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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Airstrikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 12 Oct 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 Airdrops 50 Tons of Ammunition to Syria Rebels VOA 12 Oct 2015 -- Syrian government troops advanced under cover of Russian airstrikes Monday as the United States airdropped 50 tons of small arms ammunition to rebels in northern Syria.
• Obama Felt 'Skeptical' About Training Syrian Rebels From the Beginning Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- US President Barack Obama said in an interview with the American channel CBS that he was initially skeptical of the program to train the 'moderate opposition' in Syria. He also admitted that the program has failed.
• US air-drops weapons to militants fighting in Syria: Pentagon Press TV 12 Oct 2015 -- The United States and its so-called coalition partners have air-dropped tons of weapons to militants fighting in inside Syria, a US military spokesman says.
• Afghanistan: UN urges prompt investigation into murder of mission staff member UN News 12 Oct 2015 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is deeply troubled and saddened over today's killing in Kandahar of Ms. Toorpaki Ulfat, a staff member of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
• Taliban threaten second key city in Afghanistan Press TV 12 Oct 2015 -- Taliban militants have intensified fighting around the Afghan city of Ghazni, threatening to seize a second provincial capital after temporarily occupying Kunduz last month.
• Taliban Declare Afghan TV Networks Legitimate 'Targets' RFE/RL 12 Oct 2015 -- The Taliban has declared two of Afghanistan's major television networks and their employees legitimate targets due to their alleged 'disrespectful and hostile actions' against the militant group.

Defense Policy / Programs

• 15th MEU Marines, French forces successfully conclude bilateral exercise in Djibouti USMC News 12 Oct 2015 -- Elements of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit concluded a bilateral training exercise with the French 5th Overseas Combined Arms Regiment (RIAOM) which began September 21 and concluded on October 7 in Djibouti.
• USS Porter Pulls into Odesa, Ukraine NNS 12 Oct 2015 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) arrived in Odesa, Ukraine, for a scheduled port visit Oct. 9, 2015.
• New Zealand Hosts Combined Space Operations Meeting AFPS 12 Oct 2015 -- New Zealand will host the Defense Department and U.S. Strategic Command in the Combined Space Operations initiative at a formal meeting of the delegates this week, DoD officials announced today.
• Russia Calls on US to Abandon Plans to Place Missile Defense in Romania Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- Moscow calls for abandoning of plans to place US missile defense systems in Romania, the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department of Non-proliferation, Disarmament, and Arms Control said, as quoted by the ministerial website Monday.
• US Pulling Patriot Missiles Stationed in Turkey Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- The United States has started moving its Patriot missiles from Turkey, US media reported on Sunday.
• US 'Prompt Global Strike' Most Serious Obstacle in Reducing Nukes - Moscow Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- The conviction of the United States to fulfill its conception of the "Prompt Global Strike" to use ordinary high-precision long-distance arms to solve its strategic goals is an obstacle in reducing nuclear weapons arsenals, the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department of Non-proliferation, Disarmament, and Arms Control said Monday.
• Secretary General highlights NATO's long-term adaptation to new security challenges NATO 12 Oct 2015 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg underlined "the importance of what NATO is doing", following the crises in Syria and Ukraine, at his address today (12 October 2015) to the 60th anniversary of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Stavanger (Norway).
• NATO ready to help Turkey against Russia: Stoltenberg Press TV 12 Oct 2015 -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has announced its readiness to 'help' its member state Turkey, more than a week after Russian jets, carrying airstrikes in Syria, strayed into Turkish airspace.
• Russia Postpones Open Skies Flight Over Turkey at Ankara's Request Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- The Russian Defense Ministry has come to an agreement with Ankara to postpone its observation flights over Turkey, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Gen.-Maj. Igor Konashenkov said Monday.
• Is Moscow Getting Its Money's Worth From Its Syria Campaign? RFE/RL 12 Oct 2015 -- Rough estimates suggest that Moscow has spent at least $87 million for air and cruise-missile strikes in the first two weeks of its bombing campaign in Syria that began September 30.
• Russian Inspectors to Fly Over Turkey Under Open Skies Treaty Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- The head of the Russia's National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center said that Russian military experts will conduct an observation flight over Turkey this week to facilitate transparency of mutual military activity.
• Britain Refutes Media Reports on Permission to Down Russian Jets in Iraq Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- The British Defense Ministry rebuffed media allegations that jet pilots of the Royal Air Forces were given the green light to shoot down - if necessary - Russian jets in Iraqi airspace.
• N Korean Ballistic Missiles Not Able to Carry Nuclear Warheads Yet - Seoul Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- North Korea does not possess a technology that would allow it to mount nuclear warheads atop its ballistic missiles, South Korea's Defense Ministry said Monday as cited by Xinhua.
• SCO to Enhance Cooperation With Afghan Security Forces to Counter ISIL Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will work more closely with the Afghan security forces to curb Islamic State's expansion in the region, the deputy director of the RATS executive committee said Monday.
• Kyrgyz Defense Minister Fired, Faces Corruption Charges RFE/RL 12 Oct 2015 -- Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev has dismissed his defense minister, Abibilla Kudaiberdiev, after the state security service and prosecutors said they were investigating him for embezzlement.
• French-Built Mistral Warships to Arrive in Egypt in Summer 2016 Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- Two Mistral-class helicopter carriers France originally built for Russia will arrive in Egypt in summer 2016, the shipbuilding company DCNS said Friday.
• UK equipment boost for Jordanian Armed Forces UK MOD 12 Oct 2015 -- The UK will supply military equipment to the Jordanian Armed Forces to help them counter emergent threats on their borders.
• Cracks widen within Burundi's army IRIN 12 Oct 2015 -- A central pillar of the peace accords that ended a civil war in Burundi a decade ago – integrating former Hutu rebels into the Tutsi-dominated army to create a more ethnically balanced force – is looking distinctly wobbly.

Defense Industry

• Armata Tank to Be Declassified When Adopted by Russian Military Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- The degree of classification on the new Armata T-14 Main Battle Tank (MBT) will be removed after the vehicle receives permission for export, said Vyacheslav Khalitov, the deputy director of UralVagonZavod arms manufacturer.
• Russia, China Agree on Loans for Joint Aircraft, Helicopter Projects Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- Russia and China agreed to extend subsidized loans to expedite work on joint long-haul aircraft and heavy helicopter projects, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Monday.

Other Conflicts

• 12 October 2015 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 12 Oct 2015
• Ban calls for urgent and collective action to reform UN peace operations UN News 12 Oct 2015 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged immediate action to strengthen the Organization's peace operations, telling the 193-member UN General Assembly that is essential to act now and "not wait, as in the past, for crisis or tragedy to propel reform."
• Peace endures when women can participate meaningfully in peace talks, says new UN report UN News 12 Oct 2015 -- A new report on women, peace and security, launched today to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the landmark United Nations Security Council resolution on the issue, highlights the important gains to be made by the greater empowerment of women in peacebuilding efforts.
• Saudi-led Coalition Accused of War Crimes VOA 12 Oct 2015 -- Human rights group Amnesty International accused the Saudi-led coalition of war crimes in airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, claiming hundreds of civilians have been killed in strikes on residential areas.
• Yemen forces shoot down Saudi spy drone Press TV 12 Oct 2015 -- Yemeni army soldiers backed by fighters from the popular committees have shot down a Saudi reconnaissance drone in the country's northwestern province of Sa'ada as Riyadh continues with its atrocious aerial assaults against its crisis-hit neighbor.
• Saudi airstrikes continue taking Yemeni lives Press TV 12 Oct 2015 -- At least one civilian has been killed and another wounded in Saudi Arabia's latest airstrike on Yemen.
• 'Transformative political process' key to resolving Syrian crisis, says UN envoy UN News 12 Oct 2015 -- Only a parallel, all-inclusive transformative political process that is compliant within the framework of the Geneva Communiqué, can lead to a resolution of the ongoing crisis and Syria and tackle terrorism in the region, the United Nations Special Envoy for the country said today.
• UN Official: Partition of Syria Possible if No Improvement VOA 12 Oct 2015 -- A senior United Nations official warns the partition of Syria is possible if the situation in the conflict-ridden country continues to deteriorate or is left in its current chaotic state.
• Obama: Putin's Syria Strategy Shows Poor Leadership RFE/RL 12 Oct 2015 -- U.S. President Barack Obama says Russian President Vladimir Putin is showing poor leadership by supporting Damascus, despite Moscow's claims it is helping a legitimate government battle insurgents.
• Su-30 Flankers Provide Cover for Russian Bombers in Syria Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- A number of Su-30 fighter jets have been deployed in Syria as part of Russia's ongoing aerial campaign against the Islamic State terrorist group, Russian media reported on Monday.
• Syrian armed forces making advances in Hama Province Press TV 12 Oct 2015 -- Syrian government forces are making headway in the center of the country with the help of Russian airstrikes, gaining more grounds in the western province of Hama.
• Russia strikes out of weakness in Syria: US Press TV 12 Oct 2015 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin's military campaign in Syria is an act of weakness and Moscow is spending resources "it doesn't have" to keep his Syrian ally in power, says US President Barack Obama.
• Syrian army captures strategic areas in northwestern province of Lattakia Press TV 12 Oct 2015 -- The Syrian army, backed by Russian airstrikes, has retaken control of areas in the country's northwestern province of Lattakia, after inclining heavy casualties on the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.
• 'Growing panic' observed among Daesh militants in Syria amid Russia strikes Press TV 12 Oct 2015 -- The Russian Defense Ministry says intercepted data from Takfiri Daesh terrorists in Syria shows "growing panic" among the militants amid the Russian bombing campaign against their positions in the Arab country.
• EU Says Russia Risking Peace Diplomacy In Syria RFE/RL 12 Oct 2015 -- The EU says Russia's military intervention in Syria is putting peace efforts at risk, with the bloc's top diplomat calling Russia's military strikes against Western-backed rebels a worrying 'game changer.'
• Russia Could Play 'Crucial' Role in Syrian Settlement - Mogherini Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- Russia could play a highly important role in the Syrian peace process, and the European Union is ready to continue direct talks with Moscow on this issue, EU's foreign policy chief Frederica Mogherini said Monday.
• Russia Reaffirms Readiness to Cooperate With Free Syrian Army Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- Moscow has confirmed its willingness to cooperate with the Free Syrian Army (FSA), considered to be a moderate opposition faction by Western countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.
• Syrian Army Gains Control Over Large Part of Aleppo, ISIL Suffers Losses Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- Syria's government-controlled army has regained control over large parts of the country's Aleppo governorate, a Syrian Armed Forces spokesman said Monday.
• EU Demands Russia 'Immediately' End Some Syria Airstrikes VOA 12 Oct 2015 -- The European Council on Monday called for Russia to 'immediately' end military attacks in Syria that do not target Islamic State or other U.N.-designated terrorist organizations.
• Iran to continue effective support for Iraq to battle terrorism, says Zarif ISNA 12 Oct 2015 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad- Javad Zarif said that the country would continue effective support for Iraqi government to battle terrorism.
• Iraq investigates reports on Daesh chief's injury Press TV 12 Oct 2015 -- Iraq's security services are investigating reports to determine whether the chief of Daesh Takfiri terrorist group has been injured in an airstrike in the western Anbar Province.
• Confirmed: ISIL Leader Al-Baghdadi Injured, Guarded at Hospital by Militants Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- Leader of the Islamic State Abu Bakr al-Bagdadi was injured in Iraqi Army's airstrike. Currently he is in a hospital, a local source confirmed to Sputnik Monday.
• ISIL Propaganda Mastermind Killed by Iraqi Air Forces Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- A leading figure of the Islamic State (ISIL) terrorist group Abu Omar al-Shishani was killed during the bombing of an ISIL convoy, IRNA reported citing an Iraqi source.
• Libya rival factions reject national unity government deal Press TV 12 Oct 2015 -- Rival factions in Libya have rejected a recent UN-brokered agreement on the formation of a national unity government.
• Stabbings, Violence Escalate in Jerusalem VOA 12 Oct 2015 -- Palestinian youths escalated the pace of stabbing attacks Monday in the Jerusalem area and Israeli police shot dead two of the alleged assailants as the worst spell of street violence in years showed little sign of slowing.
• Israel seeking third Intifida: Palestine FM Press TV 12 Oct 2015 -- The foreign minister of the Palestinian Authority says Israel is deliberately fueling violence in occupied East al-Quds (Jerusalem), the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to divert attention away from its diplomatic failures.
• UN agency calls for robust political action to halt escalating violence in West Bank UN News 12 Oct 2015 -- Deeply alarmed by the escalating violence and widespread loss of civilian life in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem and in Israel, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) today called for strong and immediate political action and accountability to stem the ongoing violence and prevent its further escalation.
• Member States pledge $100 million to UN agency supporting Palestine refugees UN News 12 Oct 2015 -- Twenty-two Member States of the United Nations are planning to pledge $100 million dollars to support next year's budget of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) which provides educational, health, relief and social services for some five million such refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza.
• Uganda Pulling Troops From South Sudan VOA 12 Oct 2015 -- Uganda says it is pulling its soldiers out of South Sudan, where they have supported President Salva Kiir in the country's civil war.
• UN Mission Looking Forward to Full Cooperation with DRC Army VOA 12 Oct 2015 -- The U.N. mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, MONUSCO, said it is looking forward to a full resumption of strategic cooperation with the Congolese army. The new head of MONUSCO is to arrive soon.
• UN mission in Central African Republic on 'high alert' as armed group threatens capital UN News 12 Oct 2015 -- The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has reported that it is on 'high alert' as the situation in the war-torn country remains fragile, with armed groups threatening to destabilize its capital city, Bangui.
• 'Horrific' terrorist attacks in Chad and Cameroon condemned by UN Security Council UN News 12 Oct 2015 -- The members of the UN Security Council have strongly condemned the "horrific" terrorist attacks attributed to Boko Haram, perpetrated on Saturday and Sunday in the towns of Baga Sola, Chad, and Kangaleri, Cameroon, which resulted in a large number of deaths and casualties.

News Reports

• Supreme Leader unveils enemy's conspiracy to topple governing system IRNA 12 Oct 2015 -- Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Monday that the enemy aims to topple the governing system by resorting to soft war and undermine beliefs of the people.
• Leader warns of planned, extensive soft war against Iran Press TV 12 Oct 2015 -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei warns of the hegemonic system's pre-planned, extensive and all-out soft war against the Islamic Republic.
• JCPOA should foster unity, not create divisions: Iran pres. Press TV 12 Oct 2015 -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says the agreement signed between Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries over Iran's nuclear program should serve to further strengthen national unity rather than sow discord.
• Iranian State TV: Washington Post Reporter Convicted VOA 12 Oct 2015 -- Iranian state television reported late Sunday that Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian has been convicted on charges that included espionage.
• Turkey's Political Parties Trade Blame After Bombings VOA 12 Oct 2015 -- The deadliest terror attack in Turkey's history has left the country in shock, but appeals for unity are being ignored, poisoning Turkish politics just weeks ahead of elections that are unlikely to end a parliamentary deadlock.
• Russia says Daesh implicated in foiled Moscow terror plot Press TV 12 Oct 2015 -- Intelligence officials in Russia have announced that the Daesh Takfiri terror group had planned a major attack in the country, with confessions by members of a busted cell showing they were trained in the group's camps in Syria.
• Russia Says It Foiled Attack by Terrorists, Some IS-trained VOA 12 Oct 2015 -- Russia's main security agency says it foiled a terrorist attack in Moscow by a group of Russian citizens, several of whom it claims were trained in Syria by the Islamic State group.
• Lukashenko becomes Belarus president for fifth term Press TV 12 Oct 2015 -- Alexander Lukashenko, the incumbent Belarusian president, has won a fifth term as president of his Eastern European country with a sweeping victory over his three rivals.
• EU Moves Toward Temporarily Lifting Belarus Sanctions RFE/RL 12 Oct 2015 -- The European Union has taken a step toward temporarily suspending sanctions against Belarus despite concerns about the October 11 presidential election.
• EU Suspends Sanctions Against Belarus for 4 Months, Ready to Re-impose Them Sputnik 12 Oct 2015 -- The European Union has decided to suspend sanctions against Belarus for four months, but is ready to re-impose them at any time if needed, French Minister of state for European affairs Harlem Desir said Monday.
• Fuel shortage threatens Nepal aid as winter comes IRIN 12 Oct 2015 -- Almost six months after Nepal was devastated by a massive earthquake, relief efforts are literally running on fumes. Tankers are unable to drive across the border from India. The country is running out of fuel. Will aid agencies be able to stock up remote, mountainous communities before they are cut off by the first winter snows?
• Assassination Attempt Throws Maldives Into Political Controversy VOA 12 Oct 2015 -- There is trouble in paradise.