Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Casualty Update 02 Dec 2015 [PDF]
• Department of Defense Press Briefing by Col. Warren via Teleconference from Baghdad, Iraq DoD 02 Dec 2015 -- Colonel Steve Warren, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman
• Spokesman: Expeditionary Targeting Force Could Accelerate ISIL Defeat AFPS 02 Dec 2015 -- Defense Secretary Ash Carter's plan to deploy an expeditionary targeting force to help in putting pressure on Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Iraq and Syria adds a capability that can accelerate ISIL's defeat, a spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve told Pentagon reporters today.
• White House: New U.S. 'Tracking' Force In Iraq To Number 200 RFE/RL 02 Dec 2015 -- The White House said a new "expeditionary tracking force" being deployed to Iraq will number around 200 troops, as the United States expands its fight against Islamic State (IS) militants there and in Syria.
• Statement from Secretary Carter on Counter-ISIL Actions by the United Kingdom and Germany DoD 02 Dec 2015
• Coalition Strikes Hit ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 02 Dec 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.
• British Jets Pound Syria Following Parliament Vote VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- British warplanes have begun carrying out airstrikes in Syria, just hours after lawmakers in London approved the expanded strategy to defeat the Islamic State group.
• Iraq briefed on US plans for troops deployment, Kerry says Press TV 02 Dec 2015 -- The US has fully briefed the Iraqi government on its plans to deploy American special forces in Iraq, Secretary of State John Kerry says.
• US Forces to Carry Out 'Very Precise, Surgical' Operations in Iraq VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- U.S. military officials say the special forces troops being deployed to Iraq to up the pressure on Islamic State will have 'well planned and very well targeted objectives' in both Iraq and Syria.
• Update: air strikes in Iraq UK MOD 02 Dec 2015 -- British forces have continued to conduct air operations to assist the Iraqi government in its fight against ISIL.
• Infighting reportedly injures Afghan Taliban chief Press TV 02 Dec 2015 -- The Afghan Taliban leader, Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, has been injured during a violent militant infighting in Pakistan, the Afghan government and Taliban sources say.
• Afghan Taliban Leader Reportedly Wounded In Firefight RFE/RL 02 Dec 2015 -- Afghan officials say Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansur has been seriously injured in a firefight following a verbal dispute at a meeting of militant commanders in neighboring Pakistan, exposing the deep divisions within the fractious militant movement.
• NATO Troop Extension Comes at Perilous Time for Afghanistan VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- The Taliban has denounced NATO's decision to extend its mission in Afghanistan by keeping 12,000 troops through 2016 and continuing military financial assistance to the Kabul government through 2020.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Obama rejects Pentagon plan to close Guantanamo Press TV 02 Dec 2015 -- The White House has reportedly rejected the Pentagon's proposed plan to close the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and build a replacement in the United States.
• Arnold test teams prepped F-35 for first external weapons release AFNS 02 Dec 2015 -- Testing in the aerodynamic wind tunnels at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex helped prepare the Navy variant of the F-35 Lightning II for its first external weapons release, officials said.
• Essex ARG, 15th MEU Enter U.S. 3rd Fleet Area of Operations NNS 02 Dec 2015 -- The Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), with the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), entered the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations (AOO), Nov. 30.
• DoD Comptroller: Budget Deal Offers Relief, Uncertainty AFPS 02 Dec 2015 -- Defense Department funding from the recent two-year budget deal was hard to achieve and sets the department up fairly well for the near future, the Defense Department Comptroller said here this week, adding that uncertainty remains in the long term.
• Ike, DESRON 26 Complete First Group Sail NNS 02 Dec 2015 -- The staff of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 completed its first group sail embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69)(Ike), Dec. 2.
• US losing military edge to China, experts warn Senate Press TV 02 Dec 2015 -- The Pentagon needs an overhaul of its arms buying system before completely losing military edge to countries like China, experts have warned the US Senate.
• National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office Conducts Maritime Information Sharing Exercise NNS 02 Dec 2015 -- The National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office (NMIO) recently sponsored a three day Operational Value Added Assessment (OVAA) exercise with 13 participating and supporting organizations in the Chesapeake Bay.
• PM's opening statement to Commons debate on military action in Syria Gov.UK 02 Dec 2015 -- The Prime Minister made a statement to the House of Commons to begin the debate and subsequent vote on extending military action in Syria.
• British Parliament Approves Airstrikes Against IS in Syria VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- British lawmakers on Wednesday approved a request from Prime Minister David Cameron to take part in airstrikes against Islamic State in Syria. The vote was 397-223.
• Cameron Pushes British Parliament for Syria Airstrikes VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- British lawmakers engaged in a contentious debate Wednesday over Prime Minister David Cameron's call to send the country's fighter jets on bombing runs against Islamic State militants in Syria.
• Press Availability at NATO US Dept. of State 02 Dec 2015
• Alliance invites Montenegro to start accession talks to become member of NATO NATO 02 Dec 2015 -- NATO Foreign Ministers decided on Wednesday (2 December 2015) to invite Montenegro to start accession talks to become the 29th member of the Alliance. Secretary General hailed the decision as "historic." He said; "this is a good day for Montenegro, a good day for the Western Balkans and a good day for the Alliance."
• Montenegro invited to join NATO, Russia opposes Press TV 02 Dec 2015 -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has formally invited the Southeast European country of Montenegro to join the US-led military alliance, with Russia expressing opposition to the potential membership.
• Montenegro Invited To Join NATO RFE/RL 02 Dec 2015 -- NATO foreign ministers have agreed to invite Montenegro to join the military alliance, swiftly prompting a threat from Russia of unspecified retaliatory measures.
• Invitation For Montenegro Is Signal Moscow Cannot Stop NATO Enlargement RFE/RL 02 Dec 2015 -- NATO's membership offer to Montenegro has set off a firestorm of protest from Moscow that might seem outsized considering the small scale of the Balkan country and its minimal military force.
• Russia Views NATO Invite to Montenegro as Confrontational Move Sputnik 02 Dec 2015 -- Moscow views NATO decision to start talks with Montenegro on the country's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as a blatantly confrontational step that could have additional destabilizing consequences to the European security, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
• NATO Boosting Turkey's Air Defenses VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- NATO says it is bolstering Turkey's air defenses in the wake of last month's shootdown of a Russian plane by Turkish jets. The announcement was made as Russia and Turkey increased their military buildup on the Turkish-Syrian border, fueling fears of a new confrontation.
• Russia Flies Strategic Space Warfare Missile Sputnik 02 Dec 2015 -- Moscow carried out the first successful flight test of its new anti-satellite missile last month, becoming just the second nation to arm its military with space warfare weapons.
• Russia Fully Rearms Southern Military District Aviation With Su-34s Sputnik 02 Dec 2015 -- According to district's press service, aviation of Russia's Southern Military District has been fully rearmed with Su-34 attack aircraft.
• Russian Eastern Military District to Receive Over 30 Tanks by End of 2015 Sputnik 02 Dec 2015 -- Col. Alexander Gordeev said that the Russian Eastern Military District will receive more than 30 tanks and special equipment by the end of the year.
• NATO Foreign Ministers reaffirm support for Ukraine as two-day meeting concludes NATO 02 Dec 2015 -- NATO Foreign Ministers ended their two-day meeting on Wednesday (2 December 2015) by confirming the Alliance's continued political and practical support for Ukraine. In a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission, Allied ministers and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin reviewed the current security situation, and the progress of NATO's assistance for the country.
• Poroshenko Says Ukraine To Keep Defense Spending High RFE/RL 02 Dec 2015 -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says his government will spend five percent of gross domestic product on defense and security next year, in a bid to strengthen the army in its fight against pro-Russian separatists in the east.
• Taiwan reiterates dual approach to acquiring submarines CNA 02 Dec 2015 -- The head of Taiwan's defense mission in the United States said Tuesday that the country's two-pronged approach to acquiring new submarines remains unchanged and that the U.S. defense industry is interested in Taiwan's local submarine program.
• American military reaffirms U.S. policy on arms sales to Taiwan CNA 02 Dec 2015 -- The United States military has reaffirmed the country's policy of providing arms to Taiwan for its self-defense as it introduced an annual day planner for 2016 published by a military-funded think tank.
• Wishful Thinking: New Turkish EW System Hardly a Threat to S-400 Sputnik 02 Dec 2015 -- Turkey deployed its newest electronic warfare (EW) system near the border with Syria, according to the Turkish daily Milliyet.
• Latvia Drafts Resolution on Deployment of Servicemen to Iraq, Mali Sputnik 02 Dec 2015 -- Latvia may dispatch a small number of troops to Iraq and Mali to help in the training of local security forces, according to local media.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 12/2/15 The White House 02 Dec 2015
• December 2, 2015 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 02 Dec 2015

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 02, 2015

Other Conflicts

• 2 December 2015 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 02 Dec 2015
• Yemen faces dire health crisis with major funding gap and 15.2 million lacking care, UN warns UN News 02 Dec 2015 -- More than 15.2 million Yemenis now lack access to health care services, well over half the war-torn country's total population, yet there is a 55 per cent gap in requested international funding to address the crisis, according to the United Nations health agency.
• 'Al-Qaeda militants capture two towns in southern Yemen' Press TV 02 Dec 2015 -- Al-Qaeda militants have captured two towns in Yemen's southern province of Abyan amid unrelenting Saudi military aggression against the war-torn country, residents say.
• US, Turkey Uniting in IS Fight Despite Lingering Doubts VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- Allegations that Ankara has been supporting Islamic State (IS) activities are finding little traction among Western governments that need Turkey's help in the fight against IS, some analysts say.
• Syria army retakes three villages from Takfiri militants Press TV 02 Dec 2015 -- The Syrian armed forces, backed by Russian airstrikes, have managed to retake three villages from Takfiri terrorists in the suburb of the northwestern province of Latakia.
• Russia Conducts 32 Airstrikes on Daesh Oil Refineries in Syria in 2 Months Sputnik 02 Dec 2015 -- During the last two months the aircraft of Russian Aerospace Forces launched strikes against 32 oil complexes and 11 oil refineries controlled by Daesh (also known as ISIL), Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov told the press.
• Iraqi Government Against Foreign 'Boots on Ground' Sputnik 02 Dec 2015 -- The Iraqi government's position in regard to deploying ground forces from any foreign states has not changed, Iraq doesn't need ground forces, according to the staement of country's government spokesman Saad al-Hudaythi.
• Can peace deal bring relief to south Libya's 'Chinese camp'? IRIN 02 Dec 2015 -- A peace deal signed last week in Qatar by warring tribes from the Saharan town of Ubari may bring some hope for displaced and marginalised people in Libya's desert south, including those holed up in a partially-built construction project known locally as "the Chinese Camp".
• Up to 3,000 Daesh militants operating in Libya: UN Press TV 02 Dec 2015 -- Experts from the United Nations (UN) say there are between 2,000 and 3,000 members of Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in Libya.
• Ban calls for international aid for African communities attacked by Boko Haram UN News 02 Dec 2015 -- United Nations Secretary-General today called on the international community to provide urgent support for humanitarian aid to communities hit by the Nigerian-based Boko Haram, deploring its latest "appalling" attacks in Cameroon.
• Cameroon army says it has killed 100 Boko Haram militants Press TV 02 Dec 2015 -- Cameroonian forces have killed about 100 Boko Haram Takfiri militants and freed some 900 captives held by the Nigeria-based militant group.
• South Sudan at critical juncture, UN peacekeeping chief warns; calls for more 'blue helmets' UN News 02 Dec 2015 -- With both sides repeatedly violating the ceasefire, endangering progress so far made towards a political transition, the South Sudan peace process is at a critical juncture and in need of increased international support, the top United Nations peacekeeping official warned today.

News Reports

• Routes of illegal shipments of petroleum products in Turkey. Data Defense Ministry Russia MoD 02 Dec 2015
• Speech of the Russian Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov during the briefing "Russian Federation Armed Forces fighting against international terrorist. New data" Russia MoD 02 Dec 201
• Russia says has evidence of Turkey-Daesh oil trade Press TV 02 Dec 2015 -- Russia says it is in possession of evidence that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his family are involved in the illegal smuggling of oil from territories held by Daesh Takfiri terrorists in Syria and Iraq.
• Ties with Turkey no longer business as usual: Russia FM Press TV 02 Dec 2015 -- Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has rejected the possibility of normalizing relations with Ankara after Turkey downed a Russian warplane inside Syria.
• Erdogan Rejects Russian Charges Of Buying Oil From Islamic State RFE/RL 02 Dec 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Russia of slander for its allegations that Turkey and Erdogan's family are buying oil from Islamic State (IS) militants.
• Russia Reveals How Turkey and Daesh Make 'Bloody' Oil Business Sputnik 02 Dec 2015 -- The Russian Defense Ministry during the briefing in Moscow on Wednesday has provided satellite images that show Daesh illegal oil smuggling through the Turkish-Syrian border. The ministry has also presented data on the infrastructure of the illegal oil trade.
• Russia to Provide Evidence of Turkish Involvement in Daesh Oil Trade Sputnik 02 Dec 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his family members are directly involved in illegal oil deliveries from Daesh oil fields in Syria, according to Russia's Defense Ministry.
• Main Illegal Oil Transportation Routes Located on Turkey-Syria Border Sputnik 02 Dec 2015 -- Russian Defense Ministry has presented photos of oil delivery convoys at Syria-Turkey border, the head of the Russian General Staff's operative command said.
• Russia Presents 'Evidence' of Turkey Trading IS Oil VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- Russian Defense Ministry officials on Wednesday presented what they said was proof of Turkish involvement in illegal oil trade with the Islamic State group (IS), accusing top Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and members of his family, of complicity.
• Turkey Should Seal Border With Syria to Stop ISIL Oil Smuggling - Kerry Sputnik 02 Dec 2015 -- Ankara needs to seal the border with Syria, John Kerry said.
• Erdogan Says Disappointed With Russian Reaction Over Su-24 Downing Sputnik 02 Dec 2015 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday he is disappointed with Moscow's reaction to the recent downing of a Russian Su-24 aircraft by Turkey.
• US Banks on Special Ops, Intelligence to Accelerate Anti-IS Efforts VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- Some crucial details have yet to be worked out as the U.S. prepares to send a new force of special operators to Iraq, but a clearer picture began to emerge Wednesday of a recalibrated strategy designed to slowly but surely destroy the Islamic State terror group in its heartland.
• IS Group Targets Media Outlets in Pakistan VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- Several Pakistani media outlets were attacked recently by assailants who left pamphlets on the scene containing threats from the Islamic State group.
• Islamic State Group Beheads Alleged Russian Spy in Video VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- The Islamic State group released a video Wednesday showing a Russian-speaking man who says he spied for Russia, and then is beheaded by another Russian-speaking man.
• ECOWAS Implements Measures to Combat Terrorism VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- A senior official at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says other regional organizations can learn from the policies the West African grouping has been implementing to combat violent extremism in Africa.
• IAEA Report Concludes Iran Did Basic Work To Develop Nuclear Weapon RFE/RL 02 Dec 2015 -- The UN's atomic watchdog says it believes Iran conducted activities relevant to developing nuclear weapons at least until the end of 2003 but that its activities didn't go further than planning and basic experiments.
• IAEA: Iran Previously Worked on Developing Nuclear Weapons VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- The U.N. nuclear agency says Iran worked in the past on developing nuclear weapons, but that there are no credible indications its efforts to do so lasted past 2009.
• No PMD sign in Iran nuclear program: IAEA Press TV 02 Dec 2015 -- The UN nuclear monitoring body says it has found no indications of diversion of nuclear material related to possible military dimensions (PMD) in Iran's nuclear program.
• Iran says most OPEC states support cuts Press TV 02 Dec 2015 -- Iran said on Wednesday that a majority of member states of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) support reducing the Organization's production to maintain prices.
• Aung San Suu Kyi Holds Transition Talks With Myanmar President, Military Chief VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi held talks Wednesday with President Thein Sein to discuss a smooth and peaceful transfer of power to the country's first democratically-elected government after nearly five decades of military-rule.
• Russia Warns Of Penalties On Kyiv After Failed Trade Talks RFE/RL 02 Dec 2015 -- Russia is likely to penalize Ukrainian imports starting in January after negotiators failed to agree on ways to address Moscow's objections to Kyiv's free-trade agreement with the European Union.
• Background Press Briefing by Senior Administration Officials on Vice President Joe Biden's Trip to Ukraine The White House 02 Dec 2015
• U.S. Vice President To Address Ukrainian Parliament RFE/RL 02 Dec 2015 -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will address Ukraine's parliament next week during a visit U.S. officials say is aimed at showing Ukraine -- and Russia -- Washington's continued support for Kyiv.
• 'Billions' in Deals Expected from China-South Africa Visit VOA 02 Dec 2015 -- China's President Xi Jinping arrived in South Africa Wednesday for a state visit and a two-day China-Africa forum expected to bring about billions of dollars in investment deals.
• Saudi foreign reserves drop over low oil prices Press TV 02 Dec 2015 -- The latest market data show that Saudi Arabia's foreign reserves dropped to $644 billion at the end of October as the price of oil remained low.
• New Delhi to Construct Six Fast Breeder Reactors Over 15 Years Sputnik 02 Dec 2015 -- Perumal Chellapandi, the chairman and managing director of an Indian company said that the first prototype fast breeder reactor (FBR), with a capacity of some 500MW, was expected to start operations in Kalpakkam next year.