Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Casualty Update 02 Jul 2015 [PDF]
• Airstrikes Hit ISIL in Syria, Iraq AFPS 02 Jul 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.
• US Drone Strike Kills Senior IS Militant VOA 02 Jul 2015 -- A senior Islamic State fighter from Tunisia has been killed in a U.S. drone strike in Syria, the Pentagon said Thursday.
• Afghanistan's Underbelly: The Exposed North RFE/RL 02 Jul 2015 -- The roar of gunfire has stopped, and the bullet-riddled homes rebuilt, but the horrors of civil war are seared into the memories of residents here.
• Afghanistan Protests Clashes on Pakistan Border VOA 02 Jul 2015 -- Afghanistan has lodged an official complaint with Pakistan over a deadly border clash this week between security forces along their shared border. The incident could imperil a recent thaw in bilateral relations, although Islamabad has downplayed it and vowed to help sustain Kabul's peace and reconciliation efforts.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Pentagon Says Odds Of Clash With Russia, China Rising RFE/RL 02 Jul 2015 -- A Pentagon report July 1 warned of a 'low but growing' probability that the United States will get drawn into a war with the world's other major military powers, Russia and China, and predicted the consequences would be 'immense.'
• Russia slams 'confrontational' tone of US military strategy Press TV 02 Jul 2015 -- Russia has criticized the so-called National Military Strategy of the United States, saying the newly released document carries a "confrontational" message and will not help normalize ties between the two countries.
• Kremlin regrets confrontational tone of US national military strategy TASS 02 Jul 2015 -- A new version of Russia's national security strategy, currently in the draft phase, will envisage countermeasures against all likely threats, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in reply to a question from TASS. As he commented on Washington's new military strategy, he expressed regret the document by no means contributed to the cause of normalizing relations with Russia but on the contrary carried an outspokenly confrontational message.
• Kadena, Marine units integrate for large-force exercise AFNS 02 Jul 2015 -- Flying squadrons from Kadena Air Base were a part of a joint service exercise here, with units from the Marine Corps to practice air-to-air superiority while protecting ground troops June 30.
• SecAF visits key operating locations in European theater AFNS 02 Jul 2015 -- Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James completed a multination visit throughout Europe June 13-24.
• Marines on target with F-35 live-weapons release USMC News 02 Jul 2015 -- Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, also known as the "Green Knights," conducted the first F-35B operational ordnance expenditures June 22 to 26.
• LCS Crew 106 Commissioned for Duty NNS 02 Jul 2015 -- The littoral combat ship (LCS) rotational crew commissioning ceremony for Crew 106 was held at Mariner's Park on board Naval Base San Diego, July 2.
• Northern Edge 2015; Reserve, National Guard, active-duty units work together USMC News 02 Jul 2015 -- As with all training and operational events, the U.S. military would not be successful without a total force and joint effort, and Northern Edge 2015 is no different.
• Gators on track with the 31st MEU USMC News 02 Jul 2015 -- The hatches of the AAV-P7/A1 Amphibious Assault Vehicles are closed, engines are rumbling and the blue vastness of the Pacific ocean is visible from the opening of the well deck of the USS Ashland (LSD 48). Once given the signal, the AAV's push forward off the edge of the ramp, splashing into the water.
• Joint Forces participate in Northern Edge 2015 USMC News 02 Jul 2015 -- Approximately 6,000 U.S. military personnel from the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Army and Coast Guard, are participating in exercise Northern Edge 2015.
• NATO Accuses Russia of 'Aggressive Methods' of Naval Intel Collection Sputnik 02 Jul 2015 -- Speaking at a conference in London over the future of NATO's naval forces, senior NATO commander Adrian Bradshaw accused Russia of being 'bold' and even 'aggressive' in its methods of gathering intel about NATO forces in the bodies of water surrounding Russia's borders, AFP reports.
• "Romania can count on NATO" says Secretary General in Bucharest NATO 02 Jul 2015 -- In a visit to Bucharest on Thursday (2 July 2015), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanked Romania for its considerable contributions to Allied security. At a joint press conference with President Klaus Werner Iohannis, Mr. Stoltenberg described Romania as a "steadfast Ally," stressing that "NATO counts on Romania, and Romania can count on NATO."
• Russia's future amphibious assault ships to be greatly different from Mistrals TASS 02 Jul 2015 -- Russia's universal amphibious assault ships of the future will by no means be exact replicas of France's helicopter carriers Mistral, the chief of naval shipbuilding division at the Krylov State Research Center, Vladimir Pepelyayev, said at the international naval show in St. Petersburg. Russia's ships will be built for different purposes.
• Russia to continue building Borei submarines after 2020 - Navy's commander TASS 02 Jul 2015 -- Russia will go ahead with building nuclear-powered Borei submarines after 2020, the Navy's commander-in-chief, Admiral Viktor Chirkov told the media on Thursday.
• Source: Atomic power unit for Russian aircraft carrier to be worked out on Lider destroyer TASS 02 Jul 2015 -- The nuclear power generating facility for the propulsion system of Russia's future aircraft carrier will be worked out on the Lider (Leader) class destroyer, a shipbuilding industry source told TASS on Thursday.
• Russia Grants Loan To Armenia To Buy Arms, Modernize Army RFE/RL 02 Jul 2015 -- Russia has granted ally Armenia a $200 million loan to buy weapons and help modernize its armed forces.
• Russia holding talks on supplies of Iskander-M missile systems to Armenia - source TASS 02 Jul 2015 -- Russia is holding talks on supplies to Armenia of Iskander-M tactical missile systems, the contract has not been signed yet, a military source told TASS on Thursday.
• Iraqi Government Training Thousands of Sunni Tribesmen VOA 02 Jul 2015 -- Three senior U.S. defense officials with ties to the Iraqi government have told VOA that Iraq has recruited about 6,000 Sunni tribesmen fighters, a force many say will be critical in defeating Islamic State.
• Vietnam Receives New Russian Sub With Club-S Missiles Sputnik 02 Jul 2015 -- Vietnam's navy has received a fourth Varshavianka-class submarine, armed with unique Club-S cruise missiles capable of striking both sea and coastal targets.
• India urged to repeal soldiers' impunity IRIN 02 Jul 2015 -- A law preventing civilian courts from prosecuting security personnel in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir has led to a quarter century of human rights abuses, Amnesty International said in a report urging the government to repeal the legislation.
• Thai navy plans to buy three Chinese subs People's Daily 02 Jul 2015 -- The Thai navy plans to buy three submarines from China under a government-to-government dealing, said Thai navy chief Adm Kraisorn Chansuvanit on Thursday.
• July 2, 2015 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 02 Jul 2015
• Press Gaggle with Eric Schultz en route La Crosse, WI The White House 02 Jul 2015

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 02, 2015

Other Conflicts

• 2 July 2015 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 02 Jul 2015
• China Expands Military Facilities on Man-Made Islands VOA 02 Jul 2015 -- China has nearly completed a military-length runway on one of the artificial islands it has built in the disputed South China Sea, according to satellite photos published by a maritime monitoring group.
• UN declares highest-level humanitarian emergency in Yemen IRNA 02 Jul 2015 -- The United Nations on Wednesday declared its highest-level humanitarian emergency in conflict-torn Yemen, where over 80 percent of the population needs assistance.
• More Yemenis fall victim to unabated Saudi airstrikes Press TV 02 Jul 2015 -- Five more people have been killed and several others wounded in new Saudi airstrikes in northern Yemen, as the impoverished Arab country struggles to cope with the deadly attacks in the holy month of Ramadan.
• Yemen: amid unfolding humanitarian "catastrophe," Ban calls for end to hostilities UN News 02 Jul 2015 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon repeated yesterday his call for an immediate end to the fighting in Yemen to help stem the unfolding humanitarian "catastrophe" in the country.
• US faces challenges over training 'moderate' rebels in Syria Press TV 02 Jul 2015 -- The US military has new problems over recruiting and training the so-called "moderate" rebels in Syria because people want to be with their families in the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
• Syria's 'disastrous' conflict fuelling child labour and exploitation across region, warns new UN report UN News 02 Jul 2015 -- Much more needs to be done to reverse the trend of an ever increasing number of children forced to work as a result of the conflict in Syria often "carrying heavy loads, being exposed to pesticides and toxic chemicals, and working long hours," according to a joint report released today by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Save the Children.
• South Sudan: UN deplores deadly attack as tensions in country simmer UN News 02 Jul 2015 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned a deadly attack against a United Nations 'protection-of-civilians' site in South Sudan amid a renewed flare-up of violence in the newfound nation.
• UNSC imposes sanctions on six S Sudan generals Press TV 02 Jul 2015 -- The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has imposed sanctions on six South Sudanese commanders for fueling the ongoing conflict in the African country.
• UN Dignitaries Use Spurned 'G-Word' To Describe Srebrenica Massacre RFE/RL 02 Jul 2015 -- Russia and its Balkan allies may find it offensive to use the word genocide to describe the massacre of thousands at Srebrenica during the Bosnian war, but few others at the United Nations hesitate to do so.
• Suspected Boko Haram Attacks Kill Nearly 150 in Northern Nigeria VOA 02 Jul 2015 -- Suspected Boko Haram militants have killed nearly 150 people in attacks in northeastern Nigeria.
• New Boko Haram attacks kill 145 in NE Nigeria: Witnesses Press TV 02 Jul 2015 -- At least 145 people have been killed in fresh attacks by suspected Boko Haram militants on homes and mosques in Nigeria's restive northeast, witnesses say.
• Mali: UN condemns attack which killed six peacekeepers UN News 02 Jul 2015 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned today the attack against a convoy of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), which killed six peacekeepers and injured five others.
• Militants kill 6 UN peacekeeping soldiers in Mali Press TV 02 Jul 2015 -- A group of heavily-armed militants has ambushed a United Nations convoy in northern Mali, killing at least six UN peacekeepers and injuring several others.
• UN Official: Donor Fatigue, Insecurity Threaten Somalia Progress VOA 02 Jul 2015 -- Philippe Lazzarini, outgoing United Nations humanitarian chief for Somalia, said the country is on the right development trajectory following years of chaos but worries donor fatigue and insecurity continue to threaten its fragile progress.
• S. Korean Puppet Regime Accused of Escalating Confrontation and Inciting War Hysteria KCNA 02 Jul 2015 -- Recently, the south Korean puppet group has staged a series of unprecedentedly hideous farces to provoke the DPRK, escalating confrontation and inciting war hysteria against it 13 years since the skirmish in the West Sea of Korea.

News Reports

• Iran president holds talks with IAEA's Amano in Tehran Press TV 02 Jul 2015 -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has met with the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Tehran, amid parallel diplomatic efforts in Vienna aimed at reaching a final deal on the Iranian nuclear issue.
• No Clarity on Status of Iran Nuclear Talks VOA 02 Jul 2015 -- Iranian negotiators in Vienna are sending mixed signals about the pace of talks with Western powers on the country's nuclear program.
• The most important aid organisation you've never heard of IRIN 02 Jul 2015 -- Few have heard of it. Even fewer know how it will work. But a newly launched body could revolutionise how Saudi Arabia gives hundreds of millions of dollars of emergency aid every year.
• New, modern terminal of Pyongyang Int'l Airport put into use People's Daily 02 Jul 2015 -- The newly completed terminal of Pyongyang International Airport, which the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) says is 'a model edifice in the Songun era', was officially put into use starting Wednesday after a topping out ceremony held here in the morning.
• Did the North Korean Founder's Portrait Disappear From Pyongyang? Sputnik 02 Jul 2015 -- The image of Kim Il Sung, the founder of North Korea, was not featured at the new Pyongyang International Airport terminal, which Kim Jong Un dedicated to his father, Kim Jong Il.
• NSA spied on German chancellor, ministers: Report Press TV 02 Jul 2015 -- New WikiLeaks documents show that the United States not only spied on German Chancellor Angela Merkel but also on several ministers of the country.
• UK Government Spied on Amnesty International Sputnik 02 Jul 2015 -- The United Kingdom's surveillance tribunal has notified Amnesty International that it was under surveillance by UK government intelligence agencies, the watchdog said in a press release.