Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Counter-ISIL Strikes Hit Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 23 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.
• Dunford: Iraqi Forces Must Maintain Pressure on ISIL AFPS 23 Apr 2016 -- Now is not the time to stop and regroup in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford said after leaving Baghdad.
• Pakistan 'Assures' Afghan Minister Talks with Taliban to Resume in a Month VOA 23 Apr 2016 -- Pakistan has assured neighboring Afghanistan that peace talks with the Taliban "will resume in a month" to find a peaceful end to the Afghan conflict.
• Former US Ambassador to Kabul Reflects on Missed Opportunities VOA 23 Apr 2016 -- The former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, says one of the biggest problems facing Afghanistan continues to be its poor relationship with its neighbor, Pakistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Lithuania to Relocate American Tanks to Poland Sputnik 23 Apr 2016 -- The relocation of US military equipment currently based in Lithuania to Poland for military exercises will begin later on Saturday, the Lithuanian National Defense Ministry said.
• As Putin Swipes At U.S. Over Plutonium Disposal, Nuclear Cooperation Takes A Hit RFE/RL 23 Apr 2016 -- At a forum in St. Petersburg earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin spent much of his time mocking the Panama Papers document leak, which implicated close friends of his in shady financial transactions. Then he took time to hit his favorite punching bag - the United States - with an arcane allegation and a veiled threat about the disposal of one of the most radioactive substances on the planet: plutonium.
• Russia's 'Revolutionary' Hypersonic Weapons Second to None Sputnik 23 Apr 2016 -- The development of hypersonic weapons in Russia is something that makes US defense officials feel extremely uneasy, according to the American news website Washington Free Beacon.
• North Korea Ready to Halt Nuclear Tests If US Stops Drills With South Korea Sputnik 23 Apr 2016 -- North Korea reportedly said it would halt nuclear tests if the United States stops military exercises with South Korea.
• US Detects, Tracks North Korea's Possible Missile Launch Sputnik 23 Apr 2016 -- North Korean missile, launched from submarine, did not pose any threat to North America, according to the US Strategic Command.
• USSTRATCOM Detects, Tracks North Korean Submarine Missile Launch USSTRATCOM 23 Apr 2016 -- U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) systems detected and tracked what we assess was a North Korean submarine missile launch from the Sea of Japan at 4:29 a.m. CDT.
• North Korea: Nuclear tests will stop after US, South halt drills Press TV 23 Apr 2016 -- North Korea says it will stop its nuclear tests on the condition that the US halts its annual military exercises with South Korea.
• Washington tells off Pyongyang over 'failed' missile test Press TV 23 Apr 2016 -- The United States has criticized North Korea over its latest missile test which apparently failed following its launch from a submarine.
• North, South Korea Differ on Success of Missile Test VOA 23 Apr 2016 -- North Korea confirmed Sunday that it had conducted a submarine-launched ballistic missile test supervised by leader Kim Jong Un.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Pressuring China over Maritime Disputes Arbitration Shows Arrogance and Prejudice: FM People's Daily 23 Apr 2016 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday that the Philippines' attempt to pressure China over an arbitration of maritime disputes is "either political arrogance or legal prejudice."
• Yemen warring sides holding constructive talks: UN envoy Press TV 23 Apr 2016 -- The UN special envoy for Yemen has described as encouraging the atmosphere of the first day of negotiations between Yemen's warring factions, calling for an end to a deadly Saudi military campaign on the impoverished state.
• Velayati: Any plan against Syrians' interests, unacceptable IRNA 23 Apr 2016 -- Head of the Strategic Research Center of Iran's Expediency Council said any plan against Syria national interests will not be acceptable.
• Any peace plan must respect Syria interests: Velayati ISNA 23 Apr 2016 -- A senior Iranian official has rejected as "unacceptable" any peace plan that would run contrary to Syria's national interests, reaffirming Tehran's support for the legitimate government of President Bashar al-Assad.
• Syria militants kill four in two major cities Press TV 23 Apr 2016 -- Militants in Syria have carried out attacks on residential areas killing four people in two major cities, the state news agency says, reporting more cases of violations of a truce deal in the Arab country.
• Syrian forces, Kurds agree to indefinite truce in Qamishli Press TV 23 Apr 2016 -- The Syrian government and regional Kurdish forces have reportedly declared a ceasefire deal in northeast Syria, following three days of deadly clashes in the city of Qamishli.
• Any peace plan must respect Syria interests: Velayati Press TV 23 Apr 2016 -- A senior Iranian official has rejected as "unacceptable" any peace plan that would run contrary to Syria's national interests, reaffirming Tehran's support for the legitimate government of President Bashar al-Assad.
• Syria crisis death toll stands at 400,000: UN Envoy Press TV 23 Apr 2016 -- The United Nations special envoy for Syria says some 400,000 people have lost their lives as a result of more than five years of foreign-sponsored conflict gripping the Arab country.
• Turkish PM Cites Dramatic Decrease in Syrian Migrant Exodus VOA 23 Apr 2016 -- Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Saturday that his country's efforts to deter Syrians from entering Greece by sea had drastically cut daily migrant voyages from 6,000 in November to as few as 130 since early April.
• Two car explosions kill 12, wound dozens in Iraq's Baghdad Press TV 23 Apr 2016 -- At least 12 people have been killed and dozens more sustained injuries in two separate car bomb explosions, blamed on the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, in the Iraqi capital city of Baghdad.
• Iraq forces destroy Daesh hideouts Press TV 23 Apr 2016 -- Security forces in Iraq have inflicted heavy losses on the Daesh terrorist group in the country's west, while gearing up to free more areas from the group's presence.
• Iraqi warplanes destroy Daesh oil convoy in Nineveh province Press TV 23 Apr 2016 -- The Iraqi Air Force has destroyed a Daesh oil convoy in the northern Nineveh province, a blow to stem the Takfiri terrorist group's oil sales.
• PKK attacks kill soldier, injure dozen policemen in southeast Press TV 23 Apr 2016 -- A Turkish soldier has been killed and a dozen police officers have been injured in separate attacks by militants from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the country's volatile southeast.
• Darfur votes against reunification of five states into one entity Press TV 23 Apr 2016 -- The Darfur region in western Sudan has voted in a referendum against reunification of its five states into one entity.
• UN chief urges South Sudan rebel leader to return to capital Press TV 23 Apr 2016 -- The United Nations (UN) has urged South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar to return to the country's capital to serve in a unity government, as part of an August 2015 peace deal with rival President Salva Kiir.
• S. Sudan Rebel Leader's Return Delayed Again VOA 23 Apr 2016 -- South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar's anticipated return to the capital, Juba, planned for Saturday, was delayed after President Salva Kiir's government demanded its team inspect weapons that Machar would bring along.
• DR Congo: UN envoy expresses 'serious concern' over rising political tensions UN News 23 Apr 2016 -- The head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) has expressed serious concern about rising political tensions in some parts of the country.
• Al-Shabab Coastal Raid Spurs Changes by Somali Regional Officials VOA 23 Apr 2016 -- A daring but ultimately unsuccessful raid by al-Shabab fighters off the coast of Somalia last month has led authorities to change the way they respond to such threats.

News Reports

• Obama, Merkel to Discuss Trade, Terrorism, Refugees in Two-Day Visit VOA 23 Apr 2016 -- U.S. President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will discuss the global economy, terrorism, transatlantic security and many other issues during his two-day visit to Germany.
• Security Council deplores maritime tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea UN News 23 Apr 2016 -- The United Nations Security Council has deplored the recent maritime tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea that resulted in up to 500 deaths when an overcrowded boat capsized en route from Libya to Europe, emphasizing the need for better coordination of efforts to deal with the smuggling of migrants.
• Kerry: No objection to the way of foreign banks engaging with Iranian banks IRNA 23 Apr 2016 -- US has no objection and does not stand in the way of foreign banks engaging with Iranian banks and companies, said US Secretary of State John Kerry before meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in New York on Friday.
• Kerry Says U.S. Won't Block Foreign Firms Doing Business With Iran RFE/RL 23 Apr 2016 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry assured foreign banks and businesses that the United States will not block them from doing business with Iran under last year's historic nuclear accord.
• Despite Nuclear Deal, US Pressures EU Allies to Isolate Iran Sputnik 23 Apr 2016 -- While the Iran nuclear deal was meant to open the Islamic Republic to international trade, the United States has stalled the implementation of its end of the bargain and is pressuring European allies to shun Tehran.
• Kim Jong Un Provides Field Guidance to Paektusan Hero Youth Power Station No. 3 KCNA 23 Apr 2016 -- Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, first chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK and supreme commander of the Korean People's Army, provided field guidance to the Paektusan Hero Youth Power Station No. 3 successfully completed as a gift of loyalty which young people, masters of the youth power, presented to the 7th Congress of the WPK.
• N Korea Completes Third Hydro Power Plant Despite Western Sanctions Sputnik 23 Apr 2016 -- Kim Jong Un,North Korean leader, stated that a third hydroelectric power station in North Korea near the border with China was launched.
• US Secret Court Ruling Exposes NSA 'Reform' Sham - Whistleblower Sputnik 23 Apr 2016 -- AT&T/NSA whistleblower Mark Klein claims that the revelation this week that a special court had approved new secret National Security Agency (NSA) operations exposed the 2015 USA Freedom Act as just a new cover for US government abuses.
• US judge allows CIA torture lawsuit to proceed Press TV 23 Apr 2016 -- A US judge has allowed a lawsuit against the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)'s military psychologists to proceed, marking a major victory for a group of the agency's torture victims.
• Pakistani Premier Says Will Resign If Inquiry Finds Wrongdoing RFE/RL 23 Apr 2016 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif bowed to opposition demands that he ask Pakistan's chief justice to set up an independent commission to investigate offshore accounts linked to his family.
• U.S. Demands Uzbek Leader's Daughter Turn Over $550 Million RFE/RL 23 Apr 2016 -- U.S. prosecutors said the daughter of Uzbekistan's president and several associates failed to comply with a court order to turn over more than $500 million held in Swiss banks as part of a long-running money-laundering investigation.
• Poised For Big Win, Vucic Highlights Serbian 'Paradox' RFE/RL 23 Apr 2016 -- Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, a rebranded ultranationalist who shed his incendiary rhetoric after the overthrow of Balkan strongman Slobodan Milosevic, is comfortably in the driver's seat as Serbia goes to the polls this weekend.
• Activists in Dakar Demand Release of Gambian Opposition Members VOA 23 Apr 2016 -- In Dakar, rights activists and members of the Gambian Diaspora marched Friday to demand the unconditional release of dozens of opposition members arrested in Gambia one week ago. The opposition says at least three of its members were killed in detention.
• Zambian Opposition Leader Denies Election Boycott Threat VOA 23 Apr 2016 -- The leader of Zambian's main opposition has denied local media reports that he threatened to sit out the August 11 presidential election.