Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Casualty Update 28 Dec 2015 [PDF]
• Strikes Hit ISIL in Syria, Iraq AFPS 28 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.
• Statement by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on Progress in the Fight for Ramadi DoD 28 Dec 2015 -- "I want to congratulate Prime Minister Abadi and the government of Iraq on their progress in retaking Ramadi today. ?The expulsion of ISIL by Iraqi security forces, supported by our international coalition, is a significant step forward in the campaign to defeat this barbaric group and restore Iraq's territorial sovereignty.?"
• Congressman: US-led Airstrikes Have 'Minimal Impact' on IS VOA 28 Dec 2015 -- Republican U.S. Congressman Peter King (NY) said that while the U.S.-led airstrikes against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq have had some impact, it has been minimal given how long the air campaign has gone on. King's remarks Sunday on U.S. television followed a purported audio recording by IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi who said U.S. coalition and Russian strikes have failed to weaken the IS group.
• Update: air strikes in Iraq and Syria UK MOD 28 Dec 2015 -- British forces have continued to conduct air operations in the fight against Daesh
• Afghanistan: UN helps humanitarian aid reach war-affected families in Kunduz UN News 28 Dec 2015 -- The United Nations and its partners have helped deliver humanitarian aid packages to over 100 families affected by the recent fighting in the Kunduz area of northern Afghanistan, according to the UN mission in the country.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Department of Defense Forwards to Congress Proposed Changes to the Uniform Code of Military Justice DoD 28 Dec 2015 -- "Today the Department of Defense forwarded to Congress a legislative proposal to reform the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the statutory framework of the military justice system. The proposal is based on the recommendations of the Military Justice Review Group, which conducted a detailed analysis of each article of the UCMJ, including the historical background of the UCMJ, current practice, and comparison to federal civilian law."
• 31st MEU trains for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief mission USMC News 28 Dec 2015
• Free falling: HMH-462 supports para-ops training USMC News 28 Dec 2015 -- Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 supported 1st Expeditionary Operations Training Group in parachute-operations training at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Dec. 21.
• Gravely Arrives in Seychelles NNS 28 Dec 2015 -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) arrived in Port Victoria, Dec. 23, for a scheduled port visit.
• Emory S. Land to be Stationed in Guam NNS 28 Dec 2015 -- The U.S. Navy announced Dec. 23 that submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) will shift its homeport from Diego Garcia to Naval Base Guam.
• Arlington Provides Assistance to Disabled Vessel NNS 28 Dec 2015 -- Sailors from amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24) provided assistance to a small, disabled vessel while transiting the Gulf of Aden, Dec. 23.
• USS Charlotte visits Yokosuka during Western Pacific Deployment NNS 28 Dec 2015 -- The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Charlotte (SSN 766) arrived at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Dec. 23, for a visit as part of its deployment to the Western Pacific.
• US Escalating Tension by Creating Military Depots in Europe, Baltics Sputnik 28 Dec 2015 -- According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, America's large-scale military preparations under the pretext of protecting from the so-called 'Russian threat' illustrate Washington's determination to escalate tension on the European continent.
• German Boeing E-3 Deployment in Turkey Limited to Airspace Protection Sputnik 28 Dec 2015 -- The objectives of German Boeing E-3 reconnaissance aircraft due to be sent to Turkey, will not go beyond the protection of the local airspace, the German Foreign Ministry's spokesman said Monday.
• German FM calls for establishment of one army for all EU Press TV 28 Dec 2015 -- German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble says the EU requires one common army instead of 28 separate ones to tackle domestic and foreign security threats.
• What Is NATO for? German Minister Backs Creation of Single European Army Sputnik 28 Dec 2015 -- Taking into account the current refugee crisis, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble called for an increase in spending on European military operations and the establishment of a common European army.
• Russia's S-400 to Be Equipped With High-Tech Communication System Sputnik 28 Dec 2015 -- The Russian air defense is developing Tuf-MA and Tuf-M2 communication systems for the new air defense missile systems S-400, S-500 and 'Vityaz'.
• New law allows PLA to undertake counterterror missions overseas People's Daily 28 Dec 2015 -- China's new counter-terrorism law has made it legal for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to participate in counterterror missions overseas.
• Chinese Army Allowed to Carry Out Anti-Terror Operations Abroad Sputnik 28 Dec 2015 -- China's legislature passed the country's first anti-terrorism law on Sunday, making it legal for the People's Liberation Army to take part in counter-terrorism missions abroad.
• IRGC receives latest domestically-built ballistic missile Press TV 28 Dec 2015 -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has taken delivery of the country's latest domestically-built ballistic missile, a senior Iranian commander says.
• Israel fires head of missile programs over breach of security information Press TV 28 Dec 2015 -- Israel has fired the head of its missile programs over what has been described as a "grave" breach of security information.
• December 28, 2015 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 28 Dec 2015

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 28, 2015
• Russia, India Sign Deal to Assemble at Least 200 Ka-226Т Helicopters Sputnik 28 Dec 2015 -- Russia and India signed an agreement to assemble no less than 200 Ka-226T helicopters in India, state technologies corporation Rostec said Monday.

Other Conflicts

• Beijing Wants Philippine Troops out of Disputed South China Sea Islands Sputnik 28 Dec 2015 -- China on Monday called on the Philippines to move its troops out of what Beijing described as "illegally occupied" islands in the South China Sea.
• Talks with Riyadh to come only after Saudi strikes halt: Yemen's Saleh Press TV 28 Dec 2015 -- Yemen's former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has declared allegiance to the Houthi Ansarullah movement, says peace talks with Saudi Arabia will only take place after Riyadh halts its aggression against Yemen.
• UN delivers medicine for 1.2 million people in war-ravaged central Yemen UN News 28 Dec 2015 -- The United Nations health agency has delivered more than 100 tonnes of medicines and supplies for 1.2 million people in strife-torn Yemen's central Taiz governorate, where over 3 million people, almost 400,000 of them internally displaced, are in dire need of humanitarian aid.
• Iran's stands towards Syria 'crystal clear': FM spokesman IRNA 28 Dec 2015 -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari said on Monday that Iran's stands regarding regional developments and what is going on in Syria is crystal clear.
• Obama ignored warnings about Assad ouster: Report Press TV 28 Dec 2015 -- US President Barack Obama ignored warnings from senior military and intelligence officials that the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would lead to "chaos" and extremist militants taking over the war-torn country, according to a Pulitzer prize-winning American journalist.
• Several killed in Homs terror attacks Press TV 28 Dec 2015 -- Multiple near-simultaneous terror attacks in Syria's western city of Homs have left at least 14 people dead and many more injured, the country's media reports say.
• Syrian Army Destroys Daesh Oil Convoy Near Palmyra Sputnik 28 Dec 2015 -- The artillery of the Syrian Army shelled a convoy of Daesh oil tankers near the ancient city of Palmyra and destroyed most of the motorcade.
• Syria: UN and partners aid evacuation of injured from four besieged towns UN News 28 Dec 2015 -- More than 460 people, including the seriously injured and their family members, were evacuated from four towns under siege in Syria today with the help of the United Nations and its Red Cross and Red Crescent partners following a local agreement between the fighters on the ground.
• Twin Bombings in Syria's Homs City Kill at Least 19 VOA 28 Dec 2015 -- Twin bombings in the Syrian city of Homs have killed at least 19 people on Monday, with a suicide attacker detonating an explosives belt as onlookers assessed damage from the first blast.
• On Recent Advances in Ramadi US Dept. of State 28 Dec 2015
• Iraqi Forces Claim Ramadi Liberated From Islamic State VOA 28 Dec 2015 -- Jubilant Iraqi fighters raised the flag over the main government headquarters in the center of Ramadi Monday after saying they had recaptured the key city from Islamic State.
• Iraqi Forces Reach Strategic Milestone in Fight For Ramadi AFPS 28 Dec 2015 -- Defense Secretary Ash Carter offered his congratulations today to Iraq’s prime minister after Iraqi forces succeeded in retaking the government center in Ramadi from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
• Iraq declares Ramadi 'fully liberated' Press TV 28 Dec 2015 -- The Iraqi military command has declared that the city of Ramadi has been 'fully liberated' from the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group, and that government soldiers have raised the national Iraqi flag over the main government building in the strategic western city.
• Iraqi Forces 'Liberate' Ramadi From IS Militants RFE/RL 28 Dec 2015 -- The Iraqi army says it has 'liberated' the strategic city of Ramadi from Islamic State (IS), handing government forces a major victory against the extremist group.
• Iraqi Army Declares Complete Liberation of Ramadi From Daesh Sputnik 28 Dec 2015 -- The Iraqi Army announced on Monday that it had gained full control over the strategically important city Ramadi from Daesh terrorists, the army said in a statement.
• Iraqi Forces Raise Flag Over Ramadi Government Complex VOA 28 Dec 2015 -- Military officials in Iraq say they have raised the national flag over the main government compound in Ramadi, seven months after Islamic State militants captured the capital of Anbar province.
• Iraqi forces fight IS militants around gov't complex in central Ramadi People's Daily 28 Dec 2015 -- Iraqi security forces on Sunday continued their advance and surrounded the government complex in the heart of the city of Ramadi, where they have been engaged for the sixth consecutive day in fierce clashes against the Islamic State (IS) militants, security sources said.
• DPR says two residents, serviceman killed in Ukrainian army shelling Press TV 28 Dec 2015 -- Pro-Russia forces in east Ukraine say shelling by Ukrainian military forces in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) killed two civilians and a serviceman last week.
• Hopeful Signs of Reconciliation in Myanmar's Troubled Rakhine State VOA 28 Dec 2015 -- In Myanmar's western Rakhine state, inter-communal violence in 2012 caused a surge of killings, arson attacks and mob violence that led tens of thousands of mostly Muslim Rohingya to seek refuge in camps or flee the country by boat. Since then, the violence has ebbed, but thousands remain in squalid camps. There are now signs of hope that the community is starting to reconcile.
• Boko Haram terrorist attacks in northeast Nigeria kill 80 Press TV 28 Dec 2015 -- Boko Haram Takfiri militants have launched a series of attacks on the city of Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria's northeastern Borno State, for the first time in months killing tens of people.
• Mosque blast in Nigeria kills 20, injures 90 Press TV 28 Dec 2015 -- Twenty people have been killed and 90 others injured in a bomb explosion at a mosque in northern Nigeria, officials say.
• Boko Haram attacks in northeastern Nigeria kill 15 Press TV 28 Dec 2015 -- At least 15 people have been killed after Boko Haram Takfiri militants carried out gun and bombing attacks in a key city in northeastern Nigeria, reports say.
• South Sudan Rebels Urge President to Rescind New States Decree VOA 28 Dec 2015 -- An official with South Sudan's rebels loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar said South Sudan President Salva Kiir's decree creating 28 new states violates the spirit of the August peace accord.

News Reports

• Iran to use all possible ways to protect its properties: FM spokesman IRNA 28 Dec 2015 -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari said on Monday that if assets belonging to Iran and Iranians are posed to any kindof 'robbery', Iran will use every possible way to safeguard the rights of the nation.
• Any decision by JCPOA supervisory committee is binding IRNA 28 Dec 2015 -- Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday that any decision be taken by Iranian Supervisory Committee on Implementation of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is binding.
• Iran MPs introduce US compensation bill Press TV 28 Dec 2015 -- Iran's lawmakers introduce an urgent bill, demanding compensation from the US for "the damages which it has inflicted" on the country since 1953.
• Rohani Says Muslims Must Correct Islam's Image RFE/RL 28 Dec 2015 -- Iranian President Hassan Rohani says Muslims must improve the image of their religion that has been damaged by extremist groups such as the Islamic State.
• Kerry Praises Russia Shipping 25,000 Pounds of Uranium Out of Iran Sputnik 28 Dec 2015 -- US Secretary of State John Kerry said that Russia played a vital role in arranging for 25,000 pounds of low-enriched uranium being shipped out of Iran on Monday in compliance with the P5+1 nuclear agreement.
• An Update on Progress Toward Implementation Day of the JCPOA US Dept. of State 28 Dec 2015
• Japan-ROK Foreign Ministers' Meeting Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan 28 Dec 2015 -- On December 28, commencing from around 2:00 p.m. to 3:20 p.m., Mr Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a Japan-ROK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with Mr Yun Byung-se, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK), and announced about the issue of comfort women at the press occasion held after the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting as follows.
• Background Briefing - Developments on the Relationship between Japan and the Republic of Korea US Dept. of State 28 Dec 2015
• Abe expresses apology, remorse for Korean victims of sex slavery People's Daily 28 Dec 2015 -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his apology and remorse for Korean women falling victim to Japan's sex slavery during World War II, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said here on Monday.
• Japan, South Korea reach deal on WWII women slaves Press TV 28 Dec 2015 -- Japan and South Korea have finally inked a landmark deal over the controversial issue of women sex slaves during World War II, with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe offering an apology and promising more than USD eight million in compensation for the Korean victims.
• Japan Apologizes for WWII 'Comfort Women' Issue, Agrees to Pay Compensation Sputnik 28 Dec 2015 -- The Japanese government on Monday apologized for sexual enslavement of Korean women during the World War II, and pledged to provide a one-billion-yen ($8.3 million) funding for the victims, local media reported.
• Japan, South Korea Agree to 'Comfort Women' Settlement VOA 28 Dec 2015 -- Japan and South Korea have reached a landmark agreement that both countries' foreign ministers say resolves the longstanding dispute over Tokyo's responsibility to 'comfort women' who were forced to work as prostitutes in Japanese military brothels in World War II.
• Japan-S Korea Deal Could Help Efforts to Counter Pyongyang VOA 28 Dec 2015 -- A new landmark agreement between Japan and South Korea could pave the way for enhanced cooperation on regional threats such as North Korea's nuclear program, a senior State Department official said.
• Taiwan to continue to negotiate with Japan on 'comfort women' CNA 28 Dec 2015 -- Taiwan will continue to negotiate with Japan to have it apologize to Taiwanese comfort women forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese imperial military during World War II, Presidential Office spokesman Charles Chen (陳以信) said Monday.
• Japan asked to give same treatment to Taiwanese, Korean comfort women CNA 28 Dec 2015 -- Taiwan asked Japan Sunday to apply any agreement reached with South Korea in scheduled bilateral talks over the 'comfort women' issue to victims in Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affair (MOFA) said Sunday.
• Official warns against resurgence of diplomatic war with China CNA 28 Dec 2015 -- The Presidential Office on Monday warned of the danger of restarting a diplomatic war with China, following criticism by opposition presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) of President Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) foreign policy.
• Daesh has departments for oil, slaves: US Press TV 28 Dec 2015 -- The Daesh (ISIL) Takfiri group has set up different departments to manage "war spoils," including slaves and stolen Syrian oil in areas under its control, US military officials say.
• What It Takes To Defeat Islamic State's Ideology RFE/RL 28 Dec 2015 -- Daniel Koehler is among a handful of people in the West who work with Islamist militants returning from Syria in an effort to reintegrate them into normal life.
• Saudi Arabia posts record high $98bn budget deficit in 2015 Press TV 28 Dec 2015 -- The government of Saudi Arabia has posted a record high budget deficit of $98 billion in 2015 as plummeting oil prices take their toll on kingdom's revenues.
• Amid Controversy, China Passes Anti-Terrorism Law VOA 28 Dec 2015 -- China's top legislature passed the nation's first anti-terrorism law Sunday, which expands the government's ability to force foreign technology firms to comply with government investigations and could further erode individual rights.
• A look back at Ebola IRIN 28 Dec 2015 -- The past year has been a roller coaster ride for West Africa, with Ebola coming and going and coming and going, and then coming once again. But now, after nearly two years battling the deadly virus, the region finally seems to be Ebola-free. None of the three countries most affected – Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone – has had an active case since mid-November.
• As parties meet in Uganda, UN official urges consensual solution to Burundian crisis UN News 28 Dec 2015 -- A top United Nations official today called on all actors in Burundi to find a consensual solution to the crisis facing their country, which has been facing an upsurge in violence that has prompted fears of a relapse into the decades of civil war that killed tens of thousands of people.
• Burundi Sides Split on Peacekeepers at Start of Talks VOA 28 Dec 2015 -- Burundi's government negotiator and the opposition came out of the first session of peace talks in Uganda divided over the question of international peacekeepers.
• Moscow extends sanctions against Turkey Press TV 28 Dec 2015 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree extending Moscow's economic sanctions against Turkey, Kremlin officials say.
• As Crackdown Continues, Turkey Investigates Kurdish Party Leader VOA 28 Dec 2015 -- Turkish prosecutors have launched an investigation into Selahattin Demirtas, the leader of Turkey's main pro-Kurdish party. The move comes as security forces continue a crackdown across the predominantly Kurdish southeast against supporters of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, the PKK.
• In Odesa, Ukraine's Reform Agenda Faces Crucial Test RFE/RL 28 Dec 2015 -- To many of those living or doing business in this otherwise laid-back slice of southern Ukraine, even a whiff of the salty Black Sea breeze can't mask the smell of corruption.