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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 14 Apr 2016 [PDF]
• Obama: Counter-ISIL Campaign Accelerates AFPS 14 Apr 2016 -- The campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has accelerated, President Barack Obama said yesterday at the headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency.
• Marine Corps Aircraft Deploy to Turkey for Operation Inherent Resolve AFPS 14 Apr 2016 -- EA-6B Prowler aircraft from Marine Corps Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 4 have deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, to support electronic attack requirements in Operation Inherent Resolve, the effort to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
• US Deploys Communications Support Aircraft to Turkey for Anti-Daesh Ops Sputnik 14 Apr 2016 -- According to US European Command, US Marine Corps deployed a squadron of EA-6B Prowler aircraft to the Incirlik Air Base in Turkey in support of coalition operations against the Daesh.
• Update: air strikes against Daesh UK MOD 14 Apr 2016 -- British forces have continued to conduct air operations in the fight against Daesh
• Counter-ISIL Strikes Hit Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 14 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.
• Department of Defense Press Briefing by General Cleveland via teleconference from Afghanistan DoD 14 Apr 2016 -- Presenter: Brigadier General Charles H. Cleveland, Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications, Resolute Support Mission; Captain Jeff Davis, Director, Defense Press Office
• Number of ISIL Fighters in Afghanistan Drops Significantly, Official Says AFPS 14 Apr 2016 -- Unilateral U.S. efforts and a spring offensive by Afghan forces have significantly decreased the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant's footprint in Afghanistan, the NATO-led Resolute Support mission's deputy chief of staff for communications told Pentagon reporters today
• US General: IS Losing Its Grip in Afghanistan VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- Islamic State (IS) appears to be losing its grip in Afghanistan, due in part to a steady aerial bombardment from U.S. and NATO forces and the terror group's failure to win over Afghans themselves.
• Emerging Presence of Daesh in Egypt Forces Pentagon to Consider Drawdown Sputnik 14 Apr 2016 -- As the Pentagon prepares to increase its troop numbers in Iraq to combat Daesh, the terrorist group's presence in Egypt is having the opposite effect, prompting a US military drawdown.

Defense Policy / Programs

• New Research Ship Ready for Duty NNS 14 Apr 2016 -- Amid booming fireworks, steely skies, blustery winds and the joyful cheers from a large crowd of well-wishers the brand-new research vessel Neil Armstrong recently arrived at its new home at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, officials announced April 14.
• Joint Press Conference by Secretary Carter and Secretary Gazmin in Manila, Philippines DoD 14 Apr 2016 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Ash Carter; Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin
• Marine EOD technicians to hone expeditionary tactics in joint environment USMC News 14 Apr 2016 -- During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, IEDs became a global symbol of terrorism. The threat created a warrior niche within the Marine Corps. Intelligent, hands-on Marines sought out the explosive ordnance disposal field, enticed by the opportunity to apply problem-solving skills to a high-pressure environment.
• Monterey Completes COMPTUEX NNS 14 Apr 2016 -- The guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey successfully completed composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) with the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, April 12.
• USS Makin Island Completes Ammo On-load NNS 14 Apr 2016 -- USS Makin Island advanced significantly closer to full deployment readiness after completing ammunition on-load off the coast of southern California.
• Ike Carrier Strike Group Sharpens Tomahawk Skills NNS 14 Apr 2016 -- Ships assigned to the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group completed a Tomahawk land attack missile exercise (TLAMEX) March 27.
• Missile Defense Agency Budget Addresses Escalating North Korea, Iran Threats AFPS 14 Apr 2016 -- Escalating threats from North Korea and Iran, including aggressive ballistic missile testing, is pushing the Missile Defense Agency to find increasingly more cost-effective ways to perform its mission, MDA Director Navy Vice Adm. James D. Syring said here yesterday.
• US modernizing missile systems against Russia, China: Pentagon Press TV 14 Apr 2016 -- The Pentagon has once again confirmed that it is planning to upgrade its missile systems to protect America from the increasing Russian "provocation," says a senior US military official.
• US Announces Joint Patrols With Philippines in South China Sea VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- The U.S. military has been conducting joint patrols in the South China Sea with the Philippines and is increasing its presence on the archipelago with rotational forces and equipment, U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter revealed Thursday.
• US-Philippine military cooperation urged not to target third party People's Daily 14 Apr 2016 -- Military cooperation between the United States and the Philippines should not "target a third-party" or "infringe the interests of the third-party", the Ministry of National Defense told China Daily on Thursday.
• US, Philippines conducting joint patrols in South China Sea Press TV 14 Apr 2016 -- The US military has revealed for the first time that American warships have been conducting joint patrols with the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea.
• NATO Secretary General in London: UK leadership important for NATO NATO 14 Apr 2016 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Prime Minister David Cameron at No 10 on Thursday (14 April 2016) for talks on how NATO is adapting to face the greatest security challenges in a generation. The Secretary General thanked the United Kingdom for its role in strengthening collective defence, its significant contributions to NATO missions, and its leadership on defence spending.
• US Has Raised Concerns With Russia About Baltic Sea Jet Incident Sputnik 14 Apr 2016 -- White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said that United States has raised concerns about the recent incident of two Russian Su-24 bombers flying close to US guided missile destroyer Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea through its military defense attache at the US embassy in Moscow.
• Russia rejects flight over US warship was unsafe Press TV 14 Apr 2016 -- Russia says its aircraft observed all required safety measures when flying over a US warship in international waters of the Baltic Sea, dismissing claims of unsafe conduct.
• Russia Defends Warplanes That Flew Close To U.S. Naval Vessel RFE/RL 14 Apr 2016 -- The Russian Defense Ministry has defended the actions of the crews of Russian warplanes that flew near a U.S. guided-missile destroyer in the Baltic Sea.
• Russia Says Followed 'All Safety Measures' in Flyover of US Ship VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- Russia says its aircraft observed all international rules when they flew over a U.S. warship in international waters in the Baltic Sea earlier this week.
• Russian Pacific Ships Enter Indian Ocean for Joint Int'l Exercises Sputnik 14 Apr 2016 -- Russia will participate in international joint military exercises with countries from the Asian-Pacific region, the head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Eastern Military District's press service said Thursday.
• Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow reaffirms support for Ukraine at Kyiv Security Forum NATO 14 Apr 2016 -- Speaking at the Kyiv Security Forum on Thursday (14 April), NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow focused on NATO's response to Russia's aggression and on the Alliance's support to Ukraine's efforts to reform its defence forces and democratic institutions.
• North Korea Fires a Dud on Founder's Birthday VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- North Korea appears to have failed in an attempt to launch a missile to mark the birthday of its founding president.
• North Korea prepares to launch ballistic missiles: Report Press TV 14 Apr 2016 -- North Korea is reportedly preparing to launch mid-range ballistic missiles on the birthday anniversary of the country's late founding president, a South Korean news agency says.
• S.Korea prepares for possible DPRK ballistic missile launch People's Daily 14 Apr 2016 -- South Korea's defense ministry said Thursday that the military is preparing for possible launch of ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) around one of its most important national holidays.
• Canada refuses to cancel arms sales to Saudi despite rights violations Press TV 14 Apr 2016 -- Canada's Liberal government has refused to cancel a controversial contract to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia despite Riyadh's human rights violations, particularly in the war against Yemen.
• Taiwan should have defensive deterrence capacity: president-elect CNA 14 Apr 2016 -- Taiwan does not need to engage in an arms race with China, but it must have a defensive deterrence capacity, President-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said Thursday.
• Greece Launches Military Exercise Over Migrant Camp VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- The Greek army launched an unscheduled military exercise Thursday along its border with Macedonia and a cluster of islands near Turkey, with fighter jets passing over a tent city in Idomeni near the border.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 4/14/16 The White House 14 Apr 2016
• Press Briefing Previewing the President's Travel to Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and Germany The White House 14 Apr 2016
• April 14, 2016 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 14 Apr 2016

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 14, 2016

Other Conflicts

• 14 April 2016 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 14 Apr 2016
• Philippines Relying on Global Support in S. China Sea Dispute VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- As an international arbitration ruling draws near on the Philippines' case against China's claim to almost the entire South China Sea, Manila is relying on international support to bolster its cause.
• Downgrading of Taiping Island to a rock will be illegal: President Ma CNA 14 Apr 2016 -- President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on Thursday reiterated that the Republic of China (Taiwan) holds sovereignty over Taiping Island and said that any international court ruling that downgrades the legal status of Taiping (太平島) from an "island" to a "rock" will be illegal and will hurt the ROC's sovereignty.
• Jordanians to replace UAE forces in war on Yemen: Report Press TV 14 Apr 2016 -- Jordanian military forces and advisers will be replacing UAE troops fighting in the Saudi war on Yemen, following reports of serious disputes among the few "coalition" members, a report says.
• Armenia Continues Shelling in Nagorno-Karabakh Sputnik 14 Apr 2016 -- Head of Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's press service Khikmet Gadzhiev said that the Armenian side continues shelling and provocations along the line of contact in Nagorno-Karabakh.
• Syria starts counting votes in parliamentary polls Press TV 14 Apr 2016 -- The voting process for Syria's parliamentary elections has concluded and the counting work has begun amid peace talks between the Damascus government and opposition.
• 'We need improvement,' on humanitarian access, says UN envoy for Syria UN News 14 Apr 2016 -- The day after a new round of intra-Syrian talks began in Geneva, the United Nations envoy mediating a solution to the crisis reported today on the latest humanitarian assessment, stressing the need for improvement amidst a picture that is frustrating but not "completely negative."
• Renewed Fighting Threatens Latest Round of Syria Peace Talks VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- Syrian government delegates are due to attend peace talks with opposition representatives Friday in Geneva to try to bring an end to five years of fighting that has killed more than half a million people. However, there are growing fears that the cease-fire which has underpinned the negotiations is about to break.
• After the Syrian War: A Huge, Costly Cleanup VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- War destroys people, infrastructure and economies, but activists say we still don't have a clear idea of its long-term impact on the environment and civilian health -- much less, who should be responsible for the clean-up.
• UN: Syrian Government Blocking Humanitarian Aid VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- A U.N. body set up to monitor the delivery of humanitarian assistance to besieged and hard-to-reach areas in Syria accuses the government of Bashar al-Assad of continuing to hamper the delivery of desperately needed aid.
• Iraqi forces recapture city of Hit from Daesh Takfiri militants Press TV 14 Apr 2016 -- Iraqi forces have recaptured the city of Hit located in Anbar Province from Daesh Takfiri militants following weeks of fighting, the military says.
• Iraqi Kurdistan Needs US to Develop Clear Plan for Retaking Mosul Sputnik 14 Apr 2016 -- The Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)is confident that its US allies are working diligently on formulating a military plan, most likely with the Iraqi government, but the Kurds want to ensure that the strategy to retake Mosul is well thought through, according to KRG Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani.
• UN agency urges parties to ensure rights of people displaced amid violence in eastern DR Congo UN News 14 Apr 2016 -- The United Nations refugee agency has expressed concern about the welfare of tens of thousands of internally displaced people (IDP) in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who have been driven out of host sites due to fresh fighting between the Congolese army and rebel forces.
• New Video Shows 15 'Chibok Girls' But Parents Wary VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- Two years after Islamist militants kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls in northern Nigeria, a new video purporting to show the missing girls just four months ago has given parents hope that their children are still alive.
• 'Two-state solution in danger,' warns new report from UN office on Middle East peace process UN News 14 Apr 2016 -- The viability of a two-state solution, which envisages peaceful co-existence of both Israel and Palestine, is in danger due to the negative trends on the ground, including recent violence, ongoing settlement activity, demolitions, incitement, and the absence of Palestinian unity, a new United Nations report warned today.

News Reports

• Annual Putin Call-In Show Focuses On Economy, International Affairs RFE/RL 14 Apr 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin touched on issues from the global to the personal, but clustered around the economy and international relations, for more than 3 1/2 hours in a televised call-in event that has become an annual ritual since he took over the Kremlin in 2000.
• During Call-in, Putin Airs Views on US, Syria, Economy, Potholes VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir has accused the United States of having "imperial ambitions.'
• Ukrainian Parliament Approves Government Shake-Up RFE/RL 14 Apr 2016 -- Ukraine's parliament has approved Volodymyr Hroysman as prime minister and his cabinet in the biggest government shake-up since a 2014 uprising brought in a pro-Western leadership.
• Turkey Proposes Anti-Terrorism Body at OIC Summit VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- Turkey's president has called for closer cooperation among Western and Muslim counties in the fight against terrorism, as he urged the leaders to tackle the problem from the security and financial fronts.
• Turkish Parliament Considering Lifting Immunity for Kurd Deputies VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- The Turkish parliament has begun the process of lifting the immunity of leading parliamentary deputies of the pro-Kurdish party.
• Daesh calls Muslim Brotherhood 'apostate' Press TV 14 Apr 2016 -- The Takfiri Daesh terrorist group has branded Muslim Brotherhood, a leading transnational Sunni movement, as "apostate."
• More 'concrete steps' needed by nations to counter terrorism, Ban tells Security Council UN News 14 Apr 2016 -- Speaking at an open debate on countering terrorism, United Nations Secretary-General today called on Member States to take more concrete steps to stop fundraising through the smuggling of oil and gas, the illicit trade of cultural artefacts, kidnapping for ransom and donations from abroad.
• Iran to make aggressors regret action: Defense min. Press TV 14 Apr 2016 -- Defense Minister Hossein Dehqan says Iran's military forces are fully prepared to defend the country and make any aggressor regret their action.
• Iranian Military Official Accuses Saudi Arabia of Supporting Daesh Sputnik 14 Apr 2016 -- A senior Iranian military official claimed that Saudi Arabia, along with neighboring Gulf states, provides material support to Daesh extremists with an aim toward spreading terrorism to Iran.
• Political Crisis in Baghdad Hits Boiling Point VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- Iraqi lawmakers broke into fistfights Thursday as Baghdad plunged deep into a political crisis over how the fractured country should be governed.
• Iraq legislators vote to remove parliament speaker: Reports Press TV 14 Apr 2016 -- Iraqi lawmakers have reportedly voted to unseat Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri and his deputies amid a major dispute in the chamber over a plan to overhaul the cabinet line-up to counter corruption.
• Iraq Parliament Reconvenes After Wednesday Clashes VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- Iraqi lawmakers are meeting again Thursday, in a tumultuous week that saw a three-day sit-in by dozens of lawmakers from across the nation's political continuum.
• Protests Rock Macedonia For Third Straight Night After Wiretap Pardons RFE/RL 14 Apr 2016 -- Antigovernment protests continued for the third consecutive night in Macedonia's capital on April 14 following President Gjorge Ivanov's decision this week to halt prosecutions of officials linked to a wiretapping scandal.
• AU: Despite Irregularities, Chad Poll Credible VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- Opposition politicians in Chad have claimed fraud during Sunday's presidential election, but African Union (AU) observers say the poll, while flawed, was fair.
• China Points Finger Back at US Over Human Rights VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- China says human rights in the United States have worsened due to police brutality, rampant gun violence and the corrupting influence of money in politics.
• China, Pakistan Ready New Cargo Port VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- Pakistan's newly-built cargo port of Gwadar sits on a remote, unspoiled coastline in the country's far southwest. Just beyond the port's two semi-circular bays, the Arabian Sea meets the Persian Gulf, and local fishermen ply the crystal blue waters as they have for generations.
• Declassified US Document Suggests Pakistan Link in 2009 CIA Base Attack VOA 14 Apr 2016 -- A newly declassified U.S. document claims that a Pakistani intelligence officer paid $200,000 to a militant network to carry out a suicide attack on a CIA base in eastern Afghanistan in 2009.
• Pakistan's ISI suspected of funding attack on CIA outpost: Documents Press TV 14 Apr 2016 -- Pakistan's intelligence agency may have provided terror groups with the necessary funds to carry out a deadly attack on a US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) base in Afghanistan, newly declassified US State Department cables allege.