The US sold about $36.2 billion of military equipment to others in 2014. Russia was the second largest arms seller at $10.2 billion, followed by Sweden at $5.5 billion, France at $4.4 billion, and China at $2.2 billion. The American amount increased by $10 billion for 2013 and military manufacturers were likely the most dynamic sectors in the American economy. The primary buyers of American military equipment were South Korea, Iraq, and Brazil.
Samir Kuntar, a high-ranking official of Hezbollah, was assassinated in Damascus. From his headquarters in Lebanon, the leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, accused Israel of the assassination and vowed retaliation. It is unlikely that a major conflict between Israel and Hezbollah will break out soon, but Hezbollah has been very active in Syria supporting President Assad and has been increasingly well-armed by Iran.
The increased military action by Turkey against Kurds in Southeast Turkey has led to increased demands by the Kurds for greater autonomy. Kurdish successes against Daesh (the Islamic State) in Syria have heightened fears in Turkey of Kurdish independence. However, the iron fist strategy of President Erdogan against the Kurds is leading to inevitable demands for self-rule. A video of Kurdish actions against Turkish troops appears below the map.
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