said it has declared the 22 people on Meta's oversight board "persona non grata," barring them from entering the country, after the regulatory group recommended suspending Prime Minister Hun Sen's Facebook account.