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News Reports

Current Operations

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Casualty Update 05 Jan 2016 [PDF]
• Remarks by Special Presidential Envoy to the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL Brett McGurk Before the Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 05 Jan 2016
• Military Strikes Hit ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 05 Jan 2016 -- 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.
• Department of Defense Press Briefing by Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook in the Pentagon Briefing Room DoD 05 Jan 2016 -- Presenter: Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook
• U.S. Service Member Killed, 2 Others Injured in Marjah AFPS 05 Jan 2016 -- A U.S. service member was killed and two others were injured today after they came under fire in Afghanistan's Helmand province, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said.
• U.S. Soldier Killed In Afghan Firefight; U.S., Afghan Troops Wounded RFE/RL 05 Jan 2016 -- The United States says one of its soldiers has been killed and two others wounded when a joint U.S.-Afghan mission in Afghanistan's troubled Helmand Province came under attack.
• US Trooper Killed in Afghanistan VOA 05 Jan 2016 -- One U.S. service member was killed and two others were wounded Tuesday during fighting in Afghanistan's Helmand province, where Taliban fighters recently have expanded their operations.
• Iran supports peace, stability in Afghanistan: Rouhani Press TV 05 Jan 2016 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the Islamic Republic supports peace and stability in Afghanistan.
• Taliban Captures IS Bases in Afghanistan VOA 05 Jan 2016 -- Fierce clashes have reportedly erupted between Taliban and Islamic State (IS) fighters in eastern Afghanistan, leaving dozens of people dead on both sides.
• US Special Forces in Firefight in Afghanistan's Helmand Province VOA 05 Jan 2016 -- One U.S. service member was killed and two others were wounded Tuesday during fighting in Afghanistan's Helmand province, where Taliban fighters recently have expanded their operations.
• Africom Campaign Plan Targets Terror Groups AFPS 05 Jan 2016 -- In the face of growing threats from the African continent, U.S. Africa Command has spelled out its theater campaign plan, officials said here yesterday.

Defense Policy / Programs

• CNO Releases 'A Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority' NNS 05 Jan 2016 -- Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson released 'A Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority,' Jan. 5, a document that addresses how the Navy will adapt to changes in the security environment and continue to fulfill its mission.
• Eucom Commander Seeks New Approach to Russia AFPS 05 Jan 2016 -- For two decades, the United States "hugged the bear" in Europe, but that has to change, the commander of U.S. European Command said.
• Top US General in Turkey for Talks on IS VOA 05 Jan 2016 -- The Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford, is visiting Turkey as regional tensions rise. Ankara is an ally in the US-led war against Islamic State group, but Dunford's visit comes as Turkey is alarmed over recent gains by Syrian Kurds.
• Spain and Belgium take over NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission NATO 05 Jan 2016 -- The 40th rotation of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission will take place this week (7 January 2016) in Lithuania and Estonia. Responsibility for the mission will be transferred from Hungary and Germany to Spain and Belgium, demonstrating NATO's enduring solidarity with its Baltic Allies.
• Germany to Deploy 4 Tornado Reconnaissance Jets in Turkey on Tuesday Sputnik 05 Jan 2016 -- Berlin is due to deploy four additional Tornado surveillance aircraft starting from Tuesday as part of an anti-terror operation in Syria.
• New Russian Strategy Document Calls NATO a 'Threat' VOA 05 Jan 2016 -- On December 31, President Vladimir Putin signed off on a new national security strategy for Russia that unequivocally identifies NATO as a threat. The new strategy, observers say, reflects the recent deterioration in relations between Russia and the West, following Moscow's annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, as well as its more recent military intervention in Syria.
• New MiG-29 Jets to be Deployed to Russian Airbase in Armenia Sputnik 05 Jan 2016 -- After being fully repaired, MiG-29 fourth generation jet fighters will be deployed to the Russian airbase in Erebuni to protect Armenian airspace.
• Russia's Missile Forces Will Get New Combat Management System in 2016 Sputnik 05 Jan 2016 -- According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the country's Strategic Missile Forces will supply command centers with a new integrated automated battle management system.
• Newest S-400 System Deployed to Protect Skies Over Moscow Sputnik 05 Jan 2016 -- A new S-400 Triumf air defense system entered service with the unit of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the Moscow Region. The system was delivered after test firing was completed at the Kapustin Yar range.
• Iran opens 2nd underground missile site to cameras Press TV 05 Jan 2016 -- Iran's parliament (Majlis) speaker, Ali Larijani, has officially visited the second underground missile facility of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) packed with precision-guided long-range Emad missiles.
• Iran's New Underground Missile Depot Set to Ruffle America's Feathers Sputnik 05 Jan 2016 -- On Tuesday, Iran unveiled a new subterranean storage facility, the latest piece of its expanding missile program. The move is likely to anger officials in the US, who have already threatened to apply new sanctions, despite the promises of the Iran nuclear deal.
• North Korea Piling Up Its Arms 'Because of US Nuclear Threat' Sputnik 05 Jan 2016 -- The annual US military exercises are held not only to train the country's armed forces, but to be able to deploy them at any time, the North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun wrote.
• Military Burden: North Korea Spends Quarter of GDP on Armed Forces Sputnik 05 Jan 2016 -- No other country in the world may be compared to North Korea, where the population bears an incredible military burden in its 60-year-long standoff with its southern adversary.
• Why Thailand May Choose Russian T-90 to Replace Ukrainian Tanks Sputnik 05 Jan 2016 -- Delays in the delivery of Ukrainian-made Oplot tanks are making Thailand look to Russia and China for alternatives to Ukrainian military equipment.
• Poland to Strengthen Defense Capability on Eastern Border in 2016 Sputnik 05 Jan 2016 -- Poland is planning to create new units of territorial defense on the eastern border in 2016 and to transfer the acting brigades there with an aim to become one of the largest NATO armies, the country's defense minister said.
• January 5, 2016 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 05 Jan 2016
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 1/5/2016 The White House 05 Jan 2016

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 05, 2016

Other Conflicts

• 5 January 2016 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 05 Jan 2016
• Whether to set up ADIZ over South China Sea or not will be based on full assessment of security situation: FM People's Daily 05 Jan 2016 -- China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters and China's test flight to the newly built airport on Yongshu Jiao falls totally within China's sovereignty, said a Foreign Ministry spokesperson Monday.
• Tensions Swell as China Lands Civilian Plane on Islands in S China Sea Sputnik 05 Jan 2016 -- Chinese foreign ministry officials confirmed on Saturday that a test flight by a civilian plane landed on one of the islands in the South China Sea, the first time Beijing has used a runway in the area.
• Protests Lodged Over Chinese Plane Landing on Artificial Island VOA 05 Jan 2016 -- Tensions are rising between China and its regional neighbors after Beijing tested out a runway on one of its artificial islands in the South China Sea.
• Yemen War Taking Big Toll on Civilians VOA 05 Jan 2016 -- New United Nations figures reveal the terrible toll the ongoing conflict in Yemen is taking on civilians. The U.N. human rights office reports more than 8,100 civilians were killed or wounded between March 26 and the end of last year, the vast majority from airstrikes by Saudi-led coalition forces.
• Yemen civilian casualties top 8,100 as airstrikes, shelling continue: UN IRNA 05 Jan 2016 -- Civilians are suffering a "terrible toll" in Yemen with casualties now topping 8,100, nearly 2,800 of them killed, amid Saudi-led coalition airstrikes, shelling by Houthi groups and other clashes, UN Information Center said on Tuesday.
• Daesh commander killed in southern Yemen Press TV 05 Jan 2016 -- A commander of the Takfiri Daesh terrorists has been killed in clashes with fighters of Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement and military units amid the ongoing Saudi military aggression against the Yemenis.
• Yemen: civilian casualties top 8,100 as airstrikes and shelling continue, UN reports UN News 05 Jan 2016 -- Civilians are suffering a "terrible toll" in the fighting tearing Yemen apart, with casualties now topping 8,100, nearly 2,800 of them killed, amid Saudi-led coalition airstrikes, shelling by Houthi groups and other clashes, the United Nations reported today.
• Analysts: Iran-Saudi Crisis Compounds Regional Wars VOA 05 Jan 2016 -- Drinking tea on his traditional Yemeni low sofa, Sultan Zaied, a 41-year-old accountant in the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, says the diplomatic battle between Saudi Arabia and Iran has already intensified tensions in Yemen, and the crisis is still growing.
• Militant commander killed in Syria airstrikes Press TV 05 Jan 2016 -- Syrian fighter jets have bombed Takfiri terrorists' positions in a strategic city in the southwestern Dara'a Province, killing a commander and a group of militants.
• Saudis Deny Rift With Iran Will Hurt UN's Syrian Peace Effort RFE/RL 05 Jan 2016 -- Saudi Arabia has dismissed concerns that its severance of ties with Iran will harm efforts to negotiate peace in Syria even as its actions have opened up a new sectarian rift among opposing sides in the war.
• Syrian Army Resists Daesh Attack in Hama After Intense Clashes Sputnik 05 Jan 2016 -- The Syrian Army and National Defense Forces (NDF) resisted an attack by Daesh in a rural area in the Eastern part of Hama province following an intense fight.
• Syrian Army Drives Daesh Away From Strategic Air Base Near Aleppo Sputnik 05 Jan 2016 -- The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) launched a major offensive to destroy Daesh strongholds in the villages surrounding the Kweiris (Kuweires) military airbase in the province of Aleppo, the Fars news agency reported.
• Analysts: Anti-IS Coalition Strikes in Syria Yielding Results VOA 05 Jan 2016 -- An Islamic State judge is among the latest top jihadists to be killed in targeted coalition airstrikes that are seen as beginning to take a toll on the leadership ranks of the terrorist army.
• OPCW confirms Syria govt.'s claim on sarin gas Press TV 05 Jan 2016 -- The international chemical weapons watchdog says it has found traces of the sarin gas which the Syrian government says has been used by militants.
• Probe Confirms Traces of Deadly Sarin Gas Exposure in Syria Sputnik 05 Jan 2016 -- A fact-finding mission of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has found indications that some people in Syria were exposed to sarin gas, according to a report to the UN.
• Iraqi troops recapture town in western Ramadi Press TV 05 Jan 2016 -- Iraqi counter-terrorism forces have taken back a town in western Ramadi, the capital of the province of Anbar, inflicting losses on the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group.
• 25 Iraqi fighters killed repelling Daesh attack in Anbar Press TV 05 Jan 2016 -- At least 25 fighters with the Iraqi government have lost their lives while trying to thwart a three-day offensive by Daesh Takfiri militants in the province of Anbar.
• UN envoy for Iraq condemns attacks on mosques in Babylon Province UN News 05 Jan 2016 -- The most senior UN official in Iraq has condemned attacks which took place against three Sunni mosques in Babylon Province on Sunday evening, as well as other acts of violence.
• Battle for Libya Oil Installations in 2nd Day VOA 05 Jan 2016 -- Libyan TV is reporting that fighting resumed Tuesday around the oil exporting port of Sidra, between fighters claiming loyalty to the Islamic State (IS) group and Libya's petroleum infrastructure force. Seven people were reported killed and 25 others wounded during battles Monday.
• Daesh resumes shelling near key Libya oil facility: Official Press TV 05 Jan 2016 -- Takfiri Daesh terrorists have reportedly launched fresh attacks near key oil facilities in northern Libya.
• Libya Oil Company 'Cries For Help' as Daesh Attacks Its Second Oil Tank Sputnik 05 Jan 2016 -- Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) in a statement on Tuesday called on "all faithful and honorable people" of Libya for help after Daesh militants reportedly attacked a second oil tank at its premises.
• Daesh Terrorists Attack Libyan Oil Port for Second Day Sputnik 05 Jan 2016 -- Daesh terrorists fired at the Libyan oil port of Es Sider again on Tuesday setting ablaze an oil storage tank in the port, Reuters reported.
• Cyberattack On Ukrainian Power Grid Looks To Some Like An Apocalyptic First RFE/RL 05 Jan 2016 -- For years, experts have warned with mounting concern that critical infrastructure virtually anywhere in the world is vulnerable to cyberattack.
• Russian Soldiers Said Involved In Downing Of MH17 Airliner RFE/RL 05 Jan 2016 -- Dutch prosecutors are investigating a claim by a citizen-journalist group that at least 20 Russian soldiers were involved in the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014.
• CAR Peacekeepers Face New Sexual Abuse Allegations VOA 05 Jan 2016 -- The U.N. mission in the Central African Republic said Tuesday that it was investigating new allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by U.N. peacekeepers and international forces in the country's capital.
• Fresh allegations of sexual abuse made against UN peacekeepers in Central African Republic UN News 05 Jan 2016 -- The United Nations is investigating new allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse and other misconduct by peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR), this time by forces under the world body's flag, the top UN official there said today, as further steps are being put in place to combat the scourge.
• Ban calls on Israel and Lebanon to maintain cessation of hostilities following attacks UN News 05 Jan 2016 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned yesterday's attack against two Israel Defense Forces vehicles in the general area of the Sheba'a Farms south of the Blue Line, which was claimed by Hizbollah.
• A cold wind blows for Nigerians made homeless by Boko Haram IRIN 05 Jan 2016 -- The temperature is dropping across northern Nigeria as the seasonal Harmattan winds blow in a haze of dust from the Sahara, blotting out the sun for days on end. It's miserable at the best of times, worse still if you've been made homeless by Boko Haram violence and don't have decent shelter.
• Niger winning war against Boko Haram, says army chief Press TV 05 Jan 2016 -- Niger's army chief has said that the landlocked West African country is close to winning the war against Takfiri Bako Haram terrorist group.
• Turkish military kills 14 PKK militants in southeast Press TV 05 Jan 2016 -- Turkish security forces have killed at least 14 members of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group in the country's Kurdish-majority southeast.
• Shelling by militants kills four soldiers in Egypt's Sinai Press TV 05 Jan 2016 -- At least four Egyptian soldiers have been killed in a shelling attack carried out by militants in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

News Reports

• In Saudi Arabia, senior UN officials discuss regional tensions and needs UN News 05 Jan 2016 -- Two senior United Nations officials arrived in Saudi Arabia today to discuss the effects of regional tensions on the Syrian crisis as well as ways to ensure stability and security for neighbouring countries.
• Concerns grow over Saudi-Iranian rising tensions People's Daily 05 Jan 2016 -- Many countries including world powers on Monday expressed concern over rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran as well as unrest in the Middle East.
• US: Saudis Were Warned of Consequences of Cleric's Death VOA 05 Jan 2016 -- The Obama administration had warned Saudi Arabian officials about the potential consequences of executing the Shi'ite cleric whose death has roiled the Mideast and set off worldwide protests, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Monday.
• Iran Calls Saudi Execution of Cleric a 'Crime' VOA 05 Jan 2016 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tuesday that Saudi Arabia cannot 'hide its crime' of executing a Shi'ite cleric critical of the Riyadh kingdom by severing its diplomatic ties with Tehran.
• Severing Saudi-Iranian Ties to Harm Riyadh, Not Tehran - Iranian Ministry Sputnik 05 Jan 2016 -- Saudi Arabia's decision to cut off economic relations with Iran would have a negative impact on the kingdom, not on Tehran, Iranian Deputy Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade Mojtaba Khosrotaj told Sputnik on Tuesday.
• President pleased at Beijing's plan to open cross-strait transit CNA 05 Jan 2016 -- President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on Tuesday expressed his appreciation of a decision by China to allow its nationals to transit through Taiwan on overseas trips.
• Taiwan decides on approach to talks with Japan on comfort women CNA 05 Jan 2016 -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and several government agencies on Tuesday devised an approach to planned negotiations with Japan on the issue of 'comfort women,' females who were forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army in occupied territories during World War II.
• Taiwan urges Japan to negotiate over 'comfort women' issue CNA 05 Jan 2016 -- Taiwan's representative office in Japan said Tuesday it will continue to ask Japan to negotiate the 'comfort women' issue with Taiwan, after Japan indicated that it does not intend to resolve the issue with other countries the same way it did with South Korea.
• India Urges Pakistan To Take 'Firm' Action After Base Attack RFE/RL 05 Jan 2016 -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged his Pakistani counterpart to take 'firm and immediate action' against those behind an attack on an Indian air base near the country's border with Pakistan.
• India: 6 Airbase Attackers Dead, Security Operation Ongoing VOA 05 Jan 2016 -- India's defense minister said Tuesday a total of six militants have been killed after an attack on an airbase in northern India, and that the multi-day effort to secure the site was ongoing.
• Turkish cleric to stand trial over Erdogan graft scandal Press TV 05 Jan 2016 -- A US-based outspoken opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to go on trial along with dozens of former police officers for exposing a corruption scandal surrounding the country's leader three years ago.
• Russia's Cursing Crimea Chief Says He's 'Starting To Get Stalin' RFE/RL 05 Jan 2016 -- Angry at officials he said have failed to cope with severe power outages, the head of Russian-controlled Crimea said that he is "starting to understand" Josef Stalin, the Soviet dictator who purged millions, including his own loyal henchmen.
• Burundi Peace Talks Postponed VOA 05 Jan 2016 -- Peace talks between Burundi's government and opposition groups have been postponed, with no word on when they may resume.
• Haiti: UN chief calls for delayed elections to be resolved as soon as possible UN News 05 Jan 2016 -- For the second time in two weeks United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has again voiced concern at political developments in Haiti over the ongoing electoral process, urging the authorities and all political actors to resolve outstanding issues as soon as possible.