Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Coalition Military Strikes Hit ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 12 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.
• New UN report documents civilian harm, human rights concerns in Kunduz during temporary Taliban occupation UN News 12 Dec 2015 -- A special report was released today by the United Nations mission in Afghanistan and the UN rights office, which documented civilian harm and human rights concerns in Kunduz, Afghanistan from 28 September to 13 October 2015 – the period covering the Taliban's attack and temporary occupation of Kunduz city, including the counter-offensive by pro-Government forces up to the point they regained control of the city.
• Taliban attack on Kunduz killed, injured 848 Afghan civilians: UN Press TV 12 Dec 2015 -- The United Nations (UN) says the recent offensive on the northern Afghan city of Kunduz by Taliban militants killed at least 289 civilians and wounded 559 others.
• MSF: Death Toll Rises to 42 in Afghan Hospital Attack VOA 12 Dec 2015 -- Doctors Without Borders said the death toll from the mistaken half-hour aerial attack on its hospital by U.S. forces in Kunduz in October has risen to 42. Previous reports had the death toll at 30.
• Spain: Deadly Taliban Attack in Kabul 'An Attack on Spain' VOA 12 Dec 2015 -- Spain's government said an attack in a diplomatic area of the Afghan capital that killed at least six people, including two Spanish policemen, was 'an attack on Spain.'
• Afghanistan: UN Security Council condemns Taliban attack near Spanish embassy in Kabul UN News 12 Dec 2015 -- Following the attack yesterday in the vicinity of the Embassy of Spain in Kabul, Afghanistan, which resulted in casualties from both Afghan Police and Spanish National Police, the United Nations Security Council condemned "in the strongest terms" the terrorist attack for which the Taliban has claimed responsibility.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Navy's Newest Ship Breaks Down in the Open Sea Sputnik 12 Dec 2015 -- The US' Milwaukee littoral combat ship commissioned in November broke down in the open sea and had to be towed to a naval base, Navy Times reported.
• Delayed Arrival of LCS 5 NNS 12 Dec 2015 -- USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) arrived at Joint Expeditionary Base (JEB) Little Creek-Fort Story, Va., today following a delay caused by the discovery of metallic debris in the port and starboard combining gear filter systems.
• US Air Force reveals $3 billion plan to expand drone force Press TV 12 Dec 2015 -- The US Air Force has unveiled plans to massively increase its unmanned aircraft and pilots to ease pressure on the current drone force after nearly twenty years of combat.
• Russian Warships Equipped With Kalibr Missiles Join Black Sea Fleet Sputnik 12 Dec 2015 -- The 'Zelyoniy Dol' and 'Serpukhov' warships, equipped with the versatile 'Kalibr-NK' missile system, have joined the Russian Black Sea Fleet, based in Sevastopol, commander of the Black Sea Fleet Alexander Vitko said.
• UK Needs to Speed Up P8 Plane Supplies Over Russia Submarine Activity Sputnik 12 Dec 2015 -- London needs to accelerate the supplies of the US-developed Boeing P-8 Poseidon military aircraft capable of conducting anti-submarine warfare, due to alleged increase in Russian submarine activity, UK Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said Friday.
• China Delivered Two Most Advanced Corvettes to Bangladesh Navy People's Daily 12 Dec 2015 -- China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) delivered two most advanced corvettes to the Bangladesh navy in Qidong City, east China's Jiangsu Province on Friday.
• Japan, India Strengthen Ties With Series of Deals VOA 12 Dec 2015 -- Japan and India on Saturday sealed their warming ties with a deal for Tokyo to build India's first high-speed train, defense pacts that will clear the way for Japan to sell weapons to India, and progress on a civil nuclear agreement.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Yemen forces capture two more villages in Saudi Arabia Press TV 12 Dec 2015 -- Yemeni forces have captured two more villages in southwestern Saudi Arabia as part of their retaliation against the kingdom's military aggression.
• Yemeni Officials, Rebels: Truce Will Begin Monday VOA 12 Dec 2015 -- Yemeni officials and the country's Shi'ite Houthi rebels said they have agreed to begin a week-long cease-fire Monday, a day before the start of U.N.-mediated peace talks in Geneva.
• Takfiri militants suffer heavy losses in Syria Press TV 12 Dec 2015 -- Syrian government forces have killed scores of foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants in separate mop-up operations across the country,
• Car Bomb Blast in Syria's Homs Kills Civilians Sputnik 12 Dec 2015 -- Over 22 people were killed in a massive blast in the Syrian city of Homs near a hospital, according to a source.
• Syrian Army Liberates Latakia's Border With Turkey From Terrorists Sputnik 12 Dec 2015 -- After weeks of clashes, Syrian forces have wiped out al-Nusra Front militants from the mountainous regions in the northern part of Latakia province alongside the Syrian-Turkish border.
• Iraq Appeals To UN To Demand Turkish Troop Withdrawal RFE/RL 12 Dec 2015 -- Iraq appeared to abandon an effort to negotiate with Turkey over several hundred troops stationed in northern Iraq and revived its demand for an immediate withdrawal in an appeal before the United Nations.
• Iraqi Air Force Kills Over 15 Militants, Injures Senior Daesh Commander Sputnik 12 Dec 2015 -- Four Daesh commanders were killed during an Iraqi Air Force raid.
• Iraq Appeals to UNSC Demanding Immediate Withdrawal of Turkish Troops Sputnik 12 Dec 2015 -- Baghdad addressed the UN Security Council demanding an unconditional and immediate withdrawal of Turkish troops from the Iraqi territory to put an end to the 'aggressive act' and 'flagrant violation' of international legislation.
• Background Briefing on Secretary Kerry's Travel to Rome to Attend the Ministerial Meeting on Libya US Dept. of State 12 Dec 2015
• Pakistan: 3,400 Militants, Nearly 500 Soldiers Die in Counterinsurgency Operation VOA 12 Dec 2015 -- Pakistan's military said its counterinsurgency operation, Zarb-e-Azb, has killed 3,400 militants, adding that 488 soldiers were also lost in the campaign.
• U.S., Russia Spar Over Ukraine Conflict At UN Meeting RFE/RL 12 Dec 2015 -- The United States and Russia traded accusations on December 11 over the conflict in Ukraine at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
• Rape, torture, murder rampant in CAR: UN report Press TV 12 Dec 2015 -- The UN has voiced alarm over rampant rights abuses being committed mostly by armed groups in the Central African Republic (CAR), saying nearly 800 people have fallen victim to rape, torture and murder in eight months.

News Reports

• Saudi Women on Ballot, Vote in Historic Election VOA 12 Dec 2015 -- Women in Saudi Arabia are voting for the first time in municipal elections that will also feature the country's first women candidates for local council seats.
• US Warns Islamic State has Passport-Printing Capability VOA 12 Dec 2015 -- The U.S. government is issuing a fresh warning that the Islamic State group may have the ability to create increasingly genuine-looking fake Syrian passports, raising fears that extremists could sneak into the West.
• 87 Dead During Attacks on Military Bases in Burundi VOA 12 Dec 2015 -- Burundi's army says at least 87 people were killed Friday in the capital, Bujumbura, in what it describes as coordinated attacks on three military installations by unknown gunmen.
• Bodies Found in Burundi Capital's Streets VOA 12 Dec 2015 -- At least 20 dead bodies were found on the streets of Burundi's capital Saturday, a day after gunmen launched coordinated attacks on three military bases in the capital.
• UN chief slams attacks on Burundi military bases Press TV 12 Dec 2015 -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned recent attacks on military bases that left at least a dozen people dead in Burundi following a disputed presidential election.
• North, South Korea wrap up high-level talks Press TV 12 Dec 2015 -- North and South Korea have wrapped up two days of rare high-level talks aimed at easing tensions between the neighbors.
• Gambia declared Islamic republic by President Jammeh Press TV 12 Dec 2015 -- Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has declared the West African country an Islamic republic in a move he described as a break with the colonial past.