Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 24 Mar 2016 [PDF]
• Coalition Strikes Target ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 24 Mar 2016 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Malmstrom mechanics testing new bio-based vehicle oil AFNS 24 Mar 2016 -- Malmstrom Air Force Base is one of four bases across the service chosen to test out a new bio-based synthetic oil in its vehicles.
• Department of Defense Selected Acquisition Reports (SARs) DoD 24 Mar 2016 -- The Department of Defense (DoD) has released details on major defense acquisition program cost, schedule, and performance changes since the December 2014 reporting period. This information is based on the Selected Acquisition Reports (SARs) submitted to the Congress for the December 2015 reporting period.
• Readout of Secretary Carter's call with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense Mohammed bin Salman DoD 24 Mar 2016
• US Navy, Republic of Korea Navy Confirm Strategic Alliance During Foal Eagle 16 NNS 24 Mar 2016 -- U.S. Navy and Republic of Korea Navy ships commenced the maritime portion of exercise Foal Eagle 16, March 22.
• USS Chosin Gets New Homeport For Modernization NNS 24 Mar 2016 -- The U.S. Navy announced March 22 that USS Chosin (CG 65) will change its homeport from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to San Diego.
• US Naval Forces Europe-Africa Establishes New Task Force NNS 24 Mar 2016 -- Commodore Jeffrey Wolstenholme assumed command of the newly established Commander, Task Force 64 during a ceremony held on U.S. Naval Support Activity Naples, Capodichino, March 24.
• Evolution of GPS: From Desert Storm to today's users AFNS 24 Mar 2016 -- In a desert, it's easy to get lost. There are no roads, no signposts, nor vegetation to give locational clues.
• Naval War College Symposium Focuses on Maritime Strategy, Implementation NNS 24 Mar 2016 -- U.S. Naval War College (NWC) is hosting maritime security experts from academia, defense and policy fields March 24-26, to focus global military attention on maritime strategy, concepts needed to implement strategy, and international reactions to strategy during the annual EMC Chair Symposium.
• NATO Deputy Secretary General commends Lithuania's strong commitment to the Alliance NATO 24 Mar 2016 -- At the second day of a visit to Lithuania, NATO Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Alexander Vershbow and the 28 ambassadors of the North Atlantic Council met in Vilnius with President Dalia Grybauskaitė on Thursday (24 March 2016) and discussed NATO's adaptation to meet new security challenges.
• Russia, Abkhazia, S Ossetia Concerned About Georgia-NATO Cooperation Sputnik 24 Mar 2016 -- Russia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia are concerned about the increasing NATO expansion.
• Russia Soyuz Rocket Successfully Launches Military Satellite Into Orbit Sputnik 24 Mar 2016 -- A military satellite atop the Souyuz-2.1a carrier rocket has been successfully launched into orbit, the Russian Defense Ministry's press service told RIA Novosti on Thursday, adding that the Russian Aerospace Forces assumed control of the spacecraft's flight.
• First Russian-Made Aerial Refueling Tanker to Start Flight Tests in 2016 Sputnik 24 Mar 2016 -- Ilyushin Aviation Complex Chief Designer Nikolai Talikov said that the IL-78M-90A, new Russian plane, will be released and commence flight tests this year.
• Russia Delivers Four Mi-171Sh Military Transport Helicopters to Angola Sputnik 24 Mar 2016 -- Russian Helicopters company stated that Russia has delivered four Mi-171Sh military transport helicopters to Angola.
• Kim Jong Un Guides Ground Test of Jet of High-power Solid-fuel Rocket Engine and Its Cascade Separation KCNA 24 Mar 2016 -- Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, personally came out to the testing site and guided the ground test of jet of high-power solid-fuel rocket engine and its cascade separation.
• DPRK leader guides ground test for heavy-lift, solid-fuel rocket engine People's Daily 24 Mar 2016 -- The top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Unhas guided a ground test for heavy-lift, solid-fuel rocket engine and its separation, the country's official news agency KCNA reported Thursday.
• North Korea claims successfully tested new rocket engine Press TV 24 Mar 2016 -- North Korea claims it has successfully tested a solid-fuel rocket engine that can boost the country's ballistic missile capabilities.
• North Korea Boasts More Progress in Ballistic Missile Program VOA 24 Mar 2016 -- North Korea says it has successfully tested a solid-fuel rocket engine, which would be a major step in its effort to develop a long-range missile able to reach South Korea and the United States.
• S. Korea takes seriously DPRK's claim of having successful tested solid-fuel rocket People's Daily 24 Mar 2016 -- South Korea's Defense Ministry said Thursday that it took seriously the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s claim to have successfully tested a solid-fuel rocket engine as it means Pyongyang's constant readiness to fire missiles.
• Roundup: S.Korean president orders military to strengthen readiness amid tensions with DPRK People's Daily 24 Mar 2016 -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Thursday ordered her military to strengthen defense readiness amid rising tensions with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
• Spokesman: Iran missile program irrelevant to JCPOA IRNA 24 Mar 2016 -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari said on Thursday that Iran's missile program has nothing to do with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and is not in violation of the UN Security Council resolution 2231.
• Iran to keep boosting missile might despite new US sanctions Press TV 24 Mar 2016 -- Iran says it will continue to enhance its missile might despite new US sanctions aimed at curbing its defense capabilities.
• Iran to UN: Missile Launch Not A Violation VOA 24 Mar 2016 -- The Iranian government has written to the United Nations defending its recent ballistic missile launch, which was criticized by the United States and other nations.
• Japan Seeks Sixth Generation Fighter Jet to Dominate Beijing's J-20 Sputnik 24 Mar 2016 -- Tokyo began conversations with US defense contractors this week to lay the groundwork for the development of a sixth-generation F-3 fighter jet.
• Military joins local government disaster drill in central Taiwan CNA 24 Mar 2016 -- About 800 servicemen were mobilized Thursday to take part in a large-scale disaster drill held by a local government in central Taiwan as part of an effort to improve the country's disaster response.
• Putin Praises Obama's Leadership in Syria VOA 24 Mar 2016 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian President Vladimir Putin say that cooperation between the two countries has been instrumental in achieving an unexpectedly successful cessation of hostilities in war-torn Syria
• Remarks With Russian President Vladimir Putin US Dept. of State 24 Mar 2016 -- Remarks by John Kerry, Secretary of State
• Remarks Before Meeting With Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov US Dept. of State 24 Mar 2016 -- Remarks by John Kerry, Secretary of State
• March 24, 2016 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 24 Mar 2016

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 24, 2016

Other Conflicts

• 24 March 2016 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 24 Mar 2016
• President invites Philippine officials to visit Taiping Island CNA 24 Mar 2016 -- President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) invited the Philippines Thursday to send representatives or lawyers to visit Taiwan-held Taiping Island in the disputed South China Sea to obtain correct knowledge of the island.
• No response from Manila on Taiping visit invitation CNA 24 Mar 2016 -- The Philippine government had not responded as of Thursday noon to an invitation extended by Republic of China President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) a day earlier for Philippine lawyers and international arbitrators working on a South China Sea case to visit Taiping Island in the South China Sea, which Taiwan claims as its territory.
• OP-ED: US-Philippines strategic dialogue promotes militarization of South China Sea People's Daily 24 Mar 2016 -- The U.S. and the Philippines recently held the sixth bilateral strategic dialogue. Media reports said that the U.S. military is granted access to five military bases in the Philippines based on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), which was approved by both sides. The U.S. fleet and troops can now use these bases near the South China Sea to conduct "maritime security operations."
• Chinese, Indonesian Fishery Dispute Rekindles Competing Seas Claims VOA 24 Mar 2016 -- Tension is mounting between China and neighboring Indonesia after a recent fishery dispute brought to light their competing claims over the 200-nautical miles exclusive economic zone (EEZ) surrounding the Natuna Islands, which sit northwest of the island of Borneo in the disputed South China Sea.
• Saudi Arabia, Houthis Agree to Ceasefire After Year-Long Massacre in Yemen Sputnik 24 Mar 2016 -- Saudi Arabia and the Houthis controlling part of Yemen have agreed to a "cessation of hostilities," the UN's special envoy to Yemen announced on Wednesday.
• 'End to fighting can't come soon enough' for Yemen, says UN humanitarian chief UN News 24 Mar 2016 -- The United Nations relief chief today welcomed efforts to find a solution to the crisis in Yemen, adding that yesterday's announcement of an agreement to cease hostilities on 10 April is "positive."
• Syrian talks end with 'no drama;' early April target date set for resumption - UN envoy UN News 24 Mar 2016 -- Both the Syrian Government and opposition delegations are taking the United Nations-mediated peace talks "very seriously," the UN envoy on the discussions said today, wrapping up the second round of the process by issuing a paper on "commonalties that exist between the two negotiating parties," and announcing that the talks could pick up again by the second week of April.
• US, Russia Push for New Syrian Constitution by August VOA 24 Mar 2016 -- The United States and Russia are calling for the drafting of a new Syrian constitution by August. They have also agreed to push both the Syrian government and the opposition to free all political prisoners, especially those who are vulnerable.
• UN envoy sets April 9 as Syria talks target date Press TV 24 Mar 2016 -- The UN special envoy for Syria has designated April 9 as the "target date" for the resumption of indirect talks between the Syrian government and so-called opposition to resolve the crisis in the war-torn Arab country.
• Kerry: Partial truce in Syria has reduced violence Press TV 24 Mar 2016 -- US Secretary of State John Kerry said in Moscow on Thursday a partial truce in Syria has produced a fragile but beneficial reduction in violence in the Middle Eastern country.
• Daesh continues smuggling oil to Turkey: Lavrov Press TV 24 Mar 2016 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the flow of oil smuggled by Daesh across the Syrian-Turkish border is continuing despite attacks on the terror group's infrastructure, and the UN Security Council's ban on the illegal trade.
• Syrian forces enter Palmyra: TV Press TV 24 Mar 2016 -- Syrian armed forces have entered Palmyra after fierce clashes with Daesh terrorists controlling the ancient city since last year, state media say.
• Syria to Be Democratic, Non-Sectarian - Intra-Syria Talks Final Declaration Sputnik 24 Mar 2016 -- Syria shall be a democratic, non-sectarian state based on citizenship and political pluralism, the representation of all components of Syrian society, according to the final declaration of the intra-Syrian talks.
• Russian Jets Strike 146 Terrorist Targets Around Palmyra Sputnik 24 Mar 2016 -- From March 20 to March 23 Russian jets conducted 146 sorties, hitting 146 terrorist targets around Palmyra, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
• Syrian Army Takes Giant Step to Crush Daesh in East Palmyra Sputnik 24 Mar 2016 -- The Desert Falcons militia together with the Syrian army are engaging Daesh in eastern Palmyra, a RIA Novosti correspondent reported from the city on Thursday.
• In Lebanon, Ban prasies country's generosity towards Syrian refugees UN News 24 Mar 2016 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived this morning in Lebanon, starting with a visit to the Headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, in Naqoura and then holding a joint press conference where he praised the generosity the country and Lebanese people have shown towards Syrian refugees.
• Iraqi airstrikes hit Daesh missile plant in Kirkuk, kill 35 militants Press TV 24 Mar 2016 -- Nearly three dozen members of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group have been killed in an operation by the Iraqi air force in the beleaguered province of Kirkuk.
• Iraq army launches offensive to recapture Daesh-held Mosul Press TV 24 Mar 2016 -- The Iraqi armed forces have begun an offensive to recapture the country's second-largest city of Mosul from Takfiri Daesh terrorists.
• Double Whammy: Iraqi Forces Report Gains Against Daesh in New Offensive Sputnik 24 Mar 2016 -- As Syrian troops close in on Palmyra, the Iraqi military and militias reported gains against the Daesh terrorist group in their offensive on Mosul and much of the occupied Nineveh province.
• Iraqi Army Meets Stiff IS Resistance in Mosul Offensive VOA 24 Mar 2016 -- Iraqi forces have met with stiff resistance in the first step of their offensive to retake the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul.
• UN welcomes 'historic' guilty verdict against Radovan Karadžiæ UN News 24 Mar 2016 -- Calling today "historic" for the people of former Yugoslavia and for international criminal justice, United nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today expressed support for the victims who suffered under former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžiæ, following his guilty verdict by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
• ICTY Finds Karadzic Guilty of Srebrenica Genocide Sputnik 24 Mar 2016 -- The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in the Hague found on Thursday former President of the Republika Srpska Radovan Karadzic guilty of Srebrenica genocide in 1995 and sentenced him to 40 years in prison.
• Karadzic Convicted Of Genocide, Sentenced To 40 Years In Prison RFE/RL 24 Mar 2016 -- A UN tribunal has sentenced former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic to 40 years in prison after convicting him of genocide and other crimes committed during Bosnia's 1992-95 civil war.
• Colombia, FARC rebels miss deadline for peace deal Press TV 24 Mar 2016 -- The Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have missed a deadline for reaching a peace deal to end the decades-long conflict in the South American country.
• Colombian Government Fails to Reach Peace Deal With FARC Sputnik 24 Mar 2016 -- Bogota's chief negotiator with FARC said that major differences remain between Colombia's government and FARC.
• Boko Haram Chief Signals Possible Retirement VOA 24 Mar 2016 -- Alleged Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has signaled his possible retirement in a new video that appeared online Thursday.
• Security Council extends mandate of UN mission in Somalia through March 2017 UN News 24 Mar 2016 -- Stressing the importance of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia to that country's political process, the Security Council today extended the mandate of UNSOM's work until 31 March 2017.
• Time 'to ring the alarm bell' on waning prospects for Middle East peace, UN envoy tells Security Council UN News 24 Mar 2016 -- The United Nations envoy for the peace process in the Middle East today warned the Security Council that the prospects for an independent Palestinian state are disappearing, and questioned the political will of the Israeli and Palestinian actors to address the main challenges blocking peace efforts.
• UN Calls on Moroccan Authorities to Allow Return of Expelled Staff VOA 24 Mar 2016 -- Morocco's foreign minister says the government's decision to reduce the number of United Nations staff at the Western Sahara mission is "irreversible."

News Reports

• EU Focuses on Security Measures After Brussels Attacks VOA 24 Mar 2016 -- European Union justice and security ministers hold talks in Brussels Thursday on ways to shore up intelligence and security, as police search for yet another suspect in the attacks in the Belgian capital that killed at least 31 people and wounded 300 others.
• Briefing by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Moscow, March 24, 2016 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24 Mar 2016
• Seven Iranians Working for Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Affiliated Entities Charged for Conducting Coordinated Campaign of Cyber Attacks Against U.S. Financial Sector US Dept. of Justice 24 Mar 2016 -- A grand jury in the Southern District of New York indicted seven Iranian individuals who were employed by two Iran-based computer companies, ITSecTeam (ITSEC) and Mersad Company (MERSAD), that performed work on behalf of the Iranian Government, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, on computer hacking charges related to their involvement in an extensive campaign of over 176 days of distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks.
• Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch Delivers Remarks at Press Conference Announcing Seven Iranians Charged for Conducting Cyber Attacks against U.S. Financial Sector US Dept. of Justice 24 Mar 2016
• US accuses Iran of cyber attack against dozens of banks Press TV 24 Mar 2016 -- The US government has charged several Iranian hackers with coordinating a campaign of cyber attacks on dozens of American banks and a dam in New York state from 2011 to 2013.
• US Charges Iranian Hacker With 'Illegally Obtaining Access' to New York Dam Sputnik 24 Mar 2016 -- One of the seven Iranian defendants the United States has charged in a massive cyber intrusion to the US financial sector has also been charged with trying to hack into a dam in New York State, US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said during a news conference on Thursday.
• US Accuses 7 Iranians of State-Sanctioned Hacking VOA 24 Mar 2016 -- The U.S. accused seven Iranians Thursday of carrying out a massive computer hacking scheme on behalf of the Iranian government to disrupt the Internet operations at 46 American financial institutions.
• Taiwan wants China to face reality of separate rules since 1949 CNA 24 Mar 2016 -- Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) urged mainland China to face the reality that both sides of the Taiwan Strait have been under separate rule over the past 67 years.
• Chinese premier stresses vital importance of '1992 consensus' CNA 24 Mar 2016 -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang seemed eager to drive home a message to Taiwan's next government when he met with former Vice President Vincent Siew Thursday, that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to "one China" -- a fact that Li said cannot be changed.
• President-elect urged to specify nature of cross-strait relations CNA 24 Mar 2016 -- China has expressed hope that Taiwan's President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) will clearly specify her idea of what is the nature of cross-Taiwan Strait relations.
• Iranian President to Visit Pakistan Seeking Better Ties VOA 24 Mar 2016 -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani visits neighboring Pakistan for two days starting Friday. The trip is apparently part of Iran's diplomatic campaign to boost economic and trade ties with neighboring and regional countries now that international sanctions against it have been removed.
• Saudi/Iran Detente May Be Advisable, but Is it Likely? VOA 24 Mar 2016 -- Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia - tenuous at best since the 1979 Iran revolution - have plummeted in the wake of an international nuclear deal with Iran and Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shi'ite cleric in January. The two rivals have mended explosive rifts in the past, and some analysts say it's time they mend the current one, lest they ignite a direct war that could swallow the whole region.
• Kim Jong Un Gives Field Guidance to February 11 Plant under Ryongsong Machine Complex KCNA 24 Mar 2016 -- Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, gave field guidance to the February 11 Plant under the Ryongsong Machine Complex.
• UN rights chief concerned over 'collective expulsion' of migrants after EU-Turkey deal UN News 24 Mar 2016 -- The top United Nations human rights official today expressed serious concern over the recent accord between the European Union (EU) and Turkey to stem the large-scale flow of refugees and migrants into Greece and Europe, stressing that individual cases must be assessed adequately to avoid a "collective expulsion."
• UN rights chief urges Egypt to halt 'clampdown' on civil society groups UN News 24 Mar 2016 -- The United Nations human rights chief has expressed grave concern over the closure of hundreds of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Egypt and the prosecutions of numerous rights defenders for their legitimate work since November 2014, urging the Government to end such repressive measures.
• Ethiopia: UN and partners launch 90-day campaign to boost drought-relief funding UN News 24 Mar 2016 -- To aid drought-affected people of Ethiopia, the United Nations and humanitarian partners have launched a 90-day campaign to raise awareness about the food crisis in the country and raise funds to bridge a $700 million gap.
• General Urges 'Civil Disobedience' After Congo's Disputed Election VOA 24 Mar 2016 -- A Republic of Congo army general is calling for a campaign of "civil disobedience" to reject official results showing President Denis Sassou Nguesso has won re-election.