Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 24 May 2012 [PDF]
• Afghan-led Security Force Captures Insurgent Facilitator AFPS 24 May 2012 -- An Afghan-led, coalition-supported security force detained an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan facilitator and several other insurgents during an operation in the Argo district of Afghanistan's Badakhshan province today, military officials reported.
• 'Vengeance' takes flight, lifts off for first deployment USMC News 24 May 2012 -- CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan – It was after midnight, yet there was an undeniable energy in the air as the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469 personnel gathered outside their squadron offices aboard Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, for their transfer of authority ceremony May 15.
• Russia Refuses to Allocate $10 mln to Afghan Army RIA Novosti 24 May 2012 -- Russia has denied a NATO request to allocate $10 million for the support of the Afghan Army, the Russian presidential envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said on Thursday following the alliance's summit in Chicago.
• Admiral Handley Visits Seabees in Helmand, Farah Provinces NNS 24 May 2012 -- Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11 experienced a rare opportunity when they received a visit from Commander of 1st Naval Construction Division (NCD), May 15 in both Helmand and Farah Provinces of Afghanistan.
• U.S. Drone Strike Kills 10 People in Pakistan RIA Novosti 24 May 2012 -- A U.S. drone has killed at least 10 suspected militants on Thursday, in the north-west of Pakistan in a second such attack in 24 hours, according to BBC news.
• U.S. drone kills 10 people in NW Pakistan IRNA 24 May 2012 -- A U.S. spy aircraft fired missiles on a house in Pakistan's North Wazitistan tribal region early Thursday and killed at least 10 people, residents said.
• Yemen Gets U.S. Medical Aid Following Terrorist Attacks AFPS 24 May 2012 -- The U.S. military has provided emergency medical aid to Yemen that's being used to help treat Yemeni soldiers and others who'd been wounded in a May 21 terrorist suicide bombing attack in the country's capital, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters today.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Joint Statement of the U.S. - Iraq Defense and Security Cooperation Joint Coordinating Committee DoD 24 May 2012 -- The Governments of the United States of America and the Republic of Iraq reaffirmed their commitment to a strong and long-term security partnership between the two countries at the inaugural meeting of the Defense and Security Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) of the Strategic Framework Agreement (SFA), from May 22-24, 2012.
• Navy, Air Force develop engine modification that may save billions AFNS 24 May 2012 -- The Navy and Air Force stand to save more than $2 billion after jointly developing an engine modification that will keep critically important aircraft flying for years.
• CMSAF visits Airmen in Jordan supporting exercise AFNS 24 May 2012 -- Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy and his Jordanian counterpart, Mowafaq Mohammad Al-Mostafa, the chief master sergeant of the Royal Jordanian Air Force, paid a surprise visit to U.S. Airmen forward deployed to Jordan in support of Exercise Eager Lion 12 here May 19.
• Changes coming for the Army's Regular Army Enlisted Involuntary Early Separation Program Army News 24 May 2012 -- Congress recently amended legislation that expands the services' authority to separate Regular Army enlisted members from three months to one year prior to their scheduled date of separation, referred to as Expiration Term of Service (ETS).
• Fort Meade's new mobile command post allows DES to operate on the move Army News 24 May 2012 -- Parked behind the Directorate of Emergency Services' headquarters is a white truck resembling a small tractor-trailer.
• 6th ADA becomes 30th ADA Army News 24 May 2012 -- The 6th Air Defense Artillery Brigade changed designations to the 30th ADA in ceremonies at Fort Sill May 18. The reason for changing to the new unit designation came out of a surprising discovery made by Col. Bill Stacy, brigade commander.
• Army refining long-term MRAP plan Army News 24 May 2012 -- The U.S. Army is in the process of refining a long-term plan for its fleet of 20,000 blast-deflecting, mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles, known as MRAPs, service officials explained.
• African Land Forces Summit closes in Kampala Army News 24 May 2012 -- The second biennial African Land Forces Summit came to a close, May 18, in a ceremony in Uganda's capital of Kampala.
• TRADOC continues to refine, develop joint concepts through multiservice exercise Army News 24 May 2012 -- Members of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command team continue to work toward not only shaping the Army of 2020, but also the Joint Force of 2020 when they participated in a joint planning exercise in Okinawa, Japan, April 29 through May 11.
• USS Miami Crew, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Combat Fire Aboard Submarine NNS 24 May 2012 -- Statement from Rear Admiral Rick Breckenridge, Commander, of Submarine Group Two in Groton, Connecticut:
• HSV 2 Swift Gives Back to Namibia for Africa Partnership Station 2012 NNS 24 May 2012 -- Sailors and Marines assigned to High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) participated in a pair of community service projects during an Africa Partnership Station (APS) port visit to Namibia, May 22-23.
• U.S. Navy Makes First APS Port Visit to Namibia NNS 24 May 2012 -- High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) made a port visit to Walvis Bay in support of Africa Partnership Station (APS) 2012, May 22-23, the first APS visit and the first U.S. Navy vessel port-of-call here in over a decade.
• USS Theodore Roosevelt Berthing Team Overhauls Living Quarters for Crew Move Aboard NNS 24 May 2012 -- Sailors assigned to USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Berthing Team have refurbished 53 living quarters in time for the ship's crew move aboard (CMA) process, which began May 21, and are continuing to overhaul more spaces ensuring they are up to safety and living standards as part of the ship's refueling complex overhaul (RCOH).
• HM-15 Changes Command NNS 24 May 2012 -- Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15 'Blackhawks,' held a change of command ceremony on board Naval Support Activity, Bahrain, May 22.
• Reserve Seabee Project Improves Naval Base Operations NNS 24 May 2012 -- Naval Station (NAVSTA) Newport's newest facility is opening, May 25, resulting in improved base operations and efficiencies.
• NIE Cyber Threat Team hackers support OPFOR Army News 24 May 2012 -- While White Sands Missile Range Soldiers play the role of enemy combatants and insurgents during May's Network Integration Evaluation 12.2, civilians from the Army Research Laboratory's Survivability/Lethality Analysis Directorate quietly play another kind of enemy behind the scenes.
• Special Operations Delegates from 96 Nations Meet in Florida AFPS 24 May 2012 -- Special operations delegates from 96 nations gathered this week in Tampa, Fla. for a conference that U.S. Special Operations Command hosts every few years.
• Improvements Continue in Joint DOD, VA Program AFPS 24 May 2012 -- Progress continues on a streamlined system to improve care for ill and injured service members and veterans, senior Defense Department and Veterans Affairs officials told Capitol Hill legislators yesterday.
• Guard, Reserve Leaders Discuss Budget Issues AFPS 24 May 2012 -- The military's reserve components remain ready and capable despite budget cuts and their transition from a strategic to operational force, senior National Guard and Reserve officials told the Senate Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee here yesterday.
• DOD Leaders Target Audit Readiness at Town Hall AFPS 24 May 2012 -- In the Defense Department's congressionally mandated effort to become audit ready, DOD leaders yesterday told senior government executives the Pentagon must manage its books as tightly as it manages operational missions.
• Little: Pentagon's Budget Request is Strong, Responsible AFPS 24 May 2012 -- Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has clearly stated the consequences of sequestration, and the Pentagon has delivered a responsible budget request with a sound strategy to the U.S. Congress, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters today.
• Blue Knights assist narcotics fight USMC News 24 May 2012 -- Crews from two MV-22B Ospreys with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 await a call to extract Marines who have been conducting a counternarcotics operation in western Nimroz province to return them to Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, May 14.
• Marine Corps Reserve makes technological advancements USMC News 24 May 2012 -- Shelves full of books used for logging drill hours and muster attendance folders are becoming a thing of the past as the Marine Corps Reserve makes technological advancements.
• Marines take up arms during foreign weapons training USMC News 24 May 2012 -- The Marines and sailors of Security Cooperation Task Force Africa Partnership Station 2012, were able to get hands-on experience with several variants of the AK weapons series, during the foreign weapons training held aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., May 18.
• Army and RAF step up training for close quarters combat UK MOD 24 May 2012 -- Two new training facilities have opened this week as operations in Afghanistan draw down, and the Army and the RAF Regiment are preparing for possible future operations and the need for urban warfare skills.
• RAF Tucanos support front line operations UK MOD 24 May 2012 -- RAF Linton-on-Ouse is using its fleet of Tucano aircraft to help train pilots and Army controllers for front line duties.
• New RAF C-17 aircraft touches down in the UK UK MOD 24 May 2012 -- A new C-17 transport aircraft has been unveiled today by the Defence Secretary at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
• Taiwan hopes upgraded fighters will be on par with F-16C/Ds CNA 24 May 2012 -- President Ma Ying-jeou said Thursday he hopes the country's F-16A/B jet fighter fleet, which is being upgraded in the U.S., will have capabilities similar to those of the more advanced F-16C/D model.
• Russia, U.S., Norway to Hold Joint Naval Drills in August RIA Novosti 24 May 2012 -- Russia, the United States, and Norway will hold maritime interdiction operations and search and rescue maneuvers during joint naval drills in the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea in August, Russia's Northern Fleet said.
• Defense Ministry Civilians to be Cut by Third RIA Novosti 24 May 2012 -- Russia's Defense Ministry plans to cut the number of its civilian personnel by a third, a ministry source said on Thursday.
• Russia to Produce New Sets of Sniper Gear RIA Novosti 24 May 2012 -- Russia will soon start producing four new sets of sniper equipment, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Thursday.
• Russian Stealth Frigate Tests New Missiles in Sea Trials RIA Novosti 24 May 2012 -- Russia's second Gepard class frigate has successfully test-fired missiles from the new Kalibr-NK missile system during the first stage of sea trials in the Black Sea, a spokesman for Russia's Southern military district said on Thursday.
• Ukraine Parliament Allows Foreign Military Exercises RIA Novosti 24 May 2012 -- The Ukrainian parliament on Thursday approved the participation of foreign troops, including U.S. and Russian, in a series of international drills later this year.
• Russia In Deadlock With Azerbaijan On Radar Site RIA Novosti 24 May 2012 -- Russia's Defense Ministry is disappointed by the lack of progress in talks with Azerbaijan over extending the lease of the missile defense radar station in Azeri town of Gabala, a source in the ministry said on Thursday.
• May 24, 2012 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 24 May 2012
• Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Jay Carney en route Newton, IA, 5/24/12 The White House 24 May 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for May 24, 2012

Other Conflicts

• 24 May 2012 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 24 May 2012
• UN human rights probe panel reports continuing 'gross' violations in Syria UN News Centre 24 May 2012 -- Gross human rights violations continue unabated in Syria, amid increasing militarization of the strife there, despite an earlier agreement by parties to the conflict to halt hostilities, the United Nations independent panel probing abuses in the country said in an update released today.
• UN observers hold mediation meeting with opposition members in Syrian city of Douma UN News Centre 24 May 2012 -- A team of UN observers today visited Douma, an opposition-controlled city in Syria, to initiate dialogue with opposition activists on the ground.
• UN Panel Says Syrian Government, Opposition Abuses Continue RFE/RL 24 May 2012 -- United Nations-appointed investigators have accused Syrian security forces and opposition fighters of continuing to commit human rights violations, despite the announcement of a cease-fire six weeks ago.
• Syrian Government, Rebels Blamed for Rights Abuses VOA 24 May 2012 -- A United Nations panel says both the Syrian government and armed rebels have committed serious human rights violations since March of this year, as violence continues despite a shaky ceasefire.
• Ban welcomes announcement of talks resuming between Sudan and South Sudan UN News Centre 24 May 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the announcement of the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to resume talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, next week, under the auspices of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel.
• UN envoy to Lebanon welcomes efforts to bolster security after recent tensions UN News Centre 24 May 2012 -- The United Nation Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Derek Plumbly, today welcomed efforts by the country's Prime Minister to enhance stability following recent tensions, stressing that the UN supports all measures to maintain security and the well-being of the Lebanese people.
• China Blames Philippines for More Ships in Disputed Sea VOA 24 May 2012 -- China has acknowledged sending additional ships to the territory it disputes with the Philippines in the South China Sea but is blaming Manila for the escalation.
• KENYA: Survivors of violence seek more than resettlement IRIN 24 May 2012 -- Most of those displaced by post-election violence mainly in Kenya's Rift Valley Province five years ago have been resettled, but those whose relatives were killed or who lost their property are seeking justice and further compensation.

News Reports

• Iran Nuclear Talks Moving to Moscow VOA 24 May 2012 -- Six world powers holding nuclear talks with Iran in Baghdad agreed Thursday to hold another round of negotiations in Moscow next month to try to resolve international concerns about the Iranian nuclear program.
• Ashton Announces New Nuclear Talks With Iran Despite 'Significant Differences' RFE/RL 24 May 2012 -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States, known as the P5+1 - are calling on Iran to halt its program of enriching uranium to 20 percent, a level closer to what's needed for a nuclear weapon.
• Iran, World Powers to Meet Again in Moscow in Nuclear Talks VOA 24 May 2012 -- Six world powers holding nuclear talks with Iran in Baghdad agreed Thursday to hold another round of negotiations in Moscow next month.
• Russian Bikers Charged with Espionage in Iraq RIA Novosti 24 May 2012 -- Four Russian bikers traveling through Iraq were arrested on Sunday near Baghdad on spy charges, Alexander Orlov, a member of the Moscow-based motorcycle club RAMCC told RIA Novosti on Thursday.
• Pakistan Rejects US Criticism of Jailed Doctor Who Assisted in Bin Laden Hunt VOA 24 May 2012 -- Pakistan on Thursday rejected U.S. criticism of the jailing of Shakeel Afridi, a Pakistani doctor who helped the United States track down Osama bin Laden, while a U.S. congressional panel cut aid to protest his imprisonment.
• Pakistani doctor, who helped CIA reach bin Laden, gets 33-year term IRNA 24 May 2012 -- A Pakistani doctor, who was accused of helping the CIA to reach Osama bin Laden, was handed down 33-year rigorous imprisonment, official sources have said.
• Analysis: Libyan minority rights at a crossroads IRIN 24 May 2012 -- Since Muammar Gaddafi's fall seven months ago, Libya's non-Arab minorities, including an estimated 250,000 Tuaregs, have begun more vehemently to insist on their rights.
• U.S. expresses support for president's cross-strait policy CNA 24 May 2012 -- The United States welcomes a warming of cross-Taiwan Strait ties and will support President Ma Ying-jeou's continued efforts to advance relations with China in his second term, a White House official said Wednesday.
• Taiwan eying revision of some cross-strait laws: official CNA 24 May 2012 -- The Mainland Affairs Council said Thursday it has been seeking information from the relevant authorities for the past two months with a view to looking at possible revision of the laws on Taiwan-China affairs.
• No problem of trust between two sides of strait: MAC CNA 24 May 2012 -- Cross-strait relations remain the same and no trust concerns have been raised following President Ma Ying-jeou's inauguration address, a Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) official said Thursday.
• Dragon on Course for Space Station Docking VOA 24 May 2012 -- It has been a busy few days for the Dragon, the space capsule developed by the California-based company Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX. Dragon blasted off atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida on Tuesday, headed for the International Space Station.
• Secretary-General calls for conclusion of constitution-making process in Nepal UN News Centre 24 May 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged political parties and other groups in Nepal to ensure that its constitution-making process is concluded successfully, noting that the term of the country's Constituent Assembly could end before the adoption of a new constitution.
• UN relief coordinator warns over humanitarian crisis in Africa's drought-hit Sahel UN News Centre 24 May 2012 -- The United Nations top relief official today called for strong leadership and a comprehensive response plan, as well as donor support, for the food crisis in West Africa's drought-prone Sahel region, warning that hunger could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe.
• Top UN human rights official urges Zimbabwe's president to ensure peaceful elections UN News Centre 24 May 2012 -- On her first-ever visit to Zimbabwe, the top United Nations human rights official has urged President Robert Mugabe to ensure that the country's next elections will be free and fair and held in a peaceful atmosphere.
• U.S. State Department Warns Of 'Instability' Following Arab Spring RFE/RL 24 May 2012 -- In a new report, the U.S. State Department calls last year’s uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa “inspirational."
• Bout Defense Prepares Extradition Request and Appeals RIA Novosti 24 May 2012 -- The defense team for imprisoned Russian businessman, Viktor Bout, has started work on an appeal to Russian Ministry of Justice requesting his extradition from the U.S. as well as appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court and the International Court of Justice in the Hague, Bout's lawyer Albert Dayan said.
• Voting Resumes in Egypt VOA 24 May 2012 -- Voting has resumed in Egypt in a historic presidential election that broadly pits Islamist candidates against secularists rooted in former President Hosni Mubarak's old guard.