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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 12 Feb 2016 [PDF]
• Strikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists in Iraq AFPS 12 Feb 2016 -- U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• US, Coalition Troop Drawdown in Afghanistan Raises Prospect of Failure Sputnik 12 Feb 2016 -- Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John Sopko said that US military advisors and their coalition partners have little or no direct contact with the Afghan National Defense and Security Force units below the army headquarters and regional police headquarters level.

Defense Policy / Programs

• AF officials announce FY 2017 budget force structure changes AFNS 12 Feb 2016 -- Air Force officials released force structure changes resulting from the president's fiscal year 2017 budget Feb. 12.
• Power Surge: ONR, Energy Efficiency in the Spotlight NNS 12 Feb 2016 -- A scientist sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) has been named to the National Academy of Inventors for work in energy efficiency using gallium nitride (GaN), with resulting improvements in everything from warfighter communications to hybrid cars, officials announced Feb. 11.
• USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Deploy NNS 12 Feb 2016 -- More than 4,500 Sailors and Marines from the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) departed San Diego for a deployment to the U.S. 3rd, 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations (AOO), Feb. 12.
• USS Farragut Concludes Mobile Port Visit NNS 12 Feb 2016 -- Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) completed a scheduled port visit in Mobile, Feb. 10.
• Airmen strengthen forward capability in Bulgaria AFNS 12 Feb 2016 -- Airmen from the 352nd Special Operations Wing supported deterrence-specific training here in conjunction with the 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron Feb. 9-11.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Ash Carter's meeting with the Emirati Minister of State for Defense Affairs His Excellency Mohammed Al Bowardi DoD 12 Feb 2016
• Remarks by Secretary Carter in a Media Availability DoD 12 Feb 2016 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Ash Carter
• Marine Corps equipment rolls out of classified Norwegian caves USMC News 12 Feb 2016 -- Norwegian soldiers and U.S. Marines are rolling out main battle tanks, artillery, and logistics equipment out of Norwegian caves to support the upcoming exercise, Cold Response 16, later this month.
• NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg at Munich Security Conference NATO 12 Feb 2016 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is attending the Munich Security Conference on 12-13 February 2014, against the background of a changed security environment.
• Doorstep statement by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the start of the Munich Security Conference NATO 12 Feb 2016
• NATO mulls joining US-led coalition in Syria, Iraq: Carter Press TV 12 Feb 2016 -- US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter says the NATO military alliance may join a coalition purportedly targeting Daesh Takfiri militants in Syria and Iraq.
• Russia Bristles at NATO Expansion in Eastern Europe VOA 12 Feb 2016 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met Friday with the head of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, on the sidelines of a security conference in Munich, after the Western military alliance and the United States announced plans for the biggest military buildup in Europe since the Cold War.
• Putin: Modernization of Defense Industry in Crimea Starts in 2016 Sputnik 12 Feb 2016 -- President Vladimir Putin said that Russian government will start financing of modernization of defense industry enterprises on the Crimean Peninsula in 2016.
• Congress Receives DoD Report on North Korea AFPS 12 Feb 2016 -- The Defense Department sent Congress its 2015 report on North Korea's military power today, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters.
• South Korea, US to begin missile system talks: South Korean official Press TV 12 Feb 2016 -- South Korea and the US are set to begin talks as early as next week on the deployment of an advanced missile system in South Korea, an official with the Asian country says.
• Deploying Missile Defense in S Korea to Cost US $1.25Bln Sputnik 12 Feb 2016 -- The South Korean National Defense Ministry said that a single battery of the US THAAD missile defense system deployed in South Korea would cost up to $1.25 billion for 48 interceptors.
• Seoul: US, South Korea to Discuss Missile Defense System VOA 12 Feb 2016 -- The U.S. and South Korea will hold talks next week on deploying an advanced missile defense system in response to North Korea's recent nuclear and missile tests, a Seoul defense official confirmed.
• The Government of Pakistan - F-16 Block 52 Aircraft DSCA 12 Feb 2016 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Pakistan for F-16 Block 52 Aircraft, equipment, training, and logistics support. The estimated cost is $699.04 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on February 11, 2016.
• Poroshenko Signs Ukraine-NATO 2016 Cooperation Plan Sputnik 12 Feb 2016 -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed the Ukraine-NATO cooperation plan for 2016 that should ensure the coordinated development of comprehensive cooperation between Ukraine and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in all areas of cooperation between our country and the alliance, according to Poroshenko's press service.
• Pakistan Denies Claims of Boosting Nuclear Arsenal VOA 12 Feb 2016 -- Pakistan's chief negotiator Friday dismissed reports its nuclear arsenal program is the world's fastest growing, and repeated Islamabad's demand that it be inducted into a club of nuclear trading nations.
• Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz en route Palm Springs, CA, 2/12/2016 The White House 12 Feb 2016
• February 12, 2016 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 12 Feb 2016

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for February 12, 2016

Other Conflicts

• 12 February 2016 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 12 Feb 2016
• Taiwan expels 4 trespassing Chinese fishing boats CNA 12 Feb 2016 -- Taiwan's coast guard recently expelled four Chinese fishing boats caught trespassing and poaching in the country's territorial waters, near Wuqiu in outlying Kimen County, the Maritime Patrol Directorate General (MPDG) of the Coast Guard Administration said Friday.
• Yemeni forces kill 20 Saudi soldiers in Jizan Press TV 12 Feb 2016 -- At least 20 Saudi soldiers have been killed in clashes in the kingdom's southwestern region of Jizan, Yemen's Defense Ministry says.
• Saudi urges UN, aid workers to leave war zone in Yemen Press TV 12 Feb 2016 -- Saudi Arabia has warned the UN and international aid agencies to withdraw all staff from northern Yemen amid ongoing attacks against the cities and towns in the area.
• Background Briefing on the International Syria Support Group Meeting US Dept. of State 12 Feb 2016
• Press Availability at the International Syria Support Group US Dept. of State 12 Feb 2016 -- Remarks by John Kerry, Secretary of State, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and United Nations Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura
• Syria: UN-backed task force seeks aid access to besieged areas 'without delay' UN News 12 Feb 2016 -- Following agreement late yesterday by diplomats meeting in Munich as part of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) to work with Syrian parties to implement a nationwide cessation of hostilities, a United Nations-backed task force met today on quickly delivering aid to besieged towns and war-weary civilians in hard to reach areas across the country.
• Ban sends Security Council first report of joint UN body probing chemical weapons in Syria UN News 12 Feb 2016 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has today submitted the Security Council first report of the joint body set up between the United Nations and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to investigate the use of chemical weapons in Syria.
• UN to Probe 5 Serious Cases of Alleged Chemical Weapons Use in Syria VOA 12 Feb 2016 -- A United Nations team says it has zeroed in on five serious cases of alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria for further investigation, including chlorine gas and mustard gas.
• UN Envoy: Aid Deliveries to Besieged Syrian Towns to Start Monday VOA 12 Feb 2016 -- The international community is mobilizing to get life-saving assistance to millions of Syrians in besieged and hard-to-reach parts of the country in the coming days.
• Factions Shift as Civilians Die in Syrian War VOA 12 Feb 2016 -- While world powers gathered in Munich negotiate an "ambitious" cease-fire plan for Syria, forces on the ground are growing increasingly desperate, resorting to shifting strategies and alliances to survive.
• Syria Agreement Already Facing Tests VOA 12 Feb 2016 -- Just hours after world leaders announced a deal to push for a cessation of hostilities in Syria within a week, the agreement is being put to the test.
• Syria: Cessation of Hostilities to Begin in a Week VOA 12 Feb 2016 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday major powers have agreed to seek a cessation of hostilities in Syria to begin in one week's time.
• Syrian Rebels Vow to Wage a National Liberation Guerrilla War VOA 12 Feb 2016 -- Syrian rebels warn their five-year-long struggle to oust President Bashar al-Assad will go underground, if they are deserted by Western backers or an attempt is made to foist an unacceptable political deal on them. They will wage a relentless guerrilla campaign against the Assad regime and "foreign invaders" from Iran and Russia, turning the war into a national liberation fight, rebel commanders and opposition politicians say.
• Syria aid deal? What about Aleppo? IRIN 12 Feb 2016 -- As diplomats hash out the finer details of a deal to cease hostilities and allow increased humanitarian access in Syria, it appears that the civilians of Aleppo may have been left in the lurch.
• Army takes more strategic hills in northern Syria Press TV 12 Feb 2016 -- The Syrian forces have taken control of several strategic hills and heights in Aleppo Province in a new major advance in the northern region.
• Syria ceasefire does not include terrorist-held areas: Iran Press TV 12 Feb 2016 -- A senior Iranian official says an agreement reached following marathon talks in Munich on nationwide ceasefire in Syria does not include areas held by terrorist groups.
• Ministers agree to 'accelerate' humanitarian aid in Syria: Kerry Press TV 12 Feb 2016 -- US Secretary of State John Kerry says ministers meeting for Syria crisis talks in Germany have agreed to "accelerate and expand" humanitarian aid to the conflict-hit country.
• The Costs That Come With Russia's Gains In Syria RFE/RL 12 Feb 2016 -- With Russia's monthslong air campaign in Syria now focused on a key rebel stronghold, Moscow can claim success in putting its stamp on the conflict and strengthening the hand of its ally, President Bashar al-Assad.
• At Munich Conference, Russian Wild Card Muddles Syrian Truce Deal RFE/RL 12 Feb 2016 -- World powers wrestled with the challenges of a 'bleak' global security environment at a conference shadowed by Russia's vow to continue bombing targets in Syria despite a deal on a cessation of hostilities.
• World Powers Cautiously Welcome Syrian Truce Deal RFE/RL 12 Feb 2016 -- Western leaders are welcoming a deal for a humanitarian truce in Syria while warning that Russia must stop bombing Western-backed opposition strongholds for the accord to hold.
• Syrian Kurds Begin Major Operation Against Jihadists in Key Town of Azaz Sputnik 12 Feb 2016 -- The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) began a major operation to take the town of Azaz, which had been a transit point for Turkish military aid to Syrian rebels in Aleppo until access was cut off over the past week by Russian and Syrian forces.
• U.S., Russia, European Powers Agree To Syrian Truce In Week RFE/RL 12 Feb 2016 -- Major powers agreed to a cessation of hostilities in Syria and to expand delivery of humanitarian aid to people caught up in the conflict, top diplomats said in Munich on February 12.
• Iraq PM vows elimination of Daesh this year Press TV 12 Feb 2016 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says his government is determined to bring an end to the existence of Takfiri Daesh terrorists in the country this year.
• Iraqi PM Reiterates Opposition to Unsanctioned Troop Presence Sputnik 12 Feb 2016 -- Iraqi Prime Minister said that foreign military presence in Iraq is prohibited without Baghdad's approval.
• OSCE Official Warns Of Worsening Rights Situation In Eastern Ukraine RFE/RL 12 Feb 2016 -- A top OSCE official has warned that the human rights situation in eastern Ukraine is worsening and the transatlantic security organization is still barred from entering the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula to investigate alleged abuses there.
• Moldova Indicts, Sentences Individuals Who Fought As Mercenaries In Ukraine RFE/RL 12 Feb 2016 -- Moldovan prosecutors say Russian-backed separatists in southeastern Ukraine have been hiring Moldovan mercenaries to fight on their side, sometimes promising as much as $3,000 monthly.
• Mali Attackers Kill 5 UN Peacekeepers VOA 12 Feb 2016 -- The United Nations says suspected Islamist militants in Mali killed five peacekeeping troops Friday in an attack on a U.N. base.
• Militants kill five UN peacekeeping troops in Mali Press TV 12 Feb 2016 -- Militants have attacked a United Nations base in northern Mali, leaving five UN peacekeepers dead and injuring 30 others.
• Mali: UN mission chief 'outraged' by attack against base that kills three peacekeepers UN News 12 Feb 2016 -- The top United Nations official in Mali said he is "outraged" by an attack earlier today against a UN camp in Kidal, in the north-eastern region of the country, which killed at least three peacekeepers and wounded 30 others.
• South Sudan's Kiir reappoints rival Machar as vice president Press TV 12 Feb 2016 -- South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has reappointed his former deputy and current rebel leader Riek Machar as his vice president under a peace deal aimed at ending months of civil war in the country.
• Southern Thailand Violence Raises Fears of Insurgent Escalation VOA 12 Feb 2016 -- Attacks across Thailand's southern border provinces have raised fears of an escalation in insurgent violence, even as the Thai government has stepped up security operations and reports progress in its efforts to hold peace talks. Human-rights advocates are calling for an investigation into claims of torture against detainees, including a death in custody.
• Statement by the Quartet's Principals US Dept. of State 12 Feb 2016
• 'Status quo' not sustainable, UN and Middle East partners warn UN News 12 Feb 2016 -- Condemning all acts of terror and urging restraint amid continuing violence against civilians, the United Nations and its Middle East Quartet partners today called on all parties to actively take steps to de-escalate current tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.

News Reports

• Congress passes tougher sanctions on North Korea Press TV 12 Feb 2016 -- The US House of Representatives has passed legislation which would impose tougher sanctions on North Korea for conducting nuclear tests and launching missiles considered by the US and South Korea as ballistic.
• US Congress Hits North Korean Leadership with Tough Sanctions VOA 12 Feb 2016 -- Something very rare happened in the U.S. Congress this week: Republicans and Democrats agreed to support tough action on North Korea after a series of provocations by Pyongyang.
• South Korean Companies Appeal to Save Kaesong Complex VOA 12 Feb 2016 -- South Korean companies hit hard by Seoul's decision to suspend operations at an inter-Korean industrial complex are trying to save the joint venture from being permanently abandoned.
• All S.Koreans withdraw from joint factory park with DPRK People's Daily 12 Feb 2016 -- All of South Koreans on Thursday withdrew safely from a jointly-run factory park with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) after Pyongyang's decision to deport all South Korean nationals from the park.
• DPRK expels all South Koreans from Kaesong Industrial Zone People's Daily 11 Feb 2016 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) announced on Thursday that it is expelling all South Koreans from the Kaesong Industrial Zone (KIZ) and closing the joint-run complex.
• Daesh has used, can make chemical weapons: CIA director Press TV 12 Feb 2016 -- The Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group has used chemical weapons in its attacks and is capable of making small quantities of chlorine and mustard gas, says the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director.
• CIA: Islamic State Has Chemical Weapons VOA 12 Feb 2016 -- The director of the Central Intelligence Agency said Islamic State fighters in Syria have used chemical weapons.
• Pakistani forces detain nearly 100 militants in Karachi: Military Press TV 12 Feb 2016 -- Nearly 100 people have been arrested in Pakistan on suspicion of having ties to al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups and planning terror attacks across the Asian country, a military spokesman says.
• Pakistan Dismantles Al-Qaida's Main Regional Network VOA 12 Feb 2016 -- Pakistan announced it has dismantled al-Qaida's main network in South Asia and foiled plans to break out of jail a man involved in the murder of journalist Daniel Pearl.
• EU Set To Drop Most Sanctions On Belarus For Good RFE/RL 12 Feb 2016 -- EU foreign ministers are poised to allow most of the bloc's sanctions against Belarus to expire when they meet next week in Brussels, diplomatic sources have told RFE/RL, but an arms embargo will apparently remain in place.
• Navalny Lawsuit Against Putin Rejected By Court RFE/RL 12 Feb 2016 -- A Moscow court has rejected opposition leader Aleksei Navalny's lawsuit against President Vladimir Putin accusing the Russian leader of a conflict of interest in the awarding of $1.75 billion in government financing to a company partly owned by his son-in-law.
• Venezuela court approves Maduro's 'economic emergency' decree Press TV 12 Feb 2016 -- A top court in Venezuela has approved President Nicolas Maduro's "economic emergency" decree, granting the head of state expanded authority over the country's struggling economy.
• Europe's restrictive measures draw UN concern as refugee and migrant influx continues UN News 12 Feb 2016 -- With the number of refugees and migrants arriving in Europe showing no signs of easing in 2016, the United Nations refugee agency today reiterated its concern over increasing restrictive measures on the part of European Member States, stressing that greater support mechanisms must be urgently implemented to protect the fundamental human rights of the more than 2,000 people who continue risking their lives every day to reach Europe.
• How Burundi's political crisis has crippled its economy IRIN 12 Feb 2016 -- The crisis that erupted in Burundi in April 2015 following Pierre Nkurunziza's decision to seek a controversial third term as president has claimed more than 400 lives and caused more than 230,000 people to flee the country, according to the UN. But it isn't just citizens who have suffered - the economy is in a bad way too.
• Former PMs Face Off Sunday in CAR Presidential Vote VOA 12 Feb 2016 -- With two days left until the final round of the presidential election in the Central African Republic, a VOA sampling of opinions in the northern prefecture of Nana Gribizi found that the campaign message of former Prime Minister Faustin Archange Touadera was resonating with many voters.
• Kenya's Deputy President Wins Key Ruling at ICC VOA 12 Feb 2016 -- The International Criminal Court ruled Friday that some testimony against Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto and a co-defendant, who are on trial for alleged war crimes related to post-election violence, was inadmissible.