Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Casualty Update 16 Jul 2015 [PDF]
• U.S., Coalition Aircraft Continue Airstrikes Against ISIL AFPS 16 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 attacks kill 16 people in Afghanistan Press TV 16 Jul 2015 -- US drone attacks in the eastern region of Afghanistan have claimed the lives of at least 16 people, officials say.
• Is Faryab Province Quickly Slipping From Afghan Government Control? RFE/RL 16 Jul 2015 -- The situation in Afghanistan's northern Faryab Province, which borders Turkmenistan, has become critical. Militants who started attacks in the province in early July have seized more than 100 villages in little over a week.
• Drone Strike Kills High-ranking Militants in Somalia VOA 16 Jul 2015 -- A drone strike in southern Somalia has killed 30 members of the al-Qaida-linked militant group al-Shabab, including several top leaders, Kenyan officials said Thursday.
• New US drone strike kills 30 in southern Somalia Press TV 16 Jul 2015 -- A fresh US drone strike has claimed the lives of at least 30 people in southern Somalia, local residents and officials say.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Department Announces New Defense Business Board Members DoD 16 Jul 2015-- Secretary of Defense Ashton B. Carter announced today the appointment of eight new members to the Defense Business Board (DBB). These new members, along with the current eighteen members, will provide the secretary of defense and other senior leaders of the Department of Defense with independent advice on best business practices.
• DOD Approves Grants Totaling $54,094,676 for Renovation, Expansion, and New Construction of Schools at Travis Air Force Base, California, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. DoD 16 Jul 2015
• US Marines, Australians conduct amphibious assault for Talisman Sabre 2015 USMC News 16 Jul 2015 -- The Marine Corps has long been synonymous with ship to shore operations. From the Marines' first amphibious landing at the Battle of Nassau in 1776 to now, the Marine Corps has established itself as the premier force in amphibious assaults.
• USNS Mercy Participates in First Disaster Response Exercise of Pacific Partnership 2015 NNS 16 Jul 2015 -- On Sept. 18, 1994, the Rabaul caldera, an active volcano located on the northern part of East New Britain in Papua New Guinea, erupted and nearly wiped out the nearby town of Rabaul.
• CVW 5 Conducts Land Strike Training With RAAF NNS 16 Jul 2015 -- Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, embarked aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), conducted high-intensity land strike training with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as part of exercise Talisman Sabre 2015 (TS15), July 16.
• Landing Craft Make Transporting Easy During Talisman Sabre NNS 16 Jul 2015 -- During the bi-anual exercise Talisman Sabre 2015, Marine landing craft are playing an essential role to safely transport marines from ships to shore.
• Control Group Keeps Talisman Sabre 2015 Training on Target NNS 16 Jul 2015 -- As tens of thousands conduct military training in Australia during Talisman Sabre 2015 (TS15), a combined American-Australian team of nearly 2,500 works behind the scenes to ensure the exercise is as realistic as possible.
• NATO plans biggest war games in decade Press TV 16 Jul 2015 -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) says it plans to conduct its largest military maneuvers in a decade next October.
• Anti-ballistic missile systems not discussed in conversation of Putin, Obama - Kremlin TASS 16 Jul 2015 -- The deployment of the US ABM systems to Europe was not discussed during the telephone conversation between the Russian and US presidents, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters answering a question from a TASS correspondent.
• Russia Chooses India for Most Expensive Private Warship-Building Project Sputnik 16 Jul 2015 -- Russia has chosen an Indian affiliate for the world's most expensive private sector warship-building project, to construct Talwar-class frigates for the Indian Navy, the Economic Times reported on Thursday.
• Russia chooses Indian private shipyard for building frigates - media TASS 16 Jul 2015 -- Russia has chosen the private shipyard Pipavav in India for the joint construction of the Talwar class frigates (patrol ships of Project 11356, India's Economic Times newspaper reported on Thursday.
• Russia Develops New Coastal Defense Gun Sputnik 16 Jul 2015 -- Russia is developing a new self-propelled coastal defense gun, based on the Koalitsiya-SV system, Burevestnik Design Bureau chief, Georgy Zakamennykh, announced on Wednesday.
• Russian Air Force gets shipment of Sukhoi Su-34 frontline bombers, Su-35S fighters TASS 16 Jul 2015 -- A shipment of Su-34 frontline bombers was handed over to the Russian Air Force at the Novosibirsk aviation plant named after Chkalov (Chkalov plant), the Sukhoi design bureau's subsidiary in Novosibirsk, on Thursday, the Sukhoi press service told TASS.
• Russia to substitute over 800 armament types from Ukraine, NATO, EU states TASS 16 Jul 2015 -- Russia's Defense Ministry is continuing work to substitute components imported from Ukraine, NATO and EU countries and intends to replace 826 armament types, Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov said on Thursday.
• Putin holds single day of military products' acceptance, modern weapons share up to 70% TASS 16 Jul 2015 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has held on Thursday the single day of acceptance of military products. The country's Land Forces and Airborne Forces have received 4,500 pieces of military equipment.
• Russia's defense sector demonstrates 10-15% growth dynamics - official TASS 16 Jul 2015 -- Russia's defense industry is demonstrating active growth dynamics, Military and Industrial Commission Board Deputy Head Oleg Bochkaryov said on Wednesday.
• Indian Navy's Quest: 200 Warships in Next 10 Years Sputnik 16 Jul 2015 -- The Indian Navy aims to have 200 warships in the next 10 years, with three aircraft carriers in each of the three naval commands.
• China warns Japan against military deployment Press TV 16 Jul 2015 -- China has warned Japan over the consequences of bills passed by its lower house, allowing combat troops' deployment abroad for the first time since World War II.
• China Strongly Condemns Japan's Approval of Controversial Military Bill Sputnik 16 Jul 2015 -- Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi on Thursday voiced serious concern over Japan's passage of bills that will expand the role of Japan's self-defense forces.
• Turkey Confirms Greek Jets Chased Turkish Fighters Over Aegean Sea Sputnik 16 Jul 2015 -- Earlier in the day, several news outlets reported that Greece had scrambled fighter jets after Turkish aircraft had trespassed into Greek airspace.
• New RAF intelligence aircraft to be delivered seven months early UK MOD 16 Jul 2015 -- Defence Secretary announces the second RAF Airseeker intelligence aircraft will be delivered well ahead of schedule.
• Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz en route Andrews Air Force Base from Oklahoma, 7/16/2015 The White House 16 Jul 2015
• July 16, 2015 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 16 Jul 2015

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for July 16, 2015

Other Conflicts

• 16 July 2015 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 16 Jul 2015
• Beijing accuses Manila of illegal move in the region People's Daily 16 Jul 2015 -- China objected on Wednesday to the Philippines repairing a warship that it ran aground near Ren'ai Reef in the South China Sea, saying that the effort only illustrates that the country is creating trouble.
• Filipino Warship 'Reinforcement' on Chinese Isle Angers Beijing Sputnik 16 Jul 2015 -- China on Wednesday protested against the Philippines' consolidation of its illegally 'stranded' warship on a Chinese reef in the South China Sea.
• Yemen army, allied fighters deal major blow to al-Qaeda, pro-Hadi militants Press TV 16 Jul 2015 -- Yemeni army troopers backed by fighters from the allied Popular Committees have killed dozens of al-Qaeda-linked militants and militiamen loyal to fugitive former president Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi in the country's strategic southern port city of Aden.
• Iraq closes border crossing with Jordan until further notice Press TV 16 Jul 2015 -- Iraq has closed its sole border crossing with Jordan after reports emerged that the ISIL Takfiri terrorist group levies taxes on goods crossing areas under its control.
• Over 100 ISIL Takfiris killed in Iraqi army operations Press TV 16 Jul 2015 -- More than 100 militants from the Takfiri ISIL terrorist group have been killed as Iraqi army forces supported by fighters from the Popular Mobilization units launched separate mop-up operations in the country's western province of Anbar.
• Syria army retakes two villages from militants Press TV 16 Jul 2015 -- Syrian government forces have managed to liberate two villages near the west-central city of Hamah, dealing a blow to the Takfiri terrorists operating in the area.
• Security Council urges all Libyan parties to unite in support of new political agreement UN News 16 Jul 2015 -- The United Nations Security Council has welcomed the initialling of the Libyan political agreement in Skhirat, Morocco on 11 July as the latest step towards resolving the country's political crisis.
• Pro-Russia forces shelling Ukraine army positions: Kiev Press TV 16 Jul 2015 -- Ukrainian military authorities have accused pro-Russia forces of shelling army positions in the country's conflict-ridden eastern parts despite a ceasefire deal agreed between Kiev and the pro-Russians in Belarus earlier this year.
• Leaked MH17 Draft Report Blames Pro-Russian Rebels RFE/RL 16 Jul 2015 -- The Dutch Safety Board's draft investigative report on Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 blames pro-Russian separatists for shooting down the Boeing 777 nearly a year ago, killing all 298 passengers and crew members, according to a CNN report.
• MH17 Downing: One Tragedy, One Truth, But Many Stories RFE/RL 16 Jul 2015 -- One year after the single deadliest incident of the Ukrainian conflict - the shooting down of a Malaysia Airlines jet, killing all 298 unsuspecting passengers and crew aboard Flight MH17 - the world still awaits international investigators' official findings into its cause.
• Constitutional Changes Stipulate No Special Status for Donbass - Poroshenko Sputnik 16 Jul 2015 -- 'Not a single hint at federalization' - Petro Poroshenko ruled out changing Ukraine's unitary system. He said he believed that his proposed changes did not breach the Minsk agreements.
• Full-fledged UN peacekeeping mission in Somalia would be 'high-risk undertaking,' Security Council told UN News 16 Jul 2015 -- A United Nations peacekeeping mission in Somalia would be a "high-risk undertaking," considering the threats posed by Al-Shabaab militants and despite advances made by the African Union Mission in the country (AMISOM), a senior UN official told the Security Council today.

News Reports

• Shootings in Tennessee Leave Four Marines Dead AFPS 16 Jul 2015 -- Four Marines were killed and another service member was wounded in two separate shootings in Chattanooga, Tennessee, today, military officials confirmed.
• Statement by the President on the Shooting in Chattanooga, TN The White House 16 Jul 2015
• President Expresses Nation's Sympathy to Victims' Families AFPS 16 Jul 2015 -- President Barack Obama today expressed his sympathy and that of the nation for the families of the four Marines shot to death this morning at military facilities in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
• Statement by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter DoD 16 Jul 2015
• SECNAV Statement on Shooting in Chattanooga, TN NNS 16 Jul 2015 -- Today, the Navy and Marine Corps team collectively mourn the loss of four heroes. The tragedy in Chattanooga is both devastating and senseless. On behalf of the entire Department of the Navy family, I offer my deepest condolences to the families of those killed and wounded in service to our nation during this incident.
• Lavrov: Iran Deal Strengthens Non-Proliferation Sputnik 16 Jul 2015 -- Sergei Lavrov claims that the landmark deal reached between Iran and six world powers this week will boost nuclear non-proliferation.
• Push to Counter Israeli, Saudi Fears on Iran Deal Shows Little Progress VOA 16 Jul 2015 -- Top American and British diplomats appeared to make little headway Thursday in easing Saudi and Israeli fears about the historic international agreement aimed at keeping Iran from building a nuclear weapon.
• Erdogan hits back at German magazine over spying report Press TV 16 Jul 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has roundly rejected a recent report that the country's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) is spying on political dissidents in Germany, describing it as fictional and slanderous.
• Turkey Courts Deal Successive Blows to AK Party VOA 16 Jul 2015 -- Following the AK Party losing its majority in Turkey's parliament in June elections, the country's courts have dealt it a series of legal blows. The rulings are seen as a sign the judiciary is seeking to re-establish its independence.
• ISIL affiliate claims attack on Egypt navy boat near Sinai Press TV 16 Jul 2015 -- The Takfiri ISIL terror group has claimed responsibility for a missile attack which set fire to a vessel belonging to the Egyptian army off North Sinai in the Mediterranean.
• IS Claims Missile Strike on Egyptian Navy Vessel VOA 16 Jul 2015 -- The Egyptian affiliate of the Islamic State says it has carried out a missile strike on an Egyptian navy vessel off North Sinai, the SITE intelligence group reports Thursday.
• Kyrgyz Security Forces Kill Four Alleged Terrorists, Detain Five RFE/RL 16 Jul 2015 -- Kyrgyz security forces have killed four alleged terrorists and detained five others after a special operation in Bishkek.
• Bosnian Serbs Approve Referendum Challenging National Court RFE/RL 16 Jul 2015 -- Lawmakers in the autonomous Serb region of Bosnia have voted to hold a referendum on the authority of the national court over Serbs, in a move the West says is an open challenge to the integrity of the Bosnian state.
• Burundi: UN experts urge Security Council action amid mounting violence UN News 16 Jul 2015 -- The escalating pattern of politically motivated violence in Burundi demands a response from the United Nations Security Council before the hostilities can evolve into wholesale atrocities, a group of the Organization's independent experts have warned.