Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Security Force Kills 7 Insurgents, Captures More than 30 AFPS 10 Jan 2012 -- An Afghan-led and coalition-supported security force killed seven insurgents and captured more than 30 others during a search for a Taliban leader in the Charhar district of Afghanistan's Balkh province today, military officials reported.
• YORKS soldiers on patrol in Helmand UK MOD 10 Jan 2012 -- Soldiers from 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (1 YORKS) have been undertaking regular patrols in the Nahr-e Saraj area of Helmand province to improve security for the local population.
• Training Kicks Off for NATO Mentors in Afghanistan AFPS 10 Jan 2012 -- Almost 300 troops from eight countries, all bound for Afghanistan to mentor Afghan national security forces, kicked off a rigorous pre-deployment training rotation yesterday in Hohenfels, Germany.
• CTF 55 Ship Renders Aid to Iranian Mariners NNS 10 Jan 2012 -- A U.S. Coast Guard ship, assigned to Commander, Task Force (CTF) 55, rendered aid to six Iranian mariners from a distressed vessel in the North Arabian Gulf, Jan. 10.
• U.S. Forces Rescue Second Iranian Vessel AFPS 10 Jan 2012 -- For the second time in a week, a U.S. vessel has rescued Iranian mariners from a distressed vessel in regional waters.
• U.S. Reports Rescuing More Iranian Sailors RFE/RL 10 Jan 2012 -- The United States has announced its second naval operation in less than a week to rescue Iranian sailors from a distressed vessel in international waters.
• US Coast Guard Rescues Iranian Mariners VOA 10 Jan 2012 -- For the second time in a week, the U.S. military says its forces in the Persian Gulf region have come to the rescue of Iranian sailors aboard a distressed vessel.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Presidential Memorandum - Certification Concerning U.S. Participation in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan Consistent with Section 2005 of the American Servicemembers' Protection Act The White House 10 Jan 2012
• People Form Defense Strategy's Centerpiece, Official Says AFPS 10 Jan 2012 -- People are the centerpiece of the new defense strategy guidance that President Barack Obama released last week, the deputy undersecretary of defense for strategy, plans and forces said here yesterday.
• Military Logistics Strained, But Healthy, Official Says AFPS 10 Jan 2012 -- The state of military logistics is healthy and service members are doing amazing things to supply operations around the world, but the system is strained as a result of 10 years of war, the Joint Staff’s director of logistics said here.
• Army South receives award for deployment, celebrates 100-year historical milestone Army News 10 Jan 2012 -- The command, with a long history of supporting the region, deployed to Haiti in 2010 to provide security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief following the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake.
• Sixth Guard battalion transitions to Longbow Apache Army News 10 Jan 2012 -- The Missouri National Guard's 1-135th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion began the new year last week with a roll-out ceremony that officially transitioned the battalion to an AH-64D Apache Longbow unit.
• Deployed CE Airmen create innovative method to speed de-icing process AFNS 10 Jan 2012 -- Through a collaborative effort, the men and women of the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron improved aircraft safety by building a de-icing station from spare materials, drastically increasing the speed and reliability of refilling the de-icer trucks at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.
• New Knee Helps Amputees Return to Front Lines AFPS 10 Jan 2012 -- A sophisticated prosthetic knee with a newly designed microprocessor is giving many wounded warriors with above-the-knee amputations the chance to return to active duty.
• Surface Navy Association Hosts National Symposium to Discuss Future NNS 10 Jan 2012 -- Naval leaders, government officials and members of private industry gathered to discuss the surface navy's future at the 24th Annual Surface Navy Association Symposium in Crystal City, Va., Jan. 10.
• Lincoln Concludes Thailand Port Visit NNS 10 Jan 2012 -- Aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), accompanied by guided-missile cruiser Cape St. George (CG 71), departed Laem Chabang, Thailand, Jan. 10, following a four-day port visit.
• Helo Squadron Eclipses 1,000 Hours Of Flight Time NNS 10 Jan 2012 -- Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 37, Det. 5, embarked aboard guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal (CG 73), surpassed 1,000 hours of flight time, Jan. 4.
• Great Lakes Moving Ahead with Steam Plant Energy Efficiency Project NNS 10 Jan 2012 -- Naval Station (NAVSTA) Great Lakes and Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Midwest are taking the next step toward decentralizing the base's steam heat delivery system, one of the largest energy efficiency initiatives in the 100-year history of the base.
• Russia's fire-damaged nuclear sub to be repaired on time - Rogozin RIA Novosti 10 Jan 2012 -- Russia's nuclear submarine damaged by fire in a dry dock in late December will be repaired and put back into combat duty according to schedule, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Tuesday.
• Russian warships leave Syrian port of Tartus RIA Novosti 10 Jan 2012 -- A Russian naval task force, led by the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, has left the Syrian port of Tartus after a three-day visit, Russia's Northern Fleet said in a statement on Tuesday.
• Russian Air Force completes Su-25UBM flight tests RIA Novosti 10 Jan 2012 -- The Russian Air Force has completed flight tests of the modernized Sukhoi Su-25UBM ground attack-trainer aircraft, Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Vladimir Drik said on Tuesday.
• Indonesia signs $500 mln contract to buy six Russian jet fighters RIA Novosti 10 Jan 2012 -- Indonesia has signed a $470 million contract with Russia to buy six Sukhoi Su-30MK2 jet fighters for the Indonesian Air Force, The Jakarta Post daily has reported.
• HMS Ledbury deploys to Mediterranean UK MOD 10 Jan 2012 -- HMS Ledbury became the first Royal Navy vessel to deploy in 2012 yesterday when she set sail from Portsmouth for the Mediterranean.
• Commander: Army ground forces war game to test fire modern equipment IRNA 10 Jan 2012 -- Commander of the Ground Forces of the Islamic Republic Army Brigadier General Ahmad-Reza Pourdastan said on Tuesday that the ground forces will test fire sophisticated equipment in a big wargame in eastern Iran soon.
• India's hypersonic missile to be ready in five years IRNA 10 Jan 2012 -- With the air-version of BrahMos missile likely to be inducted in IAF within a year, works have already been started to develop BrahMos 2, the fastest hypersonic missile in the world, which would take final shape in five years, a top scientist said.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 1/10/12 The White House 10 Jan 2012
• January 10, 2012 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 10 Jan 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 10, 2012
• CACI Awarded $22 Million Task Order to Support U.S. Special Operations Command with Wide Array of Training Technologies CACI 10 Jan 2012 -- CACI International Inc announced today that it has been awarded a $22 million task order under the Global Battlestaff and Program Support (GBPS) prime contract to support the U.S. Special Operations Forces Planning, Rehearsal and Execution Preparation (SOFPREP) effort.
• EADS North America awarded $212 million production contract for 39 UH-72A Lakota helicopters EADS 10 Jan 2012 -- The U.S. Army has awarded EADS North America a $212.7 million contract to deliver 39 UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) as part of its total acquisition plan.
• Pratt & Whitney Awarded $194M F135 Long-Lead Production Contract Pratt & Whitney 10 Jan 2012 -- The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Pratt & Whitney a $194,097,296 long-lead production contract for F135 engines to power the F-35 Lightning II.
• Raytheon Awarded $212.8 Million for Evolved Seasparrow Missile Raytheon 10 Jan 2012 -- Raytheon Company was awarded two contracts totaling $212.8 million for the production of the Evolved Seasparrow Missile, with an option for $33 million in additional work.
• French defence ministry awards innovative availability contract for Thales equipment on board Rafale fleet Thales 10 Jan 2012 -- The French defence ministry’s integrated structure for through-life support of aeronautical equipment (SIMMAD) has awarded Thales the contract to support its equipment on board the Rafale aircraft in service with the French Air Force and French Navy.
• General Dynamics’ TACLANE-C100 Encryptor Certified to Support Government’s New ?Leave-behind’ Strategies General Dynamics 10 Jan 2012 -- General Dynamics C4 Systems’ TACLANE®-C100 encryptor has been certified by the National Security Agency (NSA) as a Suite B device to secure network communications at the Secret level and below.

Other Conflicts

• 10 January 2012 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 10 Jan 2012
• UN Warns of Surge in Violence in Syria VOA 10 Jan 2012 -- A senior United Nations official says 400 people have been killed in Syria since an Arab League monitoring mission deployed there late last month.
• Defiant Assad Vows To 'Restore Order' In Syria RFE/RL 10 Jan 2012 -- President Bashar al-Assad has accused "a foreign conspiracy" of trying to destabilize Syria and vowed to restore order by "hitting terrorists with an iron fist."
• Defiant Assad blames Syria unrest on foreign forces RIA Novosti 10 Jan 2012 -- Embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Tuesday he would not resign from his post and reiterated that a foreign conspiracy was behind the bloody unrest in the country.
• Defiant Assad Speech Draws Angry Reaction From Syrian Opponents VOA 10 Jan 2012 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has again promised both reform and retaliation in response to the unrest roiling the nation. Assad also added the Arab League to the list of groups fueling Syria's problems.
• Report Says Israeli Settlement Construction up by 20 Percent VOA 10 Jan 2012 -- A new report shows that Israeli has stepped up settlement expansion, despite international pressure.
• Security Council presses for ethnic reconciliation in troubled area of South Sudan UN News Centre 10 Jan 2012 -- Security Council members have called on warring ethnic communities in South Sudan's Jonglei state to engage in reconciliation and end the 'cycle of conflict' that has claimed an unknown number of casualties in recent weeks.
• UN Urges Aid to Avert South Sudan Disaster VOA 10 Jan 2012 -- The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, is calling for a massive humanitarian effort in South Sudan, where conflict has displaced tens of thousands of people.
• Kenyan Youths Urged to Join Al-Shabab Jihadist Campaign VOA 10 Jan 2012 -- A new video message posted to a jihadist website calls on Muslim youths in Kenya to join the Somali militant group al-Shabab in its fight against Kenyan forces. While the message is typical of the group's propaganda, the language is not.
• Libya: UN and Government sign status of mission agreement UN News Centre 10 Jan 2012 -- The United Nations and the Libyan authorities signed an agreement establishing the legal framework under which the UN mission will operate.

News Reports

• Geithner Discusses Iran Sanctions During Beijing Talks VOA 10 Jan 2012 -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is in Beijing for talks aimed at persuading Chinese officials to support U.S. sanctions against Iran's oil industry.
• China, US to Discuss Iran, Trade Imbalance VOA 10 Jan 2012 -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is on a two-day visit to China, where he is expected to discuss U.S. sanctions against Iran and the huge imbalance in China-U.S. trade.
• Soltanieh: Fordo nuclear site operating under IAEA supervision IRNA 10 Jan 2012 -- Iran's IAEA envoy, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, said on Tuesday that Fordo nuclear site is operating under full supervision of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency.
• Army official: Presence of US forces in region not acceptable IRNA 10 Jan 2012 -- Deputy Chief of Staff of Iran's Joint Armed Forces Brigadier General Masoud Jazayeri said the illegitimate presence of foreign forces, including the US troops in the region, by no means, could be acceptable.
• Iran uranium enrichment plants under IAEA watch: Soltanieh IRNA 10 Jan 2012 -- All IRI nuclear activities are under IAEA watch, including those at a new uranium enrichment bunker at Fordo, Iranian envoy to International Atomic Energy Agency, Ali Asghar Soltanieh said on Monday.
• Iran says Fordo nuclear activities are under IAEA control ISNA 10 Jan 2012 -- Iranian ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali Asghar Soltanieh said the country's nuclear activities including the enrichment work in Natanz and Fordo sites are under the monitoring of the IAEA.
• Iran's Army Ground Forces to hold exercise soon ISNA 10 Jan 2012 -- An Iranian senior military official said Iran's Army Ground Forces would hold drill in February.
• Soltanieh: West's reaction on Fordo politically-motivated ISNA 10 Jan 2012 -- Iran called western reactions to the start of uranium enrichment in Fordo nuclear site 'politically-motivated.'
• Russia Expresses 'Regret' Over Iran Enrichment As Oil Pressure On Tehran Mounts RFE/RL 10 Jan 2012 -- The Russian Foreign Ministry says Moscow has received news of boosted uranium enrichment by Iran "with regret and worry."
• West Condemns Iran's High-Level Enrichment Work RFE/RL 10 Jan 2012 -- Western allies the United States, France, and Britain have condemned Iran's launch of high-level uranium enrichment at a facility deep under a mountain, calling it a violation of international law.
• Iran starts enriching uranium to 20 pct - IAEA RIA Novosti 10 Jan 2012 -- The International Atomic Energy Agency officially confirmed that Iran has started enriching uranium to the 20-percent level, which can easily be turned into fissile warhead material.
• Gilani says Army Chief, Spy Chief replies in memo case illegal IRNA 10 Jan 2012 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani here Monday said that depositions of Army Chief and Spy Chief in memo case were illegal.
• Truck Bomb Kills 35 in NW Pakistan VOA 10 Jan 2012 -- Pakistani officials say a bomb blast near the Afghan border has killed at least 35 people and wounded more than 60 others, in one of the deadliest attacks in the country's northwest in months.
• Russia was well aware of Phobos-Grunt mission risks - space chief RIA Novosti 10 Jan 2012 -- Phobos-Grunt, a failed Russian sample mission to a Martian moon, was launched despite risks of which Russian scientists were well aware, the head of the Russian space agency said on Tuesday.
• Aung San Suu Kyi Confirms Run for Burmese Parliament VOA 10 Jan 2012 -- Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has confirmed that she will run for parliament in the country's highly anticipated April by-elections.
• Two Leaders of Turkey's 1980 Coup Indicted VOA 10 Jan 2012 -- In Turkey, the two surviving leaders of a 1980 military coup have been charged with crimes against the state. The move is seen by many as an important step in the country facing up to its dark past of military rule.
• Former Turkish President Charged in Military Coup VOA 10 Jan 2012 -- A Turkish court has approved the indictment for 'crimes against the state' of a former Turkish president who came to power in a military coup.