Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 01 Jun 2011 [PDF]
• NATO and Libya - Operational Media Update: 30 May 2011
• NATO Extends Libya Mission VOA 01 Jun 2011 -- NATO members and five partner states have agreed to extend their military campaign in Libya for another 90 days in a bid to protect civilians from pro-government forces.
• NATO extends mission in Libya RIA Novosti 01 Jun 2011 -- NATO will continue its military campaign in Libya until at least September, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Wednesday.
• RAF destroys Gaddafi ammunition depot UK MOD 01 Jun 2011 -- RAF Typhoon and Tornado jets struck ten Gaddafi-regime ammunition storage bunkers and a military vehicle yesterday at a site near Waddan in Libya, using Enhanced Paveway II and Paveway IV bombs.
• 'Saber' Squadron and Iraqi Partners Provide Water Pumps to Local Farmers Army News 01 Jun 2011 -- Radwaniyah, Iraq is much different from its close neighbor, the bustling city of Baghdad. Unlike the urban landscape that dominates Baghdad, Radwaniyah is covered with farm land.
• Combined Security Forces conduct medevac training Army News 01 Jun 2011 -- In an effort to continue building on medical knowledge, the Kirkuk Combined Security Forces conducted an air medevac exercise at the Kirkuk Training Center, May 25.
• DOD News Briefing with Maj. Gen. Krause via Teleconference from Afghanistan DoD 01 Jun 2011 -- Presenter: International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Deputy Chief of Staff, Australian Maj. Gen. Michael Krause
• Clinton: NATO Committed to Reducing Afghan Civilian Deaths VOA 01 Jun 2011 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday NATO allies are committed to reducing civilian casualties in the Afghan conflict, where she said most civilian deaths are the work of Taliban insurgents. She spoke after a warning by Afghan President Hamid Karzai that he might curb NATO operations because of non-combatant deaths.
• Winter Gains Position Coalition Forces for July Transition AFPS 01 Jun 2011 -- Significant gains during winter fighting have wrested key areas from the Taliban and set the stage for July's transition of the first provinces and district centers to Afghan control, an International Security Assistance Force official said today.
• Seabees Take to the Night to Beat the Afghan Heat NNS 01 Jun 2011 -- The Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 have started to work at night May 27 in order to eliminate heat injuries associated with the high heat of Afghanistan during summer days.
• 1st Air Cav Soldiers begin journey to Afghanistan Army News 01 Jun 2011 -- As the sun sets on one Army aviation unit's time in Afghanistan, a new dawn is on the horizon for another.
• Afghan-led Forces Nab Insurgent Facilitator AFPS 01 Jun 2011 -- An Afghan-led combined security force captured an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan facilitator along with several of his associates yesterday evening during a security operation in the Mazar-e Sharif district of Afghanistan's Balkh province, military officials reported.
• Regional Support Links Commands in Afghanistan AFPS 01 Jun 2011 -- Members of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force are working hard toward helping Afghanistan become a self-reliant nation by 2014.
• Bagram Hospital Provides Care to All Who Need It AFPS 01 Jun 2011 -- The announcement over the hospital intercom blared the news: more casualties were arriving, many that the staff knew would need near-heroic measures to survive.
• 4,300 Guard members responding to U.S. floods Army News 01 Jun 2011 -- The number of National Guard members responding to severe spring flooding rose to about 4,300 over the weekend as parts of the Missouri River began to swell in states such as North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DoD News: Navy Commissions New Guided Missile Destroyer William P. Lawrence DoD 01 Jun 2011 -- The Navy will commission the newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, William P. Lawrence, Saturday, June 4, 2011, during an 11 a.m. CDT ceremony at Pier 2, Alabama State Docks, Mobile, Ala.
• USS Thach Conducts Flight Operations with Chilean Navy NNS 01 Jun 2011 -- Sailors aboard guided-missile frigate USS Thach (FFG 43) conducted flight operations with a Chilean navy helicopter during the Southern Seas 2011 transit of the Strait of Magellan, May 28.
• Bataan Underway Following Successful Palermo Port Visit NNS 01 Jun 2011 -- More than 2,500 Sailors and embarked Marines aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) departed Palermo, Italy, May 31 following a successful four-day port visit.
• USS Charlotte Returns from Western Pacific Deployment NNS 01 Jun 2011 -- The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Charlotte (SSN 766) returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after a scheduled six-month deployment to the Western Pacific region, May 31.
• CNO Signs Statement of Support for Navy's Guard, Reserve Employees NNS 01 Jun 2011 -- Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead signed a Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve to demonstrate the Navy's commitment to its employees who serve in National Guard and Reserve.
• Papua New Guinea Residents Attend Pacific Partnership 2011 HA/DR Conference NNS 01 Jun 2011 -- More than 50 residents from Lae, Papua New Guinea participated in a humanitarian assistance/disaster response (HA/DR) conference, sponsored by Pacific Partnership 2011, May 26.
• Naval Air Station Brunswick Marks End to Service NNS 01 Jun 2011 -- Naval Air Station Brunswick (NASB) held its disestablishment ceremony May 31, ending 68 years of service to the Navy.
• Anniston Army Depot begins Stryker overhaul Army News 01 Jun 2011 -- Anniston Army Depot began its final step toward becoming the core depot for the Army's Stryker program May 2 when it inducted an Infantry Carrier Vehicle to be overhauled on the installation.
• Flag casing ceremony marks new era for Army MWR Army News 01 Jun 2011 -- Employees of the Army's Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command joined together May 26 for the casing of the FMWRC colors, a traditional flag ceremony that marks the official move of FMWRC from its former headquarters here to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.
• Two-Phase Design/Build Selection Process Speeds Contract Review Army News 01 Jun 2011 -- In 2004, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) received one of its greatest contracting challenges. As the Army's agent for military construction (MILCON), USACE needed to execute an unprecedented surge in construction requirements to meet the imminent demands of Army Transformation, the Global Posture Initiative, and Base Realignment and Closure.
• Soldiers share combat perspective with Army scientists Army News 01 Jun 2011 -- Fifteen I Corps Soldiers fresh from combat tours in Afghanistan collaborated with Army scientists during a two-week tour of U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command facilities Nov. 8-19.
• Gates Predicts Stability in US Commitment to the Pacific VOA 01 Jun 2011 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he plans to use his final international trip in office to let American allies in Asia know that Washington remains committed to the region. Gates spoke to reporters in Hawaii, late Tuesday, a day before as he heads to a major security conference with Asian countries in Singapore.
• Gates: U.S. Remains Committed to Ties With Asia AFPS 01 Jun 2011 -- There will be no 'slackening' of U.S. commitment to Asia, even as the nation goes through tough financial times, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here yesterday.
• Army receives first THAAD missiles Army News 01 Jun 2011 -- Lockheed Martin delivered the first two Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Missiles to the U.S. Army, capping off years of planning and development.
• Detachment One formally activated, changes commanders Army News 01 Jun 2011 -- The 100th Missile Defense Brigade (Ground-based Midcourse Defense) officially unfurled the guidon for its Detachment One during an Activation and Change of Command ceremony here May 13.
• Army Chief Discusses Future of Training AFPS 01 Jun 2011 -- Army Chief of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey has put a lot of thought into ways to take the lessons learned during more than nine years of war and apply them to the military's training and education programs.
• Russia, NATO planes to hold first anti-terror drill RIA Novosti 01 Jun 2011 -- Russia and NATO fighter aircraft will take part in the first ever joint exercise during the upcoming Vigilant Skies 2011 anti-terrorism drill to run between June 6-10, Russian National Antiterrorism Committee spokesman Nikolai Sintsov said on Wednesday.
• Afghanistan desires stronger defense ties with India IRNA 01 Jun 2011 -- Afghanistan said Wednesday it aimeds at establishing closer defense ties with India and would welcome any cooperation from it in training of its security forces.
• Russia may buy An-70 transport planes by 2012-13 RIA Novosti 01 Jun 2011 -- Russia may start buying Ukrainian-built An-70 propfan military transport aircraft in 2012-2013, deputy commander of the Russian Air Force Maj. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said on Wednesday.
• Indian navy in control of situation on piracy front: Naval Chief IRNA 01 Jun 2011 -- Indian naval chief Admiral Nirmal Verma said that the Indian navy was going ahead with its anti-piracy operations without a let-up and was in control of the situation on the piracy front.
• June 1, 2011 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 01 Jun 2011
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney and Assistant to the President for Manufacturing Policy Ron Bloom, 6/1/2011 The White House 01 Jun 2011

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for June 01, 2011
• First Airbus Military A330 MRTT handed over to Royal Australian Air Force EADS 01 Jun 2011 -- The first Airbus Military A330 MRTT new generation tanker/transport has formally been delivered to, and accepted by the Australian Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) base Amberley (Queensland, Australia) on 1st June 2011 at a ceremony attended by DMO, RAAF, Qantas and Airbus Military representatives.
• Lockheed Martin Demonstrates Coalition Intelligence Interoperability at U.S. Joint Forces Empire Challenge Exercise Lockheed Martin 01 Jun 2011 -- Using advanced, multi-level security intelligence sharing technologies, Lockheed Martin enabled members of the 'Five Eyes' international consortium (United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand) to securely share intelligence of dissimilar classifications during the recent Empire Challenge Joint Forces exercise.
• First Global Hawk Arrives at Its New Home in Grand Forks Northrop Grumman 01 Jun 2011 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and the U.S. Air Force commemorated the arrival of the first RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS) at Grand Forks Air Force Base. The aircraft landed on May 26 from Beale Air Force Base, Calif. The arrival of the Global Hawk also commemorates Grand Forks as the second main operating base in the United States after Beale.

Other Conflicts

• 1 June 2011 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 01 Jun 2011
• Libyan Government forces committed war crimes, says UN human rights panel UN News Centre 01 Jun 2011 -- A United Nations-ordered panel investigating human rights abuses in Libya says that Government forces have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the course of their crackdown on opposition forces seeking the ouster of Colonel Muammar al-Qadhafi.
• UN Panel: Libyan Forces, Opposition Committed War Crimes VOA 01 Jun 2011 -- A U.N. panel investigating the conflict in Libya says forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and opposition forces in the country have committed war crimes.
• More UN food aid reaches besieged Libyan city of Misrata UN News Centre 01 Jun 2011 -- A ship carrying enough United Nations food assistance to feed 25,000 people for one month arrived in the besieged Libyan city of Misrata today, as the World Food Programme (WFP) voiced concern once again about dwindling food stocks in the strife-torn country.
• Mladic arrest shows ending impunity requires united action – UN prosecutor UN News Centre 01 Jun 2011 -- The arrest of Ratko Mladic after he spent 16 years on the run demonstrates that 'ending impunity requires a united front,' the chief prosecutor of the United Nations war crimes tribunal for the Balkan conflicts said today, pledging that the Bosnian Serb wartime military figure would receive a fair trial.
• US Urges Immediate North-South Sudan Talks on Abyei Crisis VOA 01 Jun 2011 -- The United States is calling for immediate talks between the leaders of northern and southern Sudan to resolve a territorial dispute that threatens the peaceful secession of the south on July 9th. Two senior U.S. envoys visited Khartoum Wednesday to underscore U.S. concern.
• Sudan: UN delivers food aid to thousands displaced by conflict in Abyei UN News Centre 01 Jun 2011 -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said today it has provided food aid to more than 45,000 people who were displaced from Sudan's disputed Sudanese area of Abyei during the recent fighting that culminated in the taking over of the territory by Government troops.
• Delegates to UN-backed gathering on Darfur endorse draft document on peace pact UN News Centre 01 Jun 2011 -- United Nations-backed inclusive consultations on the conflict in the Sudanese region of Darfur has ended in the Qatari capital, Doha, with delegates voicing support for a draft document that will form the basis of a permanent ceasefire and a comprehensive peace agreement.
• Thousands of Displaced Sudanese in Need of Food, Water, Shelter VOA 01 Jun 2011 -- Efforts continue to find, register and provide assistance to the many thousands of people who've fled the Sudanese town of Abyei and surrounding region.
• Analysis: Warnings and ructions over DRC polls IRIN 01 Jun 2011 -- The second democratic presidential election in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), scheduled for 28 November, runs the risk of further destabilizing the country because of preparation delays and potential constitutional contradictions, say analysts and observers.
• UN official arrives in DR Congo to spotlight humanitarian crisis UN News Centre 01 Jun 2011 -- A top-level United Nations humanitarian official started a five day visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today, 'aiming to draw international attention to one of the world's most serious and chronic humanitarian crises.'
• Philippines Seeks Answers About Latest South China Sea Incident VOA 01 Jun 2011 -- The Philippine government says it has conveyed 'serious concerns' to the Chinese embassy about reports that Chinese ships unloaded building materials and put up military posts on reefs claimed by Manila in the South China Sea. Officials say they are still trying to confirm if the ships were from China.
• UN on Track to End East Timor Peacekeeping Mission in 2012 VOA 01 Jun 2011 -- The United Nations says that plans to end the East Timor peacekeeping mission in 2012 are on track. The U.N. took over the functions of the national police in 2006 after riots and factional fighting brought the country to the brink of civil war.

News Reports

• Bahrain: Ban welcomes end of state of emergency and call for national dialogue UN News Centre 01 Jun 2011 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the lifting of the state of emergency in Bahrain, which has witnessed a violent crackdown by the Government against protesters demanding reform, as well as the call made by King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa for a national dialogue to begin on 1 July.
• Bahrain justifies presence of foreign troops on its soil RIA Novosti 01 Jun 2011 -- The presence of foreign troops in Bahrain is justified by existing 'external threats' rather than by the need to suppress a wave of anti-government protests in the country, Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed al Khalifa said on Wednesday.
• Yemen Crisis Worsens as Tribal Fighters Battle Presidential Loyalists VOA 01 Jun 2011 -- Large explosions rocked Yemen's capital Sana'a on Wednesday as members of the nation's most powerful tribal federation kept up their fight to oust President Ali Abdullah Saleh. At least 39 people are reported killed and dozens of others wounded in the past day. As the situation worsens, some are looking beyond the current crisis to envision a post-Saleh Yemen.
• Syrian Dissidents Reject Government's Amnesty Offer VOA 01 Jun 2011 -- Syrian opposition leaders meeting in Turkey have rejected their government's offer of a general amnesty and say they will continue to push for a regime change.
• Indian Prime Minister reviews atomic disaster preparedness IRNA 01 Jun 2011 -- India's Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh on Wednesday reviewed India's atomic disaster preparedness at a high level meeting in New Delhi.
• Indian scientists develop indigenous online Gamma Dose Logger IRNA 01 Jun 2011 -- Indian scientists have developed for the first time a Local Area Network (LAN) based online 'Gamma Dose' logger to continuously monitor ionising radiation in the environment around nuclear reactors and associated fuel cycle facilities.
• IAEA Experts Say Japan Underestimated Tsunami Threat VOA 01 Jun 2011 -- A team of international experts investigating the Fukushima nuclear accident says Japan underestimated the risk posed by tsunamis to its nuclear plants.
• Saudi Arabia to build 16 nuclear reactors by 2030 RIA Novosti 01 Jun 2011 -- Saudi Arabia is planning to build 16 nuclear reactors by 2030, Arab media reported on Wednesday citing an official in the country's nuclear agency.
• Pakistan commission to probe Osama's operation IRNA 01 Jun 2011 -- Pakistani Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, has constituted a commission for investigation over killing of Osama bin Laden by US Special Forces in the city of Abbotabad on May 2.
• Kids With Bombs: In Afghanistan And Pakistan, A Child With A Dream Can Be Deadly RFE/RL 01 Jun 2011 -- An alarming number of children in Pakistan and Afghanistan believe immortality is at their fingertips -- provided they're pressing a button detonating the bombs strapped to their bodies.
• Nuclear countries unwilling to destroy arms: Soltanieh IRNA 01 Jun 2011 -- Iran's Permanent Representative and Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ali Asghar Soltanieh, said here on Tuesday that countries including the US which own nuclear arms are not willing to destroy their arms.
• Sanction shows US weakness, says Iran minister ISNA 01 Jun 2011 -- Sanction against Iran and other independent states shows the US administration's weakness, said Iranian Defense Minister as referring to the US recently-imposed sanction against Venezuelan State Oil Company.
• Iran says diplomat in Egypt returns home ISNA 01 Jun 2011 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on Wednesday the Iranian diplomat arrested in Egypt by mistake returned home.
• Space shuttle Endeavor lands for last time AFNS 01 Jun 2011 -- The space shuttle Endeavor touched down at the Kennedy Space Center June 1 at 2:35 a.m. EDT, ending the shuttle's 19-year flying career.
• A Yerevan Spring? Armenian Government, Opposition Move Toward Reconciliation RFE/RL 01 Jun 2011 -- On May 31, the country's most prominent opposition leader, Levon Ter-Petrossian, told a crowd of tens of thousands of supporters in Yerevan's main Liberty Square that the government had conceded to the opposition's pre-conditions for talks.
• China ties provide Taiwan with line of defense: president CNA 01 Jun 2011 -- President Ma Ying-jeou identified Wednesday what he described as 'three lines of defense' for Taiwan, the first of which is institutionalized relations with mainland China.
• UN stresses need for global cooperation on using outer space UN News Centre 01 Jun 2011 -- As the world marks the 50th anniversary of humankind's first flight into outer space, the United Nations today reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation in developing norms of law to ensure adherence to treaties that promote peaceful and beneficial uses of outer space.