Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 12 Apr 2016 [PDF]
• Coalition Strikes Target ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 12 Apr 2016 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Iraq and Syria yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• Taliban announces start of 'spring offensive' in Afghanistan Press TV 12 Apr 2016 -- The Taliban militant group has announced the start of its annual spring offensive against Afghan security forces and US-led foreign forces across the conflict-ridden South Asian country.
• Taliban Announces 'Spring Offensive' in Afghanistan Sputnik 12 Apr 2016 -- Taliban insurgents announced the start to the extremist group's annual so-called spring offensive in Afghanistan against US and Afghan security forces on Tuesday.
• Taliban Launches Anti-Government Spring Offensive VOA 12 Apr 2016 -- The Taliban says it has launched its annual spring military offensive in Afghanistan, titled "Omari Operation."
• At Least 8 Killed as US Airstrikes Target al-Shabab in Somalia VOA 12 Apr 2016 -- At least eight people were killed Monday and early Tuesday in U.S. airstrikes targeting al-Shabab militants in southern Somalia.
• US pulling troops from Sinai due to ISIL threat Press TV 12 Apr 2016 -- The Pentagon is scaling down the number of US troops in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula citing a rise in terrorist attacks by Daesh and affiliated groups, a US defense official says.

Defense Policy / Programs

• India, U.S. to sign pact for access to each other's military bases People's Daily 12 Apr 2016 -- India Tuesday said that it will soon sign a logistics supply pact with the United States, putting to rest all the speculation over the much-awaited agreement.
• Joint Press Conference with Secretary Carter and Minister Parrikar in New Delhi, India DoD 13 Apr 2016 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Ash Carter
• Carter Visit Underscores 'Robust and Deepening' U.S.-India Defense Relationship AFPS 12 Apr 2016 -- Defense Secretary Ash Carter's visit to India this week -- his fourth meeting with Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar within a year -- demonstrates the regular ministerial-level oversight of the robust and deepening bilateral defense relationship between the two nations, DoD officials said in a joint U.S.-Indian statement released today.
• India-United States Joint Statement on the visit of Secretary of Defense Carter to India April 10-13, 2016 DoD 12 Apr 2016 -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Dr. Ashton Carter is on an official visit to India at the invitation of Raksha Mantri Shri Manohar Parrikar from April 10-13. Raksha Mantri hosted Secretary Carter in Goa.
• US-India Military Logistics Agreement Still Not Finalized VOA 12 Apr 2016 -- The U.S. and India have agreed "in principle" to share military logistics, but a formal agreement will not be finalized for "the next few weeks," Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said Tuesday.
• Readout of Secretary Carter's Meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi DoD 12 Apr 2016
• F-22s deploy to Europe to show support for allies AFNS 12 Apr 2016 -- F-22 Raptors, Airmen and associated equipment were deployed to Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, on April 11 to conduct air training with other Europe-based aircraft.
• AF names candidate bases, criteria for choosing next F-35A sites AFNS 12 Apr 2016 -- Air Force officials announced April 12 that Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona; Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida; Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas; and Whiteman AFB, Missouri, are candidate bases for the first Reserve-led F-35A Lightning II location.
• AF releases criteria for basing new RPA units AFNS 12 Apr 2016 -- The Air Force released basing criteria April 12 that will be used to select candidate bases for a potential new MQ-9 Reaper wing with units at up to two locations.
• USS Port Royal, Coronado Complete IDCERTEX NNS 12 Apr 2016 -- Guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal (CG 73) and littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) Crew 204 successfully completed an independent deployer certification exercise (IDCERTEX) along the coast of Southern California, April 10.
• FIST2FAC: The Future of Navy Combat Training? NNS 12 Apr 2016 -- The Office of Naval Research, with support from members of its Reserve Component, recently demonstrated new and improved training technology at the Fleet Integrated Synthetic Training/Testing Facility on Ford Island, Hawaii, officials announced April 11.
• Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo Kicks Off in Indonesia NNS 12 Apr 2016 -- The multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo 2016 kicked off in Padang, Indonesia, April 12, with an opening ceremony and arrival of navy ships from 35 nations in the city's harbor for an international fleet review.
• MND says it has no information about alleged espionage case CNA 12 Apr 2016 -- The United States has not contacted Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) about a reported case of a Taiwan-born U.S. Navy officer who has been accused of spying for both Taiwan and China, an MND spokesman said Tuesday.
• Military Expert: Suspected US Navy Spy Likely Had Valuable Signals Intel VOA 12 Apr 2016 -- A military expert says the U.S. Navy officer who is facing espionage charges for allegedly passing state secrets, possibly to China and Taiwan, may have been in possession of valuable signals intelligence.
• Royal Navy takes command of Maritime Security Force UK MOD 12 Apr 2016 -- The Royal Navy has taken command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 after conducting a handover ceremony with the Royal Australian Navy.
• France - Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Unitary Rocket Pods and Related Support DSCA 12 Apr 2016 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to France for Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Unitary Rocket Pods and related support. The estimated cost is $90 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
• "Grand Prophet" war games kick off in southeast of country IRNA 12 Apr 2016 -- Iran started war games in this southeastern province Tuesday morning.
• IRGC starts major drills, debuts drone Press TV 12 Apr 2016 -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has embarked on large-scale security drills in the country's southeast featuring debut performance by a high-potential indigenous drone.
• Japanese Warships Arrive in Vietnam to Join Drills in South China Sea Sputnik 12 Apr 2016 -- Two ships of the the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) arrived on Tuesday in the Vietnamese naval base of Cam Ranh Bay in the South China Sea to join the naval drills aimed at keeping a check on China amid territorial disputes, media reported.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 4/12/2016 The White House 12 Apr 2016

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 12, 2016

Other Conflicts

• 12 April 2016 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 12 Apr 2016
• Ban highlights need to fight 'genocide ideology,' as UN reflects on 1994 atrocities in Rwanda UN News 12 Apr 2016 -- At an event marking the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the only way to prevent genocide and other "egregious" violations of human rights is to acknowledge shared responsibility and commit to shared action to protect those at risk.
• Beijing says G7 group of nations 'should avoid being hijacked' People's Daily 12 Apr 2016 -- The G7 group of nations may not benefit "if they are hijacked by selfish interests of certain countries", China said on Monday.
• China Blasts G-7 Statement on South China Sea VOA 12 Apr 2016 -- China has strongly criticized a statement released by foreign ministers at the Group of 7 industrialized countries (G-7) meeting which expressed concern over tensions and territorial disputes surrounding the South China Sea.
• China accuses Philippines of hypocrisy People's Daily 12 Apr 2016 -- China on Tuesday accused the Philippines as being "hypocritical and inconsistent in word and deed" as the latter prepares to revamp a military airport in the South China Sea.
• Armenian Defense Ministry Accuses Azeri Forces of Border Attacks Sputnik 12 Apr 2016 -- According to the Armenian Defense Ministry, Azeri troops fired small arms and heavy weapons toward the interstate border.
• Saudis, mercenaries keep breaching truce in Yemen: Houthis Press TV 12 Apr 2016 -- Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement has accused Saudi Arabia and its mercenaries of constantly violating a truce agreement across the country, saying the Saudis have almost no regard for the UN-sponsored deal less than a week before peace talks.
• Yemen clashes continue for second day despite truce Press TV 12 Apr 2016 -- Saudi-backed militants clash with Houthi fighters on several fronts across Yemen, marring a UN-mediated ceasefire deal for the second day since it came into force.
• Assad believes federalization ruins Syria: Russia MP Press TV 12 Apr 2016 -- A Russian lawmaker says Syrian President Bashar al-Assad views the federalization of Syria as destructive for the Arab country.
• Use of Chlorine by Syrian Militants Disproves Damascus's Involvement Sputnik 12 Apr 2016 -- The use of chlorine by different radical groups in 2016 in Syria and Iraq proves that Damascus is not involved in these types of attacks.
• Two Russian Helicopter Pilots Die in Crash in Syria's Homs Sputnik 12 Apr 2016 -- A Russian Aerospace Forces Mi-28N Havoc helicopter crashed near the city of Homs in Syria, killing both pilots, the Russian Defense Ministry's press service reported Tuesday.
• Airdrops in Syria continue as UN mediator meets with Iranian official in Tehran UN News 12 Apr 2016 -- During a visit to Tehran, the United Nations mediator on the crisis in Syria underlined the importance of consulting with Iran's authorities because they "have an influence" and useful advice, while UN humanitarian agencies provided their latest updates in Geneva.
• Food Airdropped to Thousands Trapped in Besieged Syrian City VOA 12 Apr 2016 -- The World Food Program succeeded Tuesday in airdropping food supplies for a second day to thousands of hungry people trapped in the besieged eastern Syrian city of Deir Ezzor.
• Iraqi army liberates several areas in Hit from Daesh grip Press TV 12 Apr 2016 -- Iraqi army troops, backed by fighters from allied Popular Mobilization Units, have retaken several areas from the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group in the strategic city of Hit, military sources say.
• Iraq: UN mission warns of increasing risks for civilians in besieged Fallujah UN News 12 Apr 2016 -- The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said it is receiving reports that humanitarian conditions are worsening and human suffering is increasing in the city of Fallujah, which has been under control of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) for more than two years.
• Deteriorating security forces four Libya oilfields to close Press TV 12 Apr 2016 -- Four oilfields have been shut down and employees in a fifth oilfield have gone on strike in Libya over fears that the Daesh terrorist group may attack the facilities.
• Italian Foreign Minister in Tripoli for Meeting with New Libyan Government VOA 12 Apr 2016 -- Italy's foreign minister arrived in Tripoli on Tuesday in support of the new United Nations-backed government, marking the first visit by a top Western official since 2014.
• Russia-Japan Peace Treaty Can't Be Reduced to 'Territorial Claims' - Lavrov Sputnik 12 Apr 2016 -- The Russia-Japan peace treaty issue cannot be reduced to "territorial claims," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.
• UN reports tenfold jump in number of children used in 'suicide' attacks in Nigeria regional conflict UN News 12 Apr 2016 -- The number of children involved in 'suicide' attacks in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger has risen sharply over the past year, from 4 in 2014 to 44 in 2015, according to a United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) report released today.
• Report: Boko Haram Using More Child Suicide Bombers VOA 12 Apr 2016 -- Nigeria's Boko Haram militants are increasingly using children to carry out suicide bombings, the United Nations Children's Fund reported Tuesday.
• Nigeria: UN human rights experts call for progress in abduction of schoolgirls in Chibok UN News 12 Apr 2016 -- Ahead of the second anniversary of the abduction of 200 schoolgirls in the town of Chibok in Nigeria, a group of United Nations and African human rights experts today appealed to Boko Haram to immediately reveal the location of the girls, and urged the Government of Nigeria to escalate its efforts to free all civilians kidnaped by the group.
• Darfur Votes in Referendum Amid Boycott VOA 12 Apr 2016 -- Voting is underway this week in Sudan's Darfur region on a controversial referendum over whether to unify Darfur's five states into a single administrative unit. The exclusion of voters displaced by fighting since 2003 has many questioning the credibility of the poll.
• UN agency urges inclusion of victims of mass displacement in Colombian peace talks UN News 12 Apr 2016 -- The United Nations refugee agency today called on the negotiators of Colombian peace talks to give special attention to the rights of victims of five-decade conflict that has produced the world's second-biggest displacement situation after Syria.
• Abbas urges UN resolution on settlements Press TV 12 Apr 2016 -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says there is an "urgent" need for a UN resolution on Israeli settlements.

News Reports

• United Nations begins informal briefings to select next Secretary-General UN News 12 Apr 2016 -- Kicking off what he has called a "new and transparent process," General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft today opened informal dialogues with candidates for the next United Nations Secretary-General, for the first time providing an opportunity for substantive and open engagement with the candidates – for the full UN membership and the public.
• A Secretary or a General? UN Seeks New Chief VOA 12 Apr 2016 -- While much of the world is watching the U.S. presidential race play out, another contest is taking shape that, while not as contentious, could have significant international implications. It is the election of the next U.N. secretary-general.
• Tsai calls for early cross-strait negotiations over deportation row CNA 12 Apr 2016 -- President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) called Tuesday for China to start negotiations with Taiwan immediately to address the issue of Taiwanese nationals sent by Kenya to China in connection with phone fraud in the African country.
• Taiwan to send officials to China amid Taiwanese deportation row CNA 12 Apr 2016 -- President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has directed relevant government agencies to contact China and send Taiwanese representatives there to express Taiwan's stern stance over the sending to China of Taiwanese nationals in connection with phone fraud in Kenya and to handle the issue, a Presidential Office spokesman said Tuesday.
• Taiwan to seek return of nationals taken to China from Kenya CNA 12 Apr 2016 -- Taiwan will seek the return of several of its nationals deported by Kenya to China, even though Beijing has jurisdiction in a fraud investigation involving the Taiwan nationals because the alleged crimes targeted Chinese nationals, Taiwanese officials said Tuesday.
• Taiwan bashes Kenya for sending another 37 Taiwanese to China CNA 12 Apr 2016 -- Taiwan is indignant that Kenya police brandished submachine guns and tear gas to force 37 Taiwan nationals suspected of phone fraud to board a plane bound for China on Tuesday.
• Taiwan strongly protests China's 'abduction' of its nationals CNA 12 Apr 2016 -- The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) lodged a strong protest against China late Monday over its "abduction" of Taiwan nationals in connection with a phone fraud case in Kenya.
• Kenya Deporting More Taiwanese Citizens to China VOA 12 Apr 2016 -- Kenya is preparing to deport another group of Taiwanese nationals to China, after a similar action prompted Taiwan to accuse Beijing of kidnapping.
• South Korea Plays Defector Card Ahead of Election VOA 12 Apr 2016 -- Recent North Korean defections have been touted over the past week by the government in Seoul, but the issue is sparking allegations of political opportunism in South Korea.
• US neither sincere nor serious in fight against terrorism: Leader ISNA 12 Apr 2016 -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says certain powers, the US in particular, are neither sincere nor serious in the campaign against terrorism.
• EU extends sanctions against Iranian individuals Press TV 12 Apr 2016 -- The European Union (EU) has extended its sanctions against 82 Iranian individuals, whom it accuses of human rights violations.
• Corruption Is The New Communism RFE/RL 12 Apr 2016 -- Past, meet present. In many ways, Russian corruption is the new Soviet Communism. Kremlin-sponsored graft is the new Red Menace.
• Freedom House: Economic Troubles Threaten Stability In Ex-Soviet 'Dictatorships' RFE/RL 12 Apr 2016 -- In a new report, Freedom House warns that economic woes are threatening the stability of "entrenched dictatorships" in the former Soviet Union, the migration crisis is fueling populism in Eastern Europe, and reforms in the Balkans are in retreat.
• Ukraine MPs step up talks on new ruling coalition Press TV 12 Apr 2016 -- Ukrainian lawmakers have doubled efforts for reaching consensus on establishing a new ruling coalition as disagreements still remain over key appointments.
• Analysts: Ukraine Government Shake-up Raises Hopes, Concerns VOA 12 Apr 2016 -- The resignation of Ukraine's embattled Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, made official Tuesday, raises hopes for ending a political crisis that has delayed Western financial support and led many to question Ukraine's path to reform.
• Talks On Forming New Ukraine Government Continue RFE/RL 12 Apr 2016 -- Lawmakers in Ukraine are continuing efforts to agree a new coalition to end a political deadlock that has stalled billions of dollars in foreign loans.
• Pakistan Accuses India of Plotting Against Deal With China VOA 12 Apr 2016 -- Pakistan's military chief on Tuesday accused India's intelligence agency of planning subversive activities against his country's recently launched multi-billion-dollar economic cooperation agreement with China.
• Venezuela top court annuls amnesty law for political prisoners Press TV 12 Apr 2016 -- The Venezuelan Supreme Court has annulled an amnesty law that was passed by opposition-controlled congress to free dozens of political prisoners.
• Venezuela High Court Declares Amnesty Law Unconstitutional Sputnik 12 Apr 2016 -- The court explained that the bill infringed on a number of articles of the Constitution, interfered with the activities of governmental departments, and violated human rights agreements with other countries, as well as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
• UN rights office 'surprised' by Venezuela's ruling against reconciliation bill UN News 12 Apr 2016 -- The United Nations human rights office today expressed concern about yesterday's ruling by Venezuela's top court against a bill that could serve as the basis for a path of dialogue and reconciliation in that country.
• Iraqi MPs Delay Vote on Prime Minister's Cabinet Picks VOA 12 Apr 2016 -- The Iraqi parliament moved to delay a vote on Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's new cabinet nominees, after Abadi gave them the opportunity Tuesday to alter his original list of picks.
• Erdogan-Putin Animosity Hurting Turkey-Russia Relations VOA 12 Apr 2016 -- Tentative steps have been taken in the past few weeks to try to ease tensions between Ankara and Moscow, which were strained when Turkish jets shot down a Russian bomber operating from a Syrian airbase in November.