• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 23 Sep 2014 [PDF]
• Transcript: Department of Defense Press Briefing on Operations in Syria by Lt. Gen. Mayville in the Pentagon Briefing Room DoD 23 Sep 2014 -- Presenters: Lieutenant General William Mayville, director of Operations J3 and Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby
• Background Conference Call on Airstrikes in Syria The White House 23 Sep 2014
• DoD Official: Successful Syrian Strikes Only the Beginning AFPS 23 Sep 2014 -- Successful U.S. military and partner nation strikes last night against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL, were only the beginning of the fight to degrade and defeat the brutal terrorist group, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Adm. John Kirby said today.
• Spokesman: Airstrikes Intended to Disrupt, Degrade ISIL AFPS 23 Sep 2014 -- Airstrikes conducted overnight were intended to disrupt the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's ability to lead and control its forces, Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby said today.
• US: Syria Won't, Can't Stop Militant Safe Havens VOA 23 Sep 2014 -- President Barack Obama on Tuesday hailed the coalition of Arab states that joined U.S. forces to pound Islamic State targets in Syria, calling it a sign that Middle Eastern people were "standing up for the peace and security that the people of the region and the world deserves."
• Mixed Arab World Reaction to US Strikes VOA 23 Sep 2014 -- Arab world reaction to the U.S.-led airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria, carried out Tuesday with participation or support from Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, has been mostly positive with some nuances.
• US Airstrikes in Syria Draw Praise, Concern in Congress VOA 23 Sep 2014 -- U.S. lawmakers are reacting to the first U.S. airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Syria, with a number of congressional leaders praising the action taken by President Barack Obama. But some members of Congress say the nature of the U.S. mission is shifting, and that Congress needs to debate and vote on authorization of a broader and more sustained military campaign against terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria.
• US: Airstrikes not coordinated with Syria Iran Press TV 23 Sep 2014 -- The United States has not coordinated airstrikes against the ISIL terrorist group in Syria with Damascus, the State Department says.
• Obama: US won't tolerate safe havens for ISIL Iran Press TV 23 Sep 2014 -- President Barack Obama says the United States will do "what is necessary" to eliminate ISIL following the US-led bombing campaign against the terrorist group in Syria.
• 50 US-led strikes carried out in Syria Iran Press TV 23 Sep 2014 -- The US and its allies have carried out at least 50 airstrikes against the Takfiri militants operating inside Syria, the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) says.
• Pentagon to send warplanes, airmen to Middle East to fight ISIL Iran Press TV 23 Sep 2014 -- The US military will send a dozen A-10 combat jets and 300 airmen to the Middle East in early October for six months to help the fight against the ISIL terrorist group.
• Pentagon Confirms Fifth-Generation Fighter Jets Used in Combat in Syria RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- The United States used F-22 fighter jets - fifth-generation aircraft - to make airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Syria on Tuesday, Gen. William Mayville, Joint Staff director of operations, said at a Pentagon briefing.
• Jordan Admits Participating in Military Operation Against IS: Reports RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- Jordan took part in a military operation led by the United States against the extremist group Islamic state (IS) in Syria, Sky News Arabia channel reported Tuesday, citing Jordanian government representative Mohammed Mumin.
• Syria Informed by the US Before Airstrikes Conducted RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- The United States briefed the Syrian envoy to the UN before it conducted the most recent airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria, said the Syrian foreign minister on Tuesday, as reported by the AP.
• Obama Hails Joint US-Arab Strikes on Islamic State Targets in Syria VOA 23 Sep 2014 -- President Barack Obama on Tuesday hailed the coalition of Arab states that joined U.S. forces to pound Islamic State targets in Syria, calling it a sign that Middle Eastern people were "standing up for the peace and security that the people of the region and the world deserves."
• Statement by the President on Airstrikes in Syria The White House 23 Sep 2014
• Obama Says He'll Continue Building Support for Coalition AFPS 23 Sep 2014 -- President Barack Obama said today that he will use the coming days to build additional support for a coalition to confront the 'serious threat to our peace and security' posed by Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists.
• Obama Vows To Continue Fight Against Islamic State RFE/RL 23 Sep 2014 -- President Barack Obama has pledged to continue the fight against Islamic State militants following the first U.S.-led air strikes targeting the extremist group in Syria.
• Iran evaluates US air raids in Syria as illegal interference IRNA 23 Sep 2014 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson here Tuesday considered air raids of the United States and some other countries in Syria as illegal interference that can further complicate the region's chaotic conditions.
• Tehran: US-Led Military Attack on IS in Syria Violates Int'l Law, Sovereignty of State RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- Tehran has denounced the US airstrikes against IS targets in Syria as an illegal action and violating the Arab country's sovereignty.
• Syrian General: Damascus Has No Objections to US Airstrikes if Coordinated in Advance RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- Damascus is not fundamentally against the US military action against the Islamic State (IS) if the airstrikes are coordinated with the Syrian authorities in advance, Maj. Gen. Yahya Suleiman told Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency on Tuesday.
• U.S. Military, Partner Nations Conduct Airstrikes in Syria AFPS 23 Sep 2014 -- U.S. military forces and partner nations, including Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, undertook military action against ISIL terrorists in Syria overnight, according to a U.S. Central Command news release.
• Former US Ambassador to Afghanistan Reacts to Karzai's Criticisms VOA 23 Sep 2014 -- Outgoing Afghan President Hamid Karzai said the United States does not want peace in Afghanistan, and that it invaded 'because of its own interests.'
• Pakistani refugees welcome end to Afghan political deadlock IRIN 23 Sep 2014 -- The deal on a unity government in Afghanistan to end the electoral deadlock was greeted with celebrations in the eastern provinces where tens of thousands of recent Pakistani refugees say they have been victims of the uncertainty.
• Remembering Karzai RFE/RL 23 Sep 2014 -- Following two turbulent, controversy-filled terms in office, Karzai is poised to be the first to leave the Afghan presidency in a peaceful transfer of power, which is expected on September 29.
• Airmen support firefighting efforts in California AFNS 23 Sep 2014 -- Two 146th Airlift Wing C-130 Hercules equipped with U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems, or MAFFS, will be assisting with wildfire suppression efforts in California and the Northwest at the request of the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, U.S. Northern Command officials said in a news release issued Sept. 22.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Press Statement: U.S. Landmine Policy US Dept. of State 23 Sep 2014
• Hagel Supports Changes to U.S. Policy on Landmines AFPS 23 Sep 2014 -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel fully supports changes to U.S. antipersonnel landmine policy announced by President Barack Obama today, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said.
• FACT SHEET: Changes to U.S. Anti-Personnel Landmine Policy The White House 23 Sep 2014
• Statement by NSC Spokesperson Caitlin Hayden on Anti-Personnel Landmine Policy The White House 23 Sep 2014
• Statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Admiral John Kirby on Landmines DoD 23 Sep 2014
• Future USS Ralph Johnson Keel Authenticated NNS 23 Sep 2014 -- The U.S. Navy held a keel-laying ceremony for the future USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) at the Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) shipyard Sept. 23.
• CPX Prepares NMCB 3 for Field Training Exercise, Deployment NNS 23 Sep 2014 -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 kicked off the first Command Post Exercise (CPX) of their 2014 homeport aboard Naval Base Ventura County, California, Sept. 22.
• USS Coronado Performs Live-Fire Test of Norwegian Strike Missile NNS 23 Sep 2014 -- The crew of littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) successfully performed a live-fire demonstration of a Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM) during missile testing operations off the coast of Southern California, Sept. 23.
• Simulators train aircrew at fraction of cost AFNS 23 Sep 2014 -- Everything's normal looking out the window of the cockpit on a summer morning, the student pilot and co-pilot are going through their preflight checklists, switches and toggles are thrown and gauges are read, and in a few minutes this C-17 Globemaster III will barrel down the runway and take off into the wild blue yonder.
• Pentagon's Acting CIO Provides Cloud Computing Update AFPS 23 Sep 2014 -- A memorandum to be released in October will highlight changes to the Defense Department's approach to using third-party remote server computing services, DoD's acting chief information officer announced today.
• Database Merges Could Yield Billions in Savings, Official Says AFPS 23 Sep 2014 -- As the Defense Department continues to seek better ways to align its structure and resources, database consolidation could lead to $10 billion to $20 billion in cost savings in coming years, the Pentagon's acting chief information officer said today.
• Marines, British Army complete Exercise Phoenix Odyssey USMC News 23 Sep 2014 -- After nearly three days of academic collaboration in a classroom setting, U.S. Marines and British Army soldiers dove in to a weeklong scenario to test their skills in bilateral military intelligence operations.
• 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion conducts ship operation USMC News 23 Sep 2014 -- Marines with Alpha Company, 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, conducted ship operations near Onslow Beach, North Carolina, with the USS Whidbey Island Sept. 9 and 10.
• Army, Air Force Share Joint Information Network AFPS 23 Sep 2014 -- This month the Army and Air Force achieved major network security and capacity upgrades at Joint Base San Antonio in partnership with the Defense Information Systems Agency. This is the first Department of Defense location to achieve the pairing of new switching technologies and security stacks.
• 3/1 Readies for Deployment aboard 15th MEU USMC News 23 Sep 2014 -- The unit arrived in Bridgeport Aug. 17 to begin their training in preparation for a deployment with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit scheduled to depart late 2015.
• USS Peleliu Embarks ESG 7, Sets Sail for CERTEX NNS 23 Sep 2014 -- The amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5), lead ship of the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (PEL ARG), embarked the Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7 for patrol in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility.
• PIKE nears end of service AFNS 23 Sep 2014 -- The 22nd Space Operations Squadron will decommission the Colorado Tracking Station Sept. 29, during a ceremony here, signaling the end of operations for one of the Air Force Satellite Control Network's most valued assets of the past two decades.
• Stratcom, DoD Sign Space Operations Agreement With Allies AFPS 23 Sep 2014 -- Officials from the Defense Department, U.S. Strategic Command and three allied nations signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday on combined space operations to strengthen deterrence, enhance resilience and optimize resources.
• US to Sell Medium-Range Missiles to Poland in $500 Mln Deal RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- The United States plans to sell 40 air-launched AGM 158-missiles to Poland as the Eastern European country further strengthens its defense amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, the Telegraph reports citing the US State Department.
• Defence Secretary discusses ISIL threat UK MOD 23 Sep 2014 -- Mr Fallon met with allies in Saudi Arabia yesterday and Bahrain today to discuss regional security and international co-ordination to counter ISIL ahead of this week's United Nations General Assembly.
• Minister: Arctic Maneuvers, Iskander, Pantsir Firing Conducted at Vostok-2014 Drills RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- Russian troops have carried out a series of combat training missions in the Arctic and used Iskander and Pantsir-S systems as part of the ongoing large-scale exercises in Russia's Far East, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday.
• Russia Tests Mi-171A2 Helicopter With Latest Navigation System RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- Russian helicopter design and manufacturing company, Russian Helicopters, jointly with the Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies (KRET) have begun testing the Mi-171A2 transport helicopter at the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, the Russian Helicopters press-service stated on Tuesday.
• Defense Minister: Over 155,000 Servicemen Take Part in Russia's Vostok-2014 Drills RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- The Russian military has deployed over 155,000 personnel and thousands of units of military hardware as part of ongoing large-scale exercises in Russia's Far East, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday.
• Two New Roadstead Cutters to Join Caspian Flotilla in 2014 RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- Two new roadstead cutters with joystick handling have started moving toward the Caspian Sea where remaining tests on the boats will be conducted before their inclusion into the Caspian Flotilla (CFl) in October or November, the Southern Military District's press service reported Tuesday.
• Shoigu About Vostok-2014 Exercises: Russian Troops Show Higher Combat Preparedness RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- The recent large-scale military exercise in Russia's Far East, Vostok-2014, demonstrated that the degree of combat preparedness in Russian troops has risen, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday.
• Ukraine's Poroshenko Secures Less US Aid Than Hoped VOA 23 Sep 2014 -- Addressing a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress last week, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko asked for military aid and a special security status for his country. Poroshenko said his army needed more military equipment - both non-lethal and lethal. "Blankets and night vision goggles are important," he said, "but one cannot win a war with blankets."
• Iran unveils indigenous combat drone IRNA 23 Sep 2014 -- Iran unveiled its first indigenous combat drone capable of carrying air-to-air missiles in a ceremony attended by Deputy Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami and a number of high-ranking military officials.
• Iran unveils first drone armed with air defense missile ISNA 23 Sep 2014 -- Iran unveiled the first drone equipped with air defense missile on Tuesday in the second day of Sacred Defense Week, marking the 8-year Iraqi imposed war on Iran.
• Iran unveils indigenous combat drone armed with missiles Iran Press TV 23 Sep 2014 -- Iran has unveiled its first indigenous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) armed with air defense missiles suitable for aerial combats.
• Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Josh Earnest and Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes en route New York, NY, 9/23/2014 The White House 23 Sep 2014

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for September 23, 2014

Other Conflicts

• Syrian General: 'Moderate Opposition' in Syria Figment of Obama's Imagination RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- The 'moderate opposition' that US President Barack Obama said Washington would train and equip to address the Islamic State (IS) militant threat in Iraq and Syria does not exist, Maj. Gen. Yahya Suleiman told Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency on Tuesday.
• Hundreds of thousands of Syrian Kurds live in fear of Islamist extremist violence - UN UN News Centre 23 Sep 2014 -- With 138,000 Syrians having already fled to Turkey from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), United Nations officials today voiced grave concern for hundreds of thousands more who remained, living in fear of the sort of persecution perpetrated by ISIL against religious and ethnic minorities elsewhere.
• Israel Downs Syrian Military Jet That Allegedly Violated Border RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- Israel's air defense forces have downed a Syrian plane that violated the country's airspace, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces said Tuesday.
• Iraq: UN delivers food to over 1 million displaced people; refugee numbers rise sharply UN News Centre 23 Sep 2014 -- Despite insecurity and the continuous movement of people, the United Nations said today it has reached more than one million people uprooted by violence across Iraq with food assistance, while also noting a sharp increase in refugees fleeing into neighbouring Jordan and Turkey.
• Donetsk Militia Reports Withdrawal of Artillery From Line of Contact RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- Independence forces in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk have withdrawn their artillery from the line of contact, following an agreement made in Minsk earlier this month, the military command of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) said Tuesday.
• Ukraine Rebels Start Pullback of Heavy Artillery VOA 23 Sep 2014 -- Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine say they have started to withdraw their heavy artillery from front-line positions, as required by a peace plan aimed at ending five months of conflict with Kyiv.
• Yemen: UN Security Council hails new peace accord, warns against violent disruptions UN News Centre 23 Sep 2014 -- Welcoming a recent peace pact signed between the Yemeni Government and its opponents, the United Nations Security Council today called for its full and immediate implementation, an immediate end to all attacks and threats, and the rapid formation of a new government.
• Yemen deal brings little solace IRIN 23 Sep 2014 -- With northern rebels claiming the capital Sana'a and Al-Qaeda militants increasing their attacks in the south, Yemen's security crisis is likely to continue, experts believe. While a new agreement between the Houthis rebels and the government may have temporarily reduced fears of all-out civil war, the country's political, security and economic crises are unlikely to ease, leading NGOs to fear increasing humanitarian needs.
• Fighting in S. Sudan Threatens Peace Talks VOA 23 Sep 2014 -- South Sudan's warring parties are sitting down for another round of peace talks in Ethiopia, though recent fighting is once again threatening to derail the process.
• Cross-border attacks force movement of Nigerian refugees in Cameroon - UN agency UN News Centre 23 Sep 2014 -- The United Nations refugee agency announced today that it is stepping up efforts to move some 5,000 Nigerian refugees in Cameroon away from a border town amidst ongoing cross border attacks by insurgents.

News Reports

• Who Are the Khorasan? VOA 23 Sep 2014 -- With the U.S. beginning a military campaign against the Islamic State group, another band of Islamist militants has emerged as a direct threat to the security of the United States and Europe.
• Remarks at the Global Counterterrorism Forum US Dept. of State 23 Sep 2014
• On eve of Security Council summit, Ban calls for decisive action against terrorism UN News Centre 23 Sep 2014 -- Ahead of tomorrow's United Nations Security Council summit on foreign terrorist fighters, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling for decisive action in support of efforts to confront extremists.
• Bin Laden Son-in-law Gets Life Prison Term VOA 23 Sep 2014 -- A son-in-law of Osama bin Laden has been sentenced by a U.S. court to life in prison for his role as al-Qaida's spokesman after the 2001 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in the United States.
• As US Strikes Syria, China Sees Parallels at Home VOA 23 Sep 2014 -- As U.S. airstrikes began hitting targets of the Islamic State terrorist group in Syria, China says it supports international efforts to crack down on terrorism. Increasingly though, Beijing is seeing the fight against the Islamic State militants (IS) as an extension of its own efforts at home to battle what it says are religious extremists in its restive region of Xinjiang.
• Remarks at Event on Human Rights in the D.P.R.K. US Dept. of State 23 Sep 2014
• Kerry Slams N. Korea Human Rights Abuses VOA 23 Sep 2014 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has publicly slammed North Korea's human rights record and called on the reclusive state to close its labor camps.
• UN health agency says Ebola infection rate to get worse Iran Press TV 23 Sep 2014 -- The World Health Organization has warned about a dramatic rise in the number of Ebola cases if all due measures are not taken to curb the epidemic.
• DR Congo Ebola outbreak almost over: PM Iran Press TV 23 Sep 2014 -- The prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo says the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus is "almost over."
• Ban to convene meeting of world leaders on tackling Ebola outbreak UN News Centre 23 Sep 2014 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced he will convene a meeting of world leaders this week on a response to the Ebola outbreak as new studies warn of an exponential climb in the coming weeks unless swift action is taken to control the spread of the virus.
• Ebola: As global response lags, UN warns 20,000 may be infected by November UN News Centre 23 Sep 2014 -- Unless efforts to control the Ebola outbreak in West Africa are ramped up, more than 20,000 people could be infected by early November, according to a joint United Nations study published today that predicts number of cases will climb exponentially.
• CDC: Ebola Could Infect 1.4 Million by January VOA 23 Sep 2014 -- Between 550,000 and 1.4 million people in West Africa could be infected with the Ebola virus by January 20, 2015, according to a report issued on Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• Iran dismisses agreement on disconnecting centrifuges cascades IRNA 23 Sep 2014 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham categorically dismissed any agreement on disconnecting Irans centrifuge cascades instead of reducing their number.
• Libyan parliament approves premier's new cabinet Iran Press TV 23 Sep 2014 -- The Libyan parliament approves Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani's cabinet ministers after rejecting a previous line-up last week.
• Spat Over Who Speaks To UN Hints Of Looming Political Crisis In Georgia RFE/RL 23 Sep 2014 -- When Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili takes the podium for his 15 minutes of fame at the UN General Assembly in New York this week, the country's president will be back in Tbilisi, licking his political wounds.
• Chinese President Claims Happy Unity With Hong Kong Despite Protest Threats: Reports RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- Despite pan-democrat threats of protest in Hong Kong, Chinese President Xi Jinping met with a large business delegation in Beijing to reiterate the country's stance on the special administrative region, claiming Hong Kong and mainland China are intertwined under 'one country, two systems,' The Diplomat reported Tuesday.
• US Dragon Spacecraft Arrives at ISS Resupplies Station: NASA RIA Novosti 23 Sep 2014 -- The US Dragon commercial spacecraft has docked at the International Space Station (ISS), the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced Tuesday.