Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 7, 2016

U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin (Reuters/RIA Novosti)

Reuters: Putin and Obama speak on phone, say ready to increase Syria coordination - Kremlin

Russia said on Wednesday that President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama confirmed in a phone call that both countries were ready to increase coordination of military action in Syria.

Relations between Russia and the United States have been strained by disagreements over the conflict in Syria, where Moscow and Washington are backing opposing sides in the civil war.

The Kremlin said in a statement that Putin had used the call to urge Obama to aid the separation of the "moderate" opposition in Syria from the Nusra Front and other "extremist" groups.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 7, 2016

Russia and US agree on closer military cooperation in Syria, after Putin calls Obama -- RT

Russia sends its only aircraft carrier to Syria in response to US -- FOX News/News.com.au

Russia will deploy their only aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean to support Assad -- Business Insider

Russia’s Biggest Warship Steams to Syria -- David Axe, Daily Beast

A-10 pilot: Stunning attacks on ISIS show air coalition pilots are in 'lock-step' -- Air Force Times

NATO summit to retool alliance to face new threats -- AP

Obama heads to NATO summit at 'inflection point' -- CNN

Deterrence & dialogue: Merkel says Russia key to European security but defends NATO buildup -- RT

NATO, Russia to Meet After Warsaw Summit -- Defense News

Russian Kaliningrad Region Poses Challenge at NATO Summit -- AP

NATO Should Stand Up Black Sea Command Before It's Too Late -- Ariel Cohen, Atlantic Council

Why Competition Between NATO, Russia in Black Sea is Likely to Ramp Up -- Sputnik

US, NATO members refuse to participate in International Army Games -- TASS

EU coast guard and border force approved by parliament -- BBC

Russian Military Aims For More Precision -- RCW

Delhi and Hanoi Get Serious About the Supersonic BrahMos Missile -- The Diplomat

Taiwan Secures Sidewinder Air-to-Air Missile Release From US -- Defense News

Israel’s 'Ultimate' Ship Defense Now Validated on Land -- Defense News

Key findings of UK's inquiry into Iraq war -- AP

World’s Largest Military Plane Joins China’s Air Force -- Sputnik

U.S. Navy destroyers stalk China's claims in South China Sea -- Navy Times

Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Drone Crashed in Syria -- Defense Tech

The Pentagon wants $20 million to combat ISIS drones -- Business Insider

Obama Backtracks On Afghanistan Withdrawal -- Long War Journal

8,400 U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan, Obama says -- Defense News/Military Times

A timeline of U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan since 2001 -- AP

US Air Force General: Restarting F-22 production makes zero sense for the F-35 jet -- Reuters

F-35 Ejection Seat Concerns Have Not Reached Lockheed Martin -- Defense News

Budget Cuts Leave US Air Force With a 'Small, Old and Heavily Tasked' Fleet -- Sputnik

Marines: Class C Aviation Mishaps Have Doubled, Service Investigating -- USNI News

Army On Right Track With Next-Generation Intelligence System -- Defense News

Clash Brewing Over Congressional Proposal to Create Nimbler Military Commands -- National Defense

VA: 20 veterans a day committing suicide -- The Hill

Seaman's SEAL Training Death Ruled Homocide -- AP

Reports: Chelsea Manning hospitalized after apparent suicide attempt -- Army Times

Ex-special ops group blasts Clinton email decision -- The Hill