Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 29 Apr 2016 [PDF]
• Navy Announces Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group Will Remain On Station NNS 29 Apr 2016 -- The Navy announced April 29 the Defense Department's approval of a request from U.S. Central Command to extend the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group's ongoing deployment by 30 days in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and other counter-terrorism efforts.
• Military Strikes Continue Against ISIL Targets in Iraq, Syria AFPS 29 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.
• Pentagon shifts to Libya for airstrikes on Daesh Press TV 29 Apr 2016 -- The United States military has deployed spy drones to Libya where the Pentagon's latest shift over Daesh (ISIL) will reportedly see added air fire against militants in the North African state.
• Department of Defense Press Briefing by Army General Joseph Votel, commander, U.S. Central Command DoD 29 Apr 2016 -- Presenter: Army General Joseph Votel, commander, U.S. Central Command
• Statement by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on the Kunduz Investigation Report DoD 29 Apr 2016
• Centcom Commander: Communications Breakdowns, Human Errors Led to Attack on Afghan Hospital AFPS 29 Apr 2016 -- Communications and equipment failures and human error compounded by the stress of combat contributed to the mistaken airstrike on a Doctors Without Borders trauma facility in Kunduz City, Afghanistan, last October, the commander of U.S. Central Command said here today.
• US-led drone strike leaves 6 dead in eastern Afghanistan Press TV 29 Apr 2016 -- At least six people have been killed in a drone strike carried out by US-led foreign forces in Afghanistan's eastern province of Nangarhar, Press TV reports.
• Pentagon: Afghan Hospital Bombing Not a War Crime VOA 29 Apr 2016 -- The U.S. military has disciplined 16 service members for their role in a deadly air strike in Afghanistan last year that killed 42 people and destroyed a hospital run by the international medical charity Doctors Without Borders, and it has concluded the incident was not a war crime.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Remarks by Secretary Carter and Air Force Secretary James regarding the Nomination of General Goldfein to be Air Force Chief of Staff DoD 29 Apr 2016 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Ash Carter; Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James; Air Force Vice Chief of Staff General David Goldfein
• Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work's Visit to Belgium DoD 29 Apr 2016
• U.S. Navy Captain Select Sentenced to Over Six Years in Prison for Accepting Cash and Prostitutes in International Bribery Scheme US Dept. of Justice 29 Apr 2016 -- A U.S. Navy Captain Select was sentenced today to 78 months in prison for bribery charges, admitting that he accepted cash, gifts, travel expenses, entertainment and the services of prostitutes from foreign defense contractor Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA) in exchange for classified U.S. Navy information, including ship schedules that contained information related to the U.S. Navy's ballistic missile defense operations in the Pacific.
• Navy Commander Sentenced in Bribery Scandal VOA 29 Apr 2016 -- A U.S. Navy commander was sentenced Friday to more than six years in prison for giving classified information on ship deployments to an Asian defense contractor in return for cash, gifts and prostitutes.
• US Forces, Australian Defence Force Complete Fleet Synthetic Training NNS 29 Apr 2016 -- Commander, Task Force 70 units, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 units, Army and Air Force assets and units from the Australian Defence Forces participated in a Fleet Synthetic Training-Joint exercise 16-72, April 29.
• USS Arleigh Burke Successfully Completes Missile Firing Exercise NNS 29 Apr 2016 -- The crew of USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) launched a Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) missile off the coast of Virginia, April 26.
• Carl Vinson Cruises toward Deployment Preparations NNS 29 Apr 2016 -- Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) began simulating an at-sea environment April 26, in preparation for their first underway since returning from a 10-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations.
• GHWB Completes INSURV Phase II NNS 29 Apr 2016 -- Aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) completed the second phase of the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey, April 29.
• 'They Said No': China Denies US Aircraft Carrier Entry to Hong Kong Sputnik 29 Apr 2016 -- Chinese authorities did not allow the US aircraft carrier John Stennis to make a stop-over at the Hong Kong port, a US consulate official told the South China Morning Post newspaper on Friday.
• Crisis response Marines, Army execute joint capabilities USMC News 29 Apr 2016 -- U.S. Marines and soldiers met during a training exercise in Germany to defeat enemy combatants fighting from inside city buildings and houses, April 7-13, 2016.
• U.S. senators propose bill to help Pacific allies counter China CNA 29 Apr 2016 -- Four American senators, including three members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), have proposed a maritime security act to increase support to Asia-Pacific allies to cope with Beijing's assertive moves in the South China Sea.
• Russian Su-27 Performed Flyby of US RC-135 Plane in the Baltic Sea Sputnik 29 Apr 2016 -- As the US continues to patrol Russia's borders, it has accused another Su-27 fighter of performing a "barrel roll" over an American surveillance plane.
• Not Without My Neighbor: Finland, Sweden Ponder NATO Membership, Again Sputnik 29 Apr 2016 -- Don't make Russia cross!
• Work: U.S., NATO Must Use 21st-Century Approaches for Deterrence, Dominance AFPS 29 Apr 2016 -- The strategic landscape is at an inflection point that demands the United States and NATO use 21st century approaches to address threats large and small and to strengthen conventional deterrence against potential adversaries, Defense Secretary Bob Work said here yesterday.
• Lavrov Warns Russia Would Take 'Measures' If Sweden Joins NATO RFE/RL 29 Apr 2016 -- Moscow would respect any decision by Sweden to join NATO, but would take "measures"to respond to the military alliance's approach to its borders, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned.
• Soviet-Era Nuclear Submarine Catches Fire During Disassembly RFE/RL 29 Apr 2016 -- Russia's Defense Ministry says a decommissioned Soviet-era nuclear submarine that was being disassembled in Russia's Far East has caught fire.
• China to Join ADMM-Plus Counter-terrorism Exercise People's Daily 29 Apr 2016 -- China says it will be part of a multinational anti-terrorism exercise expected to be held from May 2 to 12.
• China, Russia warn US over Korea missile deployment plan Press TV 29 Apr 2016 -- Russia and China have vowed to mutually counter increasing US military presence on the Korean Peninsula, calling on Washington to forgo the installation of a new anti-missile system in the region.
• China and Russia Urge US to Drop THAAD Proposal People's Daily 29 Apr 2016 -- Russia is joining with China in opposing any US plans to establish a missile system in South Korea.
• Turkey deploys troops to its military base in Qatar Press TV 29 Apr 2016 -- Turkey has announced the deployment of soldiers to its first overseas military base, which has been set up in Qatar.
• Versatile Vikings' £37 million upgrade completed UK MOD 29 Apr 2016 -- The Royal Navy's fleet of amphibious all-terrain vehicles – Vikings – have reached full operational capability (FOC) after a 3.5 year journey.
• RAF jets fly on Baltic policing mission UK MOD 29 Apr 2016 -- The UK has taken up a leading role policing the skies over the Baltic states to deter threats such as aggression from Russia.
• Obama Scraps Subsidy in $700Mln F-16 Sale to Pakistan Sputnik 29 Apr 2016 -- US President Barack Obama's administration plans to abandon the plan to subsidize the $700 million deal to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, a senior US State Department official said Friday.
• April 29, 2016 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 29 Apr 2016
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 4/29/2016 The White House 29 Apr 2016

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 29, 2016

Other Conflicts

• 29 April 2016 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 29 Apr 2016
• Taiwan patrol boats to protect fishermen near disputed Japanese atoll CNA 29 Apr 2016 -- Taiwan will send two patrol ships to international waters near a Japanese-controlled atoll in the Western Pacific to protect Taiwanese fishermen operating in the area, Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration said Friday.
• Taiwan proposes international arbitration for Okinotori dispute CNA 29 Apr 2016 -- President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) said Friday that Japan's claim that the Okinotori atoll is an "island" violates the rights of fishermen everywhere and that Taiwan is not ruling out the idea of submitting the dispute to international arbitration.
• Taiwan ups the ante in protest against seizure of fishing boat (update) CNA 29 Apr 2016 -- Taiwan's Foreign Minister David Lin (林永樂) on Friday summoned Japan's de facto ambassador in Taipei to lodge a formal protest against the seizure earlier this week of a Taiwanese fishing boat on the high seas near a Japanese-controlled atoll.
• Background Briefing On Syria US Dept. of State 29 Apr 2016 -- Special Briefing by Senior State Department Official
• Syrian Army Plans to Launch Offensive on Deir Ez-Zor, Raqqa Sputnik 29 Apr 2016 -- The Syrian armed forces plan to retake the city of Raqqa from Daesh, and Russian aviation is expected to support the operation, according to Russia's UN Office envoy.
• Senior State Department Official On Syria US Dept. of State 29 Apr 2016 -- Special Briefing by Senior State Department Official
• More Airstrikes on Aleppo as Fighting Spreads Across Syria VOA 29 Apr 2016 -- Fighting between Syrian rebels and forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad spread throughout the war-torn country Friday as Syrian government and Russian warplanes maintained their airstrikes on the former commercial capital, Aleppo, for the eighth straight day.
• US, Russia Seek Localized Cease-fires in Syria VOA 29 Apr 2016 -- With Syria's February cease-fire showing signs of fraying, the United States and Russia have announced plans to try to reinforce localized cease-fires in the coastal province of Latakia as well the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta.
• Syria's 'Silent' Period to Fail Without UN Oversight – Syrian Militants Sputnik 29 Apr 2016 -- The US-Russia-brokered "silent" period in the Latakia and Damascus provinces will not work out without UN oversight, a spokesman for a Damascus-based militant group told Sputnik on Friday.
• France Condemns Damascus' Plans to Carry Out Operation in Aleppo Sputnik 29 Apr 2016 -- French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault condemned in his Friday statement the Syrian government's plans to pursue an offensive in the Aleppo province warning that the opposition would not return to talks without improvements of the situation.
• Syria declares 'regime of calm' in two major areas Press TV 29 Apr 2016 -- Syria is planning to enforce a "regime of calm" in two major urban areas as militant attacks in the northwestern city of Aleppo kill over a dozen people despite an agreement for the cessation of hostilities.
• Syria plans offensives on Dayr al-Zawr, Raqqah: Russia Press TV 29 Apr 2016 -- Syrian and Russian officials say the Army plans major operations to retake the eastern cities of Dayr al-Zawr and Raqqah and Aleppo from Takiri militant groups.
• U.S. 'Outraged' By Syrian Hospital Strikes, Urges Russia To Restrain Assad RFE/RL 29 Apr 2016 -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Washington is "outraged" by air strikes on a hospital in the Syrian city of Aleppo that killed dozens and injured many others.
• 'Monstrous disregard' for civilians, says UN rights chief, as hospitals bombed in Syria UN News 29 Apr 2016 -- The United Nations human rights chief today said that the latest reports of civilian deaths and injuries in Syria, including bombings of marketplaces and medical facilities, reveal a "monstrous disregard for civilian lives by all parties to the conflict," calling for urgent action by all relevant actors to resolve to help the people of Syria.
• Syrian Army Offensive Targets 2 IS Strongholds VOA 29 Apr 2016 -- The Syrian army has plans to launch offensive strikes on Deir Ez-Zor and Raqqa – two Islamic State strongholds in the country's northeast – with the help of Russian air forces, Alexei Borodavkin, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva said Friday.
• Strikes on Aleppo Continue from Both Sides VOA 29 Apr 2016 -- Airstrikes continued Friday on Syria's second city, Aleppo, where a clinic was hit one day after a strike destroyed a hospital, civil defense officials said.
• Iraqi forces thwart Daesh attacks south of Mosul Press TV 29 Apr 2016 -- Nearly one hundred members of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group have been slain when Iraqi security forces foiled two separate attacks by the terrorists against two villages in Iraq's troubled northern province of Nineveh.
• Daesh using Iraqis as human shields in Mosul: Witnesses Press TV 29 Apr 2016 -- Daesh terrorists are using civilians as human shields in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul amid a major army offensive to liberate the strategic city from the Takfiri group, witnesses say.
• U.S. Aggressor Forces and S. Korean Puppet Army Warned against Their Reckless Provocations KCNA 29 Apr 2016 -- A spokesman for the Panmunjom mission of the Korean People's Army (KPA) released a statement Friday in connection with the fact that the U.S. imperialist aggressor forces side is getting extremely undisguised in its provocative acts of rattling the nerves of the KPA side in the area of Panmunjom.
• Ukraine Says Stronger Cease-Fire Needed To Make Political Progress RFE/RL 29 Apr 2016 -- Ukraine told the UN Security Council that its cease-fire with separatists in the east must be strengthened before progress can be achieved on a political solution to the two-year conflict.
• Joint Statement on South Sudan Peace Process US Dept. of State 29 Apr 2016
• South Sudan unity government takes oath of office Press TV 29 Apr 2016 -- South Sudan has formed a transitional unity government with 30 ministers sworn in, bringing an end a two-year deadly conflict in the country.
• Ban welcomes appointment of transitional unity Government in South Sudan UN News 29 Apr 2016 -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the appointment by South Sudan President Salva Kiir of the ministers of the Transitional Government of National Unity, urging the parties to complete the establishment of all transition institutions.
• New South Sudan Government Sworn In VOA 29 Apr 2016 -- South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has appointed a new government of national unity, bringing together politicians from opposite sides of the country's civil war.
• Hamas to continue anti-Israel 'resistance': Haniyeh Press TV 29 Apr 2016 -- Hamas says it is determined to continue "resistance" against Israel as it warns of an "explosion" amid Tel Aviv's crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip.
• In recorded vote, Security Council approves one year extension of UN mission in Western Sahara UN News 29 Apr 2016 -- The Security Council today, by recorded vote, adopted a resolution extending for one year the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), emphasizing "the urgent need for the mission to return to full functionality."
• Mozambique: UN reports 'worrying' information about human rights violations UN News 29 Apr 2016 -- The United Nations human rights office said today it has received "worrying information" about ongoing armed clashes in Mozambique between national security forces and members of Renamo, the former rebel group which became the main opposition party at the end of the 16-year civil war in 1992.

News Reports

• Full text of Zarif's letter to Ban Ki-moon ISNA 29 Apr 2016 -- Iranian Permanent Representative to the UN Gholamali Khoshroo encloses Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif's letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. The full text of the letter comes as follows:
• North Korea Could Test World's Commitment to Sanctions VOA 29 Apr 2016 -- North Korea's defiant and accelerated efforts to develop an advanced nuclear arsenal have not been deterred, so far, by the tough new United Nations sanctions imposed in March.
• Dimona has 1,537 defects: Report Press TV 29 Apr 2016 -- A study has uncovered 1,537 defects in Israel's Dimona nuclear reactor in the Negev desert, the Haaretz newspaper reports.
• S. African Court to Review Zuma Corruption Ruling VOA 29 Apr 2016 -- South Africa's High Court ruled Friday that state prosecutors must revisit a decision in 2009 to drop nearly 800 corruption-related charges against President Jacob Zuma. The move cranks up the political heat on Zuma amid a barrage of other corruption scandals.
• US Discloses Senior Official Sold Nuclear Secrets to China VOA 29 Apr 2016 -- A Taiwan-born American citizen has admitted selling nuclear information to China while he was a senior manager at the U.S. government's Tennessee Valley Authority, federal officials say.
• Beijing Urges Washington to Assess New NGO Law Objectively Sputnik 29 Apr 2016 -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry urged the United States on Friday to objectively assess its non-governmental organization (NGO) law objectively and to respect Beijing's sovereign right to adopt laws.
• Japan to Abandon ASTRO-H Astronomical Satellite After Communication Lost Sputnik 29 Apr 2016 -- The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said that it would abandon the Hitomi (ASTRO-H) X-ray astronomy satellite over a month after communication with the spacecraft was lost.