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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• US, Afghan Tensions Rise Over Security Agreement VOA 26 Nov 2013 -- Security analysts in Kabul are warning of dire consequences in the region if Washington and Kabul cannot resolve a standoff over a key bilateral security agreement. Afghan President Hamid Karzai is refusing to sign the deal until next year, which Washington says could lead to a complete withdrawal of U.S. forces before the end of 2014.
• Taliban claim to shoot down NATO helicopter in eastern Afghanistan Iran Press TV 26 Nov 2013 -- Taliban militants claim their fighters have shot down a helicopter belonging to the US-led forces in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar.
• 2 killed in US-led air raid in E Afghanistan Iran Press TV 26 Nov 2013 -- At least eight Afghan civilians, including a woman, have been killed in the latest US assassination drone attacks in eastern part of Afghanistan, Press TV reports.
• 'Hawkeyes' View of Operation Damayan NNS 26 Nov 2013 -- E-2C Hawkeyes from the 'Liberty Bells' of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 115, embarked aboard the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), fly 26,000 feet above the Republic of the Philippines to provide airborne command and control during Operation Damayan.
• Army helicopters arrive in the Philippines UK MOD 26 Nov 2013 -- A detachment of Army Lynx helicopters has arrived in the Philippines as part of the international disaster relief effort.
• With food still priority in typhoon-hit Philippines, UN boosts relief efforts UN News Centre 26 Nov 2013 -- The United Nations is mustering planes, ferries and trucks to boost its relief efforts in the Philippines, with food still a priority almost three weeks after Typhoon Haiyan ripped into the country, killing over 5,230 people and affecting more than 13 million others, nearly 3.5 million of them left homeless.
• Two US bombers fly over China air defense zone Iran Press TV 26 Nov 2013 -- Two American B-52 bombers have entered the new Chinese Air Defense Identification Zone in the East China Sea without informing the Chinese government.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Navy Completes First CANES Installation On USS McCampbell NNS 26 Nov 2013 -- The Navy announced Nov. 26 that it successfully installed the first operational next generation tactical afloat network aboard the Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG 80).
• Phase II of Navy Crowdsourcing Initiative to Balance Capacity and Capabilities in Times of Constraints Gets Underway NNS 26 Nov 2013 -- Nearly 400 registered players contributed more than 1,800 ideas on how to best maintain the capabilities and capacity of the Navy and mitigate risks in an era of constrained resources during the first phase of an online collaborative event to solicit input from a broad, diverse audience.
• 22nd MEU completes second shipboard period to prepare for deployment USMC News 26 Nov 2013 -- The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) completed its Amphibious Ready Group (ARG)/MEU Exercise (ARG/MEU Ex) with the U.S. Navy Sailors and ships of Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 6 off the East Coast Nov. 13, 2013, as part of the MEU's preparation for its 2014 deployment.
• Hospital Ship Mercy Returns to Reduced Operating Status NNS 26 Nov 2013 -- Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, directed that the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) be returned to a reduced operating status Nov. 25.
• USS Freedom and BNS Somudro Joy Conduct PASSEX in Pacific NNS 26 Nov 2013 -- The USS Freedom (LCS 1) conducted a passing exercise (PASSEX) with the Bangladesh Navy ship BNS Somudro Joy (F-28), Nov. 26.
• US 4th Fleet, Chilean Navy Participate in Operational Naval Committee NNS 26 Nov 2013 -- Delegates from U.S. 4th Fleet met with members of the Chilean navy Nov. 25-26 during the annual Operational Naval Committee (ONC) conference hosted by 4th Fleet at Naval Station Mayport.
• EODMU 8 Conducts Exercise MAGRE with Allied Forces NNS 26 Nov 2013 -- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 8, Det. Europe participated in trilateral field training Exercise Magre at Naval Station Rota, Spain, Nov. 18 - 22.
• USS Monterey Successfully Completes Port Visit in Cyprus NNS 26 Nov 2013 -- Guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61) returned to her mission of supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations after completing a scheduled port visit in Limassol, Nov. 21.
• Welsh: Budget Woes Force Cuts to Some Base Facilities AFPS 26 Nov 2013 -- In this time of sequestration, the Air Force must focus on its primary mission of being able to fight and win the nation's wars, Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, the Air Force chief of staff, said here yesterday.
• Welsh: Air Force Must Get Handle on Pay, Benefits AFPS 26 Nov 2013 -- The Air Force must control the growth of pay and benefits or the service will be hard pressed to perform its primary mission to fight and win America's wars, the service's top officer said here yesterday.
• Air Force Focuses on Nuclear Security, Operations AFPS 26 Nov 2013 -- The Air Force's nuclear mission continues to have the attention of leaders across the discipline, the Air Force chief of staff said here yesterday.
• NATO holds annual Cyber defence exercise NATO 26 Nov 2013 -- NATO on Tuesday (26 November 2013) launched a three-day cyber defence exercise "Cyber Coalition 2013" which will test the Alliance's ability to defend its networks from attacks. 'Cyber attacks are a daily reality and they are growing in sophistication and complexity," said Jamie Shea, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges at NATO. 'NATO has to keep pace with this evolving threat and Cyber Coalition 2013 will allow us to fully test our systems and procedures to effectively defend our networks - today and in the future.'
• Russia Denies Plans to Place Strategic Bombers in Kyrgyzstan RIA Novosti 26 Nov 2013 -- Russian defense officials denied Tuesday that they plan to deploy strategic bombers at an air base in Kyrgyzstan, addressing speculation over what military analysts had seen as an effort by Moscow to project its geopolitical influence across the region.
• US Knew Russia Violated Nuclear Treaty – Report RIA Novosti 26 Nov 2013 -- Senior US officials say Russia has violated a Soviet-era arms-control treaty with the United States but have worried about political fallout that could imperil future arms-reduction deals should the alleged violation become widely known, a US website reported Tuesday.
• China's aircraft carrier leaves for sea trials People's Daily 26 Nov 2013 -- China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, left its homeport of Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province for the South China Sea on Tuesday on a scientific and training mission.
• China Sends Aircraft Carrier to South China Sea for Training VOA 26 Nov 2013 -- China has sent its only aircraft carrier on a training mission in the South China Sea, where Beijing is engaged in tense territorial disputes with several of its neighbors.
• China's air defense zone doesn't target specific country: expert People's Daily 26 Nov 2013 -- China's newly-established air defense identification zone over the East China Sea does not target a specific country, said a military expert in Beijing on Tuesday.
• China's ADIZ not connected to sovereignty: president CNA 26 Nov 2013 -- President Ma Ying-jeou said Tuesday that China's establishment of an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over an area of the East China Sea does not involve air space or territorial sovereignty, but he added that Taiwan will express its serious concerns to China and other parties.
• Taiwan 'deeply concerned' about China's air defense zone claim CNA 26 Nov 2013 -- Taiwan is 'deeply concerned' about China's recent demarcation of an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) that includes the disputed Diaoyutai Islands, which are also claimed by Taiwan and Japan, an official said Tuesday.
• Refitted Aircraft Carrier Sails Out From Russia to India RIA Novosti 26 Nov 2013 -- India's Vikramaditya aircraft carrier left a shipyard in northern Russia on Tuesday, embarking on a long voyage to its permanent base half way across the world, the Sevmash shipbuilder said.
• Upgraded RAF Puma takes to the skies UK MOD 26 Nov 2013 -- The RAF has begun training on the Puma Mk2 helicopter following a multi-million pound upgrade programme.
• November 26, 2013 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 26 Nov 2013
• Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest -- Los Angeles, CA The White House 26 Nov 2013

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for November 26, 2013

Other Conflicts

• 26 November 2013 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 26 Nov 2013
• 26 November 2013 - Press Conference by Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict United Nations 26 Nov 2013
• Syrian govt. troops make more gains against militants Iran Press TV 26 Nov 2013 -- The Syrian army continues to gain more ground in its fight against foreign-backed militants in several areas across the Arab country.
• Syrian Rebels Say No Cease-fire for Peace Talks VOA 26 Nov 2013 -- The commander of the rebel Free Syrian Army says his group will not participate in a peace conference planned for January in Geneva and intends to pursue its fight to topple President Bashar al-Assad regardless.
• Conflict over Diaoyutais more likely with China's ADIZ: expert CNA 26 Nov 2013 -- China's demarcation of an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea has increased the chances of a conflict between China and Japan or even the United States over the disputed Diaoyutai Islands, a Hong Kong expert said Monday.
• Bangladesh's 'Rohingya strategy' stokes concern IRIN 26 Nov 2013 -- The Bangladeshi government's recent announcement of a "Rohingya strategy" has some observers concerned that this could spell a continued crisis for up to 500,000 Rohingya in the country, while local media reported that a survey will be conducted to identify all Rohingya living illegally in Bangladesh.
• Insecurity still engulfs northern Mali, hampering humanitarian effort IRIN 26 Nov 2013 -- While security in some northern Mali towns has improved, continued sporadic attacks by militant groups in Timbuktu and Gao, as well as fighting between separatist Tuareg groups and Malian forces in Kidal, are still hampering some aid operations and keeping refugees from returning home.
• Kenya: Somali repatriation process must be voluntary, UN agency stresses UN News Centre 26 Nov 2013 -- The agreement signed earlier this month between the United Nations refugee agency and the Governments of Somalia and Kenya supports the voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees, a UNHCR spokesperson has stressed, reiterating that the parties are not forcing anyone to return to Somalia.
• Gaza fuel crisis, left unaddressed, could result in humanitarian catastrophe - UN expert UN News Centre 26 Nov 2013 -- An independent United Nations human rights expert today called for urgent action to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, where a power shortage has disrupted health services, sent raw sewage flooding into the streets and left 1.7 million Palestinians in a dire situation.
• France Sending 1,000 Troops to Central African Republic VOA 26 Nov 2013 -- France is sending about 1,000 extra troops to the Central African Republic to help support African peacekeepers in trying to return order to the country.
• Benghazi in standstill against militia violence Iran Press TV 26 Nov 2013 -- Libyans embark on a protest campaign in Benghazi to condemn deadly clashes between militiamen and the army in the birthplace of the country's 2011 revolution.
• Joint African-UN envoy fosters effort to bring all Darfur groups into peace process UN News Centre 26 Nov 2013 -- In an effort to bring all groups in Sudan's conflict-wracked Darfur region into the peace process, the joint African Union-United Nations mediator has held talks with Chadian President Idriss Déby, seeking his support.
• Security Council urges Lebanese parties to make haste on government formation efforts UN News Centre 26 Nov 2013 -- As consultations continue on the formation of a new government in Lebanon, the United Nations Security Council today urged all parties there to engage constructively to achieve this goal 'as soon as possible."
• Credible elections vital for restoring constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau, says UN envoy UN News Centre 26 Nov 2013 -- The holding of credible and peaceful elections next year is vital for the process of restoring constitutional order in Guinea-Bissau, a United Nations envoy told the Security Council today, urging continued international support to help the West African nation complete this process.

News Reports

• Iran rejects 'one-sided' US Fact Sheet on N-deal Iran Press TV 26 Nov 2013 -- Iran Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham says the 'Fact Sheet' released by the White House over the nuclear deal between Tehran and the six major world powers is a one-sided interpretation of the agreement reached in Geneva.
• Iran 'cautiously optimistic' about future nuclear talks Iran Press TV 26 Nov 2013 -- Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has expressed cautious optimism over the prospect of Iran's nuclear talks with the Sextet of world powers.
• Iran unfazed by sanctions, threats: SNSC secretary Iran Press TV 26 Nov 2013 -- Secretary of Iran Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani says Western threats and sanctions against Iran over its nuclear energy program have failed to affect the nation's will to continue on in its path.
• Obama Defends Iran Nuclear Deal RFE/RL 26 Nov 2013 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has pushed back at critics of the recent international nuclear agreement with Iran.
• US spies fear 'doomsday' cache stashed by Snowden Iran Press TV 26 Nov 2013 -- Intelligence officials in the US and Britain are worried that former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, whose revelations in June triggered a massive spying scandal, may have stored a "doomsday" cache of highly classified documents.
• Russia Sends Supply Rocket to Space Station RIA Novosti 26 Nov 2013 -- An unmanned Russian space freighter carrying almost 2 1/2 tons of supplies to the International Space Station lifted off from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan Tuesday, a Mission Control spokesman said.
• Pro-EU Protests In Ukraine Enter Third Day RFE/RL 26 Nov 2013 -- Thousands of pro-European students are rallying in a downtown Kyiv Square to hear opposition leaders denounce the government's refusal to sign an association accord with the EU later this week.
• Ukraine Opposition Leader Launches Hunger Strike VOA 26 Nov 2013 -- Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko has begun an indefinite hunger strike to force the Ukrainian government to sign a landmark trade agreement with the European Union.
• EU Waters Down Vilnius Declaration RFE/RL 26 Nov 2013 -- The European Union has watered down its language regarding the conditions for bloc membership for six former Soviet republics in the draft final declaration of the upcoming EU's Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius.
• New anti-demonstration law in Egypt must be amended, urges UN rights chief UN News Centre 26 Nov 2013 -- The United Nations human rights chief today warned that a new law restricting demonstrations in Egypt is seriously flawed and must be amended or repealed.
• Thai Protesters Occupy State Buildings VOA 26 Nov 2013 -- In Thailand's capital, anti-government protestors kept up pressure on the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Tuesday. Protesters occupied more government ministries in a bid to pressure her government to resign.