Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 08 Apr 2016 [PDF]
• Coalition Strikes Hit ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 08 Apr 2016 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• Update: air strikes against Daesh UK MOD 08 Apr 2016 -- British forces have continued to conduct air operations in the fight against Daesh
• Hope Fades for Afghan Peace Talks Before Spring Spike in Violence VOA 08 Apr 2016 -- Hopes for resumption of Afghan peace talks ahead of the so-called Taliban spring offensive seem to have diminished, prompting Afghanistan to increasingly blame neighboring Pakistan for the lack of progress.

Defense Policy / Programs

• 2nd AABN prepares for upcoming deployments USMC News 08 Apr 2016 -- Marines with 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion qualified and sustained vehicle proficiency during Heavy Brigade Combat Team training at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, April 4 - 14, 2016.
• VMM-161, VMM 165 train together USMC News 08 Apr 2016 -- Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 "Greyhawks" conducted a division flight, a flight with three or more aircraft, and practiced confined area landings with Marines from VMM-165 "White Knights" in Southern California, March 30, 2016.
• Artillery regiment shakes things up during Spring Fire Exercise USMC News 08 Apr 2016 -- The 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, which consists of four artillery battalions and a headquarters battalion, put their skills to the test during a large-scale, combined-arms training Spring Fire Exercise at Camp Pendleton, March 30-April 2, 2016.
• Blue Ridge Makes Port Call in Goa NNS 08 Apr 2016 -- U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) arrived in Goa, India for a regularly scheduled port visit, promoting friendships and engagements with theater partners in the region April 8.
• Blue Ridge Departs Mumbai NNS 08 Apr 2016 -- U.S. 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) departed Mumbai, India after a regularly scheduled port visit promoting friendships and strengthening ties with U.S. allies, April 7.
• Work: Robot Warship Demonstrates Advances in Autonomy, Human-Machine Collaboration AFPS 08 Apr 2016 -- Sea Hunter, a robot warship designed and built by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, represents breakthroughs in autonomous navigation and human-machine collaboration that could change the nature of U.S. maritime operations, Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work said here yesterday.
• Statement by the Secretary General on NATO-Russia Council meeting NATO 08 Apr 2016 -- Following consultations with Russia, we have agreed to hold a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council at Ambassadorial level.
• Deputy Secretary General Vershbow calls for even closer NATO-EU cooperation NATO 08 Apr 2016 -- Visiting The Hague on Friday (8 April) Deputy NATO Secretary General Alexander Vershbow addressed the European Union Inter-Parliamentary Committee with a focus on how NATO could cooperate more closely with partners and with the European Union.
• Russian MoD to Purchase More Brand New Multiple Rocket Launchers by 2020 Sputnik 08 Apr 2016 -- The Russian Defense Ministry will purchase around 700 more multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) of three different types, produced by the Russian Motovilikha Plants manufacturer, by 2020, Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said Friday.
• Two air forces merged in Western Command People's Daily 08 Apr 2016 -- The Chinese military's recently regrouped Western Theater Command is composed of the air forces of the Lanzhou and Chengdu military area commands, the military newspaper reported Thursday.
• Issue of Creating Russian Airbase in Belarus Currently Closed Sputnik 08 Apr 2016 -- The deployment of a Russian airbase in Belarus is not on the agenda, but the prospect looms large, Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said Friday.
• Jazayeri: Iran's missile might non-negotiable IRNA 08 Apr 2016 -- Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri said on Friday that Iran will strongly cut off hands of intruders pointing at the country's missile capabilities.
• Iran military official urges firm answer to US Press TV 08 Apr 2016 -- A top Iranian military official has roundly rejected US Secretary of State John Kerry's calls for missile negotiations with Tehran and urged Iran's Foreign Ministry to respond "firmly to the impudence."
• Kerry: Iraqi local forces to be trained over Daesh Press TV 08 Apr 2016 -- US Secretary of State John Kerry says local forces in Iraq will receive training on how to take back lands under Daesh's control in the country.
• MOD announces investment boost for the home of the UK's new cutting-edge aircraft UK MOD 07 Apr 2016 -- The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has announced contracts worth £167 million to upgrade and build new facilities at RAF Marham, the future home of the UK's F-35B Lightning II squadrons.
• Lithuania in a Panic Over PM's Comments on Incursion by Russian Paratroops Sputnik 08 Apr 2016 -- The Baltic nation of Lithuania entered panic mode on Thursday following Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius's statement confirming earlier reports that Russian paratroopers had landed on Lithuanian territory. Lithuanian special services reacted to the incursion 'promptly and adequately', he said, adding that he could not provide any more details.
• Business and Friendship Don't Mix: Norway Says No to Swedish Submarines Sputnik 08 Apr 2016 -- Sweden's defense company Saab suffered a substantial setback in Norway, after a submarine tender was brushed off. Instead, the bid will go to one of Saab's French or German competitors.
• Indonesia Launches Four Vessels to Combat Illegal Fishing VOA 08 Apr 2016 -- Indonesia launched four ships equipped with fishing vessel inspection systems Friday in Jakarta.
• Sticking to Your Guns: Moscow's Arms Shipments to Baku are Above Board Sputnik 08 Apr 2016 -- Dmitry Rogozin said that in the wake of conflict escalation in Azerbaijan's disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, Russian arms deliveries to Azerbaijan are being implemented as stipulated by the existing contracts between the two countries.
• April 8, 2016 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 08 Apr 2016

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 08, 2016

Other Conflicts

• 8 April 2016 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 08 Apr 2016
• UN officials urge boost in development action to meet humanitarian challenges in Africa UN News 08 Apr 2016 -- Greater efforts in preparedness response, recovery and development interventions are needed from humanitarian actors for African nations to meet the immediate needs of their citizens, become more resilient to shocks and crises, and ultimately achieve food security, senior United Nations officials stressed today.
• Ma to promote peace during visit to islet near Diaoyutais CNA 08 Apr 2016 -- President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) will unveil a monument to his East China Sea peace initiative when he visits an islet near the disputed Diaoyutai Islands on Saturday, during which he will also speak about his vision of peace in the East China and South China seas, as well as the Taiwan Strait.
• Ma urges new government to maintain stance on South China Sea CNA 08 Apr 2016 -- President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on Friday said he stressed during a recent meeting with President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), that issues related to national territory should not be subject to partisan considerations.
• President to unveil peace monument on islet near Diaoyutais CNA 08 Apr 2016 -- President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) will unveil a monument to his East China Sea peace initiative when he visits an islet near the disputed Diaoyutai Islands Saturday, ahead of the third anniversary of a historic agreement between Taiwan and Japan to address fishing disputes in their overlapping waters.
• Defense Secretary: US Wary of China's S. China Sea Actions VOA 08 Apr 2016 -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said Friday that the United States had serious concerns about China's actions in the disputed South China Sea.
• Vietnam Demands China Remove $1 Billion Oil Rig Amid Sovereignty Row Sputnik 08 Apr 2016 -- Beijing's relations with former regional allies continue to deteriorate as Chinese regime steadfastly continues development efforts throughout the South China Sea.
• US has no right to meddle in establishment of ADIZ over South China Sea, military expert says People's Daily 08 Apr 2016 -- It is not the business of the U.S. whether China establishes an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the South China Sea, said military expert Luo Yuan in an article published by China Youth Daily.
• Saudi airstrike kills 10 civilian in southern Yemen Press TV 08 Apr 2016 -- At least ten civilians, among them women and children, have reportedly lost their lives after Saudi military aircraft launched an airstrike in Yemen's southwestern province of Ta'izz.
• Warring Sides In Nagorno-Karabakh Strike Deal To Safely Recover Their Dead RFE/RL 08 Apr 2016 -- Azerbaijan and Armenian-backed separatists say they have agreed a temporary deal to allow each side to safely search for the bodies of their soldiers killed in clashes over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
• 2 Dead in Nagorno-Karabakh Despite Cease-fire VOA 08 Apr 2016 -- Two Armenian soldiers were killed in fighting with Azerbaijani forces around Nagorno-Karabakh Friday, with each country blaming the other for violating the cease-fire.
• Kerry Calls On Iran To Help End Wars In Yemen, Syria RFE/RL 08 Apr 2016 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has urged Iran to use its influence to help end the wars in Yemen and Syria rather than pursue "destabilizing" activities in the region.
• Why Syria Election Will Hand Assad Victory VOA 08 Apr 2016 -- There won't be much need to stay up late to find out the results of the April 13 parliamentary elections in Syria as the outcome is a foregone conclusion, say opposition politicians and independent election experts, who dub next week's wartime poll a PR stunt.
• China envoy hails Russia's anti-terror campaign in Syria Press TV 08 Apr 2016 -- China's first special envoy for Syria has given a positive assessment of Russia's role in fighting terrorism in the war-hit country.
• Syrian Forces Regain Control Over 500 Settlements in 6 Months - Russian MoD Sputnik 08 Apr 2016 -- According to Russian Defense Ministry, Syrian government forces have liberated some 500 settlements over the past six months and now control a significant part of the country.
• Kurdish Officials: Rebels May Have Used Chemicals in Aleppo VOA 08 Apr 2016 -- Kurdish health officials say civilians and fighters wounded in this week's shelling of Kurdish forces by Syrian rebels are showing signs of chemical weapons injuries.
• Iraq liberates Hit center from Daesh occupation Press TV 08 Apr 2016 -- Iraq's elite forces have managed to push back militants of the Daesh Takfiri group from key areas of a city west of the country.
• Kerry in Iraq: Time to 'Turn Up Pressure' on Islamic State Extremists VOA 08 Apr 2016 -- Islamic State extremists are losing ground in Iraq, their leaders and fighters are being eliminated and the group's rank-and-file members are losing hope, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday.

News Reports

• Exclusive: N. Korea Uses Overseas Restaurants for Information Gathering VOA 08 Apr 2016 -- North Korea is gathering information from foreigners, mostly South Koreans, through its global network of restaurants, a former worker of a North Korean restaurant abroad told VOA.
• North Korea Sanctions Pose Human Rights Dilemma VOA 08 Apr 2016 -- Human rights organizations are supporting the new international sanctions imposed on North Korea to restrict its nuclear program, even though the economic measures could make life more difficult for many people in the country who already live on the margins of poverty.
• Seoul: 13 North Koreans Defect From Foreign Restaurant VOA 08 Apr 2016 -- South Korea says 13 North Koreans have defected to their southern neighbor after working at a restaurant in a foreign country.
• National Meeting Marks Anniversary of Kim Jong Il's Election as Chairman of NDC of DPRK KCNA 08 Apr 2016 -- A national meeting took place here on Friday to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of leader Kim Jong Il's election as chairman of the National Defence Commission (NDC) of the DPRK.
• Arms Official Tried to Sell Weapons Secrets to US Firm, Turkey Says VOA 08 Apr 2016 -- A top official of Turkey's state-run arms company was arrested this week while trying to sell weapons production plans to a U.S. firm owned by a Turkish national, Turkish authorities said.
• New Humanitarian Assistance for Iraq US Dept. of State 08 Apr 2016 -- Today, Secretary of State John Kerry announced that the United States is providing nearly $155 million in additional humanitarian assistance to displaced and conflict-affected Iraqis within Iraq and throughout the region who are in urgent need of support.
• Press Availability in Baghdad, Iraq US Dept. of State 08 Apr 2016 -- Press Availability by John Kerry, US Secretary of State
• Islamic State Threat in Libya 'Almost Exaggerated' - for Now VOA 08 Apr 2016 -- Some U.S. and Western officials say Islamic State is having trouble entrenching itself in Libya despite a concerted effort over the past year, but they warn that the terror group's persistence will pay off if left unchecked.
• Ban says Daesh spreading like cancer Press TV 08 Apr 2016 -- United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has described the ongoing crisis in Syria as a greenhouse for Takfiri militant groups, urging greater cooperation to prevent extremism and terror outfits that are now spreading "like a cancer."
• At Geneva conference, Ban calls for global partnership to prevent violent extremism UN News 08 Apr 2016 -- The objective of extremists "is for us to turn on each other [and] our unity is the ultimate rebuke for that bankrupt strategy," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today, underscoring that the action plan he presented to the United Nations General Assembly in January contains concrete recommendations and could be the basis of a global partnership to defeat violent extremism.
• 2 Suspects Arrested in Connection with Paris, Brussels Attacks VOA 08 Apr 2016 -- Belgian authorities arrested a fugitive suspect wanted in connection with the November Paris attacks; the suspect is also linked to the deadly bombings in Brussels last month.
• Myanmar Begins Releasing Political Prisoners VOA 08 Apr 2016 -- Myanmar has begun releasing a number of political prisoners, as promised by ruling party leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday.
• Panama Papers Unlikely to Alter China's Crackdown on Corruption VOA 08 Apr 2016 -- The massive cache of more than 11 million documents tied to a law firm in Panama, which revealed the business dealings of several of China's political elite, comes during a crackdown on corruption under China's President Xi Jinping.
• Turkey, Israel closer to deal on normalization of ties: Ankara Press TV 08 Apr 2016 -- Ankara says Turkey and Israel have made progress towards the conclusion of an agreement aimed at ending a six-year freeze in their relations.
• UN agency urges full hearings for refugee and migrant children stranded in Greece UN News 08 Apr 2016 -- With the process of returning refugees and migrants from the Greek islands to Turkey underway as part of a European Union-Turkey agreement, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is reminding States of their duty to care and protect all children and give them a full and fair hearing when deciding on their future.
• US 'Deeply Concerned' After Republic of Congo Election VOA 08 Apr 2016 -- The U.S. State Department says it is "profoundly disappointed" in the Republic of Congo's election, which allowed President Denis Sassou Nguesso to extend his 32 years in power.
• Kenya's Ruto Maintains Innocence After ICC Case Dismissed VOA 08 Apr 2016 -- The International Criminal Court dismissed its case against Kenya's deputy president, William Ruto, and a local radio director this week for their alleged roles in 2007-2008 post-election violence. Ruto told reporters in Nairobi Friday that the ruling was proof of his innocence.
• Djibouti President Guelleh Wins Disputed Re-Election VOA 08 Apr 2016 -- Djibouti's minister of the interior has announced that President Ismail Omar Guelleh has won Friday's presidential election with nearly 87 percent of the vote.
• Djibouti President Guelleh Expected to Retain Power after Election VOA 08 Apr 2016 -- Djibouti held its presidential election on Friday, and with a fractured opposition party, President Ismail Omar Guelleh was expected to win his fourth term.