Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Casualty Update 24 Dec 2015 [PDF]
• Should US Accept Greater Risk of Civilian Casualties in IS Fight? VOA 24 Dec 2015 -- Washington's reluctance to risk civilian casualties in the U.S.-led air campaign against the Islamic State terror group is again being questioned as Iraqi forces, with the support of American air power, try to wrest control of the Iraqi city of Ramadi from IS.
• Military Strikes Hit ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 24 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.
• Russia ready to supply weapons to Afghanistan People's Daily 24 Dec 2015 -- Russia is ready to supply arms to Afghanistan, Russian special presidential envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov said Wednesday.
• Afghan troops fighting Taliban for key district in Helmand Press TV 24 Dec 2015 -- Afghan forces are fighting the Taliban for a key district in the southern Helmand province.;
• Afghan Forces Push Taliban Out of Key District VOA 24 Dec 2015 -- Officials in Afghanistan said national security forces, backed by U.S. airstrikes, have regained control from the Taliban of a key district center in the volatile southern Helmand province.
• Afghan Authorities Claim to Shut Down IS Radio VOA 24 Dec 2015 -- Local authorities in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province say that Sadai Khilafat Radio (Voice of Caliphate), which broadcast pro-Islamic State propaganda, has stopped broadcasting in the eastern province.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Plans to Upgrade US Navy Nuclear Subs to Cost Taxpayers Billions Sputnik 24 Dec 2015 -- To cover the massive bill for the Navy's nuclear ballistic submarine replacement, Congress has established a special account outside of the normal shipbuilding budget to help streamline financial transactions and not disrupt other ship construction.
• US to Begin Testing Powerful Airborne Laser Weapons Sputnik 24 Dec 2015 -- American defense contractor General Atomics is set to begin testing a 150-kilowatt-class laser next month, and the firm hopes to see Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) install the weapon on a gunship in the near future.
• Japan approves record 42 bln USD defense budget for FY 2016, spending leaps for 4th straight year People's Daily 24 Dec 2015 -- The Cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe approved a record-high military budget on Thursday marking the fourth consecutive year that spending on defense has increased.
• Japan cabinet approves largest defense budget Press TV 24 Dec 2015 -- The Japanese cabinet has approved the largest ever annual defense budget for Japan, moving one step farther from the country's post-World War II pacifist image.
• Eye on Chinese Military Power, India Seeks 100 Armed Drones from U.S. People's Daily 24 Dec 2015 -- Eying the development of Chinese troops, India has requested from the United States 100 latest unmanned aerial vehicles, both armed and surveillance versions, The Indian Express reported.
• India Says Farewell to First Godavari-Class Frigate Sputnik 24 Dec 2015 -- The Indian Navy has decommissioned the country's first indigenously designed and built Godavari-class frigate, thirty-two-years its induction.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• 24 December 2015 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 24 Dec 2015
• UNSC 'deeply concerned' over Yemen ceasefire violations Press TV 24 Dec 2015 -- The UN Security Council has voiced alarm over violations of a ceasefire agreement in Yemen and urged all parties to adhere to the accord and exercise maximum restraint.
• Eight civilians killed in fresh Saudi strikes in Yemen Press TV 24 Dec 2015 -- At least eight Yemeni civilians have lost their lives when Saudi warplanes launched a string of airstrikes against various areas across the country.
• Russian Warplanes Support Syrian Army Advance in Mountainous N Latakia Sputnik 24 Dec 2015 -- The Syrian army has reportedly driven Daesh militants out of more areas in Syria's north-western province of Latakia.
• Syria 'Ready to Participate' in Peace Talks VOA 24 Dec 2015 -- Syria's foreign minister says his country is ready to participate in peace talks in Geneva 'without any foreign interference,' nearly a week after the United Nations Security Council approved an international plan for a peace process to end the civil war in Syria.
• Iraq warplanes kill eight Daesh commanders: Military Press TV 23 Dec 2015 -- Amid its intensified push against Daesh, the Iraqi military says its warplanes have killed eight commanders of the Takfiri terrorist group, which has been ravaging the country since last June.
• Two senior figures of Daesh killed in Iraq airstrikes Press TV 24 Dec 2015 -- Iraqi officials have announced the death of two senior figures of Daesh terrorists in airstrikes as the military and volunteer fighters try to retake the flashpoint city of Ramadi from the Takfiri militants.
• Iraqi Government Forces Advance on Daesh in Center of Ramadi City Sputnik 24 Dec 2015 -- The Iraqi army and allied forces have taken control of a strategically important bridge into the city of Ramadi from Daesh terrorists and are continuing their advance into the city center, reported local media.
• Iraqi Forces Battle Last IS Fighters in Ramadi VOA 24 Dec 2015 -- Iraqi forces are battling the last Islamic State militants holed up in the center of Ramadi, as they fight to retake the key city they lost seven months ago in a stunning defeat to the extremist group.
• Arab League censures Turkey for military build-up in Iraq Press TV 24 Dec 2015 -- The Arab League has denounced the recent deployment of Turkish troops to northern Iraq as a violation of international law as tensions escalate between Baghdad and Ankara.
• Iraq FM Vows All Legal Measures If Turkey Refuses to Withdraw Troops Sputnik 24 Dec 2015 -- Iraq Foreign Minister Ibrahim Jaafari said that he will use all legal means to respond to Turkish troops in Iraq.
• Arab League Chief Calls Turkish Military in Iraq Violation of Int'l Law Sputnik 24 Dec 2015 -- Secretary-General of the Arab League Nabil Elaraby said that the presence of Turkish troops deep in the Iraqi territory is a blatant violation of the international law and Iraq's sovereignty.
• As Libya marks 64th independence anniversary, UN envoy urges unity behind new Government UN News 24 Dec 2015 -- A week after brokering an accord for a national unity government in strife-torn Libya, the top United Nations envoy for the country urged all Libyans to use today's 64th independence anniversary to put their differences behind them and unite behind the new inclusive institutions.
• Peace in Libya or More Chaos? VOA 24 Dec 2015 -- The U.N. Security Council endorsed a new Libyan unity government Wednesday – the outcome of months-long negotiations between the country's two competing governments in Tripoli and Tobruk. But some analysts say the negotiating process for the political settlement wasn't inclusive enough and warn the odds are against the new government being able to bring order to the highly fractious North African country.
• Clashes displace 100,000 people in SE Turkey: Report Press TV 24 Dec 2015 -- A new report says tens of thousands have been displaced as a result of recent clashes between the Turkish military and PKK militants in Turkey's volatile southeast.
• Central African Republic polls now scheduled for 30 December, UN reports UN News 24 Dec 2015 -- The presidential and legislative elections that had been scheduled to take place this Sunday in the Central African Republic (CAR) will now be held on 30 December 2016, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country reported today.
• Buhari: Nigeria Has 'Technically' Defeated Boko Haram VOA 24 Dec 2015 -- Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari says his country has 'technically' won the war against Boko Haram, in comments issued days before his self-imposed deadline for defeating the militant group.

News Reports

• White House, Congress Spar Over Iranian Visa Restrictions RFE/RL 24 Dec 2015 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has sought to reassure Tehran that the White House can waive new visa requirements that have outraged Iranians, but has faced a backlash from Republican leaders in Congress.
• Were North-South Korea Talks Set Up to Fail? VOA 24 Dec 2015 -- This month North and South Korea held two days of high-level talks aimed at again reopening communications and building confidence, but they fell apart without any deal.
• NSA helped British spies hack Juniper firewalls Press TV 24 Dec 2015 -- Leaked documents show the British spy agency enlisted the US National Security Agency (NSA) to help it hack firewalls made by the internet security provider, Juniper.
• France seeks constitution amendment after terror attack Press TV 24 Dec 2015 -- The government of France has proposed tough anti-terror laws under which citizens guilty of terror offences will be stripped of their French nationality.
• Ninth Paris Attack Suspect Arrested in Belgium VOA 24 Dec 2015 -- Belgian authorities have charged a ninth suspect in connection with the November 13 terror attacks in Paris, federal prosecutors said in a statement Thursday.
• Nigeria army bulldozes grave of Zakzaky's mother Press TV 24 Dec 2015 -- The Nigerian army has destroyed the burial place of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzaky's mother, a report says.
• Kosovo Court Finds Parts Of Controversial Deal With Serbia Illegal RFE/RL 24 Dec 2015 -- Kosovo's Constitutional Court has ruled that parts of a deal between Kosovo and Serbia to give more powers to ethnic Serbs in Kosovo violate the country's constitution.
• Georgia Completes EU Association Sputnik 24 Dec 2015 -- The association agreement between Georgia and the European Union was finally ratified by all EU countries, according to a speaker at the Georgian parliament.
• Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Moscow, December 24, 2015 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24 Dec 2015
• Kremlin Critic Khodorkovsky Says May Seek Asylum In Britain RFE/RL 24 Dec 2015 -- Former Russian oil tycoon and outspoken Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was targeted for arrest in Moscow, says he may apply for political asylum in the United Kingdom.
• Russia to Notify Turkey of Withdrawal From Legal Assistance Treaty - Decree Sputnik 24 Dec 2015 -- Ankara must be informed of Moscow's intention 'not to be party to the agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Turkey on mutual legal assistance in civil, commercial and criminal cases, signed in Ankara on December 15, 1997,' according to a decree.
• Turkey PM accuses pro-Kurdish party leader of 'treason' Press TV 24 Dec 2015 -- Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has lashed out at the leader of the country's main pro-Kurdish party for his criticism of Ankara's downing of a Russian jet.