On Wednesday, the U.K. Ministry of Defense announced that The Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers will receive a 50% increase of surface-to-air missiles as part of a major weapons refit. The Type 45s provide air defense for the U.K.'s Carrier Strike Group, among other tasks.
On Thursday, three rockets were fired at the United States embassy in Iraq at the end of a day marked by rocket and drone attacks on bases hosting American forces in Iraq and Syria. Recent attacks on U.S. military and diplomatic facilities have been blamed on pro-Iranian groups within a state-sponsored paramilitary force. Although the embassy itself was not hit, three nearby places within Baghdad's Green Zone, were.
It was reported on Friday that The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Ground Forces put its new weapons and aircraft on display during a ceremony held on July 7. The Ground Forces received new precision-guided missiles, as well as various long-range drones designed for combat scenarios and "suicide missions".
Also on Friday, VOA published that a top U.S. military official with the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command voiced concern that lawmakers might not be taking the threat of China's missiles seriously enough. Not only is the Pentagon and intelligence community focused on the military threat, however, but China's bold forays into cyberspace and espionage campaigns.
On Sunday, Afghan authorities announced the installation of a new anti-missile system at Kabul airport to counter incoming Taliban rockets. The Taliban's gains in recent weeks have raised fears about the security of Kabul and its airport, especially since NATO must keep a vital exit route for foreign diplomats and aid workers available.
