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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 21 Oct 2014 [PDF]
• Airstrikes Help Ground Forces Take Fight to ISIL, Spokesman Says AFPS 21 Oct 2014 -- Kurdish forces are in control of the majority of the Syrian city of Kobani despite efforts by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant to take the town, Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby said today.
• Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL Targets in Syria, Iraq AFPS 21 Oct 2014 -- U.S. military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria yesterday and today, using fighter and bomber aircraft to conduct four airstrikes, U.S. Central Command officials reported.
• Britain set to deploy drones to Syria for anti-ISIL operations: Report Iran Press TV 21 Oct 2014 -- Media reports suggest the British military is set to deploy its armed unmanned aircraft to Syria, despite opposition by members of the parliament.
• Surveillance missions over Syria confirmed UK MOD 21 Oct 2014 -- The Defence Secretary has announced that UK Reaper and Rivet Joint aircraft will fly surveillance missions over Syria.
• Britain to Conduct Surveillance Flights Over Syria VOA 21 Oct 2014 -- Britain said it will soon conduct military surveillance flights over Syria to collect intelligence on Islamic State militants.
• More UK troops deploy to Sierra Leone UK MOD 21 Oct 2014 -- Around 150 British Army personnel left RAF Brize Norton this morning to add to the significant UK efforts to tackle Ebola.
• A fleet of pickup trucks joins RFA Argus in Gibraltar UK MOD 21 Oct 2014 -- The 32 UK-funded vehicles are on their way to Sierra Leone where they will transport staff, medicines and equipment to help defeat Ebola.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Department of Defense Press Briefing by Admiral Kirby in the Pentagon Briefing Room DoD 21 Oct 2014 -- Presenter: Pentagon Press Secretary Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby
• ISR: A critical capability for 21st century warfare AFNS 21 Oct 2014 -- The progressive adaptations and breakthroughs made in the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance arena have changed the way wars are fought, and the way commanders think about the battlespace.
• NEXCOM Breaks Ground For Headquarters Building Expansion NNS 21 Oct 2014 -- The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) held a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 21, for a 33,000 sq. ft. addition to its headquarters building located in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
• Fleet Survey Team Prepares for Bold Alligator NNS 21 Oct 2014 -- Fleet Survey Team (FLTSURVTEAM) led the way for Bold Alligator '14 with beach and hydrographic surveys of the strategic training and operational beaches that will be used in the exercise beginning Oct. 29; Fleet Survey Team completed its work Sept. 21.
• 'Hurricane Hunters' busy with missions on both coasts AFNS 21 Oct 2014 -- It's been a busy two weeks for the Air Force Reserve's Hurricane Hunters, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron flew their last of 15 missions into Hurricane Ana in the Pacific Oct. 20, while gathering weather data for the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.
• Airmen close out successful SALITRE exercise AFNS 21 Oct 2014 -- After flying more than 50 sorties, participating in two community relations events, entertaining multiple media events and experiencing a visit from the President of Chile, U.S. Airmen participating in Chile's SALITRE 2014 exercise are returning home.
• Illinois ANG soars skies over Poland AFNS 21 Oct 2014 -- Airmen from the U.S. and Polish air forces started training together Oct. 15, at Powidz Air Base, Poland, for the start of Aviation Detachment rotation 15-1.
• Wolf Pack soars at RED FLAG-Alaska 15-1 AFNS 21 Oct 2014 -- Airmen from the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, recently participated in Red Flag-Alaska (RF-A)15-1 from Oct. 6 to 17at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.
• 11th MEU begins Cougar Voyage 15 USMC News 21 Oct 2014 -- As the United States continues to reaffirm their commitment to allied forces working around the globe, Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit are doing their part to help strengthen military-to-military relationships with partner nations.
• USS Milius Departs on Deployment NNS 21 Oct 2014 -- The guided missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) departed Naval Base San Diego Oct. 20 on an independent deployment to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.
• Ike's Computer Techs Installing Faster, More Reliable Network NNS 21 Oct 2014 -- aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower's (CVN 69) (Ike) Combat Systems' CS-3 division kept pressing to install a new shipwide computer network, Oct. 19, as offices on the ship continue to come online.
• Georgia planning to host NATO training center Iran Press TV 21 Oct 2014 -- Georgia says it will allow the opening of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) training center on its soil despite pressure from Russia, Press TV reports.
• Sweden May Use Military Force Against Alleged Submarine: Armed Forces Chief RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2014 -- Sweden may resort to the use of force against the alleged foreign submarine in the Stockholm archipelago, Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces Sverker Goranson said on Tuesday.
• Two New Sightings of Alleged Submarine Reported in Sweden RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2014 -- Two more sightings of an alleged foreign submarine in the Stockholm archipelago have been made in recent days, bringing the total number of sightings to five, Rear Admiral Anders Grenstad of the Swedish Armed Forces said Tuesday.
• Swedish Search Mission Not Connected to Dutch Submarine: Swedish Armed Forces RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2014 -- The ongoing operation in the Stockholm archipelago is not connected to a Dutch submarine that recently visited Sweden, the Swedish Armed Forces told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.
• US Considers $600 Million Arms Sale to Iraq: Official Report RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2014 -- The US Department of State has approved a potential sale of M1A1 Abrams tank ammunition, equipment, parts and logistical support to Iraq that would cost $600 million, according to a report from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency [DSCA].

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 21, 2014

Other Conflicts

• U.S. Says Kurds Hold Majority Of Kobani RFE/RL 21 Oct 2014 -- The U.S. military says Kurdish fighters remain in control of most of the Syrian border town of Kobani and Islamic State militants have failed to advance in the past several days.
• Syrian Activists: US Arms Airdrop Near Kobani Lands in ISIL Hands VOA 21 Oct 2014 -- Syrian activists say that one of the U.S. airdrops with weapons and ammunition meant for Kurdish fighters near the town of Kobani has instead landed in the hands of Islamic State militants.
• Syrian Kurds Push Back on Turkish Plan VOA 21 Oct 2014 -- Syrian Kurdish leaders are pushing back on Turkey's plan to allow Kurdish Peshmerga forces from northern Iraq to transit Turkish territory and to enter the besieged Syrian border town of Kobani to help in its defense.
• Turkey mulls assistance as battle for Kobani rages on Iran Press TV 21 Oct 2014 -- Turkey is still hesitant over assistance to the Kurdish fighters as urban warfare rages on between Kurds and ISIL Takfiri terrorists in Syrian town of Kobani.
• New report further exposes Turkey links to ISIL militants Iran Press TV 21 Oct 2014 -- A newly-released report has shed further light on the Turkish government's links to the ISIL militants, showing that Ankara is helping the Takfiri terrorist recruits cross the border into Syria.
• Syria: UN convoy crosses lines to reach children fleeing fighting in besieged Kobane UN News Centre 21 Oct 2014 -- Trucks carrying lifesaving supplies for Syrian children have managed to cross over the battle line in Aleppo for the first time in months, a spokesperson for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said today in what was described as a "small but significant breakthrough" in the UN agency's efforts to help children displaced by the fighting in Kobane.
• Rouhani: Iran not to withhold any support for Iraqi nation ISNA 21 Oct 2014 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani reiterated that Iran would withhold no support for Iraqi nation.
• Iran's Rouhani Vows Support for IS-Besieged Iraq VOA 21 Oct 2014 -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani is pledging lasting Iranian support for neighboring Iraq in its fight against Islamic State militants.
• Ukraine says charges against military 'groundless' Iran Press TV 21 Oct 2014 -- Ukraine has rejected allegations that its armed forces indiscriminately used banned cluster bombs in clashes with pro-Russians in the country's east.
• Kiev government used cluster munitions in Donetsk: HRW Iran Press TV 21 Oct 2014 -- Human Rights Watch (HRW) says Ukrainian government forces have used cluster munitions in populated areas in the eastern city of Donetsk.
• Over 300 forces killed in E Ukraine conflict in Aug.: Report Iran Press TV 21 Oct 2014 -- A Ukrainian parliamentary report says more than 300 Ukrainian soldiers were killed during battles between the army and pro-Russian forces in the country's east in early August.
• Rights Group Accuses Kyiv Of Using Cluster Munitions RFE/RL 21 Oct 2014 -- International watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Ukrainian army of violating 'the laws of war' through the use of so-called cluster munitions in separatist-held areas of eastern Ukraine.
• HRW Report on Use of Cluster Munitions by Kiev Lack Evidence: Ukrainian Foreign Ministry RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2014 -- Human Rights Watch (HRW) findings on the use of cluster munitions in populated areas of Donetsk by Ukrainian military are unsubstantiated, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Yevhen Perebiynis said Tuesday.
• Kiev Denies Using Cluster Munitions in Eastern Ukraine RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2014 -- Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council spokesperson said on Tuesday that Ukrainian troops have not used cluster munitions in eastern Ukraine and urged the international community to provide evidence of such incidents.
• Ukraine Used Cluster Munitions in Populated Areas of Donetsk: HRW RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2014 -- Ukrainian goverment forces used cluster munitions in populated areas of Donetsk in October, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in an official release.
• DR Congo: Ban deplores expulsion of UN rights officer UN News Centre 21 Oct 2014 -- Secretary -General Ban Ki-moon has condemned last week's decision by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to expel from the country its top United Nations human rights official, saying that doing so can "only be harmful for the country's progress" and urged the Government to reconsider its position.
• 'Clock is ticking' for Gaza; pledges for aid, reconstruction must be honoured - Ban UN News Centre 21 Oct 2014 -- On the heels of last week's visit to Gaza, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council today that promises made at a recent donor conference on rebuilding the war-ravaged enclave must "quickly materialize" into concrete assistance on the ground, especially as winter approaches.
• South Sudan: UN Mission transfers internally displaced persons to protection sites UN News Centre 21 Oct 2014 -- The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has opened new sites for about 28,000 internally displaced persons adjacent to its bases in three state capitals to improve living conditions of civilians who have been uprooted by the recent conflict, a senior UN official said in Juba today.

News Reports

• Russia-US ties at rock bottom: Lavrov Iran Press TV 21 Oct 2014 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Moscow's relations with Washington have hit rock bottom and will remain so for a long time.
• Ukraine Ready to Sign Temporary Gas Deal With Russia: Prime Minister RIA Novosti 21 Oct 2014 -- Ukraine is ready to sign a temporary gas agreement with Russia, the final price and supply conditions will be set by the courts, Ukrainian prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Tuesday.
• HK court orders end to Mong Kok protest People's Daily 21 Oct 2014 -- The High Court in Hong Kong ordered protesters to clear roads at an illegal assembly site in Mong Kok on Monday.
• Hong Kong Student Leaders Disappointed by Reform Talks VOA 21 Oct 2014 -- Hong Kong student protesters expressed disappointment about talks with government officials, saying authorities failed to address their main concerns about the structure of the 2017 elections.
• China must chart own course to rule of law People's Daily 21 Oct 2014 --The ongoing Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) will deliberate and pass the decision on major issues concerning comprehensively advancing the rule of law.
• Experts say rule of law will unlock economic potential People's Daily 21 Oct 2014 -- Promoting the rule of law, a main theme of the key meeting of the Party, also known as the Fourth Plenum, will further unleash the potential of the economy and help ensure sustainable and relatively fast growth, experts said on Monday.
• Kamalvandi: Amanos report approves peaceful nature of Irans nuclear program IRNA 21 Oct 2014 -- Spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Behrouz Kamalvandi said on Tuesday that the new report released the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Yukiya Amano indicates peaceful nature of Irans nuclear program.
• Experts Assembly chairman passes away IRNA 21 Oct 2014 -- Senior Iranian cleric Ayatollah Mohammadreza Mahdavi Kani passed away in a Tehran hospital on Tuesday.
• As Ebola response accelerates, UN health agency prepares for arrival of trial vaccines UN News Centre 21 Oct 2014 -- Amid positive developments in the global fight against Ebola, including a growing response to the Secretary-General's appeals for the more funding to tackle the outbreak, the United Nations health agency today announced the expected delivery of Ebola candidate vaccines, as the UN system continues to ramps up efforts to quell the spread of the deadly virus.
• Ebola Best Controlled at Source VOA 21 Oct 2014 -- Researchers said the best way to prevent Ebola from spreading from West Africa is to do a better job of controlling it at the source. They said while exit and entry screening at airports is helpful, it cannot replace stemming the number of new infections.
• Turkey launches new arrests of top officers for eavesdropping Iran Press TV 21 Oct 2014 -- Turkish authorities have launched a new operation to arrest top police officers on suspicion of involvement in illegal eavesdropping on senior officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.