Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Casualty Update 06 Aug 2015 [PDF]
• Airstrikes Hit ISIL in Syria, Iraq AFPS 06 Aug 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.
• 1 Year in, Officials Assess Anti-ISIL Progress AFPS 06 Aug 2015 -- On Aug. 8, 2014, coalition aircraft conducted the first airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. A year later, senior leaders have had a chance to reflect on the progress thus far and how it shapes the future of Operation Inherent Resolve.
• New US drone strike kills 12 in eastern Afghanistan Press TV 06 Aug 2015 -- A fresh US drone strike has claimed lives of at least a dozen people and injured several others in the troubled eastern Afghanistan, Press TV reports.
• Military chopper crash in southern Afghanistan kills 17 Press TV 06 Aug 2015 -- At least 17 people have been killed after a military helicopter crashed in Afghanistan's southern Zabul Province, police sources say.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Deterrence Still Cornerstone of U.S. Strategy, Haney Says AFPS 06 Aug 2015 -- Even in an age of terror groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and al-Qaida, deterrence remains at the heart of America's security strategy, said Navy Adm. Cecil D. Haney, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command.
• CSAF listens to Airmen, discusses nuclear enterprise mission AFNS 06 Aug 2015 -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A Welsh III visited three Air Force Global Strike Command bases to listen to Airmen of all ranks who support the Global Strike mission on a daily basis, while addressing the importance of the nuclear enterprise and its future.
• US nuclear arsenal to cost nearly $1 trillion to upgrade: Study Press TV 06 Aug 2015 -- A US Defense Department think tank has estimated that modernization of the existing US nuclear arsenal is likely to cost Washington nearly $1 trillion over the next 30 years, which is way more than what the Pentagon can currently afford.
• Work, Kendall Visit Livermore Lab, Nuke Stockpile AFPS 06 Aug 2015 -- With responsibility for surety of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California is a "national treasure," Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work said after visiting the facility yesterday.
• Defense Department Announces the Transfer of Umm Sayyaf DoD 06 Aug 2015 -- Earlier today, Nasrin As'ad Ibrahim, also known as Umm Sayyaf, a suspected member of ISIL who has been detained by U.S. forces in Iraq since May 15, was transferred to the custody of the Government of Iraq. Umm Sayyaf is now being held by the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government's Ministry of Interior.
• Maintainers extend life of T-38 Talon AFNS 06 Aug 2015 -- The Air Force's trusted trainer, the T-38 Talon, has a new lease on life thanks to a robust structural-modification program.
• PANAMAX 2015 Comes to a Close NNS 06 Aug 2015 -- Rear Adm. George Ballance, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) presided over the PANAMAX 2015 closing ceremonies at the Ocean Breeze Conference Center at Naval Station (NS) Mayport, Aug. 5.
• Pentagon Outranged by Chinese Anti-Ship Missiles, Scrambles to Save Face Sputnik 06 Aug 2015 -- Desperate to compete with China's long-range anti-ship missiles, the US Navy is considering one of two options: forge ahead with the expensive, but state-of-the-art LRASM, or upgrade the Cold War-era Tomahawk, a missile never intended for naval warfare.
• Statement by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on the Senate's Confirmation of General Milley, Admiral Richardson, and Lieutenant General Neller DoD 06 Aug 2015
• Pacific Partnership Team Arrives in San Fernando City, Philippines NNS 06 Aug 2015 -- The Military Sealift Command joint high speed vessel USNS Millinocket (JHSV 3) arrived in San Fernando City, Philippines, Aug. 4 for its fourth stop of Pacific Partnership 2015.
• US Air Force Launches Massive Upgrade Program for AWACS Fleet Sputnik 06 Aug 2015 -- In an effort to upgrade its airborne early warning and control (AWAC) aircraft, the US Air Force is about to spend $60 million upgrading its E-3 Sentry fleet.
• Russia's New Spy Ship Can Track Sea-Based Elements of US Missile Defense Sputnik 06 Aug 2015 -- Russia's state-of-the-art reconnaissance ship, dubbed Admiral Yury Ivanov, is capable of tracking and locating gaps in the US missile defense, in particular its Aegis sea-based system, Bild reported.
• For Sale: France Mentions Potential Candidates Willing to Buy Mistrals Sputnik 06 Aug 2015 -- On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Francois Hollande made a joint decision to terminate the 1.2-billion euro ($1.32 billion) Mistral contract signed in June 2011.
• France to Refund Less Than €1.2 Billion Over Mistral Deal - Minister Sputnik 06 Aug 2015 -- The settlement terms of the contract for the delivery of two Mistral-class helicopter carriers to Russia stipulate that France will pay a refund of less than 1.2 billion euro ($1.32 billion at current exchange rates), French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Thursday.
• France Transfers Compensation for Mistral Non-Delivery in 'Utmost Secrecy' Sputnik 06 Aug 2015 -- Paris transferred over 1.1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) to a Russian bank as compensation for terminating the deal to deliver two Mistral-class helicopter carriers to the Russian Navy 'in utmost secrecy,' the Kommersant newspaper reported, citing an unnamed source.
• Russia's naval aviation to receive first Mistral-bound helicopters by 2018 TASS 06 Aug 2015 -- The Russian Navy expects to receive the first Kamov Ka-52K (Katran) ship-borne helicopters in 2017-2018, a high-placed source in the Navy's Main Headquarters told TASS on Thursday.
• Fifth Generation Super Weapons to Significantly Increase China's Air Power Sputnik 06 Aug 2015 -- Since 2008, the People's Republic of China (PRC) has worked to design and manufacture fifth generation jet plain design concepts, both for its own use and to sell on a global scale.
• Contracts give Royal Navy Frigates a power boost UK MOD 06 Aug 2015 -- The MOD has awarded contracts worth £80 million to upgrade the backbone of the Royal Navy surface flotilla, the Type 23 Frigates.
• North Korea Defends Its Nuclear Program VOA 06 Aug 2015 -- North Korea's Foreign Ministry spokesman defended the country's nuclear program Thursday, saying Pyongyang's decision on whether it would carry out another nuclear test would depend on the United States.
• August 6, 2015 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 06 Aug 2015
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 8/6/15 The White House 06 Aug 2015

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 06, 2015

Other Conflicts

• 6 August 2015 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 06 Aug 2015
• ASEAN Concerned About S. China Sea Dispute VOA 06 Aug 2015 -- Land reclamation in the South China Sea has 'increased tensions' in the region, according to Southeast Asian foreign ministers, who wrangled for days about how to word their annual communique.
• Saudi warplanes pound civilian targets in NW Yemen Press TV 06 Aug 2015 -- Saudi warplanes have carried out attacks against civilian targets in the northwestern Yemeni province of Sa'ada.
• Saudis Reinforce Troops Battling Yemen Houthi Rebels VOA 06 Aug 2015 -- Saudi Arabia is boosting its efforts to defeat Iranian-backed Houthi insurgents in war-torn Yemen, sending in more heavy weaponry and troops in recent days.
• UNSC to vote on probe into chemical arms use in Syria: Diplomats Press TV 06 Aug 2015 -- The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is set to vote on a draft resolution to assemble a team of investigators tasked with identifying the perpetrators of the chemical weapon attacks in war-ravaged Syria, diplomats say.
• ISIL seizes strategic town in Syria's Homs province: Observatory Press TV 06 Aug 2015 -- ISIL terrorists have managed to capture a key town in the central Homs province, a UK-based monitoring group says.
• Iran Offers To Mediate Syrian Conflict, Present UN Peace Plan RFE/RL 06 Aug 2015 -- Iranian leaders on August 5 offered to help mediate the conflict in Syria and said they would soon present a Syrian peace plan to the United Nations.
• UN agency prioritizes most needy Syrian refugees in Iraq for food assistance UN News 06 Aug 2015 -- In an effort to meet the food needs of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees living in Iraq, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has announced that it will focus its resources this month on those living in the country's Kurdistan region.
• U.S., Russia To Push UN Measure On Chemical Attacks In Syria RFE/RL 06 Aug 2015 -- The United States and Russia have reached agreement on a draft United Nations resolution aimed at identifying the perpetrators of chemical weapons attacks in Syria so they can be brought to justice, diplomats said August 5.
• Libya: new round of UN-facilitated political dialogue set to begin next week UN News 06 Aug 2015 -- With a new round of the United Nations-facilitated political dialogue set to begin next week, the top UN envoy for Libya, Bernardino León, has urged the parties to redouble their efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the country.
• Voluntary Repatriation of Somali Refugees Begins VOA 06 Aug 2015 -- The arrival Wednesday at Mogadishu International airport of 116 Somali refugees from a Kenyan camp marks a first step in efforts to repatriate greater numbers of Somali refugees from Kenya, the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said.
• Growing insecurity leads to more displacements in Lake Chad region, warns UN official UN News 06 Aug 2015 -- The United Nations today reported further population displacement in the Lake Chad region owing to fear of attacks by Boko Haram and appeals by the Government of Chad for civilians to leave areas where ongoing military operations are being undertaken against the group.
• South Sudan Peace Talks Resume With IGAD Plea for Compromise VOA 06 Aug 2015 -- East African bloc IGAD opened a new round of peace talks for South Sudan in Addis Ababa Thursday with a plea for the warring sides to be open to compromise as they work with mediators to end 20 months of conflict.

News Reports

• Iran Refutes 'Baseless' Claims of Nuclear Clean-Up at Parchin Military Base Sputnik 06 Aug 2015 -- An Iranian delegation at the United Nations on Thursday rejected as groundless media reports claiming Iran was hiding illegal nuclear activities at its Parchin military site ahead of an international inspection.
• Iran rejects reports of sanitization work at Parchin military site Press TV 06 Aug 2015 -- Iran's Permanent Mission to the UN has rejected as "ridiculous" the recent claims in US media that Tehran is working to clean up the Parchin military site in an effort to remove what they called evidence of nuclear activities at the facility.
• All but Zionists, US warmongers happy about Iran agreement: Rouhani Press TV 06 Aug 2015 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has praised the recent nuclear conclusion between Iran and the P5+1 countries, saying the entire Middle East and world nations are pleased with the accord except for the Israelis and warmongers in the United States.
• IAEA chief won't share Iran nuclear documents with Congress Press TV 06 Aug 2015 -- The head of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency has refused to provide Congress a copy of the organization's nuclear inspection document with Iran despite harsh criticism from Republican senators.
• Iran Nuclear Watchdog's Visit Doesn't Reassure U.S. Senators RFE/RL 06 Aug 2015 -- A briefing by the United Nations' nuclear watchdog left U.S. senators 'less assured' than before about the Iran nuclear deal, Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Corker said August 5.
• DPRK, Japan foreign ministers hold rare talks in Malaysia People's Daily 06 Aug 2015 -- Foreign Ministers of Japan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) held bilateral talks here Thursday on the sidelines of a series of regional meetings, a DPRK spokesman confirmed.
• Widow of former ROK president Kim Dae-jung begins DPRK visit People's Daily 06 Aug 2015 -- The widow of the Republic of Korea's late president Kim Dae-jung arrived in Pyongyang on Wednesday afternoon for her four-day visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea amid remaining cross-border tensions.
• 'No more Hiroshimas. No more Nagasakis,' Ban declares on anniversary of atomic bombing UN News 06 Aug 2015 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today renewed his resolve to advance the goal of achieving a world "free of the nuclear shadow," in a message to mark the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
• Egypt Launches $8.5 Billion Suez Canal Expansion VOA 06 Aug 2015 -- Egypt has opened a major expansion of the Suez Canal that President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has billed as an historic achievement needed to boost the country's ailing economy after years of unrest.
• Egypt inaugurates new Suez Canal Press TV 06 Aug 2015 -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has officially inaugurated the New Suez Canal, a highly-publicized project meant for boosting his nationalist image and shoring up the country's battered economy.
• Amid rising tensions and instability, UN chief reiterates concerns to Burundian President UN News 06 Aug 2015 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza to resume the political dialogue that was suspended last month, and reiterated his strong condemnation of the recent killing of General Adolphe Nshimirimana and the attempted assassination of human rights defender Pierre Claver Mbonimpa.
• IS Claims Responsibility for Suicide Bombing at Saudi Mosque VOA 06 Aug 2015 -- A new Islamic State affiliate claimed responsibility Thursday for killing 15 people in a suicide bombing at a Saudi mosque used by security forces.
• Liberia Ebola survivors find unexpected hope IRIN 06 Aug 2015 -- When Liberia was declared Ebola-free on 9 May, 24-year-old Korlubah* thought that the deadly virus, which had killed more than 4,800 people in his country, could no longer reach him.