Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 24 Apr 2012 [PDF]
• Commander Rates Afghan Army, Police Progress AFPS 24 Apr 2012 -- The Afghan national security forces have made tremendous progress, but still require U.S. aid, instruction and capabilities, said Marine Corps Maj. Gen. John A. Toolan, the commander of the 2nd Marine Division and former commander in Afghanistan's Regional Command—South West.
• Afghan, Coalition Forces Capture Insurgent Leaders AFPS 24 Apr 2012 -- Afghan and coalition forces captured multiple insurgents in eastern Afghanistan today, including three who were leaders in the Taliban and Haqqani networks, military officials reported.
• Afghanistan Visit Leaves Dempsey Encouraged AFPS 24 Apr 2012 -- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff wrapped up a two-day visit to Afghanistan today and said he's encouraged by what he saw and heard there.
• Dempsey Gets Firsthand Look at NATO Training Results AFPS 24 Apr 2012 -- Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, got a firsthand look yesterday at results NATO Training Mission Afghanistan has achieved during a visit to the Special Forces Training Center at Camp Morehead here.
• Pakistan, Corruption Affect South, West Afghanistan AFPS 24 Apr 2012 -- Pakistani safe havens add to the difficulty in Afghanistan's Helmand province, and corruption also retards progress, the former commander of NATO forces in the region said here today.
• Afghan police take control of new checkpoint UK MOD 24 Apr 2012 -- Afghan police have taken control of a newly-built checkpoint in Babaji, Helmand province.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Motion Hearing Opens for Alleged Document Leaker AFPS 24 Apr 2012 -- The judge in the case against Army Pfc. Bradley Manning is expected to rule tomorrow on procedural issues that could have a major impact on his trial -- including whether the court should dismiss all charges against the alleged classified document leaker.
• US Soldier Accused in WikiLeaks Case Seeks Dismissal of Charges VOA 24 Apr 2012 -- Lawyers for the U.S. Army intelligence analyst accused of leaking secret documents to website WikiLeaks are asking a military judge to dismiss all charges.
• 17th Air Force stands down, passes African mission to USAFE AFNS 24 Apr 2012 -- Seventeenth Air Force stood down in an inactivation ceremony here today and the Air Forces Africa flag and mission were passed to U.S. Air Forces in Europe.
• Dempsey, NATO Defense Chiefs Gather for Conference AFPS 24 Apr 2012 -- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will meet with his NATO counterparts and the defense chiefs of partner nations in a two-day conference that begins tomorrow at NATO headquarters here.
• Training system enhances Balikatan 2012 Army News 24 Apr 2012 -- Philippine and U.S. Army soldiers taking part in the field training exercise of Balikatan 2012 were introduced to the Initial - Homestation Instrumentation Training System, which offers real-world dynamics to training events.
• U.S., Brazil Launch New Defense Cooperation Dialogue AFPS 24 Apr 2012 -- Here in the capital of the largest country in South America, U.S. and Brazilian defense leaders met for the first time under a new cooperative agreement that will expand an already close military partnership.
• Joint Press Conference with Secretary Panetta and Brazilian Minister Amorim in Brasilia, Brazil DoD 24 Apr 2012 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta and Brazilian Minister of Defense Celso Amorim
• Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Brazilian Minister of Defense Celso Amorim Define, in Dialogue, New Areas of Defense Cooperation Between Brazil and the United States DoD 24 Apr 2012 -- Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta and Minister of Defense Celso Amorim conducted the first U.S.-Brazil Defense Cooperation Dialogue (DCD) today in Brasilia, Brazil.
• Mayport-based Frigate Departs on Final Deployment for Southern Seas 2012 NNS 24 Apr 2012 -- USS Underwood (FFG 36) departed on its final deployment in support of Southern Seas 2012, April 23.
• MSC Takes Dleivery of T-AKE class Ship USNS Medgar Evers NNS 24 Apr 2012 -- Military Sealift Command accepted delivery of its newest dry cargo/ammunition ship, USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE 13), during a short ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO Ship Yard San Diego, April 24.
• Destroyer Edson to be Donated to Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum NNS 24 Apr 2012 -- The Navy announced April 24 that the destroyer ex-Edson (DD 946) will be donated to the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum, a nonprofit organization, for permanent berthing and public display in Bay City, Mich.
• USS Russell Returns Home to Hawaii NNS 24 Apr 2012 -- Families and friends welcomed back the guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, April 23, following completion of a successful eight-month deployment to the western Pacific and Arabian Gulf.
• New Defense Service Enhances Intelligence Capabilities AFPS 24 Apr 2012 -- The Defense Department has begun a new effort to better integrate defense intelligence with the broader intelligence community and make the department a better, more versatile organization, a senior Pentagon spokesman told reporters today.
• Panetta Hails Colombian Gains in Drug War VOA 24 Apr 2012 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says Colombia - a nation once battered by drug wars - is becoming a leader in efforts to crack down on drug trafficking in Latin America. U.S. defense chief on Monday began a week-long tour of South America that will also take him to Brazil and Chile.
• U.S. Confronts China Over N.Korean Rocket Launcher RIA Novosti 24 Apr 2012 -- The White House has accused Beijing of supplying North Korea with technology for a missile launcher showcased in a military parade in Pyongyang last week.
• Russian Military Concedes Iran, N. Korea Nuclear Threat RIA Novosti 24 Apr 2012 -- Russia's military leadership has for the first time acknowledged a nuclear threat from Iran and North Korea.
• Russia, Kyrgyzstan Sign Military Base Lease Deal RIA Novosti 24 Apr 2012 -- Russia signed a deal with Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday agreeing the rent Russia will pay for using military facilities in that country.
• Russia to Draft New Defense Industry Concept by Yearend RIA Novosti 24 Apr 2012 -- Russia will draft a new concept for the development of its defense industry that reflects existing and potential threats to its national security by the end of 2012, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Tuesday.
• Russia Repeats Iskander Deployment Threat RIA Novosti 24 Apr 2012 -- Moscow reiterated on Tuesday it may deploy Iskander theater ballistic missiles in the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad that will be capable of effectively engaging elements of the U.S. missile defense system in Poland.
• Russian Paratroopers Test New Portable Radar RIA Novosti 24 Apr 2012 -- Russian paratroopers have started testing a modernized portable radar that could be installed on airborne combat vehicles or carried by a small crew, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.
• Defense ministry denies use of cell phones during military exercise CNA 24 Apr 2012 -- The Ministry of National Defense on Tuesday denied accusations that troops engaged in a recent military exercise had used cells phones to contact each other, in violation of the rules.
• Pakistan's first Fast Attack Craft (Missile) inducted into navy IRNA 24 Apr 2012 -- Pakistan's first Fast Attack Craft (Missile), built by China, has been inducted into the navy, officials have said.
• Afghan-Pak region, China's strategic rivalry pose challenges: Antony IRNA 24 Apr 2012 -- The strategic and security implications from Afghan-Pak region, China's strategic rivalry and domestic and trans-national terrorism were the challenges outlined by the Defence Minister A K Antony Tuesday who said these cannot be felt in the same measure by other countries.
• April 24, 2012 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 24 Apr 2012
• Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Jay Carney Aboard Air Force One, 4/24/12 The White House 24 Apr 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 24, 2012
• Libya, Iraq Want to Buy Russian Arms - Rogozin RIA Novosti 24 Apr 2012 -- Libya and Iraq continue to show interest in buying Russian-made weaponry despite regime changes in these countries, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Tuesday.

Other Conflicts

• Security Council hears of need for more women in peace and security matters UN News Centre 24 Apr 2012 -- The UN Security Council today held a meeting at which it heard of the need to strengthen the role of women in the area of peace and security, such as through increased participation in politics.
• Syria: Security Council urges rapid deployment of military observers UN News Centre 24 Apr 2012 -- The Security Council today emphasized the need for a speedier deployment of UN military observers to Syria and the implementation of a proposed peace plan to end the violence in the Middle Eastern country.
• Russian Arms Sales to Syria to Comply with UN Rules RIA Novosti 24 Apr 2012 -- Russia will not impose limitations on arms deliveries to Syria in addition to those established by the UN Security Council, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Tuesday.
• UN food agency scales up assistance to reach 250,000 Syrians UN News Centre 24 Apr 2012 -- The United Nations food agency today announced it is stepping up its assistance to reach, by the ends of the month, a quarter of a million Syrians who have been affected by unrest in the Middle Eastern country, adding that it plans to double this amount in the coming weeks.
• Syrian Cease-fire Deteriorates With More Violence VOA 24 Apr 2012 -- A nearly two-week old U.N.-brokered cease-fire in Syria continued to fray Tuesday, amid reports of government shelling in the country's third and fourth largest cities of Homs and Hama, despite visits to those areas by U.N. observers. A bomb blast was also reported in the center of Damascus.
• South Korea 'On Alert' for Possible North Attack VOA 24 Apr 2012 -- South Korea appears to be taking seriously the latest attack threat from North Korea.
• Security Council urges immediate ceasefire between Sudan and South Sudan UN News Centre 24 Apr 2012 -- Following a briefing on the situation on the border between Sudan and South Sudan, members of the Security Council today urged an immediate ceasefire and a return to negotiations for the two countries.
• South Sudan Accuses Sudan of Declaring of War VOA 24 Apr 2012 -- South Sudanese President Salva Kiir said Tuesday that Sudan's recent actions amount to a declaration of war against the South. Kiir's comments, made during a visit to China, followed a series of bomb attacks in South Sudan's Unity State blamed on Sudanese armed forces.
• Thousands displaced by latest fighting on Sudan-South Sudan border UN News Centre 24 Apr 2012 -- Some 35,000 people have been displaced by the recent fighting near the border between Sudan and South Sudan, the United Nations refugee agency said today, adding that new outbreaks of violence are putting refugees' safety at risk.
• Security Council condemns 'in strongest terms' attack on peacekeepers in Darfur UN News Centre 24 Apr 2012 -- The Security Council today condemned 'in the strongest terms' an attack on peacekeepers in West Darfur, Sudan, in which four were wounded, one of whom subsequently died as a result of wounds sustained in the attack.
• Ban 'deeply troubled' by Israel's approval of West Bank outposts UN News Centre 24 Apr 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said he was 'deeply troubled' by Israel's decision to formally approve three outposts in the West Bank, describing the action as illegal under international law.
• DRC: Concern over welfare of IDPs in Katanga IRIN 24 Apr 2012 -- Aid agencies are unable to access thousands of people displaced from the town of Mitwaba, in the southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) province of Katanga as a result of recent fighting between rebels and government forces.
• Families in Gaza move into new UN-built shelters UN News Centre 24 Apr 2012 -- More than 1,300 Palestinians living in Gaza's Khan Younis camp will move into 223 housing units built by the United Nations agency assisting refugees in that area, with the financial support the Netherlands, it was announced today.
• Report Says China Worsening Tensions in S. China Sea VOA 24 Apr 2012 -- A new report from a Brussels-based think tank says Chinese government agencies are exacerbating tensions in the South China Sea.

News Reports

• Lifting anti-Iran sanctions, right approach - Mehmanparast IRNA 24 Apr 2012 -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Tuesday that lifting the illegal anti-Iran sanctions would be the West's correct approach to make up for its past mistakes.
• Mystery Surrounds 'Cyberattack' On Iranian Oil Facilities RFE/RL 24 Apr 2012 -- Iran says it is investigating a suspected cyberattack on its main oil-export terminal and on the Oil Ministry itself. As of April 24, no signs of lasting damage had been discovered, but what do we know about the attack and its potential effect on Iran's oil industry?
• Iran ready to confront any threat decisively: Iran's FM IRNA 24 Apr 2012 -- Iran is ready to confront any kind of threat decisively, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said here on Monday.
• Cyber attack on Iran oil industry fully foiled: official IRNA 24 Apr 2012 -- An Iranian Oil Ministry official said the attempted cyber attacks on the country's oil industry has been foiled, adding that all production and export units of his ministry are currently operating.
• Putin To Quit As Head of Russian Ruling Party RFE/RL 24 Apr 2012 -- Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin has said that he plans to resign as chairman of Russia's increasingly unpopular ruling party, United Russia.
• Putin Quits United Russia Party RIA Novosti 24 Apr 2012 -- MOSCOW, April 24 (Marc Bennetts, RIA Novosti) – President-in-waiting Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday he would stand down as head of the ruling United Russia party and nominated outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev as its new leader.
• Jailed Ukrainian Ex-Premier Goes on Hunger Strike RIA Novosti 24 Apr 2012 -- Jailed Ukrainian ex-prime minister and opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko has declared a hunger strike in what she said was designed to turn the world's attention to the 'concentration camp of violence and lawlessness' which she said was being created in Ukraine by President Viktor Yanukovych.
• Russia Launches Proton-M Rocket with Arab Telecoms Satellite RIA Novosti 24 Apr 2012 -- A Proton-M carrier rocket with the YahSat 1B telecommunications satellite on board has been launched from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan, Russia's Federal Space Agency Roscosmos said.