Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Casualty Update 17 Jun 2015 [PDF]
• ISIL Tactical Losses Continue in Iraq, Syria AFPS 17 Jun 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.
• Success Against ISIL Requires Time, Partners, Dempsey Says AFPS 17 Jun 2015 -- Time and regional partners are required for long-term success in defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorist organization, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the House Armed Services Committee today.
• Carter Vows Lasting Defeat of ISIL Forces AFPS 17 Jun 2015 -- Vowing to achieve a lasting defeat of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant forces, Defense Secretary Ash Carter outlined the Defense Department's counterterrorism strategy today in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee.
• Afghan forces kill more than 80 Taliban in 24 hours Press TV 17 Jun 2015 -- Afghan security forces have killed over 80 Taliban militants and injured more than 100 others during a series of operations across Afghanistan over the past 24 hours, the country's Defense Ministry says.
• Nepal final report: AF support for Operation Sahayogi Haat AFNS 17 Jun 2015 -- Since the May 26 deactivation of the Nepal earthquake response task force, Joint Task Force-505, the scope of the Air Force's contribution to Operation Sahayogi Haat reveal the magnitude of Pacific Air Force's role in the response.

Defense Policy / Programs

• U.S., partner nations hone amphibious-assault skills for BALTOPS 2015 USMC News 17 Jun 2015 -- The U.S. Marine Corps, along with various partner nations, participated in Exercise BALTOPS 2015 in the Baltic region from June 7-15. British Royal Commandos, Finnish Costal Jaegers, Swedish and U.S. Marines demonstrated ship-to-shore assault capabilities to deliver forces where needed, when needed to respond to crises.
• Antietam, Mustin Build, Foster Relationships in Sydney NNS 17 Jun 2015 -- Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) arrived in Sydney for a port visit, June 17.
• US Air Force may deploy F-22 warplanes near Russia's border Press TV 17 Jun 2015 -- The United States is planning to send warplanes to Europe in order to stop Russia's "aggression" in the region, says US Air Force Secretary Deborah James.
• NATO Secretary General in Poland for key 'Spearhead Force' exercise NATO 17 Jun 2015 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg arrived in Poland on Wednesday (17 June 2015) to see Allied troops in action as they test the capabilities of NATO's new very high readiness Spearhead Force during 'Noble Jump,' its first deployment exercise.
• Allied forces practice amphibious assault in northern Poland NATO 17 Jun 2015 -- Allied forces participated in an amphibious assault on a beach near Ustka in northern Poland on Wednesday (17 June 2015), as part of naval exercise BALTOPS. The mock attack, aimed at defeating enemy forces occupying the coast, was commanded by the British ship HMS Ocean and the American USS San Antonio. Several waves of amphibious assault craft and two U.S. Navy hovercrafts brought approximately 700 British, US, Finnish and Swedish marines to shore, supported by US and Swedish fighter jets and attack helicopters.
• Putin rather sees threat in US missile defense system than weapons deployment in Europe TASS 16 Jun 2015 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday he sees no real threat in the West's statements about possible deployment of weapons in Europe, since the missile defense system deployment is a bigger threat.
• Putin Not 'Worried' About Heavy Weapons In Eastern Europe RFE/RL 17 Jun 2015 -- Despite much bluster and a revival of Cold War rhetoric, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on June 16 that he is not especially worried about a U.S. plan to possibly station heavy weaponry in Eastern Europe.
• Russia's Mistral-Designed Ka-52K Choppers to Remain in Demand Sputnik 17 Jun 2015 -- Chief executive of Russian Helicopters design and manufacturing company stated that Russia's Ka-52K Alligator attack helicopters designed for the Mistral-class carrier will have no difficulty finding buyers.
• Russian Army Begins UAV Monitoring in Arctic Region Sputnik 17 Jun 2015 -- According to head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Northern Fleet press service, Russian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have started reconnaissance and monitoring flights in the Arctic region.
• Russian Defense Ministry to Modify MC-21 Passenger Aircraft Into AWACS Sputnik 17 Jun 2015 -- According to head of sales for the plane's producer, Russian Defense Ministry plans to order a revamp of MC-21 passenger jets to create reconnaissance aircraft similar to the US AWACS aircraft.
• Russia's 5th generation submarines to be armed with robots - Navy chief TASS 17 Jun 2015 -- Russia's fifth-generation submarines will differ from their predecessors by their all-purpose use and their armament with promising robotized systems, Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Viktor Chirkov said on Wednesday.
• Number of Russian Navy drills in 2014-2015 increases by 20% - commander TASS 17 Jun 2015 -- The number of exercises involving surface ships and submarines of the Russian Navy increased by 20% in 2014-2015, and the number of combat duty missions of strategic submarines has increased by nearly 50%, Navy Commander-in-Chief Viktor Chirkov told reporters on Wednesday.
• Russian reconnaissance drones start flights in Arctic region TASS 17 Jun 2015 -- The Tachyon and Aileron-3 drones have been put on patrolling mission in the Arctic, spokesman for the Russian Northern Fleet Captain 1st Rank Vadim Serga said on Wednesday.
• Russia does not threaten Western countries, only takes response measures - Kremlin TASS 17 Jun 2015 -- Russia undertakes no actions that can arise West's security concerns, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Wednesday.
• Russia to start tests of anaerobic systems for conventional submarines in Baltic Sea soon TASS 17 Jun 2015 -- The tests of an air-independent propulsion power system for Russian conventional submarines will begin in the Baltic Sea soon, the head of Rubin central design bureau, the system developer, said on Wednesday.
• Defence secretary emphasises deep UK commitment during Baltic NATO visit UK MOD 17 Jun 2015 -- Hundreds of personnel serving at the heart of exercises and operations across eastern Europe have shown the UK's commitment to NATO reassurance, the Defence Secretary has said.
• China calls for eliminating root cause of WMDs proliferation People's Daily 17 Jun 2015 -- Faced with new challenges of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the international community should eliminate the root cause of proliferation and take a balanced approach to address security and development, said a Chinese envoy here Tuesday.
• US Military Leaders: Stronger Iraq Critical to IS Fight VOA 17 Jun 2015 -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter told a House panel Wednesday that the most critical line of defense against Islamic State militants is in building a stronger, more inclusive Iraqi government.
• US Receives Far Less Iraqi Security Recruits Than Envisioned Sputnik 17 Jun 2015 -- US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said that the United States received nearly three times less Iraqi Security recruits to fight the Islamic State than anticipated.
• Russia ready to sell four Mi-35M combat helicopters to Pakistan - source TASS 17 Jun 2015 -- Russia has sent Pakistan a draft contract on the delivery of four Mil Mi-35M (NATO reporting name: Hind E) combat helicopters, a source in the Russian system of military and technical cooperation said on Wednesday.
• Pakistan Army Chief Visits Russia to Forge New Ties VOA 17 Jun 2015 -- Pakistan Army chief General Raheel Sharif visited Russia this week amidst a regional re-definition of old relationships. Russia, which fought against Pakistan-supported "mujahideen' during the earlier Afghan war in the 1980s, has been warming up to the South Asian country.
• Russia, UAE to Sign Contract on Unique Khrizantema-S Antitank Systems Sales Sputnik 17 Jun 2015 -- Russia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to sign a contract on the delivery of Russia's unique self-propelled antitank system Khrizantema-S; pre-contractual works are currently underway, according to the chief designer of the company which developed the weapons.
• Belarus calls for increasing post-Soviet security bloc's military component TASS 17 Jun 2015 -- Belarus believes the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a post-Soviet security bloc, needs to strengthen its military component, the country's Defense Minister Andrey Ravkov said in an interview with TASS on Wednesday.
• June 17, 2015 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 17 Jun 2015
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 6/17/15 The White House 17 Jun 2015

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for June 17, 2015
• Deputy PM: Structural, technological and personnel crisis in defense industry not overcome TASS 17 Jun 2015 -- The structural, technological and personnel crisis in Russia's defense industry sector has not been overcome, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Wednesday at a meeting of the Industry and Trade Ministry's board.

Other Conflicts

• 17 June 2015 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 17 Jun 2015
• At Security Council, UN troop commanders recount challenges of modern peacekeeping UN News 17 Jun 2015 -- From Mali to South Sudan and the Middle East and beyond, United Nations peacekeepers are tackling peace and security challenges of increasing intensity and broader global breadth, the top UN peacekeeping official said today as he urged the full support of the international community for the Organization's 'blue helmets' as they confront the world's manifold threats.
• Humanitarian needs at 'all-time high,' top UN relief official tells Economic and Social Council UN News 17 Jun 2015 -- Humanitarian needs are at an all-time high, the top United Nations relief official declared today, stressing that while the Organization needs no less than $18.8 billion to meet the needs of nearly 80 million people, it has received only 26 per cent of that amount.
• Yemen: Envoy says UN-backed consultations 'important start towards return to political process' UN News 17 Jun 2015 -- The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, has deemed the fact that both Yemeni delegations are in now Geneva to participate in the UN-facilitated consultations "an important start towards the return to a political process," a spokesperson for the world body said today.
• ISIL self-declared governor killed in Heet: Sources Press TV 17 Jun 2015 -- The ISIL self-proclaimed governor of the district of Heet in Iraq's restive province of al-Anbar has been killed by unidentified gunmen in an operation, a security source says.
• In Damascus, UN envoy wraps up talks with Syrian parties, condemns violence against civilians UN News 17 Jun 2015 -- The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria ended today a three-day visit to Damascus, which took place in the framework of the current consultations aimed at operationalizing the Geneva Communiqué of 30 June 2012.
• Syrian Doctors Present Evidence of New Chlorine Gas Attacks to US Congress VOA 17 Jun 2015 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is again systematically using chemical weapons to kill, terrorize and disperse civilians in rebel-held areas - Syrian doctors and human rights activists told a U.S. congressional committee Wednesday
• Activists: Syria's Assad Adds 'Elephant Rockets' to Arsenal VOA 17 Jun 2015 -- Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have added another improvised, indiscriminate weapon to their arsenal: 'elephant rockets,' named after the noise they make in flight. According to political activists, at least two dozen civilians were killed Tuesday in a Damascus suburb by the rockets.
• New Turkish Government Could Mean Policy Shift on Syria VOA 17 Jun 2015 -- Throughout the general election campaign, Turkey's opposition parties were united in their criticism of the AK Party policy of supporting Syrian rebels seeking to defeat President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
• Militant attacks kill nine in, around Syrian capital Press TV 17 Jun 2015 -- Attacks by foreign-sponsored militants in Syria have killed at least nine people in and around the country's capital, Damascus, a UK-based monitoring group says.
• As UN-backed talks continue, Security Council calls for political solution to Libyan crisis UN News 17 Jun 2015 -- The Security Council has emphasized the urgency for Libyan stakeholders to reach a political solution to the country's crisis amid ongoing United Nations-facilitated talks.
• UN Peacekeeping Chief Decries South Sudan's Lack of Cooperation VOA 17 Jun 2015 -- The U.N.'s peacekeeping chief expressed his frustration with South Sudan's leaders Wednesday, saying President Salva Kiir and his government have denied repeated requests for the U.N. mission there to use equipment needed to protect civilians.
• UN agency airlifts lifesaving survival kits to displaced in hard-to-reach areas of South Sudan UN News 17 Jun 2015 -- The United Nations agriculture agency has launched an emergency airlift operation in South Sudan and has distributed to families fleeing violence in hard-to-reach areas supplies ranging from nutritional biscuits for children, mosquito nets, vegetable seeds, water purification tablets and oral rehydration salts.
• Palestinian refugee crisis a 'time bomb' for Middle East region, warns UN official UN News 17 Jun 2015 -- The stark conditions afflicting millions of displaced Palestinians across the Middle East risk destabilizing the region and plunging it into a deeper humanitarian and security crisis, the head of the United Nations agency assisting Palestinian refugees has warned.
• Amid 'constructive atmosphere,' UN special envoy welcomes continuation of Cyprus negotiations UN News 17 Jun 2015 -- The Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders have agreed to continue their pursuit of a comprehensive settlement for the political issues facing the Mediterranean island following their third meeting today, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, has announced.

News Reports

• Iran rejects report of US Congress approval of nuclear deal before UN action ISNA 17 Jun 2015 -- A senior member of Iran's nuclear negotiating team dismissed a Reuters report that the UN Security Council will lift sanctions against Tehran after the US Congress gives its green light.
• US signals first ever U-turn on Iran sanctions Press TV 17 Jun 2015 -- Secretary of State John Kerry has acknowledged for the first time that a final nuclear deal would not require Iran to detail its past activities in order to lift sanctions on the country.
• U.S. No Longer Demanding Disclosure Of Iran's Past Nuclear Work RFE/RL 17 Jun 2015 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has said that Washington would no longer insist that Iran fully disclose its past nuclear activities as part of a nuclear pact with Tehran.
• EU Agrees To Extend Sanctions On Russia RFE/RL 17 Jun 2015 -- European Union ambassadors have voted to extend economic sanctions against Russia to the end of January and prolong an investment ban on Crimea for another year.
• EU Agrees to Extend Russia Sanctions Over Ukraine VOA 17 Jun 2015 -- European Union governments have reached preliminary agreement to extend sanctions against Russia for six months for its role in the Ukraine crisis, triggering Kremlin warnings that Moscow will retaliate.
• Hong Kong Braces for Key Vote on Beijing-backed Reforms VOA 17 Jun 2015 -- Hong Kong lawmakers are expected to vote as early as Thursday on a contentious electoral reform bill backed by Beijing but rejected by the territory's pro-democracy groups.
• Two more senior PLA officials investigated People's Daily 17 Jun 2015 -- The Chinese military on Tuesday announced that two more senior military officials are under investigation for serious disciplinary violations.
• What's Next for China's Anti-Corruption Drive? VOA 17 Jun 2015 -- China's secret trial and sentencing of former security chief Zhou Yongkang to life in prison marks the beginning of a new phase in the country's anti-corruption drive. But where Chinese leader Xi Jinping will take the campaign next is unclear. Some analysts say there are already signs that the administration may dramatically ratchet down the anti-graft campaign.