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News Reports

Current Operations

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Casualty Update 29 Jun 2015 [PDF]
• Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq AFPS 29 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.
• INTERVIEW: Afghanistan must not be forgotten amid more pressing crises, warns UN envoy UN News 29 Jun 2015 -- The international community must not take its "eye off the ball" when it comes to Afghanistan, the top United Nations envoy there has warned, noting that the country faces numerous challenges that will take quite a bit of time to tackle.
• Taliban ambush kills 11 army soldiers in western Afghanistan Press TV 29 Jun 2015 -- At least 11 Afghan army forces have been killed and six others injured in a Taliban ambush in the western province of Herat, a provincial official says.
• Senior UN official urges global action to end years-long plight of 2.6 million Afghan refugees UN News 29 Jun 2015 -- Expressing concern over the plight of millions of Afghan refugees, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has called on the international community to boost its engagement, employ innovative solutions and pro-active joint advocacy to end the world's largest prolonged humanitarian crisis.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Test flight completed after F-35B modifications AFNS 29 Jun 2015 -- The Ogden Air Logistics Complex completed an F-35B Lightning II functional check flight here June 18, after the first depot-level short take off and vertical landing modifications were completed on two F-35Bs for the Marine Corps.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Ash Carter's Meeting with the Brazilian Minister of Defense Jaques Wagner DoD 29 Jun 2015
• U.S. Marines embark on USNS Sacagawea to begin Exercise Koa Moana 15.2 USMC News 29 Jun 2015 -- A platoon of U.S. Marines with Company A, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin, have been preparing for the bilateral training exercise Koa Moana 15.2 in Dili, East Timor, beginning June 22.
• USS Fort Worth Completes 2015 CARAT Philippines NNS 29 Jun 2015 -- The littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) wrapped up its first-ever participation in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Philippines following a June 26 closing ceremony held at Naval Station Apolinario Jalandoon, Puerto Princesa, Republic of the Philippines.
• U.S. Air Force Airborne Air Control Squadron Tests Upgraded AWACS Platform NNS 29 Jun 2015 -- Calmly soaring at 30,000 feet in the midst of nearly 100 fighters, bombers and refueling tankers executing a battle scenario, an Air Force E-3G Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) surveys every aircraft in a 300 mile radius, calling out commands, verifying target hits and sending aircraft back home safely.
• Continuing Promise 2015 Team Completes Mission in El Salvador NNS 29 Jun 2015 -- The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) departed El Salvador June 27 after completing a nine-day mission stop in support of Continuing Promise 2015 (CP-15).
• Russia to Launch First Satellite for New Space Defense Network in November Sputnik 29 Jun 2015 -- The first early warning ground-based station for the new network has been built in the Altay region and it has passed state trials.
• Another Eight Ships, Two Subs to Reinforce Russian Navy in 2015 Sputnik 29 Jun 2015 -- Eight ships and two subs will join the ranks of the Russian Navy by 2016 meaning that the arms procurement plan is running smoothly.
• Brazil to Buy Russian Pantsir Air Defense Systems in First Half of 2016 Sputnik 29 Jun 2015 -- Brazil will upgrade its armed forces with Pantsir air defense systems, the country's ambassador to Russia said.
• Ukrainian Army Must Repair 'Old Junk' as It Lacks New Military Hardware Sputnik 29 Jun 2015 -- Due to the lack of support from the country's military-industrial complex, Ukraine has to repair "old junk" and use it as its military hardware, said Yuri Biryukov, a senior adviser to President Petro Poroshenko.
• Georgia to Buy Advanced Air Defense Missiles From France Sputnik 29 Jun 2015 -- France will supply Georgia with advanced air defense missile systems in line with a contract signed in Paris earlier this month, a Georgian news website reported on Saturday.
• June 29, 2015 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 29 Jun 2015
• Press Briefing By Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 6/29/2015 The White House 29 Jun 2015

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for June 29, 2015

Other Conflicts

• 29 June 2015 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 29 Jun 2015
• Yemen: Ban deplores attack on UN compound in Gulf country, calls for full investigation UN News 29 Jun 2015 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the Coalition-led airstrikes on a United Nations compound in the Yemeni city of Aden, which resulted in serious structural damage and one casualty, a spokesperson for the Organization said today.
• 15 civilians dead as Saudi warplanes hit Yemen again Press TV 29 Jun 2015 -- At least 15 civilians, including women and children, were killed and several others injured when Saudi fighter jets launched a fresh round of airstrikes against various areas in Yemen as Riyadh pushed ahead with its atrocious onslaught against its impoverished southern neighbor.
• Iraqi forces purge key oil city from ISIL militants Press TV 29 Jun 2015 -- Iraqi army soldiers, supported by fighters from Popular Mobilization units, have cleansed the oil-rich city of Baiji in the northern province of Salahuddin from Takfiri ISIL militants, after wresting full control of the area.
• Senior ISIL commander killed in Mosul airstrikes Press TV 29 Jun 2015 -- A top ISIL commander in Iraq has been killed in the northern city of Mosul along with 10 other Takfiri militants, says a senior Iraqi commander.
• Syria: deputy UN relief chief urges political solution amid 'extremely challenging' humanitarian crisis UN News 29 Jun 2015 -- Humanitarian access to civilians trapped by the Syrian conflict is being increasingly obstructed by the ongoing fighting in the country and a shortfall in critical funding, a senior United Nations relief official warned today.
• Syrian army retakes key quarter in Hasakah Press TV 29 Jun 2015 -- Syrian troops have managed to recapture a major district in the northeastern city of Hasakah, purging ISIL Takfiri militants from the area.
• US training of Syria militants falls short of target: Report Press TV 29 Jun 2015 -- The US military is currently training fewer than 100 so-called moderate militants in Syria to fight the ISIL terrorist group, highlighting a troubled training program that has failed to reach its target of producing 5,400 militants a year.
• 3 wounded in fresh mortar attack in Syrian capital Press TV 29 Jun 2015 -- A mortar attack by militants on Monday hit the Syrian capital, Damascus, wounding three people in the second such strike in two days.
• 'We have this week,' says UN envoy, urging Libyan parties to quickly reach political solution to end crisis UN News 28 Jun 2015 -- From Morocco where he is facilitating the dialogue among Libyan parties, the United Nations envoy for the North African country has stressed that the coming week should be decisive to reach an agreement on the draft political proposal he recently introduced to bring Libya's diverse stakeholders together and ensure peace and stability.
• Prisoners of Transnistria: Russian Peacekeepers Under Ukrainian Blockade Sputnik 29 Jun 2015 -- Hundreds of thousands of people, including a group of Russian peacekeepers, became stranded in Transnistria, a de-facto independent region of Moldova, after Ukraine passed the law on the full blockade of the region, Russian TV channel Zvezda reported.
• Niger region struggles to cope with Boko Haram exodus IRIN 29 Jun 2015 -- Boko Haram came to 25-year-old Fanna Liman Mustafa's home in Baga in northeastern Nigeria in November and burnt it to the ground. She took her four children and fled across the border into Niger. As fate has it, she is one of the lucky ones. The Islamist militants returned in January and massacred hundreds if not thousands of civilians.
• Al-Shabab militants attack military base in S Somalia: Sources Press TV 29 Jun 2015 -- Al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab militants have attacked a military base in Somalia's southern port city of Kismayo, killing several soldiers, sources say.
• As Cyprus talks continue, UN envoy spotlights 'positive climate' of negotiations UN News 29 Jun 2015 -- Substantive negotiations between the leaders of the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities are continuing amid "a positive and results-oriented atmosphere," the United Nations Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, has confirmed.
• Extending mandate of UN mission in Mali, Security Council adds observers to monitor fresh ceasefire UN News 29 Jun 2015 -- The Security Council today extended the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) for one year, within the authorized troop ceiling of 11,240 military personnel, including, for the first time, at least 40 military observers to monitor and supervise the country's newly agreed ceasefire.
• ICC Prosecutor says determination to bring justice to people of Sudan remains 'unshaken' UN News 29 Jun 2015 -- Over six years since the issuance of the first warrant of arrest against Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) today said that her Office's determination to bring "independent and impartial justice" to the people of Sudan remains "unshaken".
• DRC to Offer Training for Former Child Soldiers, Sex Abuse Victims VOA 29 Jun 2015 -- The Democratic Republic of Congo's government has launched a training program for former child combatants and victims of sexual violence.
• Israel Boycotts UN Debate on Gaza War Probe VOA 29 Jun 2015 -- Israel has boycotted a day long debate in the U.N. Human Rights Council of the Commission of Inquiry's report into the 2014 Gaza conflict, calling it biased and flawed. The report finds both Israel and armed Palestinian groups may have committed war crimes in Gaza.

News Reports

• Greek PM Hints He Won't Pursue Further Austerity VOA 29 Jun 2015 -- Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says he will respect the outcome of an upcoming referendum on his country's economic future if voters back a new round of European austerity measures that he opposes.
• Background Briefing: P5+1 Negotiations With Iran in Vienna, Austria US Dept. of State 29 Jun 2015
• Understanding realities, political will are what Iran deal needs: Zarif ISNA 29 Jun 2015 -- "Serious understanding of the realities" is what a nuclear deal between Iran and global powers needs, said Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
• US Official: Iran Nuclear Agreement Would Be 'Staggeringly Consequential' VOA 29 Jun 2015 -- A senior U.S. administration official says Iran nuclear negotiators are not looking for a long-term extension to talks that had an original deadline of June 30.
• As Potential Deal Draws Near, Iran Talks Critics Out in Force VOA 29 Jun 2015 -- As world powers and Iran continue nuclear negotiations in Vienna, many observers are optimistic a deal will be reached soon. But hardliners are amping up the rhetoric on both sides. And while a deal that can be implemented successfully may be difficult to reach, analysts say out-dated ideas are simply no longer a practical factor in negotiations.
• With 'Caliphate' One Year Old, IS Remains Strong VOA 29 Jun 2015 -- Monday marks one year since Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the head of the Islamic State group, declared what he called an Islamic 'caliphate' stretching across eastern Syria and northern and western Iraq, now one of the deadliest areas on Earth and the focus of an international effort to combat extremists.
• Kurdish Peace Process Affects Creation of New Ruling Coalition VOA 29 Jun 2015 -- In Turkey, the stalled Kurdish peace process is becoming a central issue in efforts to put together a coalition government, following the country's general election earlier this month. The recent military gains by Kurds against the Islamic State in neighboring Syria also is adding pressure to the coalition-building efforts.
• Tunisian Authorities Seeking Accomplices in Mass Shooting VOA 29 Jun 2015 -- Tunisian authorities are searching for potential accomplices in connection with Friday's mass shooting at a beach resort that left 38 people dead.
• Burundi Votes Despite Boycott, Violence VOA 29 Jun 2015 -- Voters in Burundi cast ballots in parliament and communal elections Monday following a night of gunfire in the capital and weeks of violent political protests. The government says it is pressing on despite international concerns about the credibility of the vote.
• Burundi: U.S. Regrets Decision To Move Ahead With Elections US Dept. of State 29 Jun 2015
• Car Bomb Kills Egypt's Top Prosecutor VOA 29 Jun 2015 -- A car bomb Monday morning killed Egypt's top judicial official, General Prosecutor Hisham Barakat. The now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group has vowed to step up anti-government activities to mark the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi on June 30, 2013.
• Egypt state prosecutor dies of wounds in bombing Press TV 29 Jun 2015 -- Egypt's state prosecutor Hisham Barakat has succumbed to injuries he sustained in a bomb blast in the capital Cairo, two government ministers confirm.
• Revealed: NSA Conducted Massive Economic Espionage Against France Sputnik 29 Jun 2015 -- New documents released by WikiLeaks reveal that the NSA's spying program delved even deeper into the French economy and politics, eavesdropping on government ministers and major corporations. The news comes only days after it was revealed that the US spied on three French presidential administrations.
• Snowden Docs: GCHQ and NSA Hacked Antivirus Software, Spied on Emails Sputnik 29 Jun 2015 -- British and American intelligence agencies deliberately infiltrated and subverted antivirus software, so they could track the online activities of users and even read the emails of their citizens, according to documents leaked by former NSA contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden.
• SpaceX rocket carrying unmanned Dragon capsule explodes at start of ISScargo supply mission People's Daily 29 Jun 2015 -- An unmanned SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket broke up on Sunday morning just minutes after liftoff, destroying the supplies it was carrying to the International Space Station.
• Putin's Godfather RFE/RL 29 Jun 2015 -- It was more than a eulogy. It was a man bidding farewell to his political godfather. Speaking at the funeral of veteran politician Yevgeny Primakov, President Vladimir Putin called him 'a great citizen of our country' who exemplified 'true patriotism and selfless devotion to the fatherland.'