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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• August 31 U.S. Central Command Update CENTCOM 31 Aug 2024 -- In the past 24 hours, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed one Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) and one uncrewed surface vessel (USV) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
• Yemeni forces target Israeli-bound ship in Gulf of Aden: Army spokesman Press TV 31 Aug 2024 -- The spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces says the country's forces have carried out an attack on an Israeli-bound ship in the Gulf of Aden in support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
• Yemen says Israel-bound ship hit in Gulf of Aden IRNA 31 Aug 2024 -- The Yemeni Armed Forces have announced a new military operation against an Israeli-bound ship in their latest move to support Palestinians in war-ravaged Gaza.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Ukraine: Zelensky dismisses air force chief after deadly F-16 crash Press TV 31 Aug 2024 -- Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleshchuk, commander of Ukraine's air force, has been fired by President Volodymyr Zelensky after an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a bombardment of Russian territory.
• Prague Backs Ukraine Defense On Russian Territory But Acknowledges 'Dilemma' RFE/RL 31 Aug 2024 -- Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky has insisted Ukraine has a right to defend itself, including through attacks on Russian territory amid a debate over Western-imposed limits on the use of weaponry, but he acknowledged that Prague's allies supplying the most sophisticated weapons face "strategic dilemmas."
• Arms Supply and Peace Formula Implementation: Ukrainian Delegation Met with National Security Advisers of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France in Washington President of Ukraine 31 Aug 2024
• In the United States, Andriy Yermak Met with U.S. Military and Security Experts President of Ukraine 31 Aug 2024
• "Our momentum in UAVs is admired across the world" Presidency of The Republic of Turkey 31 Aug 2024 -- Speaking at the Air War College Commencement and Flag Handover Ceremony, President Erdoğan said: "The momentum we have achieved in unmanned aerial vehicles is admired not only by friendly and brotherly nations, but also across the whole world. As you know, we are one of the top 3-4 countries in the world in this field."
• "We will protect our rights in the Blue Homeland till the end" Presidency of The Republic of Turkey 31 Aug 2024 -- Speaking at the Naval War College Commencement and Flag Handover Ceremony, President Erdoğan said: "We will protect our rights in the Blue Homeland, trivialized by some, till the end. We will not allow the rights of our Cypriot Turkish brothers and sisters to be violated. We will resolutely put into action whatever Türkiye's interests necessitate in the Aegean, the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean without seeking anyone's approval or without heeding who says what."
• Germany pulls out military forces from Niger Press TV 31 Aug 2024 -- Germany has pulled out its military forces from the country of Niger in the restive Sahel region of Africa.
• Pål Jonson signs Joint Declaration on defence cooperation with Czech Republic Government Offices of Sweden 31 Aug 2024 -- Mr Pål Jonson, Minister for Defence, Sweden, today had a bilateral meeting with Ms Jana Černochová, Minister for Defence, Czech Republic, during the security conference GLOBSEC Forum, which is taking place from 30 August to 1 September in Prague. A Joint Declaration on the Enhancement of Defence Cooperation was signed.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

Ukraine Conflict News

Operation Iron Swords / Operation Al-Aqsa Flood

• No Ceasefire in Gaza for Polio Vaccination Says Netanyahu's Office Sputnik 31 Aug 2024 -- The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied reports of an alleged complete ceasefire in the Gaza Strip for the purpose of vaccinating the population against polio, noting that limited zones will be allocated for safe vaccination for a short period.
• Aug 30: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation Press TV 31 Aug 2024
• Israeli airstrikes kill dozens in Gaza as polio vaccination campaign begins VOA 31 Aug 2024 -- Israeli airstrikes Saturday killed at least 42 people in central and southern areas of the Gaza Strip, the enclave's civil defense agency said, as fierce fighting continues ahead of a massive polio vaccination campaign.
• 34 Palestinians martyred in fresh Israeli attacks on Gaza IRNA 31 Aug 2024 -- The continuation of the Israeli regime's aggression on the Gaza Strip led to the martyrdom of 34 Palestinians in the besieged area during the past hours.
• Israeli Strikes on Gaza Kill 89, Injure 205 Over 48 Hours - Health Ministry Sputnik 31 Aug 2024 -- At least 89 people have been killed and another 205 injured in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in the past two days, the enclave's health ministry said on Saturday.
• Palestinians in Jenin use RPGs for first time during battles with Israeli forces IRNA 31 Aug 2024 -- Palestinian resistance fighters based in the occupied West Bank are using rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) for the first time during their battles with Israeli occupation forces.
• Jenin under siege as Israel's brutal assault on West Bank continues Press TV 31 Aug 2024 -- On the fourth day of Israel's assault on the West Bank, the city of Jenin has been "cut off from the world" as the regime's troops have blocked access to aid for Palestinians and continue their deadly raids on the occupied territory.
• Palestinian resistance groups praise coordinated West Bank operations Press TV 31 Aug 2024 -- Palestinian resistance groups have commended two separate retaliatory car bomb explosions that targeted the illegal Israeli settlements of Gush Etzion and Karmei Tzur in the southern part of the occupied West Bank.
• At least 3 Israeli settlers injured in separate attacks in occupied West Bank Press TV 31 Aug 2024 -- In two separate attacks, at least 3 Israeli settlers have been injured in the occupied West Bank.
• New details emerege of attack on Israeli Karmei Tzur settlement IRNA 31 Aug 2024 -- A Palestinian fighter ran over an Israeli guard in the settlement of Karmei Tzur with a car, then entered the settlement and shot at some Zionists, Israeli news outlets reported on Saturday.
• Hamas terms Israeli attack on humanitarian aid convoy "war crime" IRNA 31 Aug 2024 -- The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has censured Israel's targeting a US humanitarian aid convoy in Gaza, saying it was a war crime.
• Hamas: Resistance will surprise Israel in West Bank IRNA 31 Aug 2024 -- After carrying out two anti-Zionist operations in the north of al-Khalil, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has in a statement announced that the resistance in the West Bank will surprise the Zionist regime.
• Hezbollah targets Israeli military sites with rockets, drones IRNA 31 Aug 2024 -- Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has reported a rocket attack on the Israeli military base Al-Marj, hitting it directly.
• Israeli security apparatus fears Hezbollah drones: Report IRNA 31 Aug 2024 -- Israeli media has admitted that the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah's drones have worried the occupying regime's security apparatus.
• Hezbollah launches missile attacks on northern occupied Palestine IRNA 31 Aug 2024 -- Some news outlets reported late on Friday that the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has targeted the Zionist regime's bases and settlements in northern occupied Palestine through tens of missiles.

Other Conflicts

• China, Philippines trade blame over "ramming" at disputed shoal Radio Free Asia 31 Aug 2024 -- China and the Philippines traded accusations of ramming each other's vessels on Saturday at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, marking an apparent escalation in an already tense situation in the area.
• U.S. Support for the Philippines in the South China Sea US Dept. of State 31 Aug 2024 -- The United States stands with its ally, the Philippines, and condemns the dangerous and escalatory actions by the People's Republic of China (PRC) against lawful Philippine maritime operations in the vicinity of Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea on August 31.
• Chinese experts criticize Philippines for endangering ships and violating humanitarian principles after Philippine vessel deliberately collides with CCG ship at Xianbin Jiao Global Times 31 Aug 2024 -- At 08:02 on Saturday, the Philippine ship 9701 weighed anchor and continued its provocations at China's Xianbin Jiao (also known as Xianbin Reef) in the South China Sea. In response, the Chinese coast guard ship 5205 lawfully issued verbal warnings and conducted monitoring and control measures, according to the China Coast Guard (CCG) on Saturday.
• China vessel damages BRP Magbanua; PH 'seriously concerned' Philippine News Agency 31 Aug 2024 -- The Philippines expressed its "serious concern" over the latest ramming incident in Escoda Shoal, National Maritime Council (NMC) spokesperson Vice Adm. Alexander Lopez said on Saturday afternoon.
• UN Vows To Remain Engaged In Afghanistan Despite Taliban's Latest Restrictions On Women RFE/RL 31 Aug 2024 -- The United Nations said it will continue to engage with all parties in Afghanistan, including the Taliban, even after the hard-line rulers issued a "distressing" new morality law that severely bans women's activities in public.
• China-India meeting on border issues 'a positive signal' Global Times 31 Aug 2024 -- China and India held their 31st meeting of the working mechanism for consultations and coordination on border affairs, the second within a month and with the shortest interval in the series of meetings, except for 2020 when six rounds of talks were held after the Galwan skirmish. Analysts said the recent frequent interactions between China and India signal that both sides are actively seeking to accelerate a resolution to the border standoff and to get bilateral relations back on track.
• MILF decommissioning, MNLF profiling key to peaceful elections: OPAPRU Philippine News Agency 31 Aug 2024 -- The Moro Islamic Liberation Front's (MILF) decommissioning and the Moro National Liberation Front's (MNLF) profiling are key to peaceful elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim (BARMM) in 2025, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) said Saturday.
• Djibouti offers port to defuse Ethiopia-Somalia tension VOA 31 Aug 2024 -- Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf says his country has a proposal that could solve the dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia.

News Reports

• 'Renaissance of illegals': Since start of war in Ukraine, Russia relies more on bargain-basement spies VOA 31 Aug 2024 -- They are known as "illegals" — spies who operate under the guise of normal jobs.
• China-Africa closer cooperation driven by real needs of continent Global Times 31 Aug 2024 -- A tour bus filled with travelers passed by a bustling construction site in a suburb of Tanzania's Zanzibar, adorned with posters of Chinese companies and where Chinese engineers were busy at work. One American tourist couldn't help but wonder: why are there so many Chinese in the local area?
• Analysts: Vietnamese leader visited China to reassure Beijing VOA 31 Aug 2024 -- Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary To Lam visited China to make sure that bilateral ties are on track under his country's new leadership and to build personal ties with China's top leaders, experts told VOA.
• Statement on the second anniversary of the UN assessment on human rights situation in Xinjiang Canada 31 Aug 2024
• Xi stresses China, Africa always a community with a shared future People's Daily 31 Aug 2024 -- China and Africa have always been a community with a shared future, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed on Tuesday in a reply to scholars from 50 African countries.
• China upholds rule of law in HKSAR case Global Times 31 Aug 2024 -- China urged some politicians from the West to stop political manipulation of the judiciary under the pretext of "press freedom" after they made irresponsible remarks regarding the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) court's trial of the criminal case involving two editors of "Stand News."
• Taiwan reference in PIF communique removed due to China pressure CNA 31 Aug 2024 -- A communique issued by the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) that mentioned support for Taiwan has been taken down and later republished on Saturday with the country's name no longer mentioned, due to pressure from China.
• PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC MND 31 Aug 2024
• Dispute over border telecom plan further strains China-North Korea ties VOA 31 Aug 2024 -- A new sign of discord has emerged in the ties between North Korea and China over Beijing's plan to install telecommunication facilities near its border, which analysts say could be a way for China to exert its influence over its southern neighbor.
• Ayatollah Khamenei appoints Bagheri Kani as member of Iran's Council on Foreign Relations Press TV 31 Aug 2024 -- Former Iranian acting foreign minister Ali Bagheri Kani has become a member of Iran's Strategic Council on Foreign Relations.
• Iranian Police Commander Fired After Death In Custody RFE/RL 31 Aug 2024 -- Iran's police force has fired the police commander in the city of Lahijan shortly after the death in custody of Mohammad Mirmusavi.
• Ankara-Damascus rapprochement in both nations' interests: Turkish defense minister Press TV 31 Aug 2024 -- Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler has expressed satisfaction with the process of rapprochement and restoration of diplomatic relations with Syria, stating that a quick normalization of mutual ties is in the interest of both neighboring countries.
• Maduro says US behind 'sabotage' after Venezuela hit by power blackout Press TV 31 Aug 2024 -- Power has returned in some parts of Venezuela after a nationwide outage that Caracas blames on sabotage of the national electrical grid by the US-backed opposition, as the oil-rich South American country is still reeling from crimes and violence that erupted following the July 28 presidential election.
• Azerbaijan's Second Snap Vote Since Karabakh Victory Could Further Signal Democratic Dead-End RFE/RL 31 Aug 2024 -- Azerbaijan holds parliamentary elections on September 1 that will almost certainly be dominated by allies -- and their children -- eager to help President Ilham Aliyev further consolidate his dynastic rule.
• Exclusive: Uzbek Leader's Son-In-Law Building Secretive Compound In Tashkent Worth Millions RFE/RL 31 Aug 2024 -- The son-in-law of Uzbekistan's president is building a secretive multimillion-dollar residential compound in a pricey district of this Central Asian capital, a project for which some two dozen homes have been razed, an investigation by RFE/RL's Uzbek Service has found.
• Moldova 'Confident' Of Democratic Vote Despite Warnings RFE/RL 31 Aug 2024 -- Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi has expressed confidence that Moldovan authorities and society can ensure smooth and democratic elections despite fears of Russian meddling when voters go to the polls in three months to pick a president and weigh in on EU aspirations.
• Taking Heat From Allies, Kosovo President Blames 'Dark Forces' RFE/RL 31 Aug 2024 -- PRAGUE -- Kosovo's President Vjosa Osmani has defended her country's right to protect its sovereignty in line with its constitution but acknowledged that the success and sustainability of those efforts depend on better cooperation with allies.
• Montenegrin President Says EU Shares Early Outlook On Membership RFE/RL 31 Aug 2024 -- Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic predicted on August 31 that his Balkan nation of under a million people will join the European Union within the next five years.
• Vucic Denies Close Ties To Putin, Says Serbia Is No 'Trojan Horse' For Russia RFE/RL 31 Aug 2024 -- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic denied having close links to Russian President Vladimir Putin and repeatedly batted back the notion that his EU candidate country was a "Trojan horse" for Moscow despite its refusal to join European sanctions since Russia invaded Ukraine and other differences with the bloc.
• Political change prompts concerns about Thailand's economy VOA 31 Aug 2024 -- After a whirlwind few weeks with Paetongtarn Shinawatra taking the helm as Thailand's new prime minister, Thailand's struggling economy needs a clear strategy moving forward to get it back on track, according to some analysts.
• Kyrgyzstan resettlement of Uzbekistan enclave gets mixed reviews VOA 31 Aug 2024 -- While Kyrgyz state media have portrayed the recent resettlement of residents of a Kyrgyz enclave in Uzbekistan in glowing terms, a different picture emerged during a VOA visit to the residents' new home.