Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Casualty Update 16 Apr 2015 [PDF]
• Coalition Continues Airstrikes Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq AFPS 16 Apr 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.
• Update: air strikes in Iraq UK MOD 16 Apr 2015 -- British forces have continued to conduct air operations to assist the Iraqi government in its fight against ISIL.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Carter Discusses Top National Security Priorities AFPS 16 Apr 2015 -- Defense Secretary Ash Carter today discussed his top priorities and other defense issues at a Pentagon news conference.
• Department of Defense Press Briefing by Secretary Ash Carter and General Martin E. Dempsey in the Pentagon Briefing Room DoD 16 Apr 2015 -- Presenters: Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Martin E. Dempsey
• Statement by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on the 'Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015' DoD 16 Apr 2015 -- As secretary of defense, I never forget that our military strength ultimately rests on the foundation of a vibrant and growing economy.
• SECNAV Announces Department of the Navy Innovation Vision NNS 16 Apr 2015 -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus unveiled the Department of the Navy's (DoN) Innovation Vision during remarks delivered at the annual Sea, Air and Space Exposition April 15.
• Navy's Oldest Ship Receives Hull Cleaning NNS 16 Apr 2015 -- USS Constitution 'Old Ironsides' received a waterborne underwater hull cleaning and comprehensive inspection in Boston Harbor, April 6-7 in preparation for its upcoming May 19 dry-docking.
• AF report to Congress: Pursues retention of C-130Js at Keesler AFNS 16 Apr 2015 -- As part of a required Air Force report to Congress on the C-130 Hercules force structure, the Secretary of the Air Force released a force structure amendment pursuing the retention of 10 Air Force Reserve Command C-130J aircraft at Keesler Air Force Base.
• Sequestration Would Harm Asia-Pacific Progress, Commanders Say AFPS 16 Apr 2015 -- Senior military commanders from the Asia-Pacific region told the Senate Armed Services Committee today how the strategy to rebalance military forces would face security consequences if the budget-cutting sequestration law returns in fiscal year 2016.
• Work: Space Domain Presents Challenges, Threats AFPS 16 Apr 2015 -- In a candid and passionate speech, Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work yesterday asked members of the space community to help the United States maintain its edge in the space domain in the 21st century.
• Secretary General: Iceland plays important role to keep NATO strong NATO 16 Apr 2015 -- Iceland plays a "unique role" in keeping the Alliance's transatlantic link strong, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday (16 April) during a visit to Reykjavik. "Iceland makes important contributions to NATO and international security in many ways," he said.
• NATO missile facilities in E Europe Russian targets: Russian cmdr. Press TV 16 Apr 2015 -- The chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces has warned the European countries planning to host the US-led NATO missile systems that Moscow considers the installations "priority targets," as the systems possess offensive capabilities.
• Statement by NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu on misleading and incorrect Russian statements NATO 16 Apr 2015 -- A number of misleading and incorrect statements about NATO were made by senior Russian officials in Moscow on Thursday 16 April.
• Shoigu: Non-strategic missile shield in Europe capable of providing regional security TASS 16 Apr 2015 -- Formation of a non-strategic European missile shield may be one of the ways to settle the issue concerning controversial US plans on setting up its missile shield in Europe, which Russia strongly opposes, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on Thursday.
• Russia's defense minister says Vienna Document, Treaty on Open Skies don't work TASS 16 Apr 2015 -- The Treaty on Open Skies and the Vienna Document intended to implement confidence and security building measures fail to fulfill their purposes, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said at the 4th Moscow international security conference on Thursday.
• Russian defense minister: NATO drills in Eastern Europe, Arctic aimed against Russia TASS 16 Apr 2015 -- NATO exercises in the Arctic and Eastern Europe are aimed against Russia, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said at the 4th Moscow international security conference on Thursday.
• S-300 issue between Russia and Iran settled - Iranian defense minister TASS 16 Apr 2015 -- The issue of the supply of Russia's S-300 anti-aircraft defense missile systems to Iran has been settled, Iranian Defense Minister General Hossein Dehghan told journalists on Thursday.
• Commander hails Army role in maintaining Iran's authority IRNA 16 Apr 2015 -- Head of Iran's Civil Defense Organization Brigadier General Gholam-Reza Jalali said on Thursday that the Iranian Army is one of the main sources of the country's authority in facing possible threats.
• U.S. Says Military Option In Iran 'Intact' Despite Russian Missiles RFE/RL 16 Apr 2015 -- The top U.S. general says the military option to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains "intact" despite Russia's decision to supply the Islamic Republic with surface-to-air S-300 missiles.
• Putin Links S-300 Deliveries To Iran's 'Flexibility' At Nuclear Talks RFE/RL 16 Apr 2015 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on April 16 that Iran has shown 'great flexibility' in talks with world powers on a potential deal that would limit its nuclear program in exchange for relief from sanctions.
• Russia slams Merkel criticism of S-300 delivery to Iran IRNA 16 Apr 2015 -- An official with Russian Foreign Ministry has lashed out at German Chancellor Angela Merkel's critical statements about revoking bans on sales of S-300 missile system to Iran.
• S-300 missile system serves defense purposes for Iran: Putin Press TV 16 Apr 2015 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has defended Moscow's recent decision to deliver S-300 air defense system to Iran, saying the system is meant for deterrence amid the developments in war-torn Yemen.
• Russia, China to deepen military cooperation - China defense minister TASS 16 Apr 2015 -- Good-neighbourly relations between Russia and China contribute to stability in the region and the whole world, the countries intend to further deepen cooperation between their military departments, Defense Minister of China Chang Wanquan told journalists on Thursday at the 4th Moscow International Conference on Security.
• PLA to buy advanced missiles from Russia People's Daily 16 Apr 2015 -- The deployment of the Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system will substantially improve China's air defense capability, military experts said as Russian media reported that China has bought the cutting-edge weapon.
• India successfully testfires nuclear-capable Agni III ballistic missile People's Daily 16 Apr 2015 -- India Thursday successfully testfired its home-made, nuclear-capable Agni III ballistic missile from a military base off the coast of the eastern state of Odisha, sources said.
• Indonesia's F-16 jet fighter on fire before takeoff People's Daily 16 Apr 2015 -- An F-16 jet fighter of the Indonesian air force, donated by the United States, was on fire at Halim Perdanakusuma airport in Jakarta before taking off on Thursday, military officer said.
• Venezuelan DM vows to strengthen military ties with China People's Daily 16 Apr 2015 -- Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said Wednesday that Caracas intends to strengthen military and technical cooperation with China.
• Press Briefing by the Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 4/16/2015 The White House 16 Apr 2015
• April 16, 2015 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 16 Apr 2015

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 16, 2015

Other Conflicts

• 16 April 2015 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 16 Apr 2015
• Saudi Arabia stuck in Yemen war quagmire: Iran commander Press TV 16 Apr 2015 -- A top Iranian commander says the military aggression by Saudi Arabia against its neighbor Yemen has dragged Riyadh into a quagmire.
• Yemen's al-Qaeda seized airport, oil terminal in south Press TV 16 Apr 2015 -- Al-Qaeda militants have captured some major facilities south of Yemen, including a major airport and an oil terminal, as clashes between government forces and terrorists rage along the southern coast of the Arab country.
• As Yemen crisis deepens, UN food relief agency calls on warring factions to allow supply restock UN News 16 Apr 2015 -- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced today that it will, along with partners, reach some 105,000 displaced people in Yemen's main southern city of Aden over the next few days, while warning that with millions in need amid the deepening crisis, its supplies are now running low.
• Yemen VP Renews Call for Peace Talks VOA 16 Apr 2015 -- Yemeni Vice President Khaled Bahah renewed calls for peace talks Thursday, saying he does not want foreign troops in Yemen. And as Yemenis at home struggle to survive the airstrikes and battles, relatives trapped abroad say they will gladly suffer the consequences if they could find a way to get home.
• Trends in Iraq Moving in Right Direction, Dempsey Says AFPS 16 Apr 2015 -- The Iraqi government has made gains, and trends there are moving in the right direction, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at a Pentagon news conference today.
• Ramadi's Plight Highlights US-Iraqi Strategic Divide VOA 16 Apr 2015 -- U.S. and Iraqi officials appear to be out-of-sync on how best to inflict a lasting defeat on the Islamic State group (IS) as another Iraqi city appears poised to fall into the terror organization's grip.
• Syria: UN agency continues to seek unhindered access to besieged Yarmouk camp UN News 16 Apr 2015 -- While ramping up assistance to Palestinian refugees and Syrian civilians that have fled a besieged camp on the southern edge of Damascus, the United Nations agency tasked with aiding Palestinians throughout the region said today that it is still seeking unhindered access to Yarmouk camp itself where thousands remain trapped by fighting among armed groups.

News Reports

• In Call-In Show, Putin Says Russia Will Not Be U.S. Vassal RFE/RL 16 Apr 2015 -- President Vladimir Putin has said that Western sanctions are aimed at restraining Russia and demanded respect on the world stage, adding that Moscow is not trying to 'resurrect the empire' but will never be a 'vassal' of the United States.
• Putin Paints Rosy Picture of Russian Economy VOA 16 Apr 2015 -- President Vladimir Putin painted a rosy picture of the Russian economy Thursday, but economic experts say that its fortunes still will be weighed down by low world oil prices and the effect of Western sanctions imposed on Moscow because of its intervention in the Ukrainian conflict.
• 'Dramatic' progress in fighting Ebola must be followed by long-term recovery efforts UN News 16 Apr 2015 -- Intense efforts to control the Ebola outbreak in the three most-affected West African countries in will continue, the United Nations health chief said in Washington, DC today, adding that the international community is also looking for ways to build on dramatic recent progress by aiding with efforts aimed at recovery from the outbreak.
• Human rights and counter-terrorism must go hand-in-hand, say UN experts UN News 16 Apr 2015 -- Only through a strict adherence to international human rights standards can the world's counter-terrorism strategies ultimately succeed, two United Nations human rights experts have declared.
• Man Charged with Planning Terrorism Attacks in US VOA 16 Apr 2015 -- An Ohio man faces terrorism charges for allegedly training alongside terrorists in Syria and coming back to the United States with the intent to launch attacks on a U.S. military prison.
• Erdogan Strikes Nationalist Tone Ahead of Armenian Commemorations VOA 16 Apr 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has condemned the European Parliament and Pope Francis for describing the 1915 killings of Armenians at the hands of Turks as a genocide. With the centennial anniversary of the mass killings approaching, there is growing debate within Turkey's small Armenian minority about Erdogan's ruling AK Party.
• AU Gives Thumbs Up to Sudan Vote, Notes Rights Concerns VOA 16 Apr 2015 -- African Union observers have given tacit approval to elections in Sudan, while noting concerns about the suppression of human rights and low voter turnout. President Omar al-Bashir is widely expected to win the vote, which the opposition boycotted.