Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Coalition Strikes Hit ISIL in Syria, Iraq AFPS 05 Mar 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.
• US sending nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to bomb Daesh Press TV 05 Mar 2016 -- The US is set to deploy its nuclear-capable B-52 bombers against the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group in Iraq and Syria, a report says.
• Taliban sets conditions for peace talks with Afghan government Press TV 05 Mar 2016 -- The Taliban militant group has refused to participate in peace talks with the Afghan government until its preconditions are fulfilled.
• Taliban Militants Cast Doubt on Peace Talks With Afghan Government VOA 05 Mar 2016 -- Afghanistan's Taliban militants are casting further doubt on prospects for peace talks with the Kabul government.

Defense Policy / Programs

• The Great Green Fleet Operates in the South China Sea NNS 05 Mar 2016 -- The John C. Stennis Strike Group (JCSSG) is conducting routine operations in the South China Sea. The ships transited the Luzon Strait March 1 and have maintained a location in the eastern half of these international waters for four days.
• USS Stockdale Conducts South China Sea Patrol NNS 05 Mar 2016 -- USS Stockdale (DDG 106) is conducting a routine patrol in international waters of the South China Sea as part of the John C. Stennis Strike Group and Great Green Fleet during a regularly scheduled 7th Fleet deployment.
• Wasp Completes FST-GC Exercise NNS 05 Mar 2016 -- The Wasp Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) completed Group Commander Fleet Synthetic Training (FST-GC), March 3, passing one of the first graded evolutions in the ARG's workup cycle for its 2016 summer deployment.
• Russian Defense Budget to Be Cut by 5%, Not 10% Sputnik 05 Mar 2016 -- Russian Ministry of Defense budget will be reduced not by 10, but by 5 percent, according to Deputy Defense Minister Tatiana Shevtsova.
• Russia's Northern Fleet Troops Hold Amphibious Assault Training Drills Sputnik 05 Mar 2016 -- According to fleet spokesman, naval infantry and motorized troops with Russia's Northern Fleet held amphibious assault training drills in the Far North.
• China announces 7.6-pct defense budget rise, lowest in six years People's Daily 05 Mar 2016 -- China on Saturday announced the country's lowest defense budget increase in six years in the wake of rising economic headwinds and last year's massive drawdown of service people.
• Military expenditure increase justified to safeguard nation and people People's Daily 05 Mar 2016 -- China will increase military expenditure by about 7 to 8 percent this year, according to Fu Ying, spokeswoman for the fourth session of the 12th National People's Congress. No wonder it has drawn worldwide attention as usual despite it will be a slower growth than that in the past years.
• China Focus: China announces 7.6-pct defense budget rise, lowest in six years Xinhua 05 Mar 2016-- China on Saturday announced the country's lowest defense budget increase in six years in the wake of rising economic headwinds and last year's massive drawdown of service people.
• Riyadh to receive French-made arms intended for Lebanon Press TV 05 Mar 2016 -- Saudi Arabia will take delivery of French-manufactured arms originally ordered for the Lebanese army, following Riyadh's recent decision to retract USD four billion in military aid to Beirut.
• Britain to Spend Additional $905 Million on Nuclear Submarine Program Sputnik 05 Mar 2016 -- The British Government is going to spend additional $905 million on its nuclear submarine program, media reported.
• Innovations Kiev-Style: Ukraine Starts Testing Its 'Invincible' Tank Sputnik 05 Mar 2016 -- The Ukrainian military has begun testing its new 'superweapon', which was designed by National Guard grunts.
• Turkish Military Instructors Gather Near Crimea to 'Train Mercenaries' Sputnik 05 Mar 2016 -- Deputy prime minister of Russia's Republic of Crimea said that Turkish military instructors have gathered in Ukraine's southern region of Kherson, which borders Crimea.
• Top Polish generals quit ahead of NATO military drill Press TV 05 Mar 2016 -- Several top generals in Poland have resigned months ahead of a NATO military drill in a surprise move that rattled the new government, already under fire for its controversial reforms.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• US warships patrol South China Sea; China keeps close watch Press TV 05 Mar 2016 -- The United States has deployed an aircraft carrier and several warships to the South China Sea to confront China, and the Chinese Navy is keeping close watch, according to a US Navy press release.
• Yemeni forces shoot down Saudi spy drone in Ibb Press TV 05 Mar 2016 -- Yemeni army forces, backed by fighters from allied Popular Committees, have reportedly shot down a Saudi spy drone flying over the war-torn country's southern province of Ibb.
• Syrian opposition groups call for Russia's protection from Daesh Press TV 05 Mar 2016 -- Several Syrian opposition groups have requested protection from Moscow as the Takfiri terrorists launch manhunt for those participating in a recently announced ceasefire, the Russian military says.
• YPG says Turkish troops fired on it in northeast Syria Press TV 05 Mar 2016 -- A Syrian Kurdish group says the Turkish army has fired on its members in northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli on the border with Turkey.
• Syrian Rebels Seize Iraq Border Crossing From Islamic State RFE/RL 05 Mar 2016 -- Syrian rebel fighters seized control of a crossing on the Iraqi border, activists said, after air strikes from the U.S.-coalition battered Islamic State fighters, pushing them back from the Syrian side of the border.
• Russia Delivers 3,5 Metric Tons of Aid to Syria's Latakia Province Sputnik 05 Mar 2016 -- The specialists of the Russian center for Syrian reconciliation delivered food and drinking water to the residents of the settlement of Latakia as well as provided them with medical treatment, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
• Turkish Armed Forces Bombed Syrian Territory on March 4 Sputnik 05 Mar 2016 -- Turkish tanks from the territory near the Turkish town of Akcabaglar shelled the settlement of Dikmedase Idlib province in Syria on March 4, 2016, at 16:00, according to the Russian center for Syrian reconciliation.
• Syrian Reconciliation Center Records Nine Ceasefire Violations Sputnik 05 Mar 2016 -- Nine violations of the cessation of hostilities in Syria have been recorded, including six in the province of Aleppo and one each in Latakia and Daraa, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
• Russia Announces 30 Moderate Syrian Opposition Groups Join Ceasefire Sputnik 05 Mar 2016 -- The total number of 'moderate' opposition units joining the reconciliation process in Syria has reached 30, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
• Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation to Protect Opposition Leaders Sputnik 05 Mar 2016 -- Lt. Gen. Kuralenko, commander of the Hmeymim-based Russian center for Syrian reconciliation, said that Russian experts held 23 meetings with Syrian opposition and political forces since the center began operations, in which group leaders requested protection from Daesh.
• Demoralizing Daesh: Syrian Army Liberates Strategic Village Near Palmyra Sputnik 05 Mar 2016 -- With the ceasefire currently in place in Syria, the country's Army and National Defense Force have liberated one more key village in Homs Province from Daesh terrorists, media reports said.
• Turkish Forces Attack Daesh Targets in Syria's Aleppo Sputnik 05 Mar 2016 -- Turkish forces have launched artillery fire against Daesh targets in the north of Syria's Aleppo province, Turkish media report.
• Iraqi security forces recapture two areas in Anbar Press TV 05 Mar 2016 -- Iraqi security forces, backed by fighters from allied Popular Mobilization Units, have fully liberated two districts in the conflict-ridden western province of Anbar from Daesh Takfiri terrorists.
• Iraq launches operation to liberate Mosul: US official Press TV 05 Mar 2016 -- The Iraqi army launches an operation to liberate Mosul which has long served as the main seat of Daesh in the country, a US official says.
• Iraqi Forces Kill 17 Fighters, Repel Daesh Attack East of Ramadi Sputnik 05 Mar 2016 -- Iraqi armed forces repulsed the attack of Daesh and killed 17 terrorists in the region of Hamidiyah east of Ramadi on an international high-speed highway, according to the Anbar province head of military operations.
• Expansion of Daesh scourge in Libya 'terrifying,' Ban says Press TV 05 Mar 2016 -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has warned of a "terrifying" expansion of the presence of the Daesh Takfiri terrorists in Libya.
• Libya Military Intervention Possible Only After Parliament Approval Sputnik 05 Mar 2016 -- Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi called for a 'balanced and long-term' solution to the instability in Libya, as UN-backed efforts to form a unity government were 'in full swing.'
• Turkish Forces Kill Over Hundred Kurds in Cizre in One Week Sputnik 05 Mar 2016 -- A representative of the Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party to the United States told Sputnik that Turkish security forces have killed 137 Kurds in Cizre over the past week.
• UN Security Council arrives in Mali, vows to support country during 'key moment' in history UN News 05 Mar 2016 -- The United Nations Security Council is in Mali today, the first stop of its visit to the African continent, where it underlined that the 15-member body is united in supporting the country's peace and reconciliation efforts.
• In Algeria, Ban calls to alleviate 'unacceptable' plight of Sahrawi refugees and resolve Western Sahara conflict UN News 05 Mar 2016 -- Calling to alleviate the plight of Sahrawi refugees in Algeria who are dealing with an "unacceptable situation," United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said the parties to the Western Sahara conflict have not made any real progress in the negotiations towards a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution.
• Cameroon's Capital on Edge About Potential Terrorist Attack VOA 05 Mar 2016 -- Panic has gripped Cameroon's capital, Yaounde, after a confidential letter from the country's defense minister leaked to social media stating that Boko Haram terrorists had arrived in the city.

News Reports

• China sets growth rate of 6.5% to 7% Press TV 05 Mar 2016 -- China has set economic growth rate of between 6.5% to 7% for 2016 amid concerns that world's second largest economy is slowing down.
• China Aims for 6.5-7% Growth as Layoffs Loom VOA 05 Mar 2016 -- China has announced a wide range of measures that it believes will help keep the world's second-largest economy growing by at least 6.5 percent this year, even as slowing global growth and massive job layoffs loom for some industries.
• Xinhua Insight: The West needs to discard 10 biases against China Xinhua 05 Mar 2016 -- China's ongoing annual political high season has provided a key window through which observers can better understand China's development and its outlook.
• Chinese premier reaffirms '1992 consensus' CNA 05 Mar 2016 -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (李克強) reaffirmed Saturday that China will insist on the '1992 consensus' and continue to oppose Taiwan independence.
• President Xi warns against 'Taiwan independence' in any form People's Daily 05 Mar 2016 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday warned against 'Taiwan independence,' saying the historical tragedy of national secession will not be allowed to repeat.
• 'US, allies prepared to respond to any hostile action by N Korea' Press TV 05 Mar 2016 -- The White House has called on North Korea to refrain from provocations, saying the US and its allies are prepared to respond to any hostile action by Pyongyang.
• EU extends sanctions against North Korea Press TV 05 Mar 2016 -- The Philippines says it has impounded a North Korean vessel after the EU ratchets up sanctions in line with the UN's harshest measures adopted against Pyongyang.
• North Korean Ship Impounded in Philippines Port VOA 05 Mar 2016 -- The Philippines government says it has impounded a North Korean cargo ship in response to the new U.N. sanctions that went into effect this past week requiring inspections of all North Korean vessels in foreign ports.
• Moody's Eyes Downgrade Of Russia's Rating Amid Falling Oil Prices RFE/RL 05 Mar 2016 -- Moody's Investors Service placed Russia's credit rating under review for a possible downgrade late on March 4, citing the 'structural shock' from a prolonged drop in oil prices.
• EU urges Turkey to respect media freedom after newspaper seizure Press TV 05 Mar 2016 -- The European Union (EU) has called on Turkey to respect media freedom after Turkish police took control of the opposition newspaper Zaman.
• Turkish Police Disperse Protest As Newspaper Reopens After Takeover RFE/RL 05 Mar 2016 -- Police in Istanbul used tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of demonstrators protesting the forceful takeover of Turkey's largest newspaper.
• Violent Clash in Istanbul at Newspaper Offices VOA 05 Mar 2016 -- Turkish police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets at hundreds of protesters trying to resist a takeover of the country's biggest newspaper, seized by authorities in a crackdown on opposition media linked to a religious group whose leader lives in exile in the United States.
• Turkish Prime Minister Calls For 'Common Perspective' With Iran RFE/RL 05 Mar 2016 -- Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says Ankara and Tehran must develop 'common perspectives' in order to end sectarian strife in the region.
• Macedonian Leader Blasts EU For Failing To Secure Borders RFE/RL 05 Mar 2016 -- A Greek governor called for a national state of emergency and Bulgaria's prime minister said his government will send over 400 troops and other security personnel to guard its border with Greece, amid fears the migrant flow along the Balkan route will pick up with the onset of warmer weather.
• Prominent Sudanese opposition leader Turabi dies at 84 Press TV 05 Mar 2016 -- Sudan's main opposition leader Hassan Abd Allah al-Turabi has reportedly lost his life after sinking into a coma and being transferred to a medical center in the capital, Khartoum, in critical condition earlier in the day.