Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 13 Jun 2011 [PDF]
• NATO and Libya - Operational Media Update: 12 Jun 2011
• RAF destroys nine of Gaddafi's underground storage bunkers in Libya UK MOD 13 Jun 2011 -- Members of the UK Armed Forces saw further action in Libya yesterday as RAF aircraft conducted strikes against two of Colonel Gaddafi's ammunition depots.
• Iraqi airmen learn to protect leaders AFNS 13 Jun 2011 -- Prompted by assassinations of Iraqi military leaders, Iraqi airmen are receiving personal security operations training from members of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations here.
• Combined Force Captures Taliban Leader in Paktika AFPS 13 Jun 2011 -- An Afghan-led combined force captured a Taliban leader and more than 10 suspected insurgents during an intelligence-driven operation yesterday in the Sarobi district of Afghanistan's Paktika province.
• Insurgents weaken while Afghan forces grow in strength, numbers Army News 13 Jun 2011 -- Insurgent attacks have made headlines this week, but International Security Assistance Forces and NATO spokesmen stated insurgents are losing capability and solidifying Afghan and coalition forces' upper hand as the beginning of the transition approaches.
• New Musahi Police HQ work continues despite vehicle suicide bomber Army News 13 Jun 2011 -- The morning of April 14 was like those before at the rural police compound except that a truck parked near the 'government building' exploded at 7:14 a.m, detonated by the driver who only killed himself.
• Mobile dentistry team keeps Soldiers combat ready Army News 13 Jun 2011 -- Over the course of five days, a mobile dentistry team from Charlie Company, 201st Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, examined and treated Soldiers at Combat Outpost Wilderness, Afghanistan.
• Pakistan PM tells US military action not lone solution IRNA 13 Jun 2011 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Monday told a top visiting US official that 'military action alone cannot be the solution' of the present problems and the focus should be diverted to the insurgency-hit areas.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DOD Aims to Streamline Foreign Military Sales Program AFPS 13 Jun 2011 -- The Defense Department is streamlining the way it administers the foreign military sales program, including testing a concept to get pre-approvals for requests for high-demand technologies such as unmanned aerial systems, the director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said June 10.
• Communications Marines train before pre-deployment exercises USMC News 13 Jun 2011 -- Marines are known to always strive for excellence and to do that requires constant training even in their off-time.
• Edson Range breaks ground for new facilities USMC News 13 Jun 2011 -- The Weapons and Field Training Battalion held a ground breaking ceremony June 7 that revealed the beginning of several military construction projects at Edson Range, WFTBn, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
• IKE Completes Planned Incremental Availability, Conducts Fast Cruise NNS 13 Jun 2011 -- USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (IKE) completed a fast cruise June 10, after completing a nine-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) period at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) in Portsmouth, Va.
• Wadsworth Finds New Life in Polish Navy NNS 13 Jun 2011 -- A decommissioned U.S. Navy ship is participating in Baltic Operations 2011, through June 17, as part of the Polish navy.
• USS Boone, USS Thach Conduct Exercises with Chilean Sub NNS 13 Jun 2011 -- Guided-missile frigates USS Boone (FFG 28) and USS Thach (FFG 43), completed a series of exercises with Chilean navy submarine Carrera (SS-22), June 10.
• Contract Awarded for New Facilities Aboard Joint Base Charleston NNS 13 Jun 2011 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast awarded an $11.6 million contract, June 3, to Sauer, Inc. of Jacksonville, Fla. for the design and construction of engineering, operations and readiness center facilities at Joint Base Charleston (JB CHS), S.C.
• USS Boone, USS Thach Arrive in Talcahuano NNS 13 Jun 2011 -- Guided-missile frigates USS Boone (FFG 28) and USS Thach (FFG 43) arrived in Talcahuano, Chile, during their six-month deployment in support of Southern Seas 2011, June 10.
• Multinational Minesweepers Train Together in Baltic Operations 2011 NNS 13 Jun 2011 -- Twelve minesweeping vessels representing five different Baltic nations and accompanied by the USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), completed a series of close maneuvers, June 12, during Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2011.
• NAVFAC Awards $17 Million Navy Anti-terrorism Contract NNS 13 Jun 2011 -- Specialty Center Acquisitions, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (SCAN) awarded a maximum amount $17.4 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract June 1 to Integrity Consulting Engineering & Security Solutions, LLC, Frederick, Md.
• Continuing Promise 2011 Completes Mission in Colombia NNS 13 Jun 2011 -- Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) and Continuing Promise 2011 (CP11) departed Tumaco, Colombia, June 12, after providing ten days of humanitarian civic assistance.
• Canadian Pacific Partnership Contingent Departs USS Cleveland NNS 13 Jun 2011 -- The Canadian contingent aboard amphibious transport dock ship USS Cleveland (LPD7), the flagship for Pacific Partnership 2011, departed the ship after completing their mission in Tonga, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea, June 13.
• U.S. Navy, Multinational Partners Host Demonstration During Sea Breeze 2011 NNS 13 Jun 2011 -- Multinational partners hosted a joint land component demonstration for local media during exercise Sea Breeze 2011, June 11.
• U.S. Marines Host Multinational Training NNS 13 Jun 2011 -- More than 30 non-commissioned officers (NCO) from Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, and the U.S. attended a two-day leadership development training course in Shirokilan, Ukraine, June 10.
• Baltic Operations 2011 Transitions to Tactical Phase NNS 13 Jun 2011 -- After a series of training events, the ship and air asset of Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2011 are transitioning to the tactical phase of the exercise, June 11.
• Airmen participate in first ICRT training AFNS 13 Jun 2011 -- Airmen participating in the 2011 Medical Training Exercise in Central and Eastern Europe conducted the Aerospace School of Medicine's Initial Contingency Response Team training scenarios at the Krivolak army training area here June 10.
• Academy hits switch on solar array AFNS 13 Jun 2011 -- Officials with the Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs Utilities and SunPower Corp. flipped a switch signifying the official dedication of the Academy's 6-megawatt solar array in a ceremony June 13.
• Afghan officer shares first-hand knowledge at Fort Hood Army News 13 Jun 2011 -- Leaders of the 57th Signal Battalion, 3rd Signal Brigade, soon to be deploying in phases to Afghanistan, had the opportunity to talk with an officer in the Afghan army June 3, 2011, at the III Corps Headquarters.
• Advancements made at Arlington cemetery in wake of investigation Army News 13 Jun 2011 -- Just one year after an investigation directed by Secretary of the Army John McHugh reported breakdowns in accountability and record-keeping at Arlington National Cemetery, the new management team there has released a list of achievements that have strengthened the cemetery's management and oversight.
• Engagement Skills Trainer 2000 simulates firing range Army News 13 Jun 2011 -- In today's society of video games and virtual reality, it is not surprising that the U.S. Army would incorporate this technology to train the next generation of Soldiers.
• Contract battalion stands up Army News 13 Jun 2011 -- The 904th Contingency Contracting Battalion uncased its colors at Brooks Field on Fort Knox Tuesday in a ceremony to stand up the unit in its new home.
• US, Indonesia partner for Exercise Garuda Shield 2011 Army News 13 Jun 2011 -- Hundreds of U.S. and Indonesian Soldiers gathered to participate in the opening ceremony of an annual bilateral exercise, today, at the Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI-Indonesian Armed Forces) Engineer Training Center of Army Education and Training Command, Pusdikzi.
• Final units depart Fort Knox Armor School Army News 13 Jun 2011 -- The weather seemed to be adding its own commentary Friday morning to the Fort Knox ceremony that marked the departure of the Armor School and its remaining armor units -- the 194th Armored Brigade and the 316th Cavalry Brigade -- which will join the other armor elements that have already moved to Fort Benning, Ga.
• MOD's Major Projects Review Board stands up UK MOD 13 Jun 2011 -- The Ministry of Defence's Major Projects Review Board, designed to scrutinise and hold to account some of the Department's most expensive projects, has met for the first time today, 13 June 2011.
• Iran successfully tests domestic air defense missiles RIA Novosti 13 Jun 2011 -- Iran has successfully tested on Sunday two domestically built air defense missiles, Xinhua said citing Iranian army commander.
• Iraqi air force leaders attend conference at Balad Army News 13 Jun 2011 -- Three Iraqi air force air staff generals and five representatives from different bases visited June 8 and 9 here to experience a U.S. Air Force base.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for June 13, 2011
• June 13, 2011 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 13 Jun 2011
• Gaggle aboard Air Force One en route Morrisville, NC The White House 13 Jun 2011

Other Conflicts

• 13 June 2011 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 13 Jun 2011
• Clinton Urges Africa to Abandon Gadhafi VOA 13 Jun 2011 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called for African nations to sever ties with Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and demand his removal.
• Libyans Will Vote After Gadhafi Cedes Power, Says Opposition Official VOA 13 Jun 2011 -- The general secretary of Libya's opposition Transitional National Council [TNC] says his group will organize democratic elections within two years, after the country is liberated from what he said is Moammar Gadhafi's dictatorial rule.
• Gaddafi says will not leave Libya despite pressure RIA Novosti 13 Jun 2011 -- Defiant Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi told the president of the world chess federation (FIDE) that he had no intention of leaving the country, a source at FIDE office in Kalmykia said.
• Russia's Libya envoy told chess chief to tell Gaddafi endgame is near RIA Novosti 13 Jun 2011 -- The Russian head of world chess went to Tripoli over the weekend with instructions to make it clear to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi that the endgame is near, the Russian president's special envoy to Africa said on Monday.
• Vietnam Mounts Artillery Drill Amid Tensions With China VOA 13 Jun 2011 -- Vietnam's navy has conducted live-fire artillery drills off the country's central coast following increased tensions with China over control in the South China Sea.
• Israeli blockade of Gaza hurts employment and wages, UN report says UN News Centre 13 Jun 2011 -- Unemployment in the Gaza Strip remains among the highest in the world and real wages have continued to decline every year since Israel imposed a blockade of the area, according to a new report from the United Nations agency that assists Palestinian refugees.
• Southern Sudan's Vice President Calls for Extension of UN Mandate VOA 13 Jun 2011 -- The vice president of the Government of Southern Sudan has asked that the U.N. Mission in Sudan [UNMIS] be renewed for another year. Riek Machar said Sudan could return to war if the United Nations ends its mandate after southern Sudan declares independence next month.
• SUDAN: Road closures, bombings, landmines hit Southern food supplies IRIN 13 Jun 2011 -- The closure for nearly two months of a road between Northern and Southern Sudan has led to serious food shortages in Southern Sudan's Unity State, with government officials and aid workers expressing concern over the food security of thousands of displaced people, returnees and others.
• McCain Backs Demand For Russian Troop Withdrawal From Transdniester RFE/RL 13 Jun 2011 -- U.S. Senator John McCain said during a visit to Chisinau that Washington supports calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Moldova's breakaway Transdniester region, RFE/RL's Moldovan Service reports.

News Reports

• Syria: UN relief official voices concern over violence against civilians UN News Centre 13 Jun 2011 -- The top United Nations humanitarian official today voiced deep concern over violence in Syria, which has reportedly claimed the lives of 1,200 people and forced more than 10,000 others to flee the country, and urged the country's Government to refrain from using force against peaceful demonstrators.
• Yemen Opposition in Talks About Power Transition VOA 13 Jun 2011 -- Yemen's political opposition has held talks with the country's acting leader, seeking to oust President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is in Saudi Arabia recovering from injuries suffered in a rocket attack.
• UN chief welcomes formation of new Government in Lebanon UN News Centre 13 Jun 2011 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the formation of a new Government after nearly five months of disagreement between the country's various political groups, saying the move was an important step towards establishing a functional administration.
• Lebanon Forms New Government, One Member Abruptly Resigns VOA 13 Jun 2011 -- Lebanon has formed a new Cabinet five months after the militant group Hezbollah and its allies forced the country's coalition government to collapse.
• US Blocks Ship Suspected of Carrying North Korean Arms VOA 13 Jun 2011 -- A senior U.S. official says the Navy intercepted a ship suspected of carrying banned weapons technology from North Korea to Burma and forced it to return home.
• US Stops North Korean Ship on Suspected Burma Mission VOA 13 Jun 2011 -- The United States says its Navy intercepted a ship suspected of carrying missile technology from North Korea to Burma two weeks ago, forcing the vessel to return home after a standoff lasting several days.
• Iran sole regional country signing up to all disarmament treaties IRNA 13 Jun 2011 -- Deputy Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran Ali Bagheri said on Monday that Iran is the only country in the region that has signed up to all disarmament treaties.
• Iran calls for IAEA to detect Stuxnet agents ISNA 13 Jun 2011 -- Deputy Secretary of Iranian Supreme National Security Council Ali Bagheri called for the IAEA to detect agents involved Stuxnet computer worm plan.
• Silent Tehran Protesters Arrested On Anniversary Of Disputed Vote RFE/RL 13 Jun 2011 -- Arrests and clashes have been reported in Tehran on the anniversary of the disputed 2009 reelection of Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad that led to mass street protests.
• Georgia's Cycle Of Violence Reflects Dysfunctional Politics RFE/RL 13 Jun 2011
• Suicide Bomber Attacks Islamabad Bank VOA 13 Jun 2011 -- A suicide bomber struck an Islamabad bank on Monday, killing one person in the first such attack in the Pakistani capital in more than a year and a half.
• Boeing Completes Delta System Definition Review of Crew Space Transportation Design Boeing 13 Jun 2011 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] on May 19 completed the Delta System Definition Review (SDR) of the company's Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 space capsule design. The milestone follows NASA's award of a Commercial Crew Development Phase 2 (CCDev2) contract to Boeing in April.
• Orbital Awarded Contract for Thaicom 6 Communications Satellite Orbital Sciences Corp. 13 Jun 2011 -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) announced today that THAICOM Plc. (SET Index: THCOM) has awarded the company a firm contract for the Thaicom 6 communications satellite.
• Russia's Mission Control raises ISS orbit by 19.2 km RIA Novosti 13 Jun 2011 -- Russia's Mission Control has adjusted the orbit of the International Space Station (ISS) by raising it 19.2 kilometers (11.9 miles) to 364.6 km (226.5 miles), a spokesman for the Mission Control said.
• Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne J-2X Engine for NASA's Future Human Spaceflight Ready for Test Pratt & Whitney 13 Jun 2011 -- Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne completed assembly of the first J-2X upper-stage engine for NASA's next era of human spaceflight in preparation for demonstration testing expected to begin this month at Stennis Space Center, Miss.