Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Casualty Update 12 Feb 2015 [PDF]
• Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL Targets in Syria, Iraq AFPS 12 Feb 2015 -- U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• Marines, Danes give Iraqi leaders C-IED training USMC News 12 Feb 2015 -- U.S. Marines and Danish soldiers with Task Force Al Asad gave Iraqi leaders counter – improvised explosive device training aboard Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Jan. 31, 2015.
• Afghan Transition Trends 'Positive,' Campbell Says AFPS 12 Feb 2015 -- The commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan delivered an upbeat assessment of progress in the nation, while also acknowledging there is much that needs to be done.
• Afghanistan Asking for US Troop Withdrawal Adjustment VOA 12 Feb 2015 -- The commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan says President Ashraf Ghani has requested greater flexibility in the final drawdown of America's military presence in the country, expected to be completed by 2017. General John Campbell appeared to confirm recent media reports that the Obama administration is looking at options to adjust the pace of withdrawal this year - while remaining firm that the military mission in Afghanistan will end on time.
• China, Pakistan Discuss Efforts to Maintain Afghan Peace VOA 12 Feb 2015 -- China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has reaffirmed Beijing's support for Afghanistan's national unity government during a visit to Pakistan. Wang is in Islamabad at the start of a two-day official visit to Pakistan, during which he will discuss bilateral relations and peace efforts in neighboring Afghanistan.
• Guardsmen From Maine, Vermont Help Massachusetts Dig Out AFPS 12 Feb 2015 -- National Guardsmen from Vermont and Maine are helping their Massachusetts counterparts in responding to recent major snowfalls that have buried areas of the Bay State.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Senate Confirms Carter as 25th Secretary of Defense AFPS 12 Feb 2015 -- The U.S. Senate today confirmed former Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter as the 25th secretary of defense.
• Carter 'Will Help Keep Our Military Strong,' President Says AFPS 12 Feb 2015 -- Ash Carter, a former deputy defense secretary who today received a 93-5 affirmative vote by the U.S. Senate to succeed Chuck Hagel as defense secretary, received a welcome back and praise from President Barack Obama.
• First AF theater security package deploys to Europe AFNS 12 Feb 2015 -- This week the U.S. Air Force deployed 12 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and approximately 300 Airmen as part of a theater security package to the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
• Air Force Chief: Force Modernization Not Optional AFPS 12 Feb 2015 -- It is imperative to modernize the Air Force despite difficult budgeting choices that will have to be made, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III said today in Orlando, Florida.
• Gunfighters live up to name supporting Scorpion Fire USMC News 12 Feb 2015 -- Pilots and crew chiefs from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 "Gunfighters" took part in the annual exercise Scorpion Fire at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., Jan. 26 – Feb. 6.
• Amphibious Squadron 5, 11th MEU Return to US 3rd Fleet NNS 12 Feb 2015 -- Approximately 4,500 Sailors and Marines with Amphibious Squadron Five (PHIBRON 5) and the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) returned to the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations Feb. 10 following operations in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet during their Western-Pacific deployment.
• Electronic Attack Squadron 138 Returns Home to Whidbey Island NNS 12 Feb 2015 -- The 'Yellow Jackets' of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138 returned home to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, Feb. 8 following a six-month deployment to the U.S. Pacific Fleet area of responsibility.
• The Streak Continues: U.S. Navy Earns Top Rank Again for Patent Portfolio NNS 12 Feb 2015 -- A system that tests the strength of fire truck equipment in an environmentally friendly way is one of 396 technologies patented by the U.S. Navy in 2013 - helping the service lead the government category in a recent ranking of patent portfolios.
• Congress Calls for Expedited Weapons for Jordan to Fight IS VOA 12 Feb 2015 -- Members of Congress are calling on the Obama administration to expedite weapons to Jordan, an important Arab ally on the frontlines of the fight against Islamic State extremists. Jordan has intensified its fight against the jihadist group, vowing to wipe out the Islamic State, after militants burned alive a captured Jordanian pilot.
• Vilnius, Washington to Sign New Defense Cooperation Agreement Sputnik 12 Feb 2015 -- The United States and Lithuania will sign a new defense cooperation agreement in 2015, Lithuania's National Defense Ministry said Thursday.
• Mistral Deal With Russia Still on Hold - French Foreign Minister Sputnik 12 Feb 2015 -- The delivery of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers to Russia under the 2011 deal is still suspended despite the positive outcome of the Minsk talks on the Ukrainian crisis resolution, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Thursday.
• Russian Strategic Missile Forces Begin Wide-Range Drills in 12 Regions Sputnik 12 Feb 2015 -- Russia's Strategic Missile Forces have begun wide-range exercises in 12 regions in the country, the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday.
• PLA to start one-year audit of incomes, expenses of all military personnel People's Daily 12 Feb 2015 -- China's military is set to begin a one-year long audit covering all levels of the armed forces as the central government continues its efforts to crack down on corruption within the military.
• Ukraine's NATO Bid Was Not Discussed in Minsk - Poroshenko Sputnik 12 Feb 2015 -- Kiev's bid to become a NATO member was not on the agenda of the Minsk summit on Ukrainian crisis, President Petro Poroshenko said Thursday.
• Ukrainians Evading Draft May Face Five Years in Prison Sputnik 12 Feb 2015 -- The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a new legislation, according to which Ukrainians evading the draft can be punished with five-year imprisonment.
• India Eyes Cheaper, Reliable Russian Su-30 Jets as Rafale Deal Stalls Sputnik 12 Feb 2015 -- India still has not decided if it will purchase Su-30MKI multirole fighters over France's Rafale fighters, but the Russian jets are reliable and cheaper, Indian Minister for External Affairs in the North Eastern Region Vijay Kumar Singh told Sputnik on Thursday.
• France, Egypt agree on arms deal: Source Iran Press TV 12 Feb 2015 -- France and Egypt have reached an agreement, under which the North African country's military-backed government will receive Dassault Aviation-built Rafale fighter jets, an informed French source says.
• South Korea to Beef Up Its Submarine Force Sputnik 12 Feb 2015 -- The South Korean military is mulling a comprehensive operation plan on submarine capabilities to better deter potential threats by North Korea and other neighboring countries.
• February 12, 2015 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 12 Feb 2015
• Press Gaggle by Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz, 2/12/15 The White House 12 Feb 2015

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 12, 2015

Other Conflicts

• 12 February 2015 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 12 Feb 2015
• At high-level debate, UN officials urge boosted efforts for security sector reform UN News Centre 12 Feb 2015 -- Security sector reform, good governance, the rule of law, and accountable institutions are critical building blocks for a sustainable future, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson declared today as he urged a greater international focus on security sector reform as part of an effort to strengthen the links between peace and security, development, and human rights.
• On International Day, UN demands end to use of child soldiers in conflict UN News Centre 12 Feb 2015 -- From Afghanistan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as the world's conflicts become more brutal, intense and widespread, children are finding themselves increasingly vulnerable to recruitment and deployment by armed groups, the United Nations warned today.
• UN Hails Ukraine Cease-fire; US Warns Against its Violation VOA 12 Feb 2015 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is praising the efforts of key world leaders to end fighting in eastern Ukraine, saying he expects the truce deal reached Thursday in Belarus to be honored by all parties.
• Interpretations of Ukraine Cease-Fire Pact Could Clash VOA 12 Feb 2015 -- The Ukraine cease-fire agreement signed Thursday in Minsk shares many of the features of the cease-fire accord reached in the Belarusian capital last September. That accord ended up being violated more than observed. The new agreement could be undermined by provisions that are all its own.
• Ukraine Cease-Fire Agreement US Dept. of State 12 Feb 2015 -- Press Statement by John Kerry, US Secretary of State
• Background Briefing on Ukraine US Dept. of State 12 Feb 2015 -- Special Briefing by Senior Administration Officials
• Ban commends 'intensive' diplomatic efforts to end Ukraine crisis, urges respect for cease-fire terms UN News Centre 12 Feb 2015 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today commended the perseverance of the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany to bring the conflict in Ukraine to an end, resulting in the signing of a package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk accords of September 2014.
• East Ukraine Cease-fire Deal Reached VOA 12 Feb 2015 -- The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France emerged from marathon talks in Belarus Thursday with a cease-fire deal aimed at ending months of fighting that has killed thousands in eastern Ukraine.
• Analysis: Ukraine Accord May Not End Conflict VOA 12 Feb 2015 -- When the leaders of four major countries convene at a neutral location for high-profile talks aimed at ending a war, results are expected.
• Russia's President Putin calls for Ukrainian troops to lay down arms Iran Press TV 12 Feb 2015 -- Russia's President Vladimir Putin has called on the encircled Ukrainian troops in eastern regions of the country to lay down arms for a newly-signed ceasefire to take effect.
• Russia transferred weaponry to Ukraine during Minsk talks: Kiev Iran Press TV 12 Feb 2015 -- The government in Kiev says Russia has transferred heavy weaponry, including 50 tanks, to Ukraine's east while peace talks were underway in the Belarusian capital, Minsk.
• Ukraine Cease-Fire Deal Signed At Minsk Summit RFE/RL 12 Feb 2015 -- The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France have signed off on a road map for a Ukrainian peace deal after 16 hours of talks in the Belarusian capital, Minsk.
• Minsk Agreements Allow for Ukraine's 'Dismemberment' - US Senator Graham Sputnik 12 Feb 2015 -- The Minsk peace talks between Ukraine, France, Germany, Russia and leaders of Luhansk and Donetsk have resulted in the destruction of the Ukrainian state, US Senator Lindsey Graham told Sputnik on Thursday.
• Donbas Forces Ready to Cease Fire in Debaltseve Area Immediately Sputnik 12 Feb 2015 -- Donetsk militia is ready to cease fire in the contested Debaltseve area immediately and allow surrounded Kiev soldiers to leave the area 'on respectful conditions,' a senior DPR commander said Thursday.
• Heavy Arms Pullout From Ukraine Conflict Zone to Take at Least 3 Days - DPR Sputnik 12 Feb 2015 -- The withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine could take at least three days due to technical formalities, a Donetsk people's republic (DPR) official said Thursday.
• Russia to Continue Efforts Toward Ukrainian Crisis Reconciliation Sputnik 12 Feb 2015 -- Russia will continue its work aimed at settling the Ukrainian crisis, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday.
• Peace by Negotiations, Not by Arming Ukraine – Moscow Sputnik 12 Feb 2015 -- The countries calling for lethal arms deliveries to Ukraine are against a diplomatic solution to the crisis, and are not interested in peace in the country, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov said Thursday.
• Poroshenko After Minsk Talks: Donbas Autonomy, Federalization Not an Option Sputnik 12 Feb 2015 -- Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has flatly rejected the idea of granting a broad autonomy to the eastern Donbas region, and of making Ukraine a federation.
• Donetsk, Luhansk Leaders Sign Minsk Deal on Ukraine - Hollande Sputnik 12 Feb 2015 -- The leaders of the self-proclaimed eastern Ukrainian Donetsk and Luhansk People's republics have signed an agreement on settling the political crisis in the country, French President Francois Hollande said Thursday.
• Heavy Artillery Withdrawal in Donbas Should Be Completed Within Two Weeks Sputnik 12 Feb 2015 -- Heavy artillery withdrawal in Donbas is set to start soon and will be completed within 14 days, the Minsk document reads.
• Ceasefire in Ukraine to Begin Midnight February 15 - Putin Sputnik 12 Feb 2015 -- is the withdrawal of heavy artillery from the today's contact line for Ukrainian army, and from the line marked on September 19 last year in the Minsk agreements for Donbas,,' Putin told journalists in the Belarusian capital of Minsk following the peace talks on Ukraine.
• No Progress Reported as Ukraine Peace Talks Continue VOA 12 Feb 2015 -- The leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany continued meetings early Thursday aimed at ending the Ukraine crisis after engaging in marathon all-night talks in the Belarusian capital.
• No-man's land - the Iraqis trapped between IS and the Kurds IRIN 12 Feb 2015 -- Yahyawah is a muddy, tented settlement to the southeast of the Iraqi city of Kirkuk. Wedged between the borders of semi-autonomous Kurdistan and the front line of the so-called Islamic state (IS), it is in a geopolitical no-man's land.
• Iraq Denies Asking US to Send Ground Troops to Fight Islamic State Sputnik 12 Feb 2015 -- Baghdad never asked the United States to send ground troops to fight the Islamic State (IS) militant group on Iraqi soil, the country's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Jafaari said Thursday.
• UN Chief: Yemen on Brink of Collapse VOA 12 Feb 2015 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday said Yemen is on the brink of collapse as peace talks there are faltering.
• 'Yemen is collapsing before our eyes,' UN chief warns, urging international support to end crisis UN News Centre 12 Feb 2015 -- Amid a dangerous political and humanitarian crisis and a seething secessionist movement, Yemen sits on the brink of collapse, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned the Security Council today, reminding the international community of its "solemn obligation" under the UN Charter to help the country prevent an escalation of the conflict and re-launch its political process.
• Al-Qaeda-linked militants overrun army camp in south Yemen Iran Press TV 12 Feb 2015 -- Al-Qaeda-linked militants have launched an attack against a government army base in Yemen's volatile southern province of Shabwa, taking full control of the site, local government officials say.
• Embassy closures put Yemen aid at risk IRIN 12 Feb 2015 -- Hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Yemen are in further jeopardy following the evacuation of key Western embassies, analysts and aid workers warn, amid fears of a major food crisis in the import-dependent country.
• Explanation of Vote at a Security Council Session on the Sudan Sanctions Panel of Experts Renewal U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations 12 Feb 2015
• Why South Sudan's children are fighting again IRIN 12 Feb 2015 -- Thousands of children are fighting with government and rebel forces in South Sudan, reversing a painstaking demobilization program and fanning calls for war crimes trials as a better way to protect minors from recruitment.
• Regional peace needs stronger rule of intl. law: Japan Iran Press TV 12 Feb 2015 -- Japan has called for "stricter implementation" of international law amid Tokyo's territorial disputes with Beijing over a series of islands in the East China Sea.
• Middle East: UN launches appeal for Palestinians as humanitarian needs surge UN News Centre 12 Feb 2015 -- The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory today launched an appeal to boost funding for more than a million Palestinians who continue to face grim conditions on the ground and an uncertain future.
• Suspected Suicide Bomber Hits Nigerian Market; At Least 7 Killed VOA 12 Feb 2015 -- A suspected suicide bomber attacked a crowded market in Nigeria's troubled northeast Thursday, witnesses and officials said, killing at least seven people and wounding many others.
• UN, partners seek $2 billion to help millions of people across Africa's Sahel region UN News Centre 12 Feb 2015 -- The United Nations and its partners today launched an appeal for nearly $2 billion to provide vital humanitarian assistance to millions of people in nine countries across Africa's Sahel region.

News Reports

• Fact Sheet: UN Security Council Resolution 2199 on ISIL U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations 12 Feb 2015
• Explanation of Vote at a Security Council Session on Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Threats U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations 12 Feb 2015
• UN Security Council moves to halt ISIL's financial support Iran Press TV 12 Feb 2015 -- The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution which bans individuals and entities from engaging in trade with the ISIL Takfiri terrorists.
• Security Council approves resolution targeting sources of financing for ISIL UN News Centre 12 Feb 2015 -- Urging global cooperation "to impair, isolate and incapacitate" terrorist threats, the United Nations Security Council today approved measures targeting sources of funding for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Al-Nusrah Front (ANF), condemning those buying oil from the groups, banning all trade in looted antiquities from Iraq and Syria, and calling on States to end ransom payments.
• EU Leaders Mull Harsher Anti-terror Measures VOA 12 Feb 2015 -- Just over a month after the Paris attacks, European leaders are meeting to discuss a range of counter-terrorism measures - from better information sharing to tougher border controls and scrutiny of the Internet.
• After Chaotic Withdrawal CIA Slashes Operations in Yemen Sputnik 12 Feb 2015 -- With the takeover of Yemen by Shiite rebels, Western nations are stumbling over themselves to evacuate diplomats. The US announced its embassy's closure, and Britain and France are soon to follow. But also racing for the exit is the CIA, potentially leaving Yemen – and the world – vulnerable to al-Qaeda attacks.
• China Expands Corruption Probe of State-Owned Firms VOA 12 Feb 2015 -- China's party-led, graft-busting body said it will soon begin inspections at 26 state-owned companies that are involved in a wide range of lucrative businesses from telecommunications to energy, a move analysts said could lead to the fall of more high-ranking officials.
• Ebola: World Bank will provide seeds to farmers in West Africa to ward off hunger UN News Centre 12 Feb 2015 -- The World Bank Group announced today that it has mobilized some $15 million in emergency financing to provide a record 10,500 tons of maize and rice seed to more than 200,000 farmers in the countries most-affected by the unprecedented Ebola outbreak, in time for the April planting season.
• Red Cross: Attacks on Guinea Aid Workers Increase Ebola Risks VOA 12 Feb 2015 -- The International Red Cross said its Ebola workers in Guinea are being attacked an average of 10 times per month, endangering efforts to stop the spread of the disease.
• IMF reaches $17.5 billion deal with Ukraine: Lagarde Iran Press TV 12 Feb 2015 -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it has reached a four-year preliminary deal to provide Ukraine with an additional rescue package worth $17.5 billion.
• IMF, Ukraine Agree To $17.5 Billion Deal RFE/RL 12 Feb 2015 -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk says a new multibillion-dollar aid package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) requires 'very difficult' reforms to fight corruption, overhaul the energy sector, cut spending, and reduce bureaucracy.
• Europe's experimental mini-space shuttle mission complete Iran Press TV 12 Feb 2015 -- The European Space Agency (ESA) has successfully launched and brought back to Earth an experimental craft in an attempt to master the key phase in orbital flight.