Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 20 Jun 2012 [PDF]
• DOD News Briefing with Brig. Gen. Cripwell via Teleconference from Afghanistan DoD 20 Jun 2012
• Combined Force Detains Haqqani Leader AFPS 20 Jun 2012 -- An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Haqqani leader in the Tsamkani district of Afghanistan’s Paktiya province.
• Suicide Bomber Attacks NATO Convoy in Afghanistan VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- A suicide bomber killed at least 21 people, including three coalition soldiers, in an attack on a joint NATO and Afghan patrol in eastern Afghanistan.
• At Least 20 Killed In Afghan Suicide Attack RFE/RL 20 Jun 2012 -- Officials say a suicide bomber has attacked a NATO-led convoy in the eastern Afghan province of Khost, killing at least 20 people.
• Suicide Bomber Kills 18 in Afghanistan RIA Novosti 20 Jun 2012 -- A suicide bomb attack in eastern Afghanistan on Wednesday left 18 people dead and injured 35 others.
• Services to Decide Possible Discipline in Quran Burning Incident AFPS 20 Jun 2012 -- The investigation into allegations that U.S. service members improperly destroyed religious material in Afghanistan in February is now with the military services for disposition.
• Afghan Transition Timeline Remains On Track, Official Says AFPS 20 Jun 2012 -- An International Security Assistance Force official charged with leading the transition to an Afghan-led security force says the plan is proceeding on schedule.
• 702nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron deactivates at Kandahar Airfield AFNS 20 Jun 2012 -- A small group of Air Guardsmen were joined by senior leaders to celebrate the completion of their deployment and to honor the deactivation of the 702nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron.
• End of the Runway Army News 20 Jun 2012 -- The C-27J flew missions in direct support of the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade. 702nd EAS performed cargo and passenger movement in air to land and airdrop missions.
• 395th Ordnance Company keeps Soldiers in the fight Army News 20 Jun 2012 -- Soldiers of the 395th Ordnance Company have been busy keeping Service Members serving in support of Operation Enduring Freedom supplied with the ammunition needed to accomplish their respective missions.
• Parliament welcomes 20th Armoured Brigade home from Helmand UK MOD 20 Jun 2012 -- 20th Armoured Brigade was the lead formation of British troops in Helmand on Operation HERRICK 15 from October 2011 to April 2012.
• U.S. Treasury Sanctions Members Of Afghan Narcotics Network RFE/RL 20 Jun 2012 -- The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned four members of Afghanistan's Barakzai narcotics trafficking network, prohibiting U.S. citizens from conducting transactions with them and freezing any U.S. assets they may have.
• Officials: Al-Qaida Leader Detained in Pakistan VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- Officials in Pakistan say an al-Qaida leader has been detained near the country's border with Iran.
• 'Important' Al-Qaeda Leader Captured Near Iran Border RFE/RL 20 Jun 2012 -- Pakistani security officials say they have arrested a suspected French militant of Algerian origin, whom they claim is an "important" Al-Qaeda leader.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Putin Pessimistic on Missile Defense Problem RIA Novosti 20 Jun 2012 -- Putin: Missile defense dispute between Russia and the United States will not be resolved regardless of whether President Obama is re-elected.
• Officials Announce Findings of Military Education Reviews AFPS 20 Jun 2012 -- Officials have completed reviews of a Joint Forces Staff College elective course and a larger review of professional military education ordered by Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• Air Force Officials Announce Milestone Atlas V Launch AFPS 20 Jun 2012 -- Atlas V rocket lifted off as part of the Defense Department’s ongoing efforts to maintain assured, affordable access to space through 2030.
• Helicopter squadrons first outing defines a new standard USMC News 20 Jun 2012 -- Roughly five years ago, the Marine Corps began transitioning its fleet of AH-1W and UH-1N aircraft to more capable AH-1Z and UH-1Y aircraft.
• U.S. Forces in S. Korea Massively Beefed up KCNA 20 Jun 2012 -- The units of U.S. forces present in south Korea were reported by south Korean media on June 18 to have been massively reinforced with latest offensive weapons.
• RSLAF troops complete deployment training Army News 20 Jun 2012 -- Nearly 1,000 Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces personnel completed training for an upcoming African Union Mission in Somalia deployment.
• Largest Military Communications Exercise in Africa Kicks Off in Cameroon AFRICOM 20 Jun 2012 -- The largest military communications exercise on the African continent kicked off June 18, 2012 during a ceremony at the Douala Naval Base in Cameroon.
• Southcom Exercise Program Promotes Stability, Security AFPS 20 Jun 2012 -- Several military exercises that just wrapped up or are under way exemplify U.S. Southern Command’s robust exercise program, one that officials consider integral to regional stability and U.S. national security.
• Public Health Command employees reflect on support to Iraq Army News 20 Jun 2012 -- USAPHC's participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom has been long and storied.
• Airman Missing from Vietnam War Identified DoD 20 Jun 2012
• POW/MIA Team Investigates Alaska Air Crash Site AFPS 20 Jun 2012 -- An investigative team from the U.S. Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command arrived in Alaska yesterday to investigate an apparent aircraft crash site in the state’s Knik Glacier area.
• Fort Custer Armed Forces Reserve Center Grand opens, greets Soldiers with grand training space Army News 20 Jun 2012 -- The Fort Custer Armed Forces Reserve Center and Area Maintenance Support Activity opened June 2 and now supports over 400 Army Reserve soldiers.
• Woodson: Vigilance is Vital to Combat Troop, Veteran Suicide AFPS 20 Jun 2012 -- The ongoing battle against service member and veteran suicide requires community, commitment, and attention to three critical areas, a senior Defense Department official said.
• DOD, VA Partner to Help Prevent Suicide AFPS 20 Jun 2012 -- Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said his agency is working with the Defense Department to end veteran homelessness and to identify possible contributors to service member and veteran suicide.
• Nine Months After Repeal, Gay Troops Slowly Come Out AFPS 20 Jun 2012 -- In the nine months since being given the legal right to serve openly in the military, gay service members are increasingly speaking out about the double lives they led under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law.
• Russia Gets New Deep-Sea Research Ship RIA Novosti 20 Jun 2012 -- A new ship for deep-sea reasearch will enter service with the Russian Navy later this month.
• Former Servicemen Sentenced for Stealing MiG Systems RIA Novosti 20 Jun 2012 -- Two former servicemen from Rostov-on-Don, in southern Russia, have been sentenced to three years in a penal colony for stealing navigation gears from MiG-29 fighter aircraft.
• NATO and Iraq transition towards strengthened partnership NATO 20 Jun 2012 -- In June, NATO opened a temporary Transition Cell in Iraq to smooth the path towards strengthened partnership and cooperation.
• India planning to develop its own AWACS system IRNA 20 Jun 2012 -- India is planning to develop indigenous Airborne Warning and Control Systems aimed at boosting its air defence capabilities.
• Minju Joson on Japanese Military Policy KCNA 20 Jun 2012 -- A three-day joint naval exercise was staged by the U.S., Japan and Australia in the waters southeast of Kyushu Island of Japan recently.
• Iranians are a peace-loving nation: Navy Chief IRNA 20 Jun 2012 -- Iranians are a peace-loving nation and don’t want trouble with other countries, Iran's Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said.
• Iran to Build 10 New Warships RIA Novosti 20 Jun 2012 -- Iran will build 10 new frigates and destroyers, Navy deputy chief Rear Adm. Abbas Zamini said.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, June 20, 2012 US Dept. of State 20 Jun 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for June 20, 2012
• U.S. Company Buys Ten Russian Be-200 Firefighter Jets RIA Novosti 20 Jun 2012 -- An American company has signed up to buy ten Russian-made Beriev Be-200 amphibian aircraft for use in the fire-fighting “airtanker” role.

Other Conflicts

• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 20 June 2012 United Nations 20 Jun 2012
• Press Conference by peacekeeping force commanders, 20 June 2012 United Nations 20 Jun 2012
• Security Council discusses challenges facing UN peace operations UN News Centre 20 Jun 2012 -- The challenges facing United Nations ?blue helmets’ as they seek to keep the peace and protect civilians in some of the world’s most troubled places were highlighted.
• Can a Moderate Kurd Unite Syrian Revolution? VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- The Syrian National Council announced earlier this month the selection of Abdulbaset Sieda to lead the opposition group.
• Syrian Air Force One of Middle East's Largest VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- The Syrian air force is one of the largest in the Middle East, with 30,000 members and composed of aircraft provided first by the Soviet Union and, later, by Russia.
• Activist Fears Syria Will Become 'New Somalia' VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- Syrian rights activists say violence across the country has killed at least 53 people.
• UN Observers Committed To Syria RFE/RL 20 Jun 2012 -- The head of the UN observer mission in Syria says UN forces there have come under fire recently but are committed to staying in the country.
• Syrian Crisis Should Be Resolved Constitutionally - Putin RIA Novosti 20 Jun 2012 -- The crisis in Syria should only be resolved by constitutional means, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
• Frustration Mounts in Nigeria After 3 Days of Deadly Violence VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- Frustration over Nigeria's handling of a security crisis is mounting after three days of violence killed at least 80 people in the country's north.
• Congo Rebellion Threatens Ties with Rwanda VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- Accusations that Rwanda is supporting a rebellion in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are raising tensions between the two nations.
• Survey Shows Somalis Have Mostly Shared Vision for Future VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- A new Voice of America Somali Service survey reveals many Somalis share similar opinions on key issues regarding the draft constitution that is scheduled to become a provisional ruling document in July.
• North Korean Patrol Ship Spotted Near Sea Border VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- South Korean news outlets say a North Korean patrol vessel sailed within the vicinity of the maritime border that separates the two rivals.
• Turkey Hits Kurdish Targets In Northern Iraq RFE/RL 20 Jun 2012 -- Turkey's military says attack helicopters and warplanes have pounded Kurdish rebel targets in northern Iraq after a rebel attack on Turkish forces near the Iraqi border left eight Turkish soldiers dead.
• Iraqi Car Bomb Wounds Judge, Kills Two RFE/RL 20 Jun 2012 -- An Iraqi judge who oversees terrorism cases has been injured in a car bomb explosion in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk.
• Security Council urges greater efforts by Iraq, Kuwait to resolve post-invasion issues UN News Centre 20 Jun 2012 -- The Security Council urged the Governments of Iraq and Kuwait to step up their engagement with the United Nations envoy helping the two countries resolve issues pending from Iraq’s 1990 invasion.
• Secretary-General welcomes resumption of national dialogue in Lebanon UN News Centre 20 Jun 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomes the resumption of the National Dialogue between political leaders in Lebanon, Mr. Ban’s spokesperson said today.
• Rights Group Presses Bangladesh on Rohingya Refugees VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- Human-rights activists are stepping up calls for Bangladesh to stop turning back Rohingya refugees fleeing violence in Burma.

News Reports

• Remarks by President Obama at Press Conference After G20 Summit The White House 20 Jun 2012
• Secretary Clinton: Trade With Russia Is a Win-Win US Dept. of State 20 Jun 2012
• Secretary Clinton Interview With Charlie Rose of "Conversations on Diplomacy" US Dept. of State 20 Jun 2012
• US Lawmaker Defends Hearings on American Muslims VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- A senior U.S. lawmaker held the fifth in a series of congressional hearings Wednesday on alleged radicalization within the American Muslim community.
• Egyptian Presidential Election Results Delayed VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- Egypt's Election Commission says it has delayed planned announcement of the results of a runoff presidential vote while it continues to review appeals from the two candidates.
• Egyptian Official Says Election Result May Be Delayed RFE/RL 20 Jun 2012 -- Egypt's Election Commission says the results of a runoff presidential vote that had been due on June 21 might be delayed because of pending appeals from the two candidates, both of whom claim to have won.
• Israelis, Palestinians Closely Watched Egypt Turmoil VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- The political face-off in Egypt between the military and Islamists following the presidential election is being closely watched by Egypt's neighbors in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
• Uncertainty Over Mubarak's Health Stokes Egypt Tensions RFE/RL 20 Jun 2012 -- Egyptians are expressing skepticism about information on the health of ousted former President Hosni Mubarak.
• Egypt's Mubarak on Life Support VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- Egyptian security sources say ousted president Hosni Mubarak is unconscious and on a respirator after being rushed from prison to a military hospital following a stroke.
• Conflicting Reports on Mubarak’s Condition RIA Novosti 20 Jun 2012 -- There were conflicting reports on the condition of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, with some sources saying he was clinically dead and others saying he was just unconscious.
• Report Says U.S., Israel Targeted Iran With 'Flame' Virus RFE/RL 20 Jun 2012 -- There's been no official reaction yet to a report saying the US and Israel jointly developed a computer virus called "Flame."
• Report: Israel, US Behind Iranian Spying Virus VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- A U.S. cyber security expert says it is "pretty likely" the United States and Israel are behind a sophisticated computer virus that appears to have been used to gather intelligence about Iran's nuclear program.
• Ban voices regret at lack of agreement during talks on Iran’s nuclear programme UN News Centre 20 Jun 2012 -- Secretary-General Ban voiced regret that Iran and the E3+3 grouping were unable to reach agreement on concrete and reciprocal measures at their meeting in Moscow on Tehran’s nuclear programme.
• Ashton: Experts meeting to be held in Istanbul IRNA 20 Jun 2012 -- EU Chief Foreign Policy Catherine Ashton said that the two sides have decided to hold experts meeting in Istanbul on July 3rd.
• Jalili: Iran underlines its right on uranium enrichment in Moscow talks IRNA 20 Jun 2012 -- Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili: Iran in this round of talks underlined its inalienable rights on uranium enrichment.
• Group 5+1 statement in Moscow IRNA 20 Jun 2012 -- At the end of Moscow meeting evening, members of Group 5+1 in a statement declared that the two sides presented their stances clearly for a ful and serious consideration.
• Anti-China Protest Leads to 2 Tibetan Immolations VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- Two young Tibetans set themselves on fire in eastern Tibet while calling for Tibetan independence and a long life for their exiled spiritual leader.
• Hundreds Tibetans expelled from Lhasa: Human Rights Watch CNA 20 Jun 2012 -- Human Rights Watch said hundreds of Tibetans in Lhasa were arbitrarily expelled from the city by local authorities, a move aimed at enhancing security.
• Political Crisis a Blow to Pakistan's Government VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- Pakistan is in a political crisis as the government's ruling political party and coalition partners try to find a solution to the Supreme Court's ouster of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
• Pakistani President summons parliament on Friday to elect new PM IRNA 20 Jun 2012 -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned the National Assembly to meet in Islamabad on June 22 to elect new Prime Minister.
• Pakistan Moves to Elect New PM VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned lawmakers to meet later this week for discussions on electing a new prime minister.
• Crisis Talks On New Pakistani Prime Minister Enter Second Day RFE/RL 20 Jun 2012 -- Pakistan's president has summoned the country's parliament to meet on June 22 to elect a new premier.
• SUDAN: Austerity package sparks protests IRIN 20 Jun 2012 -- Protests have taken place in Khartoum, nearby Omdurman, and other Sudanese cities over the past few days after Sudanese president Umar Al-Bashir announced a new austerity plan.
• New Greek Government to Seek Bailout Relief VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- The new Greek government is moving quickly to win Europe's approval for easing the terms of its financial bailout.
• Greece Forms New Government VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- Ending weeks of political limbo, Antonis Samaras, the leader of Greece's New Democracy party was sworn in Wednesday as prime minister after agreeing to form a coalition government with the Socialists and a smaller left-wing party, the Democratic Left.
• Samaras Sworn in as Greek Prime Minister VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- Conservative Antonis Samaras has been sworn in as Greece's new prime minister, leading a newly formed coalition government that intends to renegotiate the terms of an international bailout package.
• Greek Conservative Leader Sworn In As PM RFE/RL 20 Jun 2012 -- The leader of Greece's conservative New Democracy party, Antonis Samaras, has been sworn in as the country's new prime minister.
• Russia Toughens Fines for Election Fraud RIA Novosti 20 Jun 2012 -- Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, passed in the final reading a new law which significantly increases fines for various forms of election fraud and violations.
• Russia Registers Nationalist Party RIA Novosti 20 Jun 2012 -- Russia has got its first legitimate ultra-right party, after the Russian Nationwide Union was registered with the Justice Ministry.
• China Denies Ulterior Motives for Cutting Rare Earths Supply VOA 20 Jun 2012 -- China controls the global supply of rare earths, a group of minerals critical to the production of high-tech products.