* Poland has adopted [Defence24] a new national security strategy, which explicitly recognizes “a risk of local and regional conflicts in direct vicinity of Poland.” The Economist profiles Ewa Kopacz, Poland’s prime minister since last month, as a pragmatic leader likely to play it safe rather than use a confrontational tone in her dealings with Russia.
* Reuters has shown pictures of charred tanks in Eastern Ukraine which several analysts thought had to be Russian.
* Slovakia will purchase 2 C-27J transport aircraft, reports the Slovak Spectator.
Future US Subs
* The US Navy is starting [USNI] early design work for the next generation of submarines meant to succeed the Virginia class in the 2030s.
Middle East
* Jihadists have killed at least another 10 Egyptian troops in Sinai, with a bomb attack at a check point earlier today. Ahram Online.
* ISIS gains ground in Iraq’s Anbar [Al Arabiya].
* Institute for the Study of War: the ISIS threat to Baghdad city is increasing [PDF].
* WaPo: Islamic State militants allegedly used chlorine gas against Iraqi security forces.
* Syrian rebels reject [Foreign Policy] a purely defensive plan suggested by the US because “it just doesn’t make sense strategically.”
* Anthony Cordesman at the CSIS think tank wonders whether what he calls the US “non-strategy” against the Islamic State will implode.
* Al Jazeera was with Iraqi soldiers clearing IEDs left by ISIL, in the video below:
