Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 20 Apr 2016 [PDF]
• Department of Defense Press Briefing by Col. Warren via Teleconference from Baghdad, Iraq DoD 20 Apr 2016 -- Presenter: Colonel Steve Warren, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman
• Statement from Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on Denmark's Decision to Expand Role in Counter-ISIL Campaign DoD 20 Apr 2016
• Iraqi Forces Liberate Hit, OIR Spokesman Says AFPS 20 Apr 2016 -- Iraqi forces regained control of the key city of Hit, while a "tough fight" remains in the Tigris River Valley, the spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve said today.
• Dunford Arrives in Iraq to Assess Anti-ISIL Accelerants AFPS 20 Apr 2016 -- On the heels of Defense Secretary Ash Carter's visit here, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff arrived in Iraq's capital city today for talks with Iraqi, American and coalition officials.
• Inherent Resolve Strikes Target ISIL in Syria, Iraq AFPS 20 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.
• MCIPAC supports Kyushu earthquake relief USMC News 20 Apr 2016 -- Four MV-22 Ospreys left the Philippines April 17, transited through Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and arrived at MCAS Iwakuni to assist with recovery efforts within seven hours 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.
• Marines step up relief support for Kyushu earthquake victims USMC News 20 Apr 2016 -- Two MV-22B Ospreys from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit completed the third day of disaster relief operations in support of Joint Task Force Chinzei, led by the Japan Self Defense Force, after the island of Kyushu was hit by a series of earthquakes.
• Officials: Death Toll in Taliban Assault in Kabul Rises to 64 VOA 20 Apr 2016 -- Afghan officials said the death toll from Tuesday's Taliban suicide attack in Kabul has risen to at least 64, adding another 347 people were injured.

Defense Policy / Programs

• First Phase Unmanned Aviation on CVN Complete NNS 20 Apr 2016 -- USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) marked a historical milestone April 13 after installing the first unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) command center aboard an aircraft carrier.
• Hill depot facility becomes first to work on all F-35 variants AFNS 20 Apr 2016 -- The Ogden Air Logistics Complex here became the first depot facility to perform modifications on all three F-35 Lightning II variants after it inducted a Navy F-35C carrier version April 15.
• Defense Superiority Relies on Investment, Research, Acquisition Chief Says AFPS 20 Apr 2016 -- The Defense Department's ability to maintain U.S. technological superiority for the 21st century depends on research and development investments requested in the fiscal year 2017 budget proposal, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics told a Senate panel today.
• Amphibious Construction Battalions Begin Building One-of-a-Kind Pier NNS 20 Apr 2016 -- Seabees from Amphibious Construction Battalions 1 and 2 (PHIBCB 1/PHIBCB 2) along with support from Construction Battalion Maintenance Units 202 and 303 began construction on the Elevated Causeway System - Modular (ELCAS-M) at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in Norfolk, April 17.
• Mason Completes COMPTUEX NNS 20 Apr 2016 -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) pulled into Naval Station Norfolk after completing its Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) with the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group.
• Makin Island Completes Damage Control Certification NNS 20 Apr 2016 -- USS Makin Island (LHD 8) crew successfully completed the Mobility Damage Control Warfare (MOB-D) Assessment, April 14, bringing the ship and crew another critical certification closer to full deployment readiness.
• Divers Highlight Interoperability in Finding, Neutralizing Mines NNS 20 Apr 2016 -- Divers from five nations are training together to identify and neutralize mines and other threats in order to ensure the waterways in the Middle East remain safe for commercial shipping.
• US Forces to Conduct 9th Rotation in Lithuania - Defense Ministry Sputnik 20 Apr 2016 -- The United States Army will conduct its ninth rotation of around 260 troops after completing service in the Baltic nation of Lithuania this week, the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday.
• Pentagon: Replacing Russian Engines on US Rockets Would Cost Extra $1Bln Sputnik 20 Apr 2016 -- Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Logistics Frank Kendall said that the US armed forces will need to buy Russian RD-180 engines for Atlas rocket boosters to send satellites into space for at least another five years.
• Spruance, Decatur Join Momsen on Pacific Surface Action Group Deployment NNS 20 Apr 2016 -- Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance (DDG 111) and USS Decatur (DDG 73), with embarked Destroyer Squadron 31 staff, departed their homeport of San Diego, April 19.
• Opening Statement as Delivered at U.S.-GCC Defense Minesterial Joint Press Conference, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia DoD 20 Apr 2016 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Ash Carter
• US, GCC Defense Leaders Focus on Islamic State, Iran VOA 20 Apr 2016 -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has called on Gulf Cooperation Council nations to engage more in the fight against Islamic State and continue to work with the U.S. to counter Iranian "malign and destabilizing" activities.
• NATO Secretary General stresses the importance of political dialogue after NATO-Russia Council NATO 20 Apr 2016 -- Speaking at the press point following the NATO-Russia Council today (20 April), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg underlined that "political dialogue among nations that share the same Euro-Atlantic area is both necessary and useful, especially in times of tension as we experience now. However, this does not mean that we are back to business as usual".
• Doorstep statement by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following the NATO-Russia Council meeting NATO 20 Apr 2016 -- Good afternoon,
• NATO Chief Says 'Profound Differences' Remain Between Alliance, Russia RFE/RL 20 Apr 2016 -- The first meeting of the NATO-Russia Council in almost two years was "frank and serious," and reasserted deep disagreements over the Ukrainian crisis, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said after the talks in Brussels.
• NATO Chief: Differences with Russia 'Profound and Persistent' VOA 20 Apr 2016 -- The NATO-Russia Council met Wednesday for the first time since 2014, but the two sides failed to overcome their disagreements over key issues.
• Allies briefed on latest OSCE Cyber Confidence Building Measures NATO 20 Apr 2016 -- On 18 April, NATO's Cyber Defence Committee was briefed by Ambassador Daniel B. Baer, Permanent Representative of the United States to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), on the latest set of cyber "Confidence Building Measures," adopted by the OSCE in March 2016.
• Russia Ready to Sell Arms to Somalia After Sanctions Lifted Sputnik 20 Apr 2016 -- Moscow will be able to sell arms to Somalia after UN sanctions against the African country are lifted.
• China Tests New Multiple-Warhead Missile, Raising Concerns in Washington Sputnik 20 Apr 2016 -- China has reportedly tested its newest intercontinental ballistic missile Dongfeng-41 (DF-41), which is the world's longest-range missile.
• President Xi visits joint battle command center People's Daily 20 Apr 2016 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday inspected the Central Military Commission (CMC) joint battle command center, calling for building a joint battle command system with Chinese characteristics.
• April 20, 2016 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 20 Apr 2016

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 20, 2016
• First Export Contract for BrahMos Cruise Missiles to Be Signed in 2016 Sputnik 20 Apr 2016 -- An Asian-Pacific country will sign a contract on the delivery of Russian-Indian BrahMos cruise missiles by the end of 2016.

Other Conflicts

• 20 April 2016 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 20 Apr 2016
• Yemen's Houthis to join peace talks in Kuwait Press TV 20 Apr 2016 -- Yemen's Houthis say they will be joining talks with representatives of the country's former government in Kuwait after previously avoiding participation due to truce violations by Saudi Arabia.
• Yemen's Opposition Pledges to Join Peace Talks VOA 20 Apr 2016 -- Delegations from Yemen's Houthi rebels and their allies now say they will join U.N.-brokered peace talks in Kuwait, after staying home to protest alleged cease-fire violations by pro-government forces.
• Russia military campaign averted Syria break-up: Putin Press TV 20 Apr 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow's military campaign in Syria helped prevent "disintegration" of the Arab country and avoid mass civilian casualties there.
• Opposition does not represent Syrian nation: Syria's chief negotiator Press TV 20 Apr 2016 -- Syria's chief negotiator in peace talks says the so-called opposition group High Negotiations Committee (HNC), which suspended its participation in the negotiations, does not represent the Syrian people.
• Pentagon to Spend Millions Supporting Kurdish Fighters in Iraq Sputnik 20 Apr 2016 -- In an effort to push Daesh extremists out of Mosul, the United States will funnel millions of dollars to Kurdish fighters.
• Trapped Between Iraqi Forces, IS, Civilians Slowly Starving VOA 20 Apr 2016 -- Thousands of families trapped between Islamic State extremists and Iraqi forces in the city of Fallujah are being forced to eat rotten food and soup made of grass.
• Turkey rejects PKK calls for negotiations: Opposition leader Press TV 20 Apr 2016 -- The Turkish government has rejected a call made a few months ago by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group to return to negotiations with Ankara, a pro-Kurdish opposition leader says.
• Monitors: South Sudan Peace Deal at Risk VOA 20 Apr 2016 -- The failure of South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar to return Tuesday to Juba, the second delay this week, is putting a peace deal at risk, according to international monitors.
• Ivory Coast to Compensate Thousands of Conflict Victims VOA 20 Apr 2016 -- Five years after the end of Ivory Coast's second civil war, the government has released a list of over 300,000 people it considers as entitled to compensation for crimes suffered during both wars and as a result of political crises stretching back to 1990.
• US Ambassador to UN Pledges $40 Million to Aid Lake Chad Region VOA 20 Apr 2016 -- The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, says the United States will provide nearly $40 million in new humanitarian assistance for nations in Africa's Lake Chad region, to provide aid to people whose lives have been affected by Boko Haram violence.

News Reports

• Obama, Saudi King Agree on 'Inclusive Approach' to Mideast Conflicts VOA 20 Apr 2016 -- President Barack Obama and Saudi Arabia's King Salman agreed on the importance of "an inclusive approach to de-escalating regional conflicts" during a two-hour closed meeting Wednesday in Riyadh.
• Obama, Salman meet in Riyadh amid 9/11 controversy Press TV 20 Apr 2016 -- US President Barack Obama has met with Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, on a trip aimed to mend increasingly strained ties with the long-time Middle Eastern ally.
• Obama, Saudi King Meet as Disagreements Persist VOA 20 Apr 2016 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has met with Saudi Arabia's King Salman in Riyadh amid increasingly tense relations and persistent differences over how to combat terrorism and regional conflicts.
• Saudi 9/11 legislation hits roadblock in US Congress Press TV 20 Apr 2016 -- Legislation allowing Americans to hold the Saudi ruling family accountable in US courts for any role in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks has encountered significant obstacles in the US Congress.
• What's Behind Saudi Arabia's Changing Foreign Policy? VOA 20 Apr 2016 -- As President Obama begins talks in Saudi Arabia, U.S. lawmakers are questioning the expanded Saudi military role in the region as well as Washington's longstanding alliance with Riyadh.
• More Daesh terrorists sent to Europe: Belgium Press TV 20 Apr 2016 -- Belgian officials say there are signs that more Daesh-linked terrorists have been sent to Europe after bombings killed 32 people in Brussels last month.
• France Considers Longer State of Emergency VOA 20 Apr 2016 -- France's leftist government announced plans Wednesday to extend for another two months the state of emergency put in place after November's terrorist attacks in Paris to cover two major international sporting events, as experts warn of fresh threats facing Europe.
• Leader: Arrogant powers angry over Iran nuclear achievements IRNA 20 Apr 2016 -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution said one of basic motives that made the arrogant powers deploy against Iran was that a country not being dependent on any powers could enter the extraordinarily sensitive nuclear stage.
• Larijani: Iran-Russia agreement on nuclear plant to be enforced IRNA 20 Apr 2016 -- Majlis (parliament) Speaker Ali Larijani said in a press conference here that Iran and Russia has no difference on Bushehr nuclear power plant and its second phase and now the two sides are negotiating on needed construction standards and location.
• US Supreme Court upholds ruling to seize Iranian assets Press TV 20 Apr 2016 -- The US Supreme Court has upheld Congress and President Barack Obama's actions to hold Iran financially responsible for the 1983 bombing that killed 241 Marines at their barracks in the Lebanese capital city of Beirut.
• US Supreme Court Awards $2 Billion in Damages for Iran-Sponsored Terrorism VOA 20 Apr 2016 -- The U.S. Supreme Court says Iran must pay nearly $2 billion in frozen assets to American families of people killed by Tehran-sponsored terrorism.
• 'Progress' Reported In Talks On Securing Economic Relief For Iran RFE/RL 20 Apr 2016 -- Top diplomats from the United States and Iran said they are making "progress" in ensuring that last year's historic nuclear deal delivers promised economic benefits for Tehran.
• Zambian President Issues Special Security Order After Riots VOA 20 Apr 2016 -- Zambia's President Edgar Lungu has issued a special operational order to the security services to restore law and order in some parts of the capital, Lusaka.
• Yukos Ruling: How We Got Here RFE/RL 20 Apr 2016 -- A district court in The Hague has quashed a $50 billion award that Russia had been ordered to pay the former majority shareholders of the dismantled oil giant Yukos, a major victory for Russia and its effort to portray the dismantling a decade ago as a case of righting past wrongs.
• Castro Delivers What May Be His Final Address Sputnik 20 Apr 2016 -- In a rare public appearance, the 89-year-old former leader of Cuba, Fidel Castro, delivered a speech on Tuesday, telling Communist Party members that he is nearing the end of his life.
• Raul Castro re-elected as first secretary of Cuba's Communist Party People's Daily 20 Apr 2016 -- Cuban leader Raul Castro on Tuesday was re-elected the first secretary of the Central Committee of Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) at the the final plenary session of PCC's seventh Congress, Cuba's official state news agency Prensa Latina reported.
• Castro urges people to follow communist ideals in final speech Press TV 20 Apr 2016 -- The Cuban revolutionary leader and former president, Fidel Castro, has given a valedictory speech on the final day of the country's 7th Communist party congress, acknowledging he will not be long for this world.
• Castro: I May Die But Communism Will Live Forever VOA 20 Apr 2016 -- In a rare public speech Tuesday, former Cuban communist leader Fidel Castro told a crowd of party loyalists that while he is close to the end of his life, "the ideas of Cuban Communists will remain" long after he is gone.
• Taiwan officials arrive in Beijing to discuss fraud suspects CNA 20 Apr 2016 -- A 10-member delegation from Taiwan, led by a senior justice ministry official, arrived in Beijing Wednesday at noon to hold discussions with Chinese officials about the detention of 43 Taiwanese suspects in a cross-border telecom fraud operation.
• No easy task to bring back 45 detained nationals in China: premier CNA 20 Apr 2016 -- Premier Simon Chang (張善政) said Wednesday that it will not be easy to bring back 45 Taiwanese nationals deported to China by Kenya for alleged telecom fraud.
• Egypt: Ban calls for fair trial standards in judicial proceedings against rights defenders UN News 20 Apr 2016 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced he is closely following the judicial proceedings in Egypt against a number of civil society organizations and human rights defenders.
• Myanmar Eyes Nationwide Clemency for Political Activists VOA 20 Apr 2016 -- Myanmar officials are reviewing court cases against political prisoners and working to drop all remaining charges against them, according to a top official.