Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Statement by NSC Spokesperson Bernadette Meehan on Counter-ISIL Operation in Syria The White House 16 May 2015
• Statement by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on Counter-ISIL Operation in Syria DoD 16 May 2015
• US Special Forces Kill IS Commander in Syria, Capture Wife VOA 16 May 2015 -- U.S. special forces have killed a top Islamic State commander and captured his wife in eastern Syria, the White House and Pentagon said Saturday.
• Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq AFPS 16 May 2015 -- U.S. and coalition military forces 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.
• US drone attacks kill 45 in east Afghanistan Press TV 16 May 2015 -- At least 45 people have been killed in US assassination drone attacks in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar.
• Helicopter Crew Recovery Efforts Continue in Nepal AFPS 16 May 2015 -- The recovery of a UH-1Y Huey helicopter that went missing May 12 and was later discovered on May 15 has resumed today, 8 miles north of Charikot, in the Dolakha district of Nepal.

Defense Policy / Programs

• CP-15 Crew Completes Mission Stop in Jamaica NNS 16 May 2015 -- The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) departed Kingston, Jamaica, May 15 after completing her third mission stop in support of Continuing Promise 2015 (CP-15).
• Greece, US to Discuss Construction of NATO Air Base in Aegean Sea – Athens Sputnik 16 May 2015 -- Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos and US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter will discuss Athens' proposal to construct a NATO air base in the Aegean Sea during a meeting next week, the Greek Defense Ministry said.
• Biden says US 'expedites' weapon shipments to Iraq Press TV 16 May 2015 -- US Vice President Joe Biden has called Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to reaffirm that Washington is expediting weapons to the country.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Civilians Killed in Yemen Clashes as Cease-Fire Nears End VOA 16 May 2015 -- Clashes between Houthi rebels and pro-government forces killed or injured dozens of people across south Yemen Saturday, including civilians, while a cease-fire is set to expire late Sunday.
• Iraq PM denies reports about ISIL's full Ramadi seizure Press TV 16 May 2015 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has denied reports that the ISIL Takfiri militants have completely taken control of the city of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province.
• Islamic State Takes Control Over Most Of Iraq's Ramadi RFE/RL 16 May 2015 -- The Islamic State has taken control over most of Ramadi, the capital city of western Iraq's Anbar province, after raising their black flag over the main government building early May 15, local officials are reporting.
• Iraq To Send More Troops To Ramadi RFE/RL 16 May 2015 -- The Iraqi military says extra troops are being sent to Ramadi, a city now largely controlled by the Islamic State (IS) extremist group.
• ISIL seizes northern part of Syria's ancient city of Palmyra Press TV 16 May 2015 -- The ISIL Takfiri terrorists have reportedly taken control of the northern part of Syria's ancient city of Palmyra.
• Syria, Hezbollah advance further in Qalamoun border region Press TV 16 May 2015 -- Syrian army forces and Lebanon's resistance group Hezbollah have made fresh gains in the battle against Takfiri militants in Qalamoun border region, raising hopes for the full liberation of the strategic area.
• Turkey says shot down Syrian helicopter Press TV 16 May 2015 -- Turkey has shot down a Syrian helicopter 'for violating its airspace,' Turkish officials claim.
• Turkey arrests soldiers over Syria-bound arms interception Press TV 16 May 2015 -- Turkey has detained eight serving members of the Army in connection with last year's interception of an alleged arms convoy destined to Syria.
• Boko Haram terrorists recapture key Nigerian town Press TV 16 May 2015 -- Boko Haram Takfiri terrorists have recaptured Nigeria's northeastern town of Marte after a series of violent clashes with the West African country's army, local officials say.
• South Sudanese rebels storm strategic northern town Press TV 16 May 2015 -- Rebel forces from Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) have launched a major offensive in South Sudan's conflict-ridden northern state of Upper Nile, triggering fierce exchanges of fire in the area.
• Security Council welcomes Central African Republic national forum, urges implementation of peace pact UN News 16 May 2015 -- The Security Council has welcomed the recent national reconciliation forum held in the Central African Republic (CAR) and the inclusive, grassroots level in which the consultations were carried out, particularly by ensuring the participation of women, and called on the country's Transitional Authorities, with the support of the United Nations, to speedily implement the forum's outcomes.
• US, China Remain Divided Over South China Sea Disputes VOA 16 May 2015 -- The United States and China say they are talking about their differences, including disputes in the South China Sea, but comments from the countries' two top diplomats Saturday revealed that Beijing and Washington still remain divided over the contentious issue.

News Reports

• Former CIA Official Reflects on Tangle of Wars in Syria VOA 16 May 2015 -- A former top U.S. intelligence official says the crisis in Syria is the hardest policy problem that he has seen in his 33 years in government.
• Joint Press Availability With Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi US Dept. of State 16 May 2015
• Remarks With Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi US Dept. of State 16 May 2015-
• Remarks at a Meeting With Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi US Dept. of State 16 May 2015
• Effect of Abu Sayyaf's Death on IS Unclear, Analyst Says VOA 16 May 2015 -- Families in Iraq fled from Islamic State fighters on Friday, saying the group had raised its black flag over a regional police headquarters.
• Egypt's Morsi gets death sentence Press TV 16 May 2015 -- Egypt's first democratically-elected president, Mohammed Morsi, has been sentenced to death on charges of endangering national security by leaking state secrets to Qatar and escaping from prison during the country's revolution against long-time dictator Hosni Mubarak in 2011.
• Egyptian Court Sentences Morsi, Others to Death VOA 16 May 2015 -- Ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi and a number of top leaders of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood group were given death sentences in one of several cases against them. The cases were referred to Egypt's grand mufti, the country's top religious leader, to either approve or commute the sentences.
• Iran to Maintain Independent Stance After Nuclear Deal Concluded Sputnik 16 May 2015 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that Iran has its doubts about the sincerity of the Western counterparts in the negotiations, especially about the United States.
• UK Parl. gives immunity to spies Press TV 16 May 2015 -- UK parliament has passed a new legislation giving the intelligence officers and police immunity from prosecution for hacking into computers, laptos and mobile phones.
• Russia Orders Probe of Latest Space Launch Failure VOA 16 May 2015 -- Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev has ordered the formation of a special commission to probe the failed launch early Saturday of a Russian rocket carrying a Mexican satellite into space.
• Mexican Satellite Launched on Proton-M Carrier Rocket Burnt Up Sputnik 16 May 2015 -- Mexico's MexSat-1 communication satellite launched on a Russian Proton-M rocket from Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan on Saturday morning has burnt up in atmosphere. This comes on the same date as a near identical crash of the same launch vehicle exactly one year ago, carrying Russia's most advanced satellite Express-AM4R.