Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Casualty Update 11 May 2015 [PDF]
• Military Airstrikes Hit ISIL in Syria, Iraq AFPS 11 May 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.
• Joint US forces support Nepal earthquake relief efforts in Thailand AFNS 11 May 2015 -- In support of Operation Sahayogi Haat, Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines are ensuring humanitarian assistance and disaster relief supplies and personnel are moving smoothly in and out of Nepal at an intermediate staging base (ISB) at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, Thailand.
• Pakistan's Sharif to Visit Afghanistan as Taliban Ramp Up Attacks VOA 11 May 2015 -- Pakistan's prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, together with his military chief and other top government officials, will travel to Kabul on Tuesday for talks with Afghan leaders.
• UN in Afghanistan condemns Taliban's deadly attack on judges and prosecutors UN News 11 May 2015 -- The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has strongly condemned yesterday's suicide attack against a civilian bus transporting employees of the Attorney General's Office in Kabul, which killed five prosecutors, including three women prosecutors and injured 19 other civilians.

Defense Policy / Programs

• CV-22 Osprey Squadron to be Stationed in Japan DoD 11 May 2015 -- The U.S. Department of Defense announced today plans to station a special operations squadron of CV-22 Osprey aircraft at Yokota Air Base, Japan.
• ANG European theater security package arrives in Bulgaria AFNS 11 May 2015 -- The U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa commander spoke to U.S. and Bulgarian Airmen and local community leaders about the Air Force's first European theater security package (TSP) of F-15C Eagles deployed to Graf Ignatievo Air Base, near Plovdiv, Bulgaria, May 11.
• 'Hurricane Hunters' fly Ana in early support of 2015 season AFNS 11 May 2015 -- Aircrews from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron 'Hurricane Hunters' flew their WC-130J Hercules off the southeast coast of the U.S. in support of the first storm mission of the 2015 hurricane season, Tropical Storm Ana.
• Marines Slated for Assistance Mission in Honduras AFPS 11 May 2015 -- U.S. Marines are scheduled to deploy to Honduras to assist authorities there in potential hurricane disaster response efforts and local construction missions, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren said today.
• Eucom, Georgia Join for Exercise 'Noble Partner' AFPS 11 May 2015 -- The Defense Department announced today the start of Exercise "Noble Partner" between U.S. European Command and the Republic of Georgia, which will assist in fulfilling troop commitments to the NATO Response Force.
• 22nd MEU, USS Wasp conclude Fleet Week Port Everglades 2015 USMC News 11 May 2015 -- The U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy Sailors of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit departed Port Everglades, Florida, May 10 aboard the USS Wasp concluding Fleet Week 2015.
• Carl Vinson Strike Group Conducts Exercises With Royal Malaysian Military NNS 11 May 2015 -- Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, and Destroyer Squadron 1 participated in various bi-lateral training events May 10 in the South China Sea with Malaysian air and surface units in support of Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet theater security cooperation objectives.
• Sunliners CO Achieves 1000th Trap NNS 11 May 2015 -- Cmdr. Brett 'Spaz' Dresden, commanding officer of the 'Sunliners of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81, flew a sortie that would garner him a career milestone and his 1,000th carrier arrested landing, or 'trap,' in an F/A-18E Super Hornet aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), May 9.
• Navy EOD Disposes of Sea Mine in Saipan NNS 11 May 2015 -- Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5 Det. Marianas conducted a controlled burn of a Japanese sea mine on the morning of May 9.
• NATO Secretary General welcomes strengthened partnership with Georgia NATO 11 May 2015 -- Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili to NATO Headquarters on Monday (11 May 2015) for talks on deepening the partnership between the Alliance and Tbilisi. Calling Georgia "a strong partner", the Secretary General underscored that the country is "an important contributor to our shared security".
• Pre-ministerial press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg - Opening remarks NATO 11 May 2015
• Latvia spots Russian war plane over Baltic neutral waters TASS 11 May 2015 -- Latvia's Armed Forces have registered a flight of Russia's combat plane near Latvia's air space on Monday.
• Russia-China navy drills begin in Russia's Black Sea port TASS 11 May 2015 -- An official ceremony in Novorossiysk has opened the Joint Sea 2015 naval drills in the Mediterranean, which will feature ten combat ships from Russia and China, press service of the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.
• Russian, Chinese military cooperation aimed against new threats - Defense Ministry TASS 11 May 2015 -- The military cooperation between Russia and China is aimed at improvement of the joint potential of counteracting new threats and challenges, Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov told reporters on Monday following negotiations between Russia's Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and China's Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission Fan Changlong.
• China manufactures first engine used in large and medium-sized drone People's Daily 11 May 2015 -- The 'Rainbow III' drone with a TD0 sample engine had its first successful flight on April. 29, 2015. China is now able to manufacture TD0 light aeroplane engines used in large and medium-sized drones, breaking a technology and market monopoly.
• Lithuania Says Flight of 2 Russian An-22 Escorted by NATO Jets Was Agreed Sputnik 11 May 2015 -- The transmitter of one of the planes was switched off while the other was on, Donatas Sukhotskis, spokesperson for the United Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, said. However, both planes were in radio contact with ground services.
• Lithuania Says Deal Reached to Buy German Howitzers Sputnik 11 May 2015 -- The Lithuanian military claims that the German artillery systems will significantly boost the combat capabilities of the country's army and increase the distance of its firepower.
• Call to Arms: Lithuania Begins Military Draft, First Time Since 2008 Sputnik 11 May 2015 -- This year, 3,000 people from 19 to 26 years of age will be conscripted for the army. Some of them are volunteers. In the month of May 8, 991 people applied as volunteers.
• Iran Will Not Reverse Engineer Russian S-300 Missile Defense System Sputnik 11 May 2015 -- 'Since the S-300 is a defensive and operational system, it will be deployed in specific spots and will not be reverse engineered,' an Iranian general said.
• Germany undersells 4 modern warships to Israel Press TV 11 May 2015 -- The German government has once again funded Israel's military by subsidizing the sale of four modern corvette warships to the Tel Aviv regime.
• Israel to Buy Four Navy Patrol Vessels From Germany Sputnik 11 May 2015 -- The corvettes will secure Israel's Exclusive Economic Zone in the Mediterranean. They will be used in conjunction with other vessels, including naval unmanned surface vehicles, intelligence drones and other weaponry and military equipment.
• S.Korea deeply worries about DPRK's test-firing of submarine missile People's Daily 11 May 2015 -- South Korea's military expressed deep worry Monday about the Democratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK) 's test-firing of a ballistic missile from its submarine. 'Our military is deeply and seriously worried about the underwater test-firing of a ballistic missile conducted by North Korea (DPRK) last week,'Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok told a regular press briefing.
• South Korea calls on North to stop submarine missile project Press TV 11 May 2015 -- South Korea has called on North Korea to end the development of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), threatening to respond "mercilessly" to any act of provocation from Pyongyang.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 5/11/2015 The White House 11 May 2015
• May 11, 2015 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 11 May 2015

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for May 11, 2015

Other Conflicts

• 11 May 2015 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 11 May 2015
• UN food programme delivers fuel to Yemen to resume aid operations UN News 11 May 2015 -- A ship carrying fuel chartered by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has arrived in Yemen, opening up a new humanitarian lifeline for civilians impacted by conflict after all humanitarian operations in the country had ground to a halt because of a fuel shortage.
• Ship carrying Iranian emergency supplies leaves for Yemen IRNA 11 May 2015 -- 2,500 tons of Iranian contributions to the oppressed Yemeni nation loaded on Iran Shahed Khorramshahr Ship began sailing towards Yemeni coasts early Monday night.
• Yemen's Houthi fighters bring down Moroccan fighter jet: Report Press TV 11 May 2015 -- Houthi Ansarullah fighters in Yemen have shot down a Moroccan fighter jet violating the country's airspace in the northern Sa'ada Province, a report says.
• Iraq army, volunteers regain control of two oil fields Press TV 11 May 2015 -- Iraqi armed forces backed by volunteers have regained control of two oil fields in the northern part of the country months after the ISIL terrorists seized the facilities.
• Syria: UN agency resumes aid distribution to civilians displaced from Yarmouk camp UN News 11 May 2015 -- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has resumed the provision of assistance to people displaced from Yarmouk camp in Syria, a spokesperson for the agency confirmed.
• US-Turkish Pact Could Slow 'Jihadist Highway' VOA 11 May 2015 -- Washington and Ankara are close to signing a security deal to improve cooperation in stemming the threat of groups like the Islamic State (IS). In the face of strong criticism from its allies, Ankara has in the past few weeks stepped up its efforts to stop would-be jihadists from entering Syria to join the ranks of IS. But doubts remain over Ankara's priorities.
• Hezbollah, Syrian troops kill 2 Nusra leaders in Qalamoun Press TV 11 May 2015 -- Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and the Syrian government forces have managed to kill two key terror commanders in the Syrian border region of Qalamoun as fight against the Takfiri elements in the area gains new momentum.
• In Syria, Reports of Friction Inside Assad Regime VOA 11 May 2015 -- Reports of dissension inside the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad are on the rise, amid reports of the downfall of the country's top intelligence chief, Ali Mamlouk. Mamlouk's reported arrest comes just weeks after the death of Rustom Ghazaleh, another top spy chief, in a Damascus hospital.
• Turkish Border Crackdown Imperils Syrian Refugees VOA 11 May 2015 -- Turkish authorities have tightened controls, ending their open-door policy for Syrian refugees and making it more difficult for Syrians to enter Turkey and for international journalists to cover the war. There are even reports of people being fired upon as they approach the border.
• South Sudan: heavy fighting and reported 'atrocities' in northeast force UN to evacuate staff UN News 11 May 2015 -- The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has expressed growing concern about "continuing and consistent reports" emanating from two north-eastern counties regarding a surge in kidnappings and rapes and an overall uptick in violence, which has forced UN and other aid agencies to withdraw staff from the region.
• Civilians Flee, Aid Agencies Pull Out as Fighting Flares in South Sudan State VOA 11 May 2015 -- A surge in fighting near the town of Leer in South Sudan's Unity state has sent thousands fleeing into the bush and forced major aid agencies, including Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) and the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC), to evacuate staff and scale back services.
• UN mission in Darfur 'seriously concerned' by escalating tensions between tribes UN News 11 May 2015 -- Following recent escalation in tensions between the Rezeigat and Ma'alia tribes, the joint United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur today expressed serious concern about the possible implications and encouraged the leaders and members of both groups to exercise maximum restraint, engage in meaningful dialogue to resolve their dispute.
• Ban welcomes Central African Republic peace pact as reflection of people's aspirations UN News 11 May 2015 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has congratulated the people of the Central African Republic (CAR) for the adoption of a peace pact that reflects on their aspirations to put the conflict behind them once and for all and to build a more peaceful and democratic country.

News Reports

• NSA Chief Speaks Out on Surveillance VOA 11 May 2015 -- The United States must create a framework for mass data collection that can quickly yield insights while still protecting citizens' privacy, the nation's cyber chief said Monday.
• White House: Gulf Leaders Opting Out of Summit Not a Snub VOA 11 May 2015 -- The White House is dismissing reports the absence of Gulf country leaders at Thursday's summit at Camp David in Maryland is a snub and will put a damper on talks aimed at strengthening the security relationship between the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
• Saudi King to Skip US-Gulf Summit VOA 11 May 2015 -- The White House said Monday Saudi Arabia did not raise concerns about issues to be discussed during a regional summit hosted by President Barack Obama this week, before or after the Saudi king changed plans and decided not to attend.
• Zarif: Final nuclear agreement must be based on Lausanne text IRNA 11 May 2015 -- Iran will yield to no type of totalitarianism; the agreed concepts are those confirmed by the two sides in Lausanne must be included in Iran-Sextet final agreement, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday.
• US Officials Brief Key Lawmakers on China Nuclear Deal VOA 11 May 2015 -- U.S. security and nuclear energy officials briefed key lawmakers Monday about the proposed 30-year extension of a U.S. nuclear power cooperation deal with China.
• Beijing Lends Billions To Minsk RFE/RL 11 May 2015 -- China has agreed to lend about $7 billion to Belarus through credit lines set to open this month.
• German Politicians Argue About Intelligence Control After Spying Scandal Sputnik 11 May 2015 -- The two leading German parties - CDU and SPD – have different views on how to make the work of intelligence services more transparent and better control data sharing, according to the German newspaper Die Zeit.
• Spy on the Roof: UK Embassy Runs 'Listening Post' in Vienna Sputnik 11 May 2015 -- Britain has a secret embassy-based eavesdropping site in Vienna, the Austrian national public service broadcaster, ORF, reported on Monday.
• N. Korea Slows Down Work at Kaesong VOA 11 May 2015 -- North Korea is slowing down work at the inter-Korean industrial complex of Kaesong, South Korea's Unification Ministry said Monday.
• Obama's Account of Bin Laden's Death is One Fabricated Lie - Seymour Hersh Sputnik 11 May 2015 -- US forces killed Osama bin Laden with the full cooperation of Pakistani military and intelligence agencies, according to a controversial article published in the London Review of Books by veteran investigative journalist Seymour M. Hersh.
• US Faces Questions About Policing, Counterterrorism in UN Rights Review VOA 11 May 2015 -- U.S. officials faced questions Monday in Geneva about the use of the death penalty, excessive force by police and national security measures as the United Nations' Human Rights Council conducted a review of the country's rights practices.
• Czech President Breaks Ranks With Moscow Visit RFE/RL 11 May 2015 -- When Russia hosted leaders from Cuba's Raul Castro to Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe for May 9 Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, Czech President Milos Zeman was one of only two EU heads of state in town.
• Macedonia Mourns Eight Police Killed In Battle Against Gunmen RFE/RL 11 May 2015 -- Macedonia is observing a second day of national mourning for eight police officers killed during a weekend battle against gunmen in the northern town of Kumanovo, in the largely ethnic-Albanian district of Diva Naselba.
• After Ebola outbreak, expert panel urges 'unified entity' within UN health agency for emergency response UN News 11 May 2015 -- Independent experts tasked to assess the World Health Organization's (WHO) response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa today said "at present, WHO does not have the operational capacity or culture to deliver a full emergency public health response" and urged investments by its member States to make it fit for purpose.