Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 09 Jan 2007 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualty
• Task Force Lightning Soldier Killed
• Terrorists Killed, Detained in Iraq; Weapons Discovered AFPS 09 Jan 2007 -- At least three insurgents were killed, an al Qaeda cell leader was captured, and other suspected terrorists were detained through several recent operations in Iraq, military officials reported.
• EOD Soldiers train Iraqi Army counterparts Army News 09 Jan 2007 -- Soldiers from the 18th Explosive Ordinance Disposal Company, based at Fort Bragg, N.C., assumed the role of mentor and observer to 15 troops from the 2nd Iraqi Army Division who then demonstrated their abilities by conducting an operation to destroy unexploded ordnance Jan. 7
• Operations Conducted to Restore Iraqi Security Force Control MNF-I 09 Jan 2007 -- Early today, approximately 1000 Iraqi Army and coalition forces began a joint operation in Taleel Square.
• CENTAF releases airpower summary for Jan. 9 AFPN 09 Jan 2007 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Jan. 9.
• Iraqi, US Forces Kill Dozens of Militants in Central Baghdad VOA 09 Jan 2007 -- Iraqi government forces, backed by U.S. troops have exchanged heavy fire with militants in a Sunni area in the center of Baghdad
• Airpower strikes insurgent stronghold in Iraq AFPN 09 Jan 2007 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces air and space power supported coalition actions in Operation Iraqi Freedom with F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-15E Strike Eagle and B-1 Lancer aircraft that dropped precision munitions Jan. 8 on a known insurgent stronghold south of Balad Ruz, Iraq.
• MND-B engages in anti-insurgent operation Multi-National Division MNF-I 09 Jan 2007 -- Early today Iraqi Army and coalition forces began a joint operation in Taleel Square.
• Iraqi, US Forces Battle Gunmen in Central Baghdad VOA 09 Jan 2007 -- Iraqi police say a fierce gun battle raged in central Baghdad Tuesday.
• Transcript: DoD News Briefing with Maj. Gen. Robert Durbin and Minister Abdul Hadir Khalid from the Pentagon 09 Jan 2007 -- Presenter: Commander, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan Maj. Gen. Robert Durbin and First Deputy Minister for Security, Afghan Ministry of Interior Abdul Hadir Khalid
• Afghan Security Forces Becoming Competent, Capable, General Says AFPS 09 Jan 2007 -- The continued support of the U.S. and international community to building a strong Afghan army and police force is essential as that country moves forward with social and economic progress, the U.S. general in charge of training Afghan forces said today.
• Pakistan to go ahead with border fencing, mining: spokesperson IRNA 09 Jan 2007 -- Pakistan said Monday that it would go ahead with selective fencing and mining of its border with Afghanistan and that the army has been tasked to identify problem areas along some 2500 kilometers of the border.
• AFGHANISTAN: UN rejects landmines along border IRIN 09 Jan 2007 -- The United Nations has rejected Pakistan's decision to fence and mine the border with Afghanistan to prevent cross-border militancy.
• US Confirms Air Strike on al-Qaida Leaders in Somalia VOA 09 Jan 2007 -- The U.S. Defense Department says its forces conducted an air strike in southern Somalia on Monday, but says that, contrary to some reports from the region, that was the only U.S. air strike there in recent days
• US Military Confirms Airstrike in Southern Somalia VOA 09 Jan 2007 -- The U.S. military has confirmed conducting an airstrike against suspected al-Qaida leaders in southern Somalia, amid reports of a second attack Tuesday.
• U.S. Confirms Air Strike In Somalia RFE/RL 09 Jan 2007 -- The Pentagon today confirmed that U.S. forces conducted an air strike against a suspected Al-Qaeda cell in Somalia on January 7.
• Analysis: U.S. Strikes Somalia cfr.org 09 Jan 2007 -- The last time the U.S. military conducted operations in Somalia in 1993, eighteen soldiers died in a two-day firefight on the streets of Mogadishu
• Secretary-General Ban concerned over humanitarian impact of US air strikes in Somalia UN News Centre 09 Jan 2007 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed concern over the United States air strikes on Somalia, particularly their humanitarian impact, his spokesperson said today, adding that the world body is seeking more information on the attacks while also assessing the possibility of renewing emergency assistance to the strife-torn country and the thousands who need help at the border with Kenya.
• New Airstrikes Reported in Southern Somalia VOA 09 Jan 2007 -- Helicopter gunships were seen launching new attacks in southern Somalia Tuesday, close to the site of a U.S. airstrike against suspected al-Qaida hideouts late Monday.
• Aircraft Attack Al Qaeda Haven, Ike Moves off Somalia AFPS 09 Jan 2007 -- U.S. Air Force AC-130 gunships struck al Qaeda targets in Somalia yesterday, news sources reported last night.
• Somalia: US Warplanes Strike Suspected al-Qaida Hideouts VOA 09 Jan 2007 -- A U.S. gunship late Monday attacked one, possibly two, suspected al-Qaida hideouts in southern Somalia
• US Air Strikes in Somalia Have Political Ramifications VOA 09 Jan 2007 -- Somalia expert Ken Menkhaus says he was surprised at the swiftness of the US military strikes on suspected al Qaida targets in Somalia
• Somalia's Interim Leader Agrees With US Strike VOA 09 Jan 2007 -- Somalia's interim president say a U.S. strike late Monday on al-Qaida hideouts in his country was the right thing to do.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Army Makes Adjustments to Future Force Unmanned Aerial Systems Army News Release 09 Jan 2007 -- The U.S. Army announced Jan. 9 that it is realigning its unmanned aerial assets to correspond better with future joint-force requirements and budgetary constraints
• Military Counterinsurgency Manual Stresses Cultural Awareness Washington File 09 Jan 2007 -- The U.S. Army and Marine Corps have published an updated field manual for fighting insurgencies that stresses cultural awareness, personal contacts, reconstruction strategies and close cooperation with nonmilitary agencies.
• Vinson Propellers Installed in One of Last Pre-Undocking Milestones Navy NewsStand 09 Jan 2007 -- Workers finished installation of Carl Vinson's four new propellers Jan. 7 at Northrop Grumman Newport News, where the ship is currently drydocked for its refueling complex overhaul (RCOH).
• U.S. NAVY SUBMARINE AND MERCHANT VESSEL COLLIDE IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ CENTCOM 09 Jan 2007 -- No U.S. Sailors or merchant crew were injured when a US Navy submarine and a commercial cargo vessel collided in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday evening January 8, 2007.
• U.S. sub captain to blame for crash with Japanese ship - expert RIA Novosti 09 Jan 2007 -- The captain of a United States nuclear submarine was probably to blame for a collision with a Japanese tanker in the Arabian Sea, a Russian naval expert said Tuesday.
• US Submarine, Japanese Ship Collide in Arabian Sea VOA 09 Jan 2007 -- A U.S. nuclear-powered submarine has collided with a Japanese oil tanker in the Arabian Sea
• Japan Calls for Continuing US Presence in Asia VOA 09 Jan 2007 -- Japan's finance minister, Koji Omi, Monday said a continuing U.S. presence in Asia is critical for economic development and stability in the region
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 09 Jan 2007
• Press Briefing by Tony Snow The White House 09 Jan 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 09, 2007
• Boeing to Begin Second Phase of Enhanced Polar System Payload Study Boeing 09 Jan 2007 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the U.S. Air Force MILSATCOM Systems Wing have exercised an $8.4 million contract option to activate Phase II of the Enhanced Polar System (EPS) payload study. Phase I began in July 2006 with a $1.5 million award to Boeing to define the next-generation communications payload for a polar-orbiting satellite.
• General Dynamics-Led Team Achieves Radio Interoperability Milestone General Dynamics 09 Jan 2007 -- General Dynamics C4 Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), announced today it has reached a major milestone in achieving voice and data communications interoperability by being the first company to demonstrate the new standard that will allow radio users, such as first responders and federal agents, to communicate between different manufacturer's radio systems operating on different networks.
• General Dynamics Awarded USD $77 Million Contract to Supply RG-31 Mk5 Mine Protected Vehicles to the U.S. Army General Dynamics 09 Jan 2007 -- The U.S. Army Tank Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM), in support of the Program Executive Office for Combat Support and Combat Service Support (PEO CS&CSS), has awarded a contract for USD$76.5 million to General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada to provide 169 RG-31 Mk5 Mine Protected Vehicles, with an option for nine additional vehicles. General Dynamics Land Systems, the Canadian company's parent corporation, is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD).
• LOCKHEED MARTIN COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL TRACKING WITH OPEN ARCHITECTURE, SOLID-STATE RADAR ANTENNA Lockheed Martin 09 Jan 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] successfully displayed live tracks with its internally developed Scalable Solid-State S-band Radar (S4R) Engineering Development Model (EDM).
• Northrop Grumman to Integrate U.S. Marine Corps's EA-6Bs with LITENING AT Targeting Systems Northrop Grumman 09 Jan 2007 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Air Force to begin integrating U.S. Marine EA-6B aircraft with LITENING Advanced Targeting (AT) pods.
• Raytheon Passes DDG 1000 Total Ship Computing Environment Infrastructure Design Milestone Raytheon 09 Jan 2007 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) successfully conducted a detailed design review for the DDG 1000 Total Ship Computing Environment Infrastructure hardware.
• Raytheon Successfully Tests New Solid-State Laser Area Defense System Raytheon 09 Jan 2007 -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) successfully tested a prototype solid-state laser weapon that combines the proven capabilities of the Phalanx weapon system with the power and effectiveness of lasers to defeat rockets, mortars and missiles at an operationally significant range.
• Swiss Army orders new Armoured Engineer Vehicle from Rheinmetall Rheinmetall Defence 09 Jan 2007 -- Rheinmetall AG of Düsseldorf has won an order from the Swiss Army for a new generation of armoured engineer vehicles, an important reference customer. Under the order, Rheinmetall will supply the Swiss Army with twelve Kodiak armoured engineer vehicles, known in Swiss military parlance as the "Geniepanzer".
• Russia, EADS to roll out transport planes outside Moscow RIA Novosti 09 Jan 2007 -- Russia and a European aerospace and arms giant are set to build transport aircraft outside Moscow, Russia's defense minister said Tuesday.
• SAIC Awarded DHS Contract for New VACIS(R) P7500 High-Energy Container Inspection Systems SAIC 09 Jan 2007 -- Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) today announced a contract from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection, to install three VACIS(R) P7500 container inspection systems in support of the Secure Freight Initiative international pilot program.
• Russia set to participate in fighter tender for India RIA Novosti 09 Jan 2007 -- Russia is planning to join a tender on supplying fighters for the Indian Air Force, the defense minister said Tuesday.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 09 Jan 2007
• US Announces Rice Trip to Middle East VOA 09 Jan 2007 -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will follow-up President Bush's policy speech on Iraq Wednesday with a trip to the Middle East, the Gulf region and Europe
• Palestinian Factions Clash in Gaza VOA 09 Jan 2007 -- There were more clashes Tuesday between Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip
• US Governor Visits Darfur; Urges Rebel Groups to Agree to Ceasefire VOA 09 Jan 2007 -- The governor of the U.S. state of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, visited Sudan's Darfur region on Tuesday in an attempt to get holdout Darfur rebel groups to agree to a 60-day ceasefire with the Sudanese government
• Darfur: UN Special Envoy arrives in Sudan's capital to boost peace efforts UN News Centre 09 Jan 2007 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Envoy for Darfur has arrived in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum on the second stage of a mission promoting United Nations efforts to find a permanent solution to a conflict that has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced some 2.5 million others in Darfur.
• Stability in DR Congo will benefit whole of Africa; global commitment still needed: UN UN News Centre 09 Jan 2007 -- While stressing the importance of last year's historic elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the first held there in more than 40 years, two top United Nations officials today told the Security Council that continued international involvement is crucial to stability not only in the massive country but for the whole region.
• LIBERIA: Idle fighters cause concern IRIN 09 Jan 2007 -- Two years after the conclusion of a nationwide disarmament exercise, about 39,000 former fighters have yet to be placed in skills training programmes, raising fears that they could be open to manipulation by other armed groups in the region.
• KENYA-SOMALIA: Fighting halts effort to verify deadly fever IRIN 09 Jan 2007 -- Fighting in southern Somalia has hampered efforts to confirm a possible spread of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) from neighbouring Kenya to the Lower Juba Region where seven people have died after showing symptoms of the rare, contagious haemorrhagic disease, Somali health officials said.
• Nepal Rebels Agree to Join Parliament VOA 09 Jan 2007 -- In Nepal, the stage has been set for Maoist rebels to join the political mainstream, moving one of South Asia's most violent insurgencies another large step towards conclusion

News Reports

• United States Sees Key Role for United Nations in 2007 Washington File 09 Jan 2007 -- In 2007, the U.N. Security Council must be ready to deal with terrorism, cross-border violence, widespread and systematic human rights violations, refugee flows and political instability before these issues escalate into wars, the United States says.