Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Casualty Update 23 Sep 2015 [PDF]
• Afghan forces kill 38 Taliban militants in clean-up operations Press TV 23 Sep 2015 -- Army soldiers in Afghanistan backed by security personnel have killed more than 30 Taliban militants and wounded several others in a series of clean-up operations carried out across the war-torn country over the past 24 hours.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Peterson hosts high-altitude training for Afghan pilots, 81st FS AFNS 23 Sep 2015 -- Afghan pilots, maintainers and instructor pilots from the 81st Fighter Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, came here this month to conduct high-altitude training in the mountainous terrain.
• Airmen gain knowledge in Indonesian exercise AFNS 23 Sep 2015 -- U.S. and Indonesian service members recently shared knowledge in a 10-day bilateral exercise that allowed participants to plan humanitarian assistance in a devastating natural disaster scenario.
• Barksdale Airmen participate in EUCOM exercise AFNS 23 Sep 2015 -- A 2nd Bomb Wing B-52 Stratofortress aircrew conducted a long-range bomber mission from the United States to the U.S. European Command area of operations Sept. 17-18, where they participated in exercise Immediate Response 2015.
• Readout of Secretary Carter's Meeting with Norwegian Minister of Defense Ine Eriksen Søreide DoD 23 Sep 2015
• Remarks by Secretary Carter and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg following the Lean In Circle with female military servicewomen, at the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia DoD 23 Sep 2015
• NAVFAC Southwest Awards a $240 Million Contract for Airfield Paving NNS 23 Sep 2015 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest awarded a $240 million contract for airfield paving, new construction, renovation, and repair at various locations within NAVFAC Southwest's area of responsibility (AOR), Sept. 17.
• World is Not Enough: US May Station Advanced Nuclear Weapons in Germany Sputnik 23 Sep 2015 -- The USAF is reportedly going to bring in its brand-new B61-12 nuclear bombs to Germany.
• Barksdale Airmen participate in EUCOM exercise AFNS 23 Sep 2015 -- A 2nd Bomb Wing B-52 Stratofortress aircrew conducted a long-range bomber mission from the United States to the U.S. European Command area of operations Sept. 17-18, where they participated in exercise Immediate Response 2015.
• USS Gonzalez Tests PUMA at Sea NNS 23 Sep 2015 -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) conducted testing of an unmanned aircraft system during a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX).
• USS Columbia Presented the 2014 Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy NNS 23 Sep 2015 -- The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Columbia (SSN 771) has been named the Pacific Fleet's recipient of the prestigious Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy.
• Russia to build 2nd major military base near Ukraine Press TV 23 Sep 2015 -- Russia is planning to build its second major military base near the border with Ukraine, public documents show.
• Russia Could Scrap INF Treaty If US Deploys New Nuclear Bombs to Germany Sputnik 23 Sep 2015 -- Moscow could drop out of a Soviet-era nuclear treaty with Washington if the United States moves new B61-12 guided nuclear bombs to Germany, the chairman of Russia's upper chamber defense and security committee said Wednesday.
• Moscow Will Find Countermeasure to US Deployment of Nuclear Arms in Germany Sputnik 23 Sep 2015 -- Washington's deployment of nuclear weapons in Germany disrupts the balance in Europe, and Moscow will have to respond, the Kremlin spokesperson said.
• Russian Missile Forces in Kamchatka Complete Pacific Coast Drills Sputnik 23 Sep 2015 -- Nearly 40 units of military and special-purpose equipment and over 500 military personnel participated in the drills.
• China, Hungary hold defense strategic consultation, pledge more cooperation People's Daily 23 Sep 2015 -- China and Hungary vowed to step up military cooperation, as the two countries held a defense strategic consultation Wednesday in Beijing.
• France Confirms Sale of Two Mistrals Built for Russia to Egypt Sputnik 23 Sep 2015 -- France's President Francois Hollande and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah Sisi have agreed on Egypt's acquisition of two Mistral-class ships, the French leader's administration said Wednesday.
• Egypt buys 2 French warships intended for Russia Press TV 23 Sep 2015 -- The French government says it is to sell two Mistral warships, which were originally intended for Russia, to Egypt.
• From Mickey Mouse to Juggernaut? US, Poland to Beef Up Ukrainian Army Sputnik 23 Sep 2015 -- The United States and Poland will help to improve the fighting capability of the Ukrainian armed forces with new armored vehicles and UAVs, Ukrainian media reported on Wednesday.
• China Unveils Missile for Fifth-Generation Fighter Jet Sputnik 23 Sep 2015 -- During a Chinese television interview, the chief designer revealed that the air-to-air missile for the fifth-generation PL-10 is almost completed.
• Brazil Considers Buying Russian Pantsir-S1, Igla Air Defense Systems Sputnik 23 Sep 2015 -- Brazil is discussing the purchase of advanced Pantsir-S1 and Igla air defense systems from Russia.
• Hi-Tech Ballistic Missiles Seen During Iran's Military Parades Sputnik 23 Sep 2015 -- The Iranian Armed Forces displayed various types of home-made ballistic and long-range missiles during the annual military parades in Tehran on Tuesday.
• Belgrade Makes Advance Payment for 2 Russian Helicopters Sputnik 23 Sep 2015 -- Belgrade and Moscow have signed a preliminary agreement for the sale of two helicopters, for which the Serbian side has already made advance payments, Serbian Minister of Defense Bratislav Gasic said Thursday.
• Daily Press Briefing by the Press Secretary, 9/23/2015 The White House 23 Sep 2015

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for September 23, 2015

Other Conflicts

• 'Unsafe' encounter between US spy plane, Chinese jet Press TV 23 Sep 2015 -- A Chinese interceptor jet nearly collided with an American spy plane over the Yellow Sea.
• Eight civilians killed in new Saudi airstrikes on western Yemen Press TV 23 Sep 2015 -- Nearly a dozen civilians have lost their lives in three Saudi airstrikes against Yemen's western province of Hajjah.
• Three new suspected cases of typhoid near Yarmouk camp in Syria UN News 23 Sep 2015 -- Following humanitarian operations in the southern Syrian town of Yalda, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said it has identified three new suspected cases of typhoid.
• DoD Spokesman: Reports About Syrian Defections False AFPS 23 Sep 2015 -- The Defense Department says there are false reports coming out of Syria about defections among personnel in the Syrian train-and-equip program.
• Syria intensifies air raids on militants in Palmyra Press TV 23 Sep 2015 -- The Syrian government has intensified its air raids against Daesh Takfiri terrorists in the ancient city of Palmyra in the central Homs Province.
• Report: Two More Syria Sites Could Host Russian Forces RFE/RL 23 Sep 2015 -- A specialist defense publication says satellite photos taken in mid-September show Russian forces developing two additional military facilities near Syria's Mediterranean coast.
• CENTCOM Denies US-Trained Syrian Rebels Defected to Al-Nusra Sputnik 23 Sep 2015 -- On Tuesday, media reports suggested that 'moderate' Syrian rebels, who had graduated from the US train-and-equip program, have taken the side of the al-Nusra Front.
• Reports: US-Trained Syrian Rebels Defected VOA 23 Sep 2015 -- The troubled U.S. train-and-equip program for Syrian rebels suffered another setback this week amid conflicting reports that members of the latest contingent sent into the war-torn country have gone rogue and may have defected to an al-Qaida affiliate.
• Kerry: Russian Actions in Syria Risk Confrontation with Anti-IS Coalition VOA 23 Sep 2015 -- The U.S. secretary of state has warned Russian actions in Syria risk a confrontation with the coalition opposing the Islamic State group, while his Russian counterpart claims Washington is becoming more receptive to Moscow's position on the conflict.
• UN agency opens two new camps for displaced Iraqis in Baghdad UN News 23 Sep 2015 -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), partners and local authorities announced today the recent opening of two new camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Baghdad province, providing shelter to close to 3,500 Iraqis who have had to flee the Anbar province due to recent fighting.
• Daesh terrorists execute 25 Iraqi soldiers in Mosul Press TV 23 Sep 2015 -- The Daesh Takfiri terrorists have executed 25 members of Iraq's police and army in the embattled northern city of Mosul, which has been under the control of the militants since June 2014.
• Daesh detains 60 of own members in Iraq's Fallujah for rebellion attempt Press TV 23 Sep 2015 -- The Takfiri Daesh militant group has reportedly arrested tens of its own members in Iraq's conflict-ridden western province of Anbar over attempts to stage a coup against their leaders.
• Libya's Tripoli government calls for halt in UN peace talks Press TV 23 Sep 2015 -- Officials in the Tripoli-based government of Libya have urged a freeze in the ongoing peace talks which is proceeding under the auspices of the United Nations in Morocco, saying the rival administration should stop its offensive in the east.
• Cybersleuth Points To Russian Tank Unit In Eastern Ukraine RFE/RL 23 Sep 2015 -- An open-source researcher in Ukraine has become the latest cybersleuth to seemingly add a chink to Russia's armor of denial about troop and arms deployments to support separatists in eastern Ukraine.
• Colombia, FARC Announce Breakthrough in Peace Talks VOA 23 Sep 2015 -- Colombia's president and FARC rebels reached a major breakthrough late Wednesday in the effort to end more than 50 years of bloodshed.
• Colombia leader heads to Havana for deal with FARC Press TV 23 Sep 2015 -- Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos heads to Cuba in order to accelerate a peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as FARC.
• Egyptian Army Says Extremists' Bases in North Sinai Destroyed Sputnik 23 Sep 2015 -- Egyptian armed forces have completed the first stage of a military operation in northern Sinai.

News Reports

• Joint Statement on the First U.S.-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue Washington D.C. (September 22, 2015) India Ministry of External Affairs 23 Sep 2015
• U.S.-India Joint Declaration on Combatting Terrorism US Dept. of State 23 Sep 2015 -- The following is the U.S.-India Joint Declaration on Combatting Terrorism as agreed upon by Secretary of State John Kerry and Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on the occasion of the inaugural U.S.-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue.
• Following coup d'état in Burkina Faso, Ban welcomes reinstatement of President UN News 23 Sep 2015 -- Following a coup d'état last week in Burkina Faso, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the reinstatement of President Michel Kafando and of the transitional institutions in the country.
• Burkina Faso Coup Reversed But Issues Remain VOA 23 Sep 2015 -- Burkina Faso's transitional civilian president, Michel Kafando, says he is back in charge after being detained and ousted by soldiers one week ago, but sources of tension remain.
• Burkina Faso President Back in Power VOA 23 Sep 2015 -- Burkina Faso's interim president Michel Kafando says he is back in power, exactly one week after he was detained by members of the presidential guard who staged a coup.
• Burkina Faso's toppled interim president returns to power Press TV 23 Sep 2015 -- Burkina Faso's interim President Michel Kafando, who was ousted following a military coup in the West African country, says he has reassumed his responsibilities as president.
• Burkina Faso coup leaders sign agreement to withdraw Press TV 23 Sep 2015 -- Burkina Faso's elite presidential guards, who recently staged a coup in the country, have signed an agreement with the army, pledging to withdraw from their positions.
• North Korea Warns South Over Leaflets VOA 23 Sep 2015 -- North Korea says the sending of anti-Pyongyang leaflets by South Korean groups is a violation of the recent inter-Korean deal easing tension on the Korean peninsula.
• Agenda for Obama, Xi to Include N. Korea's Threats VOA 23 Sep 2015 -- President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to discuss how to deal with North Korea's recent missile and nuclear threats during their meeting this week, officials and experts say.
• European Council President Urges Accord On Migrant Crisis RFE/RL 23 Sep 2015 -- European Council President Donald Tusk has urged leaders of the EU's 28 member states to unite in order to resolve the migrant crisis engulfing the bloc ahead of an emergency meeting on the issue.
• NSA to snoop on Iranian president at UN meeting: NBC News report Press TV 23 Sep 2015 -- The US National Security Agency (NSA) is most likely to spy on Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his delegation during the UN General Assembly meeting in New York this week, according to a new report.
• Supreme Leader Revives Feared Intelligence Unit Of Iran's IRGC RFE/RL 23 Sep 2015 -- Iran witnessed a surge in the operations of alternative intelligence bodies under former reformist President Mohammad Khatami, whose attempts at reforms were blocked by hard-liners.
• A Politician Can't Be Afraid:' Russian Lawmaker Stands To Lose Seat After Taking On Governor, Kremlin RFE/RL 23 Sep 2015 -- A provincial Russian lawmaker known for his relentless criticism of the Kremlin is bracing for what could be his last day in parliament.
• ULA Chooses Orbital ATK Over Russian Engine for New US Rocket Booster Sputnik 23 Sep 2015 -- ULA has signed an agreement confirming Orbital ATK as the sole provider of solid rocket boosters for ULA's Atlas V and Vulcan.
• Turkey's PM replaces resigned pro-Kurdish ministers Press TV 23 Sep 2015 -- Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has appointed two new cabinet ministers to replace the pro-Kurdish members of the government who resigned over a debate on how Turkey should handle a growing Kurdish militancy.