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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Casualty Update 22 Apr 2015 [PDF]
• Inherent Resolve Airstrikes Continue in Syria, Iraq AFPS 22 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 22 Apr 2015 -- British forces have continued to conduct air operations to assist the Iraqi government in its fight against ISIL.
• Taliban declares spring offensive in Afghanistan Press TV 22 Apr 2015 -- The Taliban militants have announced the start of their annual spring offensive against Afghan security forces and the US-led foreign troops across the war-torn country.
• Afghan Taliban Announces Spring Offensive RFE/RL 22 Apr 2015 -- The Afghan Taliban has announced that the militant group will launch its annual spring offensive on April 24.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Marines assist Kosovo Security Force toward NATO interoperability USMC News 22 Apr 2015 -- U.S. Marines with Black Sea Rotational Force continued the legacy of U.S. support to the Kosovo Security Force through three military-to-military engagements April 14-24, 2015.
• X-47B First to Complete Autonomous Aerial Refueling NNS 22 Apr 2015 -- The X-47B successfully conducted the first ever Autonomous Aerial Refueling (AAR) of an unmanned aircraft April 22, completing the final test objective under the Navy's Unmanned Combat Air System demonstration program.
• Essex Amphibious Ready Group Completes Certification Exercise (CERTEX) NNS 22 Apr 2015 -- The Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) successfully completed a two-week Certification Exercise (CERTEX) April 21 off the coast of Southern California.
• USS McFAUL Deploys NNS 22 Apr 2015 -- The guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) departed Naval Station Norfolk April 22, for an independent deployment in support of ballistic missile defense, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 4th, 5th, and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.
• Carl Vinson Hosts India, Sri Lanka Distinguished Visitors NNS 22 Apr 2015 -- Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 hosted distinguished visitors from India and Sri Lanka on April 17 and 19 respectively.
• United States in contravention of NPT: Russia Press TV 22 Apr 2015 -- Russia has accused the United States of violating the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) by deploying tactical weapons in European countries.
• Washington 'Puzzled' That US Nuclear Weapons in NATO States Break Treaty Sputnik 22 Apr 2015 -- The United States is surprised by Russian claims that Washington is in violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) by placing its tactical nuclear weapons in NATO member states, Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller stated at a press talk on Wednesday.
• NATO Two-Day Drills in Baltic States Come to End Sputnik 22 Apr 2015 -- NATO's two-day Baltic Region Training Event (BRTE), with the participation of 10 alliance members, has ended, the General Staff of the Estonian Defense Forces said Wednesday.
• NATO and the Republic of Djibouti consolidate their cooperation NATO 22 Apr 2015 -- NATO and the Republic of Djibouti have enhanced their cooperation, by concluding on 22 April 2015 an agreement to establish a NATO liaison office in Djibouti in support of the Alliance's counter piracy operation, Ocean Shield, in the Gulf of Aden. NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Operations, Ambassador Francesca Tardioli, and the Republic of Djibouti's Minister of Foreign Affairs, H. E Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, signed the agreement.
• Moscow waits for NATO request on military activities control TASS 22 Apr 2015 -- Russia still has not received an official request from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) concerning a resumption of control over military activities, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday.
• Mistral Money Can Be Refunded if Contract Cancelled - Hollande Sputnik 22 Apr 2015 -- Returning Russian payment for the construction of two Mistral-class warships will be possible if the contract is terminated, French President Francois Hollande said Wednesday.
• Russia Abandons Plans to Build Super-Heavy Carrier Rocket From Scratch Sputnik 22 Apr 2015 -- Russia will not develop a super-heavy space launch vehicle in the near future, but will modify a heavy Angara-A5 rocket to lift super-heavy loads, Federal Space Agency Roscosmos said Wednesday.
• Russia Cuts Budget for New Space Program by $15Bln Due to Crisis Sputnik 22 Apr 2015 -- Russia's draft Federal Space Program for 2016-2025 envisions budget cuts by more than 800 billion rubles ($15 bln) to 2 trillion rubles ($37 bln), Federal Space Agency Roscosmos said Wednesday.
• Russia's missile warning system financed in full despite economic woes - defense firm TASS 22 Apr 2015 -- Negative trends in the Russian economy have not affected the financing of Russia's missile early warning system, defense technology firm RTI Deputy Chief Designer Dmitry Stupin said on Wednesday.
• Russia will not deploy nuclear forces outside its territory - Lavrov TASS 22 Apr 2015 -- Russia does not believe that for maintaining its security it may have to deploy nuclear weapons outside its national territory, but at the same time it is interested in ensuring its conventional forces should be capable of coping with missions around the globe, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a live interview to three radio stations on Wednesday.
• China's defense chief meets military commanders of Chile, Mongolia People's Daily 22 Apr 2015 -- Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan on Tuesday met with Commander of Chilean Air Force Jorge Robles and Commander of General Purpose Troops of Mongolia Radnaabazar Sukhbat.
• Moscow says S-300 supplies to Iran will force those willing to attack it to 'think twice' TASS 22 Apr 2015 -- The supplies of Russian S-300 missile systems to Iran are not breaking the balance of powers in the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday.
• Poland Buys Patriot Missiles as NATO Ramps Up Military Capacity Sputnik 22 Apr 2015 -- Poland has announced it is to buy Raytheon's Patriot missiles from the United States and has provisionally selected French Airbus Group helicopters as it speeds up the modernization of its military amid tensions with Russia.
• Lebanese Army Receives 98 Military Vehicles From Saudi Arabia Sputnik 22 Apr 2015 -- Saudi Arabia has supplied Lebanese armed forces with 98 vehicles as part of military aid to the country, a Lebanese Defense Ministry source said Wednesday.
• France Sends Battle Tanks to Poland Sputnik 22 Apr 2015 -- As NATO continues to beef up its presence in Eastern Europe, France has deployed a squad of Leclerc battle tanks into Poland for training exercises. It's the latest example of the West accusing Russia of military aggression while it, in fact, takes steps toward establishing a stronger NATO.
• April 22, 2015 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 22 Apr 2015
• Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz en route Miami, FL | 4/22/2015 The White House 22 Apr 2015

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 22, 2015
• Russia to Export Its Ptero-Class Unmanned Aircraft Systems Sputnik 22 Apr 2015 -- Russia is set to supply its Ptero-G0 unmanned aircraft systems not only to the Russian law enforcement agencies, but to its foreign partners, AFM-Servers, the developer and producer of the systems said on Wednesday.

Other Conflicts

• 22 April 2015 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 22 Apr 2015
• UN health agency reports deaths top 1,000 in Yemen, hospitals risk shutdowns amid hostilities UN News 22 Apr 2015 -- As the United Nations humanitarian wing appealed for "any initiative that can reduce the violence" in Yemen, the World Health Organization (WHO) office in the country reported that the death toll from the fighting topped 1,000 over the past month and warned that main hospitals face shutting down because of critical shortages of power, lack of fuel and oxygen.
• White House: 'Job Is Not Done' in Yemen VOA 22 Apr 2015 -- Yemeni security officials say the Saudi-led coalition has launched fresh airstrikes on Shi'ite rebels in two cities, a day after the kingdom declared an end to its monthlong air campaign targeting the Iran-backed rebels and their allies.
• Saudi-Led Coalition Promises Yemen 'Hope' Instead of 'Storm' Sputnik 22 Apr 2015 -- In early 2015, the Shiite Houthi rebel group made advances, seizing Yemen's capital, Sanaa, and several other major cities. The Houthis forced the country's President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and the Yemeni government to resign. Hadi later escaped from house arrest, withdrew his resignation and fled the country.
• Saudi-Led Coalition Conducts Five Airstrikes on Houthi Positions in Yemen Sputnik 22 Apr 2015 -- A Saudi Arabian-led coalition has conducted five airstrikes on the positions of Houthi militants in southern Yemeni governorate of Lahij, a local source told Sputnik on Wednesday.
• Houthi Rebels Take Over Military Base in Yemen's Taiz Sputnik 22 Apr 2015 -- Houthi militants and their allies have taken over a military base in the southern Yemeni city of Taiz, a Lebanese TV channel reported Wednesday.
• Yemen limbo: Less bombing doesn't mean more aid IRIN 22 Apr 2015 -- Bombs may not be falling on the Yemeni capital Sana'a, but aid isn't exactly pouring in either. After almost a month of airstrikes, millions of Yemeni civilians are anxiously watching and waiting, wondering what this new stage in the conflict means for them.
• Iran supports dialogue in Yemen: Spokeswomen IRNA 22 Apr 2015 -- Iran supports dialogue among various political groups in Yemen, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Marziyeh Afkham said on Wednesday.
• End of Yemen aggression means failure of military action: Speaker IRNA 22 Apr 2015 -- Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said the 27-day aggression on Yemen and its ending by the Saudi Arabia sent the message to the world that the childish military action was a failure.
• Red Cross warns of 'catastrophic' situation in Yemen Press TV 22 Apr 2015 -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned of the disastrous humanitarian situation in Yemen after Saudi Arabia resumed its airstrikes against the impoverished country following a brief halt to its deadly four-week military campaign.
• Yemen Faces Humanitarian Catastrophe VOA 22 Apr 2015 -- The International Committee of the Red Cross says the humanitarian situation in Yemen is nothing short of catastrophic. The Red Cross reports since Saudi Arabia launched its air campaign on March 26, violence has escalated and conditions for millions of civilians in Yemen have dramatically deteriorated.
• 42 killed in infighting among Syrian militants Press TV 22 Apr 2015 -- A new wave of infighting among terrorists in Syria has left dozens dead as a deadly rivalry continues within the ranks of militants fighting against President Bashar al-Assad.
• Libya: UN official condemns terrorist attack on Spanish embassy UN News 22 Apr 2015 -- The head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Bernardino León has strongly condemned the latest terrorist attack in the Libyan capital of Tripoli in which the Spanish Embassy was targeted.
• Over 20 militants killed in Pakistani army air raids Press TV 22 Apr 2015 -- Pakistani fighter jets have pounded militant positions in the country's rugged northwestern tribal region close to the border with Afghanistan, killing more than 20 militants.
• Pakistani Taliban Claims Successful Test-Fire of Omar-1 Missile - Reports Sputnik 22 Apr 2015 -- The Pakistani militant organization Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also referred to as the Pakistani Taliban, has claimed to have test-fired its first independently developed missile called 'Omar-1,' The Times of India reports.
• Rival pro-government troops clash in South Sudan's Malakal Press TV 22 Apr 2015 -- Rival pro-government troops in South Sudan have clashed in the war-ravaged country's northeastern city of Malakal.
• UN food relief agency 'extremely worried' about missing staff in volatile South Sudan UN News 22 Apr 2015 -- The World Food Programme today drew attention to the disappearance of three of its staff members who went missing earlier this month when fighting reportedly erupted along their food distribution route in volatile Malakal South Sudan, where more than 2 million people are unsure of where their next meal is coming from.
• Resettlement an Option for Displaced People in DRC VOA 22 Apr 2015 -- Aid agencies say more than 60,000 people have fled their homes amid renewed fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) province of North Kivu in the past month. But the number of displaced people in the province is falling, and the government plans to close down several of their resettlement camps around the provincial capital Goma.

News Reports

• France Arrests Man Suspected of Planning Church Attacks VOA 22 Apr 2015 -- French officials said they have arrested an Islamic extremist who was heavily armed and suspected of planning attacks on one or more churches.
• US Lawmakers Urge Tough Stance as Iran Nuclear Talks Resume VOA 22 Apr 2015 -- House lawmakers on Wednesday called for U.S. negotiators to be tough with Iran, as talks resumed to finalize the details of a landmark framework deal aimed at curbing the scope of Tehran's nuclear programs.
• Russian Rocket Or Missile Crashes After Launch RFE/RL 22 Apr 2015 -- Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry says an experimental rocket or missile crashed shortly after being launched on April 22 in the northwestern region of Arkhangelsk.
• Russia to Increase Orbital Grouping to 181 Satellites - Roscosmos Sputnik 22 Apr 2015 -- Russia's orbital grouping will be expanded to 181 satellites as a result of the implementation of the new Federal Space Program for 2016-2025, the head of the Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, said on Wednesday.
• EU Charges Gazprom With Abusing Market Position RFE/RL 22 Apr 2015 -- European Union antitrust regulators have charged state-owned Russian gas giant Gazprom with abusing its dominant position in eight Central and Eastern European countries following more than two years of investigation.
• Explainer: The EU's Antitrust Case Against Russia's Gazprom RFE/RL 22 Apr 2015 -- The European Union targeted Russia's state-owned energy giant Gazprom with antitrust charges on April 22, a move likely to exacerbate tensions between Moscow and the West.
• Iran Seeks China's Help to Build New Nuclear Plants VOA 22 Apr 2015 -- The framework nuclear deal between Iran and global powers has opened up new investment possibilities in an economy that has been stunted by international sanctions. Last week, a top Iranian atomic energy official said in addition to Russia, China will also help it build additional nuclear power plants.
• Lavrov Says Ukraine's Neutrality Important, Lambasts U.S. RFE/RL 22 Apr 2015 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Ukraine's unity and neutrality are in Russia's best interest.
• China's Xi, Japan's Abe Hold Rare Meeting VOA 22 Apr 2015 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held talks Wednesday at a regional summit in Indonesia, in what was only the second time the two leaders have met since taking power.
• Political Tensions in Guinea Heating Up VOA 22 Apr 2015 -- Political tensions are heating up in Guinea again – this time over the government's decision to postpone local elections until 2016. The opposition says it will keep protesting despite renewed calls for dialogue. Guineans say they are tired of all the discord.