Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Coalition Military Leaders Discuss Operation Inherent Resolve AFPS 08 Feb 2015 -- Military leaders representing member states of a combined joint task force to degrade and ultimately destroy the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant gathered Feb. 2-3 to discuss the way ahead in Operation Inherent Resolve, task force officials announced today.
• Kerry: Fight Terrorism 'With Every Fiber of Our Being' VOA 08 Feb 2015 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday terrorism must be opposed 'with every fiber of our being.'
• Afghan President Warns Against Shifting Focus From His Country VOA 08 Feb 2015 -- Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani urged the international community not to shift focus from his war-torn nation, warning it remains the meeting point of global terrorist networks, including Islamic State.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Allies Must Stay Focused on Russia, Biden Says in Munich AFPS 08 Feb 2015 -- Europe and the United States tried to bring Russia into the community of nations in a constructive manner, but Russian President Vladimir Putin has other ideas, Vice President Joe Biden said yesterday in Munich.
• Fleet Forces Commander Visits TR Underway NNS 08 Feb 2015 -- Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) - Adm. Phil Davidson, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces (USFF) and FLTCM(AW/SW/IDW) Chuck Clarke, U.S. Fleet Forces Fleet Master Chief, visited the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Feb. 3-4 during the ship's COMPTUEX assessment and certification for their upcoming deployment.
• Bulgarian Air Force Faces Trouble Over Anti-Russian Sanctions Sputnik 08 Feb 2015 -- Bulgarian Air Force commander-in-chief Rumen Radev has warned that only two of Bulgaria's Russian-made MiG-29 jet fighters may remain in service by May 2015, according to the Russian news agency RIA-Novosti.
• Remarks at the Munich Security Conference Panel Discussion US Dept. of State 08 Feb 2015 -- Remarks by John Kerry, Secretary of State and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier; French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Merkel To Hold Ukraine Talks In Washington With Obama RFE/RL 08 Feb 2015 -- and not against -- Russia,' he said. 'However, this cannot be a unilateral recognition. It has to be clear to Moscow as well that there is only a good future for Russia with Europe, together with Europe -- and not against Europe.'
• Ukraine Cease-Fire Talks to Open Wednesday in Belarus VOA 08 Feb 2015 -- The leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France have agreed to meet Wednesday in Belarus for talks aimed at a deal to end the surging pro-Russian rebellion in eastern Ukraine.
• Russia slams US plan for arming Ukraine Iran Press TV 08 Feb 2015 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has criticized the US' plans to supply "lethal weapons" to the Ukrainian government.
• Donetsk says Kiev seeks to 'discredit' pro-Russia forces Iran Press TV 08 Feb 2015 -- Ukraine has been sending groups to the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) to frighten locals and discredit the armed forces of the two regions, the Donetsk information agency says.
• Germany Announces Top-Level Ukraine Summit In Minsk RFE/RL 08 Feb 2015 -- and not against -- Russia,' he said. 'However, this cannot be a unilateral recognition. It has to be clear to Moscow as well that there is only a good future for Russia with Europe, together with Europe -- and not against Europe.'
• UK May Arm Ukraine if Situation Changes – Foreign Secretary Sputnik 08 Feb 2015 -- The United Kingdom's decision not to supply weapons to Ukraine will be reviewed if the situation in the conflict-torn country changes, UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Sunday.
• US Plans to Supply Weapons to Kiev May Disrupt Conflict Settlement - Lavrov Sputnik 08 Feb 2015 -- The plans of the United States to supply weapons to Kiev may disrupt the settlement of Ukrainian conflict, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on its official Facebook page Sunday, citing Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
• Kiev Orders to Mine Entire Rail Infrastructure in Debaltseve Sputnik 08 Feb 2015 -- Kiev authorities have ordered their forces to mine the entire rail infrastructure in the eastern Ukrainian town of Debaltseve, deputy head of the self-proclaimed Dontesk People's Republic's (DPR) militia Eduard Basurin said Sunday.
• Iraq urges Turkey to stop flow of terrorists Iran Press TV 08 Feb 2015 -- Iraq has called on Turkey to step up border patrols and stop the flow of terrorists as the government in Baghdad is locked in fierce battle with the ISIL Takfiri terrorists.
• UN: Yemen Factions to Resume Talks Monday VOA 08 Feb 2015 -- The United Nations says key political factions in Yemen, including a Shi'ite militia that seized control of the Sana'a government last week, have agreed to resume talks Monday aimed at resolving the political crisis.
• Yemen will resume national talks on Monday: UN envoy Iran Press TV 08 Feb 2015 -- Yemen will resume national talks in the presence of all factions over its future, UN envoy to Sana'a, Jamal Benomar says just a few days after the formation of a transitional council by Shia Houthi fighters.
• President Hadi must be restored to power in Yemen: UN chief Iran Press TV 08 Feb 2015 -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says President Abd Rabbu Mansur Hadi must be restored to power in Yemen following the formation of a transitional council by Shia Houthi fighters.
• UN, Arab League Criticize Yemen's Houthi Takeover Sputnik 08 Feb 2015 -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says President Abd Rabbu Mansur Hadi must be restored to power in Yemen following the formation of a transitional council by Shia Houthi fighters.
• Violence taking toll on CAR civilians: ICRC IRNA 08 Feb 2015 -- Violence has been on the rise again in the Central African Republic capital, Bangui, in recent weeks with reports of armed robberies and abductions in neighbourhoods in the north of the city, ICRC said on Sunday.
• Democratic Republic of Congo vows to drive out FDLR rebels Iran Press TV 08 Feb 2015 -- The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) says it will drive the rebel group the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) out of the country.
• Nigerian town comes under fresh Boko Haram attack Iran Press TV 08 Feb 2015 -- Boko Haram Takfiri militants have launched an attack on a border town in Niger, which has also witnessed a bomb attack near a market.

News Reports

• Kim Jong Un Inspects October 3 Dockyard under KPA Navy Unit 597 KCNA 08 Feb 2015 -- Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and first chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, gave field guidance to the October 3 Dockyard under KPA Navy Unit 597 and set forth the task for its updating.
• KPA Commanding Officers Visit Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum KCNA 08 Feb 2015 -- Commanding officers of the Korean People's Army visited the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum on Sunday, the birthday of the regular revolutionary armed forces of Korea.
• Supreme Leader's envoy defends Zarif-Kerry walk IRNA 08 Feb 2015 -- After accepting the necessity of nuclear talks finding faults with details such as Zarif-Kerry walk on sidelines of the nuclear talks is out of context, said Leader's representative in Kerman and city's Friday prayers leader on Sunday.
• Supreme Leader cautions negotiators against prolonged deal IRNA 08 Feb 2015 -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on Sunday advised the negotiators to sign straightforward deal to lift the sanctions and make sure that the other party would not enjoy bargaining chip, something they favor so much.
• Leader: I approve of an agreement that could be reached IRNA 08 Feb 2015 -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said he approved of an agreement that could be reached. He also said that he was not in favor of a 'bad' agreement.
• Israel vows to block dangerous' nuclear deal with Iran Iran Press TV 08 Feb 2015 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has once again turned up the rhetoric against Iran, saying Tel Aviv will do everything to prevent a "bad and dangerous" nuclear deal between Tehran and the P5+1.
• Iran's Supreme Leader Supports 'Good' Nuclear Deal RFE/RL 08 Feb 2015 -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he backs what he termed as a 'good' nuclear compromise with world powers in which neither side would likely get everything they wanted.
• Iran's Zarif Denies Media 'Lie' Administration at Risk Over Nuclear Talks Sputnik 08 Feb 2015 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif rejected a media report claiming he had warned that failure in talks on Tehran's nuclear program would put President Hassan Rouhani's administration at risk, MEHR News Agency reported Sunday.
• US, Iran Discuss Nuclear Deal VOA 08 Feb 2015 -- Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Sunday he is in favor of reaching a nuclear deal with world powers, as long at the pact does not go against the best interests of this country.
• Ban meets new Saudi king, looks forward to cooperation on development, climate, regional crises UN News Centre 08 Feb 2015 -- Paying tribute to the legacy of the late Saudi Arabian king Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the United Nations Secretary-General today looked forward to continued "fruitful cooperation" with the country's new king, Salman bin Abdulaziz, after a meeting in which the two discussed sustainable development, climate change and regional peace and security.
• Turkish police officers arrested in eavesdropping case Iran Press TV 08 Feb 2015 -- Turkish police have launched a new wave of raids, arresting a number of police officers on suspicion of illegally eavesdropping on top officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
• Nigeria Government Denies Forcing Election Postponement VOA 08 Feb 2015 -- A senior adviser to Nigeria's incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan has denied reports the government pressured the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the February election to March 28.
• Timely preparations 'imperative' to credible, free, transparent elections in Nigeria, says UN chief UN News Centre 08 Feb 2015 -- The Secretary-General noted today the decision of the Nigerian Independent Electoral Commission to postpone the general elections, initially scheduled for 14 February 2015, and urged the electoral authorities to take all necessary measures, such as the rapid distribution of the remaining Permanent Voter Cards, to enable all eligible citizens, including those displaced, to exercise their right to vote in a timely manner.