Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Military Strikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 12 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 plans to send troops close to Iraq frontlines: Officials Press TV 12 Mar 2016 -- US military commanders in Iraq are devising plans to move American troops closer to frontlines as Iraqi forces gear up to retake the northern city of Mosul from Daesh (ISIL) terrorists, Pentagon officials say.
• UK to increase training to Iraqi forces UK MOD 12 Mar 2016 -- Britain is set to pledge several dozen more troops to support the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) as they take the fight to Daesh.
• Britain to deploy more troops to Iraq Press TV 12 Mar 2016 -- Britain said Saturday it would send more troops to Iraq to train Iraqi forces in their fight against the Takfiri Daesh terrorists.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Easyriders Helicopter Squadron Rescues Stranded Fishermen NNS 12 Mar 2016 -- Sailors from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 37, the Easyriders, rescued three stranded fishermen approximately 140 nautical miles southwest of Kona, Hawaii about 2:30 a.m. (HST), March 11.
• Russian economic woes won't derail arms upgrade: Putin Press TV 12 Mar 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that budget cuts prompted by Russia's economic difficulties will not impact Moscow's military modernization plans.
• Top maker of missiles seeks to tap intl market for rockets People's Daily 12 Mar 2016 -- China's largest missile manufacturer plans to use its solid-fuel rockets to tap into the international commercial launch market, said a senior rocket designer.
• Global Aspirations: China Mulls Network of Overseas Naval Bases Sputnik 12 Mar 2016 -- China is mulling an expansion of its overseas military bases beyond Djibouti, Foreign Minister Wang Yi hinted at a press conference during the National People's Congress.
• North Korean submarine goes missing: Reports Press TV 12 Mar 2016 -- US officials claim North Korea has lost contact with one of its submarines, amid ongoing military exercises by South Korea and the United States in the region.
• North Korean Submarine Lost Off Eastern Coast - Reports Sputnik 12 Mar 2016 -- North Korea has lost contact with one of its submarines off the east coast of the country, CNN reports citing US officials.
• US, South Korea Begin War Games Amid North Korean Threats VOA 12 Mar 2016 -- The United States and South Korea began a series of annual joint military exercises Saturday, after days of threats by North Korea that it will retaliate if the war games turn into an attack – threats generally made each year.
• Remarks With Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir US Dept. of State 12 Mar 2016

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Ban welcomes Security Council action to combat sexual exploitation by UN peacekeepers UN News 12 Mar 2016 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed yesterday's adoption by the Security Council of special measures to prevent and combat sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers, his spokesman said.
• China Begins Civilian Flights to Disputed Island in the South China Sea Sputnik 12 Mar 2016 -- Washington condemns flights, claims Beijing seized the island against claims by other countries.
• 57 killed as Yemen forces, pro-Saudi militants clash in Ta'izz Press TV 12 Mar 2016 -- At least 57 people are killed as pro-Saudi militants battle Houthi fighters and Yemeni army forces in a push to capture Yemen's third biggest city of Ta'izz.
• Syrian jet crashes over central Hama province Press TV 12 Mar 2016 -- A Syrian government fighter jet has crashed in the country's western-central province of Hama.
• Russia urges Turkey not to torpedo Syria peace talks Press TV 12 Mar 2016 -- Russia has called on Turkey to stop actions that could torpedo Syria's peace talks and disrupt the ceasefire in the war-stricken country.
• Syrian Air Force MiG-21 Jet Downed, Pilot Killed - Source Sputnik 12 Mar 2016 -- A Syrian Air Force MiG-21 jet reportedly has been downed near a military airfield in Hama Governorate.
• Russian Defense Ministry Says 42 Armed Groups Join Syrian Ceasefire Sputnik 12 Mar 2016 -- The number of armed groups that have joined the Syrian ceasefire reached 42, while negotiations with three more are underway, the Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday.
• Inside the Battle Between Syrian Army and Daesh Terrorists in Homs Sputnik 12 Mar 2016 -- Over a year ago the terrorist group Daesh captured the strategically important city al-Quaryatayn in the southeast province of Homs. Over time, the city has become a stronghold for the terrorists, as it is situated on the main transport route between Damascus and Palmyra.
• We Stand for Unity': Damascus Opposes Federalization, Partition of Syria Sputnik 12 Mar 2016 -- Syria's leadership opposes the partition of the republic and does not support the idea of the country's federalization, Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said Saturday.
• Countdown to Victory: Syrian Army Closing In on Aleppo-Raqqa Border Sputnik 12 Mar 2016 -- Syrian Army troops and allied popular units have significantly advanced against Daesh terrorists in the southeastern parts of Aleppo province and are now moving towards the Euphrates and its nearby regions in Raqqa province, Iran's Fars news agency reported.
• Syria Talks to Go Ahead as Planned VOA 12 Mar 2016 -- The United States' top diplomat said the U.N.-sponsored peace talks on Syria should go ahead as planned Monday despite what he called 'perceived truce violations' by the Syrian government.
• Iraqi forces recapture two areas in Anbar from Daesh terrorists Press TV 12 Mar 2016 -- Iraqi counter-terrorism forces have fully liberated two districts in the conflict-ridden western province of Anbar, purging the areas of members of the Daesh Takfiri militant group.
• We will retaliate against Daesh chemical attack, Iraqi PM says Press TV 12 Mar 2016 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Saturday the Takfiri Daesh terrorists will be punished for a recent chemical attack in northern Iraq that claimed the life of a young girl.
• Bombings, shooting leave 9 dead, dozen wounded in, around Baghdad Press TV 12 Mar 2016 -- Nine people were killed and a dozen others injured in a series of bomb explosions and a shooting attack Saturday at residential neighborhoods in and around the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.
• Iraqi Officials: IS Chemical Attacks Kill Child, Wound 600 VOA 12 Mar 2016 -- The Islamic State group has launched two chemical attacks near the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, killing a 3-year-old girl, wounding 600 people and causing hundreds more to flee, Iraqi officials said Saturday.

News Reports

• China, Russia support resumption of Six-Party Talks, promise more efforts People's Daily 12 Mar 2016 -- Both China and Russia pursue the denuclearization on the Korean peninsula, and support the resumption of Six-Party Talks with commitment to making new efforts to that end, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Friday.
• N Korean Army Ready for Pre-Emptive Strike Amid S Korea-US Drill Sputnik 12 Mar 2016 -- The North Korean military said Saturday it was ready for a pre-emptive attack against the South Korean and US troops involved in the ongoing military drill in case they try to invade the North.
• As Ankara Eyes Tougher Visa Rules, Neighbors Fret RFE/RL 12 Mar 2016 -- Brussels says the reference point for a tougher Turkish visa policy should be the EU's own highly restrictive visa-free and visa-required lists for entering EU countries. If Ankara agrees to the EU's position, the results would be a drastic reduction in the number of countries whose citizens can easily enter Turkey - from dozens today to just a handful in the future.
• 'No concessions' to Turkey on rights in refugee deal: Hollande Press TV 12 Mar 2016 -- French President Francois Hollande says his government will offer "no concessions" to Turkey on human rights or visas in exchange for guarantees to tackle the massive influx of refugees into Europe.
• Angola Leader's Plan to Step Down Draws Skepticism, Speculation VOA 12 Mar 2016 -- Angola President Jose Eduardo dos Santos' surprise announcement Friday that he will leave national politics in 2018 has drawn skepticism about the longtime leader's decision as well as speculation about his potential successors.
• Moscow Expects to Receive Data on Lesin's Death From US Investigators Sputnik 12 Mar 2016 -- Moscow would prefer learning new information on the circumstances of the death of former Russian Press Minister Mikhail Lesin directly from the US investigators rather then media reports, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Saturday.
• South African Lawmaker Unhappy with Zuma's Pay Increase VOA 12 Mar 2016 -- A cross-section of South Africans are not happy with the announcement of an increase in pay for President Jacob Zuma, which is set to begin next month, according to Jordan Lewis, a member of parliament from the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA).