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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 13 Aug 2014 [PDF]
• Statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby DoD 13 Aug 2014 -- As part of the ongoing humanitarian efforts ordered by President Obama, today a team of U.S. military personnel, accompanied by USAID, conducted an assessment of the situation on Mt. Sinjar and the impact of U.S. military actions to date
• Speed Necessary for Iraq Assessments, DoD Spokesman Says AFPS 13 Aug 2014 -- Though no timeline is established for the work of about 130 additional Defense Department personnel who arrived in Erbil, Iraq, yesterday to assess the situation there, rapid assessment is necessary, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steven Warren told reporters today.
• U.S. Provides Aid to Yezidis, Strikes ISIL Mortar Position AFPS 13 Aug 2014 -- The U.S. military conducted a sixth airdrop last night of food and water for thousands of Iraqi citizens threatened by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant on Mount Sinjar, Iraq, U.S. Central Command officials said.
• President Sends 130 More Assessors to Iraq AFPS 13 Aug 2014 -- President Barack Obama has ordered 130 new assessors to deploy to Iraq, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said yesterday at Camp Pendleton, California.
• UK steps up aid for Northern Iraq UK MOD 13 Aug 2014 -- International Development Secretary Justine Greening has confirmed a third round of successful UK aid drops, including much-needed shelter, to help thousands of people on Mount Sinjar in northern Iraq.
• Ghani Casts Doubt On Afghan Power-Sharing Deal RFE/RL 13 Aug 2014 -- Afghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani has cast fresh doubt over a power-sharing deal with his rival, Abdullah Abdullah, saying the accord is ambiguous and needs clarification.
• Northcom Provides Update on Firefighting Effort AFPS 13 Aug 2014 -- U.S. Northern Command officials today provided updated facts and figures on the Defense Department's assistance to wildfire-suppression efforts in the West.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Joint force defends Panama Canal during exercise AFNS 13 Aug 2014 -- An illegitimate organization seeks to undermine peace, security and liberty by destabilizing local and regional economies in Central America.
• DoD Announces Operation Atlantic Resolve Brigade Rotation AFPS 13 Aug 2014 -- The Defense Department announced today the next scheduled unit rotation as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, which a Pentagon spokesman said continues to demonstrate U.S. commitment to reassuring its NATO allies.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's Call with Israeli Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon DoD 13 Aug 2014
• USS New Hampshire Returns Home from Deployment NNS 13 Aug 2014 -- Friends and family of USS New Hampshire (SSN 778) were all smiles despite rainy weather Aug. 13 as the Virginia-class attack submarine arrived in Groton, Connecticut, completing a six-month overseas deployment.
• Navy Engineers Cut Costs With New Inventory System NNS 13 Aug 2014 -- A new, first-of-its-kind automated inventory information system developed by engineers at Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) will provide significant cost avoidance and labor savings for the Navy, and is one step closer to final implementation.
• 2nd AAB trains with USS Kearsarge to refresh amphibious capabilities USMC News 13 Aug 2014 -- The cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean washed over the aluminum hulls of Amphibious Assault Vehicles as they crashed through rolling waves on a course to rendezvous with the USS Kearsarge. More than 50,000 pounds of metal, cruising at speeds up to ten knots, prepared to enter the belly of the ship.
• MUSE Supplies Power to the Horn of Africa NNS 13 Aug 2014 -- The Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (NAVFAC EXWC) Mobile Utilities Support Equipment (MUSE) division completed vital power upgrades at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti (CLDJ) Aug. 12.
• GUAMEX 2014 Commences in the Pacific NNS 13 Aug 2014 -- Military forces from Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the U.S. are partnering in a multinational anti-submarine warfare exercise around the waters of Guam aimed at increasing the interoperability capacity between these nations operating in the Pacific, Aug. 9-15.
• Coastal Patrol Force in 5th Fleet Now at 10 Ships NNS 13 Aug 2014 -- Coastal Patrol (PC) ships USS Hurricane (PC 3) and USS Monsoon (PC 4) completed their arrival to Bahrain the second week of August.
• US military bolstering its arsenal of weapons in Norway's caves Iran Press TV 13 Aug 2014 -- The United States is adding massive amounts of new tanks and armored vehicles to its arsenal of weapons inside a series of climate-controlled caves in central Norway, according to Pentagon officials.
• B-52 aircrews hone long-range ISR capabilities AFNS 13 Aug 2014 -- Airmen from Air Force Global Strike Command recently took advantage of a multinational U.S.. Southern Command-led exercise to hone their long-range reconnaissance capabilities.
• Airmen, F-16s arrive in Colombia for bilateral engagement AFNS 13 Aug 2014 -- Airmen with the South Carolina Air National Guard landed in Rionegro, Colombia, near the city of Medellin to participate in a bilateral engagement with their Colombian counterparts.
• Hagel Lauds U.S.-Australia Force Posture Agreement AFPS 13 Aug 2014 -- The new U.S.–Australia force posture agreement will broaden and deepen the alliance's contributions to regional security and advance America's ongoing strategic rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in Sydney yesterday.
• Military Health System Protects Global Health, Official Says AFPS 13 Aug 2014 -- The Military Health System is under-recognized as a strategic asset to the United States, the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs said yesterday.
• Stratcom Conference Focuses on 21st-century Deterrence AFPS 13 Aug 2014 -- How strategic deterrence has changed and whether the United States is equipped for deterrence in the 21st century are among the questions that will be debated at the U.S. Strategic Command Deterrence Symposium in Omaha, Nebraska, Stratcom's commander said today.
• Transatlantic cooperation in focus as Secretary General visits Iceland NATO 13 Aug 2014 -- NATO's unique role as a forum for transatlantic cooperation was a key theme of talks as Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen visited Iceland on Wednesday (13 August). "The transatlantic relationship is at the heart of NATO. The cooperation between North America and Europe which makes our citizens safer, and our countries stronger. And Iceland embodies that transatlantic relationship," he said.
• Russian air force to get 200 new jets People's Daily 13 Aug 2014 -- The Russian Air Force will significantly upgrade and reinforce its fleet during 2014, a high-ranking military officer said Tuesday.
• Russian Air Force Timeline RIA Novosti 13 Aug 2014 -- The Russian Air Force has marked its 102th anniversary, dating back to the day when the Imperial Russian Air Service became a separate branch with the country's armed forces.
• Japan not happy with Russia military drills in Pacific Ocean Iran Press TV 13 Aug 2014 -- The Japanese government is discontent with Russian military exercises in the Pacific Ocean's Kurile Islands, which Tokyo claims as its own, a media report says.
• New Military Technology Strengthens Ties between Australia, Japan RIA Novosti 13 Aug 2014 -- Australia is currently in talks to acquire submarine technology from Japan, as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe increases the country's defense budget while easing restrictions on defense exports.
• Foreign troops head for anti-terror drill in China People's Daily 13 Aug 2014 -- Kazakh, Kyrgyz and Tajik troops set for a joint anti-terror drill have entered China and are heading for the drill site in the country's north, a statement from military sources said Wednesday.
• August 13, 2014 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 13 Aug 2014
• Press Briefing by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz and Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes, 8/13/2014 The White House 13 Aug 2014

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 13, 2014

Other Conflicts

• 13 August 2014 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 13 Aug 2014
• Obama Considering More Steps to Aid Iraqi Refugees VOA 13 Aug 2014 -- The United States is considering measures including airlifts and a humanitarian corridor to rescue thousands of Iraqi religious minorities trapped on a mountain in northern Iraq.
• France to Supply Arms to Iraqi Kurds RIA Novosti 13 Aug 2014 -- France has made a decision to supply arms to Iraqi Kurds so that they can help the Iraqi government fight against Islamic State (IS) militants, the Elysee Palace said in a statement Wednesday.
• France to Send Weapons to Kurd Forces in Iraq VOA 13 Aug 2014 -- France said it is sending weapons to Kurdish forces in Iraq to help them fight militants from the Islamic State group who have taken control of large areas in northern and western Iraq with little resistance from the Iraqi army.
• Iraq Christians flee from Takfiri violence, seek refuge in Syria Iran Press TV 13 Aug 2014 -- Iraq's Christians escaping from ISIL terrorists' atrocities are seeking refuge in the province of Hasakah in neighboring Syria, Press TV reports.
• I won't quit without court ruling: Maliki Iran Press TV 13 Aug 2014 -- Iraq's incumbent Premier Nouri al-Maliki has hinted that only a federal court ruling can decide whether he must leave office or not.
• Security Council encouraged by appointment of Iraqi Prime Minister-elect UN News Centre 13 Aug 2014 -- As Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi continues to form a new Government, the United Nations Security Council today urged all political parties and their supporters to remain calm and respect the country's Constitution.
• 'Barbaric' sexual violence perpetrated by Islamic State militants in Iraq – UN UN News Centre 13 Aug 2014 -- Two senior United Nations officials today condemned in the strongest terms the "barbaric acts" of sexual violence and "savage rapes" the armed group Islamic State (IS) has perpetrated on minorities in areas under its control.
• Kerry Says U.S. Looking To Evacuate Displaced Iraqis RFE/RL 13 Aug 2014 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says Washington wants to evacuate tens of thousands of people on a northern Iraqi mountain caught in a dire humanitarian crisis.
• Russia's Humanitarian Aid Not Pretext for 'Incursion', Allegations Absurd - Moscow RIA Novosti 13 Aug 2014 -- Allegations that the Russian convoy carrying humanitarian aid to Ukraine may serve as a pretext for a "military incursion" into Ukraine are "absurd," the Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.
• Russian Aid Convoy Stalled North of Ukraine Border VOA 13 Aug 2014 -- A Russian aid convoy moving toward rebel-held parts of eastern Ukraine stalled Wednesday in Russian territory, still some 300 kilometers away from Ukraine's border, as controversy swirled about its contents and its final destination.
• New Sanctions Bill Raises Free Press Fears In Ukraine RFE/RL 13 Aug 2014 -- Ukraine, once celebrated for its progressive media reforms, is currently considering legislation that could set the country back to Soviet-era levels of censorship.
• Russian Aid Convoy Nears Ukraine Border, Despite Kyiv's Warnings RFE/RL 13 Aug 2014 -- A Russian aid convoy of nearly 300 trucks is nearing the Ukraine border, despite warnings from Kyiv the convoy may not be allowed in.
• Ukraine Minister Denounces Russian Aid Convoy VOA 13 Aug 2014 -- Ukraine's interior minister insisted Wednesday that the Russian convoy headed to the war-torn eastern region will not be allowed to enter the country.
• Israel Targets Gaza Sites in Response to Rocket Attacks VOA 13 Aug 2014 -- The Israeli military says it has carried out air strikes in the Gaza Strip in response to Palestinian rocket fire.
• Israel, Palestinians Continue Talks as Cease-fire End Nears VOA 13 Aug 2014 -- The threat of renewed war in Gaza loomed on Wednesday as the clock ticked toward the end of a three-day cease-fire with no sign of a breakthrough in indirect talks in Cairo between Israel and the Palestinians.
• Joint Statement on Libya by the Governments of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States US Dept. of State 13 Aug 2014e
• Fresh Takfiri infighting leaves 40 militants dead in Syria Iran Press TV 13 Aug 2014 -- At least 40 foreign-backed militants have been killed and dozens more injured in the latest round of infighting between anti-government militant groups in Syria.
• Command of Southwestern Front of KPA Blasts S. Korean Military for Shelling Peaceable Fishing Boats of DPRK KCNA 13 Aug 2014 -- The command of the southwestern front of the Korean People's Army (KPA) released the following report Wednesday:
• Amid Karabakh Tensions, Both Armenia And Azerbaijan View Russia Uneasily RFE/RL 13 Aug 2014 -- The Kremlin leader scored a diplomatic coup on August 10 when he brought the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan to his Sochi residence to discuss a de-escalation of recent violence between the two South Caucasus rivals.
• On landmark Somalia visit, Security Council pledges support toward political reforms UN News Centre 13 Aug 2014 -- Members of the United Nations Security Council arrived in Mogadishu this morning on a landmark visit to Somalia to review progress made by the Federal Government and to demonstrate their continued support for the country's efforts to ensure a sustainable peace.
• CAR Refugees Face Harrowing Trip to Cameroon VOA 13 Aug 2014 -- The number of refugees fleeing the strife-torn Central African Republic for Cameroon has declined somewhat, but not because the C.A.R. is returning to calm. Refugees and aid workers say fewer people are able to make the trip because of malnourishment and insecurity.
• China-US Tensions Heat Up Over Disputed Sea VOA 13 Aug 2014 -- Chinese state media accuse the United States of inflaming tensions in the South China Sea as Secretary of State John Kerry wraps up his trip to the region during which the U.S. and China exhanged verbal blows over the resource-rich waterway.

News Reports

• Iran's Supreme Leader Dismisses Value Of Direct Talks With U.S. RFE/RL 13 Aug 2014 -- Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran's interaction with the United States should be limited to 'very rare and specific' cases such as nuclear talks.
• Supreme Leader: Iran prioritizes interaction with all countries except US and Zionist regime IRNA 13 Aug 2014 -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that interaction with all countries except the US and Zionist regime is on the agenda of Iranian diplomatic missions abroad.
• Ebola: UN health agency says more than 1 million people affected by outbreak UN News Centre 13 Aug 2014 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today convened a United Nations system-wide coordination meeting in response to the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa, which is now affecting more than 1 million people in the so-called "hot zone of disease transmission" on the borders of the three countries most impacted by the disease.
• WHO: Kenya a High Risk for Transmission of Ebola VOA 13 Aug 2014 -- The World Health Organization classified Kenya as a high-risk area for transmission of the deadly Ebola virus on Wednesday.
• Ebola Spreads Throughout Sierra Leone VOA 13 Aug 2014 -- As Ebola virus outbreaks continue to spread in Sierra Leone, humanitarian agencies such as the International Rescue Committee (IRC) work to contain the disease and educate communities about how to prevent contamination.
• Food security alarm for east, central Africa IRIN 13 Aug 2014 -- Some 20 million people are facing acute food insecurity in eastern and central Africa, with most of them being at "crisis" and "emergency" levels, according to aid agencies. This figure compares unfavorably with 15.8 million people in July 2013.
• Is Former NSA Contractor Snowden a Traitor? VOA 13 Aug 2014 -- The Russian government recently granted former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden a three-year residency permit. He is wanted in the United States on espionage charges after revealing key intelligence documents.