Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 27 Jun 2012 [PDF]
• Fire Support Team provides close-air support for combat logistics patrols USMC News 27 Jun 2012 -- One of the greatest advantages coalition forces have against insurgents in Afghanistan is close-air support.
• Kayani: US, NATO Must Block 'Miscreants' VOA 27 Jun 2012 -- Pakistan's army chief is urging the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan to take action to curb incursions by militants who cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan.
• 4 die in U.S. drone strike in NW Pakistan IRNA 27 Jun 2012 -- A U.S. spy aircraft fired missiles on a house in Pakistan's north Waziristan tribal region Tuesday night and killed at least four people, security officials in the region said.
• Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System crews eager to fight fire another day AFNS 27 Jun 2012 -- Members of the 731st Expeditionary Air Squadron arrived during the early morning hours of June 27 to prepare the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130 Hercules for another day of aerial fire-fighting.
• Vandenberg sends 'hot shots' to Colorado wildfire front lines AFNS 27 Jun 2012 -- Vandenberg Air Force Base officials deployed the only Defense Department wildland firefighting asset at 2 p.m. June 27 in support of the wildland firefighting efforts in Colorado Springs, Colo.
• NORTHCOM continues fire suppression efforts AFNS 27 Jun 2012 -- Four Defense Department C-130 Hercules equipped with U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems under the command and control of U.S. Northern Command are helping to put out fires in Colorado at the request of the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho.
• Wildland fire fight presents operational, personal challenges AFNS 27 Jun 2012 -- The flightline here roared to life June 26 as the engines of four C-130 Hercules cranked up to begin day two of Modular Airborne Fire Fighting missions in Colorado.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DOD News Briefing with Adm. Greenert from the Pentagon DoD 27 Jun 2012 -- Presenter: Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert
• RIMPAC 2012 to Feature More Participants, Biofuel Use AFPS 27 Jun 2012 -- This year's Rim of the Pacific naval exercise will feature a larger group of participating countries seeking to develop better maritime cooperation, Navy Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, chief of naval operations, told Pentagon reporters today.
• Navy Continues to Lean Forward, Evolve, Ops Chief Says AFPS 27 Jun 2012 -- The Navy continues to evolve, making operational and other changes based on the U.S. defense strategic guidance, the chief of naval operations told Pentagon reporters today.
• Officials Outline Progress in Protecting Troops Financially AFPS 27 Jun 2012 -- Defense Department leaders recognize that service members burdened with financial problems can't reach full mission effectiveness, and they've made strides to help, a senior Pentagon official told a Senate committee yesterday.
• Logistics Director Lauds Workforce, Notes Challenges AFPS 27 Jun 2012 -- The military's logistics enterprise has done “miraculous things” in supplying two wars over the last decade, and in tackling the challenge of reversing the flow of equipment into Afghanistan, a senior leader said today.
• Panetta Commentary Focuses on War's Unseen Wounds AFPS 27 Jun 2012 -- In a National Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day commentary published in the San Antonio Express-News, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta asked Americans to join the Defense Department in its continuing efforts to address the unseen wounds of war.
• USS Elrod Rescues Four People At Sea NNS 27 Jun 2012 -- Norfolk, Va.-based frigate USS Elrod (FFG 55) rescued four people from a sinking small boat June 26 while on patrol in the Caribbean Sea in support of Operation Martillo.
• USS Pittsburgh Returns from Six-Month Deployment NNS 27 Jun 2012 -- The families of Sailors assigned to Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Pittsburgh (SSN 720) welcomed their loved ones as they returned to Naval Submarine Base New London, June 27, following a regularly scheduled six-month deployment.
• USS New York Lands Apache Helicopters NNS 27 Jun 2012 -- Amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21) added another milestone to her maiden deployment with the landing of a U.S. Army AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter on its flight deck, June 22.
• Riverines Return Home NNS 27 Jun 2012 -- Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 2, Det. 2 returned home from a six-and-a-half month deployment, May 30.
• Readout of Secretary Panetta's Call to Egypt's Field Marshal Tantawi DoD 27 Jun 2012
• Remarks by Defense Secretary Panetta at the Military Child Education Coalition National Training Seminar DoD 27 Jun 2012 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta
• Second-Generation Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System Completes Second Successful Intercept Flight Test MDA 27 Jun 2012 -- The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and U.S. Navy sailors in the USS LAKE ERIE (CG 70) successfully conducted a flight test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system, resulting in the intercept of a separating ballistic missile target over the Pacific Ocean by the Navy’s newest missile defense interceptor missile, the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IB.
• Research lab helps solve C-5 cracking issues AFNS 27 Jun 2012 -- Newly developed structural technologies developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory have solved critical cracking issues with the C-5 cargo aircraft, thereby expanding the aircraft's serviceability.
• US, Indonesia air forces strengthen partnership during tactical exercise AFNS 27 Jun 2012 -- Approximately 80 U.S. and 75 Indonesian airmen will participate in exercise Cope West 2012 here June 25 - 29.
• Africa Partnership Station Promotes Security Cooperation AFPS 27 Jun 2012 -- An ongoing international effort to help African nations improve maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea represents one of U.S. Africa Command's most successful programs while embodying the command's core principles, Africom's director of strategy, plans and programs reported.
• USS Annapolis Returns from Six-Month Deployment NNS 27 Jun 2012 -- The families of Sailors assigned to Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Annapolis (SSN 760) welcomed their loved ones as they returned to Naval Submarine Base New London, June 27, following a regularly scheduled six-month deployment.
• Liberty Call for USS Mount Whitney in Rhodes, Greece NNS 27 Jun 2012 -- Amphibious command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) arrived in Rhodes, Greece for a port visit, June 26.
• USS Nitze Arrives in Seychelles NNS 27 Jun 2012 -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) arrived in Victoria, Seychelles, for a port visit, June 24.
• Hypersonic Brahmos Missile to be Ready by 2017 RIA Novosti 27 Jun 2012 -- The first prototype of a hypersonic cruise missile being jointly developed by Russia and India will be ready for flight testing in 2017, CEO of the Russian-Indian joint venture Brahmos Aerospace, Sivathanu Pillai, said on Wednesday.
• Russian Air Force Confirms Plans to Buy An-70 Planes RIA Novosti 27 Jun 2012 -- Russia will buy Ukrainian-designed Antonov An-70 propfan tactical transport aircraft when Ukraine fixes all flaws in the design indicated by Russia experts, Air Force Commander Maj. Gen Viktor Bogdanov said on Wednesday.
• Russia May Deploy First S-500 Missiles in 2013 - Air Force RIA Novosti 27 Jun 2012 -- Russia's Armed Forces could receive the first of its next-generation S-500 air defense missile systems as early as in 2013, Air Force commander Maj.Gen. Viktor Bondarev said on Wednesday.
• New Bomber Outline Takes Shape – Russian AF Commander RIA Novosti 27 Jun 2012 -- The outline for a design of the Russian Air Force's future strategic bomber, known as PAK-DA, has been worked out, Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said on Wednesday.
• Russia May Swap Gunships for Zimbabwe Platinum Rights RIA Novosti 27 Jun 2012 -- State corporation Russian Technologies may supply military helicopters to Zimbabwe in a swap deal to buy the world's second largest platinum deposit, Kommersant business daily reported on Wednesday.
• Russia Looking at China S-400 Deliveries in 2017 RIA Novosti 27 Jun 2012 -- Russia will start exports of the S-400 Triumph air defense missile systems to China no earlier than 2017, a source in the defense industry told RIA Novosti on the condition of anonymity.
• HMS Protector returns from maiden deployment UK MOD 27 Jun 2012 -- Royal Navy ice patrol ship HMS Protector has returned home to Portsmouth today, 27 June, from her maiden deployment.
• HMS Vigilant returns to the fleet following refit UK MOD 27 Jun 2012 -- Royal Navy submarine HMS Vigilant has recently returned to her home on the Clyde in Scotland following a multi-million pound, three-year overhaul.
• HMS Illustrious trains with French Navy UK MOD 27 Jun 2012 -- Royal Navy helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious has been undertaking air warfare training alongside the French Navy in the Bay of Biscay.
• Venezuela to Buy More Russian T-72 Tanks RIA Novosti 27 Jun 2012 -- Caracas and Moscow have agreed on the purchase of additional 100 T-72 main battle tanks by Venezuela as part of a $4-bln loan secured by the oil-rich Latin American country in 2011 to buy Russian weaponry, Russia's Kommersant newspaper said on Wednesday.
• More Senior Officers Desert Congo Army VOA 27 Jun 2012 -- More senior officers have defected from the Democratic Republic of Congo's army.
• June 27, 2012 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 27 Jun 2012
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 6/27/12 The White House 27 Jun 2012

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for June 27, 2012
• New Containerized Missile System on Show RIA Novosti 27 Jun 2012 -- Russia's Morinformsistema-Agat has unveiled a containerized system of its Club-K missile system using a new Kh-35UE cruise missile with a highly advanced target acquisition and seeker system, company representative Rostislav Atkov said on Wednesday at the Technology in Machine-Building 2012 exhibition at Zhukovsky near Moscow.
• Russian Helicopters, Turbomeca Sign Engine Service Deal RIA Novosti 27 Jun 2012 -- Russian Helicopters, which designs and manufactures civil and military rotorcraft, and France's helicopter engine maker Turbomeca signed an agreement on Wednesday to service and repair Turbomeca engines in Russia.

Other Conflicts

• Clashes Near Damascus After Assad Admits 'State Of War' RFE/RL 27 Jun 2012 -- Amid continued fighting between rebel forces and Syrian government troops, at least seven people have been reported killed in an attack on a pro-government television station..
• Assad: Syria in 'State of War' RIA Novosti 27 Jun 2012 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Wednesday his country is in 'a state of war' and ordered his new cabinet to spare no effort in crushing the 15-month-old uprising against his rule, al Jazeera television reported.
• Head of UN panel urges concerted action amid escalation in Syria violence UN News Centre 27 Jun 2012 -- Citing a dramatic escalation in the fighting in Syria and ongoing human rights violations, the head of a United Nations-backed inquiry today urged the international community to act to put an end to the violence in the Middle Eastern country.
• UN-Arab League Envoy: Action Group for Syria to meet on Saturday UN News Centre 27 Jun 2012 -- The Action Group for Syria will convene in Geneva, at the ministerial level, this Saturday, the Joint Special Envoy of the United Nations and the League of Arab States on the Syrian Crisis, Kofi Annan, said today.
• Gunmen Attack Pro-Assad Syrian TV Station VOA 27 Jun 2012 -- Syria says rebel gunmen have stormed the headquarters of a pro-government television station, killing seven employees, while international envoy Kofi Annan announced a ministerial-level meeting later this week in Geneva that aims to end the escalating violence.
• UN: Human Rights Violations in Syria Escalating VOA 27 Jun 2012 -- U.N. investigators say the situation in Syria 'is dangerously and quickly deteriorating.' They say gross violations of human rights, including torture and summary executions, are escalating and being committed by both sides. The investigators also presented their findings about a massacre in the Syrian town of Houla in May.
• Mandate of UN peacekeeping force in DR Congo extended for another year UN News Centre 27 Jun 2012 -- The Security Council today extended the United Nations peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for another year, and urged national authorities to reform their security sector and end armed insurgencies and human rights abuses in the country.
• United Nations and Myanmar sign plan to prevent child recruitment in armed forces UN News Centre 27 Jun 2012 -- The United Nations and the Government of Myanmar today signed an action plan to prevent the recruitment and use of children by Myanmar's armed forces, known as the Tatmadaw, and allow for the release of under-age recruits.
• UN official stresses need to continue dialogue in Lebanon UN News Centre 27 Jun 2012 -- In a meeting with Lebanon's Prime Minister today, a United Nations senior official today stressed the need to continue the dialogue between the country's different political movements.
• Security Council extends UN force in Golan Heights for six more months UN News Centre 27 Jun 2012 -- The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations force monitoring the ceasefire in the Golan Heights between Israel and Syria until 31 December 2012.
• MOFA summons Japanese officials over Tiaoyutais dispute CNA 27 Jun 2012 -- Foreign Minister Timothy Yang reiterated Wednesday Taiwan's sovereignty over the Tiaoyutai Islands and said his ministry has summoned Japanese officials stationed in Taiwan to stress Taiwan's stance.
• Analysis: Tracking down Liberia's mercenaries IRIN 27 Jun 2012 -- More than a year after the end of the conflict in neighbouring Côte d'Ivoire, the Liberian government has pledged to deal once and for all with longstanding complaints of its nationals being party to military operations and serious human rights violations on the other side of its western border.
• COTE D'IVOIRE: Stuck between refuge and risk IRIN 27 Jun 2012 -- Intermittent violence and widespread insecurity have left thousands of villagers in western Côte d'Ivoire stuck between fleeing their villages for the greater safety of refuge with host families in bigger towns, and the risk of being attacked if they return to the farms where they earn their livelihood.
• YEMEN: Landmines stall IDP returns in south IRIN 27 Jun 2012 -- When Yemen's Defence Ministry announced in mid-June that militants of the Ansar al-Sharia group, which had controlled the southern governorate of Abyan since May 2011, had been routed, 40-year-old Saleh Salim Abu Khalil decided to go and check on his home in al-Kood District.
• MYANMAR: Kachin refugees in China in need IRIN 27 Jun 2012 -- A sea of mud that was once a pathway leads up to Mui Hpu Kaw's bamboo hut in the refugee camp of La Ying, in China's Yunnan Province, near the Burmese border. Heavy rain pelts down on the plastic sheeting that serves as a roof of the temporary shelter while she boils a pot of rice on an open fire for her seven grandchildren.
• Practical Concerns, Not Ideology, May Keep Egypt-Israel Peace VOA 27 Jun 2012 -- Egypt's president-elect Mohamed Morsi has pledged to honor the peace treaty with Israel, but that has not dampened concern the Islamist leader will try to shift the cornerstone of U.S. policy in the region.

News Reports

• Mehmanparast: Westerners, real violators of NPT IRNA 27 Jun 2012 -- Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Wednesday that westerns are the real violators of Non-Proliferation Treaty.
• Supreme Leader calls for harmony among three branches of government IRNA 27 Jun 2012 -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday called for cooperation of the three branches of government.
• Salehi says optimistic about settlement of Iran's nuclear issue IRNA 27 Jun 2012 -- Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said on Wednesday that he is very optimistic about the settlement of Iran's nuclear issue but it might be time consuming.
• US biggest violator of Non-Proliferation of Chemical Weapons - Defense minister IRNA 27 Jun 2012 -- Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said the US is the biggest owner of chemical weapons who is vividly violating international conventions by refusing to fulfill its commitments.
• Russia Warns U.S. Over Magnitsky Bill Response RIA Novosti 27 Jun 2012 -- Russia called on the United States on Wednesday to weigh the possible consequences of approving a bill penalizing Russian officials for human rights abuses.
• Russia Warns U.S. Over Magnitsky Bill RFE/RL 27 Jun 2012 -- Russia has warned the United States that Moscow will retaliate if American lawmakers pass a law blacklisting Russian officials connected to the death in prison of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky.
• At seminar, UN top officials call for new approaches on countering appeal of terrorism UN News Centre 27 Jun 2012 -- Untied Nations top officials today called for new approaches to address global terrorism and foster dialogue among nations.
• Ethiopia Convicts 24 of Terrorism VOA 27 Jun 2012 -- An Ethiopian court has convicted 24 people, including a prominent writer and an opposition leader on terrorism-related charges. Rights groups have condemned the verdict as an assault on the opposition.
• Mumbai Attack Suspect Confirms State Support, India Says VOA 27 Jun 2012 -- Indian officials say a man arrested last week on suspicion of helping plan the 2008 Mumbai attacks has confirmed there was 'state support' in the deadly assault.
• SOMALIA: Call for aid scale-up following poor rains IRIN 27 Jun 2012 -- Humanitarian aid to Somalia, where 3.4 million people are expected to continue to need food and non-food support for the next six months, should be scaled up particularly in south-central agro-pastoral areas following poor March-May `Gu' rains, say aid agencies.
• Pakistanis Tire of Water, Electricity Shortages VOA 27 Jun 2012 -- Pakistan's new prime minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf, faces a struggling economy and has said he will make the delivery of electricity a priority, but the nation is tired of constant shortages of water and power.