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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Casualty Update 12 Aug 2015 [PDF]
• Department of Defense Press Briefing with Gen. Odierno on the State of the Army in the Pentagon Press Briefing Room DoD 12 Aug 2015
• Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 12 Aug 2015 -- U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq.
• US-led air raids leave 8 civilians dead in Syria: Report Press TV 12 Aug 2015 -- At least eight civilians have lost their lives in airstrikes conducted by the US-led coalition purportedly targeting terrorists in Syria.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Partnerships key in homeland defense says NORTHCOM commander Army News 12 Aug 2015 -- One of the nation's top military leaders spoke on the importance of U.S. missile defense capabilities during the 18th annual Space and Missile Defense Symposium at the Von Braun Center here, Aug. 11.
• NORAD Commander: Our Missile Defense Strategy Won’t Work Sputnik 12 Aug 2015 -- Despite spending billions on a state-of-the-art missile defense system, North American Aerospace Defense commanders have admitted that it would be largely ineffective in preventing an incoming attack.
• U.S. Marine Corps moves forward with F-35 transition USMC News 12 Aug 2015 -- The U.S. Marine Corps' F-35B Lightning II aircraft reached initial operational capability (IOC) on July 31, 2015 with a squadron of 10 F-35Bs ready for world-wide deployment.
• Troubled F-35's First Generation-3 Helmet Handed Over to Pilots Sputnik 12 Aug 2015 -- Defense contractor Rockwell Collins delivered the first Generation 3 helmet-mounted display system for the F-35 fighter jet during a ceremony Wednesday at the company's headquarters in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
• US F-35 warplanes outgunned in dogfights with Russian, Chinese jets: Report Press TV 12 Aug 2015 -- US F-35 fighter jets, which have been tested recently, would be outmaneuvered and outgunned in dogfights with current Russian and Chinese jets, a new report reveals.
• Increased NATO, Russian Military Drills Raising Tensions RFE/RL 12 Aug 2015 -- The increase in the scale and number of military exercises by Russian and NATO is making armed conflict in Europe more likely, a think tank has warned.
• Exercise Allied Spirit II strengthens NATO interoperability, relationships Army News 12 Aug 2015 -- More than 4,500 participants from eight nations are participating in Exercise Allied Spirit II, which is already underway, at the U.S. Army's Hohenfels Training Area in southeastern Germany.
• Kursk Anniversary: Submarine Disaster Was Putin's 'First Lie' RFE/RL 12 Aug 2015 -- Fifteen years after the dramatic sinking of the Kursk nuclear submarine with the loss 118 lives in August 2000, lawyer Boris Kuznetsov sees the tragedy as a turning point for modern Russia.
• Saudi Arabia Setting Terms for Purchase of Russian Iskander Missiles Sputnik 12 Aug 2015 -- Saudi Arabia is discussing buying Russian-made Iskander tactical missile systems.
• Sources: Latest Indian, French Warplane Deal Runs into Problems VOA 12 Aug 2015 -- India's order of 36 French-made Rafale fighter jets has run into trouble with government officials struggling to agree sales terms, sources said, four months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi intervened to break a logjam in previous commercial negotiations.
• New home-developed UAV, weaponry to be shown at defense exhibit CNA 12 Aug 2015 -- The military will showcase an array of locally developed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and various kinds of weaponry, including missile and rocket systems.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing, August 12, 2015 US Dept. of State 12 Aug 2015
• Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 12 August 2015 United Nations 12 Aug 2015

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for August 12, 2015

Other Conflicts

• Turkey Vows 'Safe Zone' On Syrian Border; U.S. Says No Deal RFE/RL 12 Aug 2015 -- Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says his country is determined to set up a safe zone just across the border in northern Syria where civilians would be safe from attack.
• Turkish warplanes bombard PKK positions in SW Turkey Press TV 12 Aug 2015 -- Turkish warplanes have bombarded the positions of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants in the southwestern part of the country.
• Fight Against PKK Boosts Turkey Coalition-building VOA 12 Aug 2015 -- News that the leaders of Turkey's two largest political parties will meet again to discuss forming a governing coalition caught many observers by surprise, given the widely held view that the coalition-building efforts were doomed.
• Why Chechen Militants In Syria Are Showing Off Weapons Meant For Moderate Rebels RFE/RL 12 Aug 2015 -- On August 11, a Chechen-led militant group in Syria posted a photograph of one of its fighters with a Chinese-made large-caliber sniper rifle.
• Russia Hosts Talks With Syrian Opposition, Signals Possible Shift VOA 12 Aug 2015 -- Russia this week is for the first time hosting talks with the main Syrian opposition group, the Syrian National Coalition, as part of a push for dialogue with Damascus.
• In Jordan, head of UN food releif agency urges increased funding for Syrian refugees UN News 12 Aug 2015 -- The United Nations World Food Programme has voiced concern over the deteriorating conditions of Syrian refugees now residing in Jordan.
• Yemeni forces launch missile attack on Saudi army base Press TV 12 Aug 2015 -- The Ansarullah fighters of the Houthi movement and Yemeni army forces have launched a retaliatory missile attack on a Saudi military base in the country's southwest.
• Iran vice president says Tehran ready to increase humanitarian aid to Yemen Press TV 12 Aug 2015 -- A senior Iranian official says Tehran is ready to increase humanitarian assistance to the Yemeni people, who are bearing the brunt of the brutal Saudi aggression.
• Hamas announces capturing of Israeli drone Press TV 12 Aug 2015 -- The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has announced it has successfully captured an Israeli drone that is now operational for use by its military wing.
• Struggling to Find Common Ground at South Sudan Peace Talks VOA 12 Aug 2015 -- Negotiators for President Salva Kiir’s government and the armed opposition group led by Riek Machar emerged from days of meetings Wednesday with news that the people of South Sudan did not want to hear: disagreements are still barring the way to peace.
• South Sudan Rebels Deny Split in Ranks VOA 12 Aug 2015 -- South Sudan rebels loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar are denying reports of a split in their ranks.
• Thousands in S. Sudan Flee to Malakal UN Compound VOA 12 Aug 2015 -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says aid agencies are racing to cope with the rapid influx of thousands of internally displaced South Sudanese at a U.N. compound in Malakal, Upper Nile State.
• Military Deployed as Boko Haram Scare Grips Cameroon VOA 12 Aug 2015 -- Cameroonians are learning to cope with the many security checks in their country after the government deployed its military to all major towns as a fear of Boko Haram terrorism grips the country.
• Central African Republic: Ban vows ‘decisive action’ on allegations of sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers UN News 12 Aug 2015 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced that he has accepted the resignation of the head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic.

News Reports

• Report: North Korean Vice Premier Executed VOA 12 Aug 2015 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered the execution of his vice premier, according to a South Korean news report, in the latest alleged purge of Pyongyang's senior leadership.
• Background Briefing on Secretary Kerry's Travel to Cuba US Dept. of State 12 Aug 2015
• Secretary Kerry Interview With Andres Oppenheimer of CNN Espanol US Dept. of State 12 Aug 2015
• Secretary Kerry Interview With Jose Diaz-Balart of Telemundo US Dept. of State 12 Aug 2015
• Secretary Kerry Interview With Maria Elena Salinas of Univision US Dept. of State 12 Aug 2015
• Egypt Frees Pro-Morsi Politician After 2 Years of Pretrial Detention VOA 12 Aug 2015 -- Opposition politician Abul-Ela Mady was released Wednesday after nearly two years of pretrial detention, Mady's son Ahmed said, two days after a court ordered him set free.
• Amid Crackdown, Putin Reportedly Plans Human Rights Award RFE/RL 12 Aug 2015 -- Rights groups in Russia have been ensnared in a far-reaching government clampdown since Vladimir Putin returned to the presidency in 2012.
• Libya Unity Talks End With Vow to Make Deal VOA 12 Aug 2015 -- Peace talks between Libya's warring factions ended Wednesday in Geneva without resolution.
• Libya’s Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani resigns Press TV 12 Aug 2015 -- The prime minister of Libya's internationally recognized government has announced his resignation on live television.
• Libyan PM Offers to Resign VOA 12 Aug 2015 -- The prime minister of Libya's internationally recognized government said he would resign if demanded by the people.
• Libya Peace Talks Underway While Thousands Flee the Lawless State Sputnik 12 Aug 2015 -- The consequences of the Arab Spring and the uprising of Islamic State along with the overthrow of Libya’s leader Colonel Gaddafi are ricocheting across the world.
• UN and international envoys urge Burundi Government to forge ‘new path’ through dialogue UN News 12 Aug 2015 -- The Government of Burundi should immediately seize the opportunity for dialogue and forge a “new path,” United Nations and international envoys declared today, condemning the wave of recent attacks in the crisis-torn country and urging parties to show “restraint, leadership, and vision.”