Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Casualty Update 06 May 2015 [PDF]
• Navy Ends Accompaniment of U.S., British Vessels AFPS 06 May 2015 -- With no further incidents following actions by Iran that led to Navy ships accompanying U.S.- and British-flagged commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz since May 1, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command ceased the mission, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren told reporters here today.
• Airstrikes Hit ISIL Terrorists in Iraq AFPS 06 May 2015 -- U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• Update: air strikes in Iraq UK MOD 06 May 2015 -- British forces have continued to conduct air operations to assist the Iraqi government in its fight against ISIL.
• Joint Task Force Activates for Nepal Earthquake Relief AFPS 06 May 2015 -- Joint Task Force 505 has been activated to support the government of Nepal by conducting humanitarian disaster relief operations to limit further loss of life and suffering in response to the devastating earthquake that struck central Nepal on April 25.
• US Inspector: Weak Data Hurting Afghan Reconstruction VOA 06 May 2015 -- A U.S. government oversight official has again expressed concern about the absence of accurate information about how many personnel are serving in Afghanistan's army and police, warning it makes it difficult for Afghan military leaders and their American advisers to clearly determine the strength and capabilities of national security forces.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Carter Urges Senators to Support Stable Defense Budget AFPS 06 May 2015 -- Slashed budgets and high worldwide demand for U.S. military forces have created an unbalanced defense program that is taking on increasingly greater risks, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told a Senate panel this morning.
• U.S. Marine Super Hercules supports U.S., Chilean Air Commandos during exercise airfield seizure USMC News 06 May 2015 -- Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing transported a combined team of 20 U.S. personnel from the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron and Chilean Air Commandos, along with two 50cc mini bikes aboard a KC-130J Super Hercules April 28, during Emerald Warrior 2015.
• US Air Force sends warplanes to Estonia amid tensions with Russia Press TV 06 May 2015 -- The United States has deployed four more warplanes to Estonia amid increasing tensions with Russia over the crisis in Ukraine.
• US Military Equipment Arrives in Georgia for Joint 'Noble Partner' Drills Sputnik 06 May 2015 -- The Georgian Defense Ministry has announced that heavy US military equipment intended for joint US-Georgian 'Exercise Noble Partner' has arrived in the port of Batumi.
• Russia amending national security strategy Press TV 06 May 2015 -- Russia is revising its national security strategy in a bid to better counter new threats and challenges in the region and across the world, a top Russian official says.
• Russia's Airborne Troops to Receive Tanks Sputnik 06 May 2015 -- According to Airborne Troop Commander Col.-Gen. Vladimir Shamanov, Russia's Airborne Troops will soon be reinforced with tank units.
• Russian Navy to receive Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate by yearend TASS 06 May 2015 -- The Project 22350 Admiral Gorshkov-class lead frigate will undergo new trials in the Gulf of Finland in mid-May and enter service in the Russian Navy by the yearend, United Shipbuilding Corporation President Alexey Rakhmanov said on Wednesday.
• That Sinking Feeling: What Can France Do With Its Two Surplus Mistrals? Sputnik 06 May 2015 -- As France remains deadlocked in one of the most complicated military puzzles in its modern history, the shelved deliveries of its Mistral-class warships to Russia, French Le Figaro comes up with a list of options in case the country chooses not to deliver the helicopter carriers.
• Japan Planning Military Deployment to its Southernmost Islands Sputnik 06 May 2015 -- Media reports from Japan suggest up to 600 military personnel are to be stationed on its southwestern islands in the East China Sea.
• May 6, 2015 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 06 May 2015
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 5/6/2015 The White House 06 May 2015

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for May 06, 2015
• Raytheon's SM-6 moves from low-rate to full-rate production Raytheon 06 May 2015 -- Raytheon Company's Standard Missile-6 program has moved from low-rate to full-rate production, clearing the path for significantly increased production numbers and focus on further cost-reduction opportunities.
• One in Five Helicopters Sold in Latin America From Russia - Rostec Exec Sputnik 06 May 2015 -- According to Rostec, the Latin American market for Russian helicopters is quite large and the region has great potential for trade with Russia, especially in the manufacturing sector.
• Turkey shows interest in Russian air defense systems - Russia's arms exporter TASS 06 May 2015 -- Turkey is showing interest in Russian air defense systems, Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport Deputy Head Sergey Goreslavsky said at the IDEF-2015 arms exhibition on Wednesday.

Other Conflicts

• 6 May 2015 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 06 May 2015
• World's forcibly displaced hit record 38 million, prompting UN appeal for 'all-out effort' for peace UN News 06 May 2015 -- By the end of 2014, a record-breaking 38 million people had been forced to flee their homes within their own country because of conflict or violence, prompting the United Nations refugee agency to appeal today for "an all-out effort to bring about peace in war-ravaged countries."
• Kerry in Saudi Arabia to Discuss Yemen Crisis VOA 06 May 2015 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday in Saudi Arabia that he would talk with Riyadh's leaders about a proposed humanitarian pause in the fighting by the Saudi-led coalition against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
• Yemen: UN envoy sets out on 'intensive consultation' aimed at getting political process back on track UN News 06 May 2015 -- The United Nations Special Envoy on Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, is conducting intensive consultations aimed at getting the political process back on track for the country, where conflict erupted in late March.
• Saudi officer killed as Yemen's tribal fighters launch rockets into Najran Press TV 06 May 2015 -- A Saudi officer has been killed in a rocket attack by Yemeni tribal fighters on Saudi Arabia's border city of Najran as Riyadh goes on with its relentless aggression against the impoverished country.
• Saudi Arabia bombs Yemeni military airport in Lahij Press TV 06 May 2015 -- Saudi Arabia's fighter jets have bombarded a military airport in the Yemeni province of Lahij in the country's south.
• Iraq aid cuts due to funding shortages IRIN 06 May 2015 -- Humanitarian crises around the world are struggling for money, but Iraq – where some 2.7 million people have been internally displaced in the last 17 months – is at the bottom of the pile, having received just eight percent of its 2015 funding needs.
• Assad assures Syria's war on terror not lost Press TV 06 May 2015 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says a series of setbacks against the terrorists does not mean the Arab country has lost its war on terror, calling for more confidence in the government in its military campaign.
• IS Group Losses Resulting in Self-Styled Caliphates VOA 06 May 2015 -- Fighting on several fronts against multiple foes, the Islamic State militant group is showing signs of strain and, as a result, tribesmen and locals in towns it controls are enlisting locals to fight in self-styled caliphates, according to activists and local residents in northern Syrian towns.
• France delivered weapons to Syria militants: Hollande Press TV 06 May 2015 -- French President Francois Hollande has confessed that the country delivered various kinds of weapons, including lethal ones, to foreign-backed militants fighting in Syria, a new book reveals.
• US Facing Dilemmas in Supporting Fragmented Syrian Opposition VOA 06 May 2015 -- From the outside, the Syrian opposition group Harakat Hazm seemed like the perfect candidate for the CIA's covert program to train and arm moderate rebels.
• Fresh clashes leave 5 soldiers dead in east Ukraine Press TV 06 May 2015 -- Five Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and 12 injured over the last 24 hours in renewed clashes between government troops and pro-Russia forces in Ukraine's restive eastern area.
• Ukraine's Ultra-Nationalist Azov Battalion Sets Sights on Donbass, Crimea Sputnik 06 May 2015 -- The military commander of Ukraine's Neo-Nazi Azov Battalion has promised his fighters will not lay down arms until its flags are raised over the regions of Donbass and Crimea; the unit has marked the first anniversary of its formation.
• UN deplores deadly attack on 'blue helmets' in DR Congo UN News 06 May 2015 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned the killing of two United Nations peacekeepers and the wounding of thirteen others in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following an ambush in the North Kivu region, a spokesperson for the Organization has confirmed.
• UN Refugee Chief: Voluntary Return of Somali Refugees a Global Priority VOA 06 May 2015 -- The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres is in Kenya this week to discuss security and voluntary repatriation from the world's largest refugee camp, Dadaab, which the Kenyan government has threatened to close.

News Reports

• Supreme Leader: Iranians not to tolerate talks under threats IRNA 06 May 2015 -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the Iranian nation will not stand going into negotiations while being threatened.
• Iran will never give up enrichment at any price: Afkham IRNA 06 May 2015 -- Iran will never give up enrichment in its soil at any price, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Marzieh Afkham said on Wednesday.
• Araqchi: Iran not to accept inspections beyond Additional Protocol IRNA 06 May 2015 -- Senior member of the Iranian nuclear negotiations team Abbas Araqchi said Iran has never accepted any inspections beyond the Additional Protocol and is not going to do so in the future, either.
• Iran nuclear talks to continue till gaps removed: Official ISNA 06 May 2015 -- A senior Iranian negotiator said Iran and the G5+1 countries will continue negotiations until the "brackets" in the first draft of a deal on Tehran's nuclear program are removed.
• Russia's Turn to the East More Economic Than Ideological VOA 06 May 2015 -- Western leaders are boycotting a massive military victory parade in Moscow this week that commemorates the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II because of Russia's actions in Ukraine. But many Asian leaders, including China's President Xi Jinping, will be attending – underscoring how Russia is looking East as tensions with the West increase.
• US Intel Officials Cautious About New IS Threat VOA 06 May 2015 -- A bold, new threat by an alleged American member of the Islamic State terror group has U.S. intelligence officials taking notice, although so far there seems to be little to back it up.
• Officials Look for Links Between IS, Texas Attack Gunmen VOA 06 May 2015 -- U.S. authorities are trying to determine if there are any connections between the Islamic State group and two gunmen who attacked a contest in Texas where cartoonists drew pictures of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.
• France 'Trusts' Berlin to Investigate Spying Allegations Sputnik 06 May 2015 -- According to French government spokesman Stephane Le Foll, Germany can be trusted to carry out a parliamentary inquiry into the alleged spying on top French officials by its intelligence agencies at the behest of US National Security Agency (NSA).
• Merkel Keeps Schtum Over US Spy Documents Sputnik 06 May 2015 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel has refused to hand over documents showing the extent of her government's connivance with the US National Security Agency (NSA) in its European spying operations.
• New Snowden Files: How the NSA Turns Conversations into Searchable Text Sputnik 06 May 2015 -- The National Security Agency has developed and employed voice recognition technology to create transcripts of phone calls so they can be more easily searched and stored. Privacy advocates are demanding more information as to who might be the technology's intended targets.
• Seoul to Help N. Korean Defectors Save Money VOA 06 May 2015 -- South Korea on Wednesday announced a new plan to help newly arrived North Korean defectors resettle in the South with financial assistance.
• Nepal: UN labour agency set to ramp up operations in quake-hit country UN News 06 May 2015 -- The devastating earthquake that hit Nepal two weeks ago is expected to impact one third of the country's labour force, the Kathmandu office of the United Nations agency mandated to promote jobs and workplace rights worldwide warned today.
• Liberia Days Away From Being Ebola-Free, Official Says VOA 06 May 2015 -- Liberia's minister of commerce and industry says Liberia has had no new cases of Ebola for a while and is near the point at which it can be declared Ebola-free.
• Thailand Political Parties Criticize Proposed Constitution VOA 06 May 2015 -- The new constitution drafted by Thailand's military-backed government is aimed at returning the country to democratic rule, but the draft version is already under criticism by a wide range of political parties.
• Burundian Spokesman: US 'Not Well-Informed' About Crisis VOA 06 May 2015 -- A senior advisor to Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza said the government believes the United States is not well-informed about what is happening in Burundi. Willy Nyamitwe, senior presidential advisor on media and communications, accused the U.S. of meddling in Burundi's internal affairs. Burundi has been rocked by violent protests since the ruling CNDD-FDD party nominated Nkurunziza to stand for a third term in the coming June 26 presidential election. The country's Constitutional Court ruled Tuesday that Nkurunziza could run for a third term.
• Mozambique Opposition Leader Issues Ultimatum VOA 06 May 2015 -- Mozambique's ruling FRELIMO party reneged on a gentleman's agreement between President Filipe Nyusi and main opposition leader Afonso Dhlakama to help resolve the dispute surrounding last year's election, according to Eduardo Namburete, head of external relations for the opposition RENAMO.