Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• U.S., Coalition Continue Strikes Against ISIL in Syria, Iraq AFPS 17 Apr 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.
• US to step up operations against Daesh in Iraq, Syria: Report Press TV 17 Apr 2016 -- The United States is preparing to ramp up its military campaign against the Daesh terrorist group, by increasing the number of Special Operations forces in Syria and deploying Apache helicopter gunships to the battlefield in Iraq, officials say.
• Number of Afghan refugees returning home at record low: UN Press TV 17 Apr 2016 -- The United Nations (UN) says the number of Afghans returning home from countries where they had sought refuge has hit a drastic low since 2001, amid continuing fighting and economic problems in the war-ravaged country.
• Violence claimed 600 Afghan civilian lives in Q1: UN Press TV 17 Apr 2016 -- Latest figures released by the United Nations show that acts of terrorism and violence left 600 people dead in Afghanistan during the first quarter of the current year as the armed forces continue to battle Taliban militants.
• UN: Afghan Civilian Deaths Down, But More Wounded RFE/RL 17 Apr 2016 -- The United Nations has reported 600 civilian deaths in Afghanistan in the first quarter of this year - down 13 percent from the first three months of 2015.
• Afghan Forces Battle Insurgents Around Kunduz VOA 17 Apr 2016 -- Afghan officials and insurgent sources said intense fighting is raging near the northern city of Kunduz.
• UN Reports Afghan Civilian Casualties Continue to Rise VOA 17 Apr 2016 -- The United Nations said the Afghan conflict has caused nearly 2,000 casualties in the first three months of this year, showing an increase of 2 percent compared to the same period last year.
• US Forces Join Japan Quake Recovery Effort VOA 17 Apr 2016 -- Four U.S. Marine Corps V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft took off from Okinawa Sunday as American forces in Japan joined the earthquake recovery effort in the southern part of the country.
• U.S. Forces in Japan Prepare to Support Earthquake Relief Efforts AFPS 17 Apr 2016 -- U.S. forces in Japan are is preparing to provide operational airlift in support of the Japanese government's relief efforts following yesterday's devastating earthquake near Kumamoto.
• Marines of 31st MEU prepare to assist disaster relief in Japan USMC News 17 Apr 2016 -- Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, today to assist with recovery efforts in support of the Government of Japan's relief efforts after the island of Kyushu was hit by a series of earthquakes, causing significant damage and up to 40 deaths.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Mobility Airmen support Canadian exercise in High Arctic AFNS 17 Apr 2016 -- Fifty Airmen from the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing and two ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules are in the High Arctic supporting the Canadian Armed Forces' annual Operation Nunalivut exercise in Canada's Nunavut territory.
• Carter Discusses ISIL, Iran with U.S. Airmen in United Arab Emirates AFPS 17 Apr 2016 -- Defense Secretary Ash Carter discussed the "two I's" – ISIL and Iran -- with U.S. airmen at Al-Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates yesterday.
• Russia Rejects US Criticism of Jet Incident in Baltic Sea VOA 17 Apr 2016 -- Russia's military denied one of its jets made aggressive maneuvers during an incident with a U.S Air Force reconnaissance plane flying over the Baltic Sea.
• U.S. Reports Another Close Call With Russian Warplane Over Baltic Sea RFE/RL 17 Apr 2016 -- The U.S. military says there has been another close encounter between a Russian warplane and a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance plane over the Baltic Sea – the second such incident within a week.
• US plane intercepted by Russian jet: Pentagon Press TV 17 Apr 2016 -- The Pentagon says a US Air Force reconnaissance plane has been intercepted by a Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jet in an "unsafe and unprofessional manner" while flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.
• Russia dismisses US report of Baltic encounter Press TV 17 Apr 2016 -- Russia's military has dismissed a report by the US European Command that a Russian jet made aggressive maneuvers near a US reconnaissance plane over the Baltic Sea.
• Russian MoD Denies Allegations of 'Dangerous' Su-27 Baltic Fly-By Sputnik 17 Apr 2016 -- The Russian Defense Ministry has denied media allegations that one of its Su-27s made a 'dangerous' fly-by of a US reconnaissance aircraft, Igor Konashenkov stated.
• Russian Aerospace Forces to Receive 30 Yak-130 Aircraft By End of 2018 Sputnik 17 Apr 2016 -- The Russian Defense Ministry and Irkut Corporation have successfully reached a deal for the supply of 30 Yak-130 combat training aircraft to the Russian Aerospace Forces, the ministry's press service said.
• NATO Launches Military Exercises at Latvia's Adazi Base Sputnik 17 Apr 2016 -- NATO's Summer Shield XIII exercises will take place at the Adazi polygon in Latvia, aiming to develop combat skills at the level of battalions and brigades, according to the Latvian Defense ministry.
• China conducts massive drills in South China Sea Press TV 17 Apr 2016 -- Chinese military has carried out a series of extensive military drills in South China Sea in a move which could trigger more tensions with its South Asian neighbors.
• South Korea Believes North Likely to Conduct More Nuclear Tests Before May Sputnik 17 Apr 2016 -- Seoul officials believe that Pyongyang is likely to carry out an additional nuclear test before early May, as North Korea has increased activity at its nuclear test site, local media reported Sunday, citing government sources.
• Yonhap: North Korea Likely to Conduct Nuclear Test Soon VOA 17 Apr 2016 -- South Korea's Yonhap news agency said North Korea is preparing to defy international sanctions and conduct a fifth nuclear test.
• S-300 missile system displayed at Iran's Army Day IRNA 17 Apr 2016 -- Some parts of the S-300 long-range missile was put on display here Sunday at a ceremony on Army Day.
• Parts Of S-300 Missile System Unveiled At Iranian Army Parade RFE/RL 17 Apr 2016 -- Iran has showcased parts of S-300 air-defense missile systems ordered from Russia during its annual National Army Day parade in Tehran.
• Iran unveils S-300 air defense system ISNA 17 Apr 2016 -- Iran unveiled S-300 air defense system in a ceremony on Sunday held to commemorate the 38th anniversary of establishment of Iranian Army.
• Powerful Armed Forces safeguard Iran: Rouhani Press TV 17 Apr 2016 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the country's powerful Armed Forces are defending and safeguarding the country's national interests as well as geographical, political and cultural borders.
• Rouhani: Iran not to use its might against neighbors, Islamic countries IRNA 17 Apr 2016 -- President Hassan Rouhani said Iran's power is never to target its neighbors or other Islamic world countries.
• Iran, Pakistan to conduct joint drill in Bandar Abbas IRNA 17 Apr 2016 -- Iranian and Pakistani vessels are to carry out a joint military exercise on April 18, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said here Sunday.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Yemen Envoys, Houthi Rebels Gather in Kuwait for Peace Talks VOA 17 Apr 2016 -- Envoys from Yemen's warring parties are in Kuwait for a third try Monday at United Nations mediated talks aimed at ending an 18-month conflict that has killed more than 6,000 people and created a devastating humanitarian crisis in the region's poorest country.
• Four killed as Yemeni police foil attack on Aden airport Press TV 17 Apr 2016 -- At least four Yemeni policemen have been killed and five others injured as they thwarted a car bomb attack on the airport in the southern port city of Aden.
• 'Opposition' negotiator urges attacks on Syria forces Press TV 17 Apr 2016 -- The chief negotiator of Syria's so-called opposition, Mohammed Alloush, has called for the resumption of attacks on government forces despite a UN-brokered ceasefire deal in the Arab country.
• Syria's ruling coalition wins majority of Syrian parliamentary seats Press TV 17 Apr 2016 -- Syria's ruling Ba'ath Party and its allies have won the majority of the votes in the recent parliamentary elections in the country, official results show.
• Syrian army liberates airport near Damascus from Daesh Press TV 17 Apr 2016 -- The Syrian army forces have wrested control of a military airport near the capital, Damascus, marking the latest in a string of victories over the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.
• Free Syrian Army Warn Ceasefire on Brink of Collapse Sputnik 17 Apr 2016 -- Osama Abu Zeid, a legal adviser of the Free Syrian Army, said that the ceasefire in Syria was on the verge of collapse and the FSA may withdraw from the negotiation process.
• Jaysh al-Islam Leader Denies Calling for End of Syrian Ceasefire Sputnik 17 Apr 2016 -- Mohammed Alloush, leader of the Jaysh al-Islam group who heads the Syrian opposition's High Negotiations Committee at the intra-Syrian talks said that he did not call on to stop Syrian ceasefire.
• Appointment of Deputies for Syrian President Might Be Way Out of Crisis Sputnik 17 Apr 2016 -- The current Syrian constitution envisages one single way out of political crisis in the counrty - appointing deputies for the president and waiving his powers to them, according to a source in one of the Syrian opposition.
• Proposed Syria Unified Opposition Delegation to Include Kurds Sputnik 17 Apr 2016 -- According to a source in one of the Syrian opposition groups, unified opposition delegation at the intra-Syrian talks will be formed after the ongoing April round.
• Hmeymim Group Propose Unified Syrian Opposition of Five Members Each Sputnik 17 Apr 2016 -- Syria's opposition group formed at the Hmeimim air facility in Syria would take part in a united opposition delegation if at least five of its members were permitted to join, the head of Hmeymim group delegation to the Geneva talks, Ilian Masaad, told Sputnik on Sunday.
• Syrian Opposition Could Create United Delegation Before Next Geneva Talks Sputnik 17 Apr 2016 -- A unified opposition delegation may be formed by the next round of the Geneva talks conserning Syrian peace settlement, a source close to the negotiations told Sputnik.
• Russian, Syrian Bombers Drop Big Surprise on Daesh Supply Line Near Raqqa Sputnik 17 Apr 2016 -- Russian and Syrian Air Forces have reportedly carried out several coordinated air strikes on Daesh near a strategic military airbase in the northeastern province of Raqqa, west of the de facto capital of the self-proclaimed caliphate.
• Iraqi warplanes hit 3 Daesh HQs in Mosul, kill scores of terrorists Press TV 17 Apr 2016 -- Iraqi air force has destroyed three headquarters belonging to the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the militant-held city of Mosul, killing over a dozen terrorists, including an official.
• In telephone calls, UN chief speaks with South Sudan's leaders about transitional government UN News 17 Apr 2016 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today spoke by phone with President Salva Kiir, and separately with Riek Machar, who is tomorrow expected to be sworn in as the First Vice President of South Sudan.
• Ethiopia Accuses South Sudan Gunmen of Killing 140 VOA 17 Apr 2016 -- Armed groups from South Sudan conducted a cross-border raid, killing more than 140 people and kidnapping many children, Ethiopia's government said Sunday.

News Reports

• Brazilian Lawmakers Back Impeachment for President VOA 17 Apr 2016 -- Brazilian lawmakers have voted to back the impeachment process for President Dilma Rousseff.
• Not a Crook? Brazilian MPs Deeply Divided Over Rousseff's Impeachment Vote Sputnik 17 Apr 2016 -- With Sunday's impeachment vote on Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff quickly approaching, the country's MPs remain at odds over the matter; Sputnik interviewed several of them to get their take on the fate of the most powerful woman in South America.
• No Deal on Production Freeze at Oil Producers Meeting VOA 17 Apr 2016 -- World oil producers failed to agree on a production freeze at a Sunday summit in Qatar, a move likely to send oil prices dropping when global markets open Monday morning.
• Doha Oil Meeting Ends Without Agreement RFE/RL 17 Apr 2016 -- High-stakes talks between oil-producing countries in Qatar aimed at trying to boost global oil prices by capping production have ended without agreement.
• Myanmar President Pardons Dozens of Prisoners VOA 17 Apr 2016 -- Myanmar President Htin Kyaw has granted pardons for 83 prisoners believed to be jailed for political reasons.
• What China brings Africa are not empty promises, but tangible interests People's Daily 17 Apr 2016 -- Rhetoric that attributes slowdown in African economy to China is unreasonable. The truth is China has brought Africa tangible interests on the basis of mutually beneficial cooperation rather than empty promises.