Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Casualty Update 30 Mar 2015 [PDF]
• Pentagon Denies Iran Report that Coalition Airstrikes Killed 2 Iranians VOA 30 Mar 2015 -- The Pentagon is denying claims by Iran's Revolutionary Guard that U.S. airstrikes killed two of its guardsmen in the Islamic State-held Iraqi city of Tikrit last week.
• Operation Inherent Resolve Airstrikes Hit ISIL Targets in Iraq AFPS 30 Mar 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.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Remarks by Secretary Carter to Troops in Fort Drum, New York DoD 30 Mar 2015 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Ash Carter
• Carter Outlines Future Force's Needs at Fort Drum AFPS 30 Mar 2015 -- During a troop talk at Fort Drum, New York, today, Defense Secretary Ash Carter thanked the soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division and shared his vision for building what he calls "the force of the future."
• DARPA Uses Open Systems, 'Plug and Fly' to Boost Air Power AFPS 30 Mar 2015 -- The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is unveiling a new program to boost U.S. air superiority by separating payloads such as weapons and sensors from the main air platform, and using open-system architectures to seamlessly integrate plug-and-fly modules into any kind of platform.
• Reaper maintainers ensure ISR mission accomplishment AFNS 30 Mar 2015 -- In an era where combat extends from the battlefield to cyberspace, technological advancement can mean the difference between victory and defeat; between lives lost and lives saved.
• Future USS John Finn (DDG 113) Launched NNS 30 Mar 2015 -- The future USS John Finn (DDG 113) was launched at the Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) shipyard March 28.
• Piecing together the bigger picture AFNS 30 Mar 2015 -- Many people balk at the idea of assembling a 1,000 piece puzzle. Imagine performing this task daily, except the puzzle pieces are actually the aircraft tasked with projecting airpower, saving lives and carrying critical supplies throughout the theater.
• Bonhomme Richard Brings the Fight to the Shore for KMEP 15 NNS 30 Mar 2015 -- The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) transported Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to the coast of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in support of the Korean Marine Exchange Program (KMEP) 2015.
• USS Constitution Commencing Final Preparations for Dry Dock Entry NNS 30 Mar 2015 -- After delays brought on by Boston's snowiest winter on record, USS Constitution is scheduled to enter Dry Dock 1 in Charlestown Navy Yard in the early hours of May 19, 2015.
• U.S. Convoy: In Czech Republic, Real-Life Supporters Outnumber Virtual Opponents RFE/RL 30 Mar 2015 -- A week before U.S. military vehicles were scheduled to enter the Czech Republic on the penultimate leg of their 1,100-mile public tour through Eastern and Central Europe, some local media were already issuing ominous warnings of possible anti-American violence.
• Ospreys land on Korean Amphibious Assault Ship USMC News 30 Mar 2015 -- A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft made its first ever landing on the flight deck of a Republic of Korea Navy amphibious assault ship off the coast of the Korean peninsula, March 26, 2015.
• US, South Korea stage massive landing drill Press TV 30 Mar 2015 -- Thousands of US and South Korean soldiers have staged a massive joint amphibious landing drill, involving aircraft, naval vessels and armored vehicles, as part of an annual military exercise.
• Secretary General: NATO and the EU can achieve more if we work more closely together NATO 30 Mar 2015 -- The NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday (30 March 2015) that he is "a strong supporter of closer cooperation between the European Union and NATO" and that more can be achieved "if we work more closely together." He was addressing the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee and Sub-Committee on Security and Defence in Brussels.
• UK launches largest air drills in 30 years Press TV 30 Mar 2015 -- Britain has launched its largest aerial exercises in three decades over "increased Russian presence around UK shores."
• Russia Deploys 96 Military Units in Crimea - Defense Minister Sputnik 30 Mar 2015 -- The Russian military has deployed a self-sufficient contingent on the Crimean Peninsula, consisting of 96 units, and plans to boost its combat capability there, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Monday.
• Almost 100 military units and organizations created in Crimea - defense minister TASS 30 Mar 2015 -- The force grouping in Crimea has been set up not only to defend Russia's interests on the peninsula and in the Black Sea, it is also capable of performing tasks in the off-shore maritime zone, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Monday.
• Russia's Orenburg Strategic Missile Forces unit undergoes comprehensive check TASS 30 Mar 2015 -- The Orenburg branch of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces has begun a comprehensive check-up, the Defense Ministry's spokesman for Strategic Missile Forces, Igor Yegorov, has told TASS.
• Russia Begins Large-Scale Air Defense Drills in Siberia Sputnik 30 Mar 2015 -- Large-scale air defense drills have started in Russia's Eastern Military District, according to the Russian Defense Minister's press service.
• Russian forces to practise use of S-300, S-400 against air, missile strikes TASS 30 Mar 2015 -- Russian army units from seven regions in Russia's east will practice the use of S-300 and S-400 air defense systems for repelling potential enemy's massive missile and air strikes, the chief of the Eastern Military District's press-service, Colonel Alexander Gordeyev, has said.
• Poroshenko Signs Law to Let Foreign Military Take Part in Ukrainian Drills Sputnik 30 Mar 2015 -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed a bill allowing foreign military to take part in exercises this year, the country's parliament said on its website Monday.
• China, Britain to strengthen military ties People's Daily 30 Mar 2015 -- China and Britain pledged to strengthen bilateral military ties, as vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC) Xu Qiliang and visiting British chief of the defence staff Nicolas Houghton met in Beijing on Monday.
• Saudi Arabia, Pakistan in joint drill near Yemen border Press TV 30 Mar 2015 -- Amid continued Saudi aggression against Yemen, Saudi and Pakistani forces attend a joint military drill near the kingdom's border with its impoverished neighbor.
• Iran Deal Could Help Regional Security VOA 30 Mar 2015 -- A State Department spokeswoman says the Arab League decision to create a joint military force that would counter Iranian and Islamic extremist influence in the region is not having a direct impact on Iran nuclear talks.
• US, Ukrainian Inspectors to Fly Over Russia Under Open Skies Treaty Sputnik 30 Mar 2015 -- American and Ukrainian specialists will fly over the territory of Russia and Belarus under the Treaty on Open Skies on March 30 - April 4, Sergei Ryzhkov, head of Russia's National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center has announced.
• Chinese Army Gets Brand New Early Warning and Control Aircraft Sputnik 30 Mar 2015 -- Capable of tracking nearly 100 vehicles at once, the Chinese military has launched its new airborne early warning and control aircraft (AEW&C), taking to the skies with the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).
• China air force completes drill in west Pacific People's Daily 30 Mar 2015 -- The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force completed a military drill for the first time in the airspace above the west Pacific Ocean on Monday, a military spokesperson said.
• Ukraine 'Lost Without Trace' Five Indian Warplanes During Planned Upgrade Sputnik 30 Mar 2015 -- Five of India's 40 AN-32 military transport aircrafts being upgraded in Ukraine have gone missing 'without a trace'; Ukrainian diplomat says the government is unable to help.
• S. Korea picks preferred bidder for 16-bln-USD fighter jet project People's Daily 30 Mar 2015 -- South Korea's arms procurement agency said Monday that it has picked the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) Ltd, the country's sole aircraft maker, as the preferred bidder for the largest indigenous fighter jet development project worth about 16 billion U.S. dollars.
• March 30, 2015 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 30 Mar 2015
• Gaggle en route Boston, MA by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz, 03/30/15 The White House 30 Mar 2015

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 30, 2015

Other Conflicts

• 30 March 2015 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 30 Mar 2015
• Yemen camp bombing - what you need to know IRIN 30 Mar 2015 -- At least 29 people were killed on Monday after a camp for displaced Yemenis was allegedly hit by an air strike. Here is what we do and don't know.
• Airstrike Kills at Least 45 in Yemeni Refugee Camp VOA 30 Mar 2015 -- An airstrike near a refugee camp in Yemen Monday killed at least 45 people and wounded another 65, the latest violence in the war-torn Arabian Peninsula country.
• Saudi air raid on camp for displaced in northwest Yemen kills 45, report says Press TV 30 Mar 2015 -- At least 45 people have been killed and 65 others wounded in an airstrike by Saudi warplanes targeting a camp for displaced people in northwest Yemen, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) says.
• Iran strongly opposed to military meddling in Yemen IRNA 30 Mar 2015 -- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian stressed that national dialogue is the only way out of the current security crisis in Yemen. He said military intervention will only deteriorate the dispute.
• Saudi airstrikes target more areas in Yemen Press TV 30 Mar 2015 -- Saudi Arabia has carried out fresh airstrikes on Yemeni people and government facilities as Ansarullah fighters keep advancing in areas around the southern port city of Aden.
• Houthis Should Lay Down Arms for Dialogue to Commence - GCC Chief Sputnik 30 Mar 2015 -- Houthi militants in Yemen are required to hand in their weapons and abandon their control of government offices for dialogue to commence to stop the conflict in the war-torn country, Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Abdullatif Zayani said Sunday.
• Warship arrives to evacuate Chinese nationals from Yemen People's Daily 30 Mar 2015 -- China has sent a naval fleet to help evacuate Chinese diplomats, medical staff and technicians from conflict-ridden Yemen as the situation continues to get worse, the Ministry of National Defense announced on Monday.
• Iraqi forces making more advances in battle for Tikrit Press TV 30 Mar 2015 -- Iraqi government troops, with the help of volunteer Shia and Sunni forces, are pushing ahead with their operation to retake full control of the northern city of Tikrit from Takfiri ISIL terrorists, Press TV reports.
• Iran Says U.S. Drone Killed Two Advisers In Iraq RFE/RL 30 Mar 2015 -- Tehran says a U.S. drone strike killed two Iranian advisers in Iraq last week, but the United States says it has only struck Islamic State (IS) militants in its campaign.
• In Iraq, UN chief pledges support as Government tackles ongoing threat from ISIL UN News 30 Mar 2015 -- Despite recent military gains against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), "vast challenges" remain ahead as the Government of Iraq fights to consolidate its territorial integrity against the terrorist threat, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today during an unannounced visit to Baghdad.
• WHO appeals for US$ 124 million to continue its support to Syria IRNA 30 Mar 2015 -- Millions of Syrians endure deteriorating health crisis, the World Health Organization said on Monday, calling for US$ 124 million to continue its support to health services in the Syrian Arab Republic.
• Number of ISIL Militants Rising Amid Coalition Airstrikes, Assad Says Sputnik 30 Mar 2015 -- The airstrikes conducted by the US-led international coalition against Islamic State (ISIL) extremists in Iraq and Syria are ineffective, as the militant group has been recruiting more members since the start of anti-ISIL coalition efforts, Syrian President Bashar Assad told CBS.
• On eve of pledging conference, senior UN officials urge donors to stand by Syrian people UN News 30 Mar 2015 -- The crisis in Syria is getting much worse, characterized by shocking "levels of savagery," the top United Nations relief official has warned, urging countries to pledge as generously as possible ahead of the Third International Humanitarian Pledging Conference kicking off tomorrow in Kuwait City.
• Myanmar peace negotiators resume talks after week-long recess People's Daily 30 Mar 2015 -- The peace negotiators of Myanmar government and ethnic armed groups are striving for the finalization of the draft nationwide ceasefire agreement being discussed during the resumed peace talks here on Monday.
• Heavy fighting between Myanmar gov't forces, ethnic army occurs near border with Bangladesh People's Daily 30 Mar 2015 -- Heavy fighting between Myanmar government forces and Arakan ethnic army has occurred near Myanmar Rakhine-Bangladesh border, the ruling party's Union Daily reported Monday.
• Boko Haram 'weakened' but still committing 'horrendous' acts, says UN regional envoy UN News 30 Mar 2015 -- As the Security Council met this morning to discuss threats to international peace and security caused by terrorism, top United Nations officials briefed the 15-member body on the impact of Boko Haram in Nigeria and beyond, warning of the group's intensified violence and brutality.
• UN: 7,300 Civilians Killed in Boko Haram Insurgency VOA 30 Mar 2015 -- A senior U.N. humanitarian official says more than 7,300 civilians have been killed by Boko Haram militants since the beginning of 2014 in three Nigerian states under siege by the group. Deputy Humanitarian Chief Kyung-Wha Kang told the U.N. Security Council 1,000 people have been killed this year.
• Iran rejects Arab League claims on Persian Gulf islands Press TV 30 Mar 2015 -- Iran has categorically rejected "interfering" allegations made by the Arab League with regards to the three Iranian islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb.

News Reports

• Iran Nuclear Talks at Critical Stage VOA 30 Mar 2015 -- Negotiations on Iran's nuclear program in Switzerland entered a critical stage Monday as top diplomats from six world powers and Tehran tried to reach agreement on key details of a possible accord.
• Iran Nuclear Negotiations Intensify Ahead Of Deadline RFE/RL 30 Mar 2015 -- Negotiations are intensifying in Switzerland as a deadline to reach a preliminary deal on Tehran's nuclear program looms, with differences still remaining.
• Iran to Announce Number of Nuclear Centrifuges After March Sputnik 30 Mar 2015 -- The exact number of centrifuges for Tehran's peaceful nuclear program will be specified after the March deadline, a source in the Iranian delegation told Sputnik on Monday.
• P5+1 Foreign Ministers Meeting Intense, Optimism Exists to Reach Results Sputnik 30 Mar 2015 -- The session of foreign ministers from the P5+1 Group and Tehran was intensive, but optimism hangs in the air on reaching results on Iran's peaceful nuclear energy aspirations, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.
• Araqchi: No deal yet but many issues resolved IRNA 30 Mar 2015 -- No deal on the Iranian nuclear program has been struck yet but many issues have been resolved, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Sunday.
• Saudi Arabia Criticizes Putin Over Letter To Arab Summit RFE/RL 30 Mar 2015 -- Saudi Arabia has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of hypocrisy over Russia's role in the Syrian civil war.
• Turkish President Warns Iran About Trying to Dominate Middle East VOA 30 Mar 2015 -- Turkey's president warned it will not tolerate Iran dominating the Middle East, amid growing concerns inside the country that it will be sucked into a sectarian conflict with its neighbor. Observers warn that Turkey's newly-assertive policy has risks, given that relations with most of its neighbors are strained.
• Early Nigeria Results Show Buhari Leading; Tampering Concerns Mount VOA 30 Mar 2015 -- Early results in Nigeria's closely contested election showed former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari leading incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, election officials said late Monday.
• Concerns Mount of Possible Tampering as Nigeria Tallies Votes VOA 30 Mar 2015 -- Nigerian election officials sifted through millions of votes from this weekend's national elections Monday, as questions emerged about the tallying process and tensions rose in some states about possible vote-rigging.
• Uzbek President Karimov Reelected,OSCE Criticizes Vote RFE/RL 30 Mar 2015 -- Uzbekistan's Central Election Commission (CEC) says incumbent President Islam Karimov has easily won reelection in a vote criticized by international observers and denounced by opponents abroad.
• NSA considered ending phone spying program: Report Press TV 30 Mar 2015 The US National Security Agency (NSA) spying program incurred considerable costs in terms of money and civil liberties, current and former intelligence officials say.
• NSA Considered Ending Phone Records Program Before Snowden Leak Sputnik 30 Mar 2015 -- Months before Edward Snowden leaked the National Security Agency's secret program of collecting and storing Americans' phone records, some NSA officials were proposing an end to the practice arguing that the costs outweighed its counter-terrorism benefits, the Associated Press reports.
• Countries rushing to join AIIB People's Daily 30 Mar 2015 -- Countries are rushing to join the new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as the application deadline draws near, but the United States remains conspicuously absent.
• China Focus: Anti-graft 'Sky Net' frightens fugitive officials People's Daily 30 Mar 2015 -- The new anti-graft 'Sky Net' campaign helped return two suspects back to China on Saturday.
• Sierra Leone's missing Ebola millions IRIN 30 Mar 2015 -- More than half of US$18 million of treasury and public donation funds supposedly spent on fighting Ebola in Sierra Leone, where the disease has claimed 3,764 lives, lacks complete paperwork and almost a third is officially "unaccounted for" according to an audit report.
• Sierra Leone's 3-Day Ebola Lockdown is Over VOA 30 Mar 2015 -- Sierra Leone's three-day lock down has come to a close. People were told to stay at home across the country while volunteers went door to door educating people on Ebola prevention and encouraging sick people to seek treatment.