Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 16 Jun 2016 [PDF]
• Department of Defense Press Briefing by Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook in the Pentagon Briefing Room DoD 16 Jun 2016 -- Presenter: Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook
• Naval Aviation Forces Now Striking ISIL from Two Theaters as USS Boxer Harriers Join the Fight NNS 16 Jun 2016 -- U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers flying from USS Boxer (LHD 4) in the Arabian Gulf joined strike aircraft operating from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in the Mediterranean Sea June 16.
• US Launches Twin Strikes Against IS From Mediterranean, Gulf VOA 16 Jun 2016 -- The United States on Thursday launched simultaneous strikes against Islamic State extremists from the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf, marking the first time the U.S. military had bombed IS targets in Syria and Iraq from both bodies of water.
• Counter-ISIL Strikes Hit Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 16 Jun 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.
• Update: air strikes against Daesh UK MOD 16 Jun 2016 -- British forces have continued to conduct air operations in the fight against Daesh
• Coalition Concerned Over Afghanistan, Pakistan Border Clashes VOA 16 Jun 2016 -- NATO's Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan says it is concerned about recent military clashes between Afghan and Pakistani border forces, and is urging both countries to resolve differences through diplomatic negotiations.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Canadian exercise trains new generation of Dobbins C-130 warfighters AFNS 16 Jun 2016 -- More than 70 Airmen from the 94th Airlift Wing recently took part in Maple Flag 49, an annual international air exercise, at 4 Wing Cold Lake in Alberta.
• US Fleet Forces Command Participates in Ardent Sentry 16 NNS 16 Jun 2016 -- U.S. Fleet Forces (USFF) Command concluded its participation in the Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA)-focused Exercise Ardent Sentry 2016 (AS16) June 16.
• Camp Lemonnier to increase air traffic safety with new radar system AFNS 16 Jun 2016 -- The Air Force began construction on a new AN/GPN-27 Airport Surveillance Radar System tower and shelter on Camp Lemonnier in May, with plans for it to be fully operational by August.
• Comptroller Says DoD Will Continue Audit Accountability Plan AFPS 16 Jun 2016 -- The Defense Department is getting closer to full audit accountability and will stick to its plan to achieve it, DoD's chief financial officer told the House Armed Services Committee yesterday.
• VAQ-138 Detachment Arrives at Clark Air Base NNS 16 Jun 2016 -- The first temporary detachment of U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack aircraft arrived at Clark Air Base, June 15, for training with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) FA-50 aircraft pilots.
• NATO accuses Russia of military activities at bloc's borders Press TV 16 Jun 2016 -- NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has defended the military alliance's planned deployments in Poland and three Baltic states, saying they are aimed at deterring Russia.
• Russian ships 'shadowing' US, NATO vessels in Baltics Press TV 16 Jun 2016 -- A US Navy commander says Russian surveillance ships are shadowing American and NATO vessels in the Baltic Sea where they are staging a drill.
• NATO Military Rotation in Eastern Europe Poses Threat to Russia - Envoy Sputnik 16 Jun 2016 -- Moscow does not see a difference between constant rotation and permanent deployment of NATO forces near the Russian borders, and will respond adequately to this threat, Russian envoy to NATO Alexander Grushko said Thursday.
• Lukashenka Says New Missile System 'Successfully' Tested In Belarus RFE/RL 16 Jun 2016 -- Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka says his country has "successfully" tested a new missile system.
• Polonez: Belarus Successfully Test-Fires New Multiple Rocket Launch System Sputnik 16 Jun 2016 -- The Belarusian Polonez multiple launch rocket system has successfully passed tests, President Alexander Lukashenko said.
• China prohibits exports of dual-use technologies to North Korea Press TV 15 Jun 2016 -- China has banned exports of several technologies that could be used for both military and peaceful purposes to North Korea, in reaction to Pyongyang's nuclear program.
• FM Spokesman of DPRK Assails Entry of U.S. Nuclear Submarine to S. Korea KCNA 16 Jun 2016 -- On June 13 the U.S. nuclear submarine Mississippi entered Pusan Port, south Korea, its first appearance in Asia-Pacific.
• India to Establish Marine Police Force to Counter Terrorist 'Frogmen' Sputnik 16 Jun 2016 -- Sensing a major threat from frogmen and the marine wing of terror outfits like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, India, for the first time, is seriously considering creating a special marine police force.
• Israeli F-35 pilots head to US to begin training Press TV 16 Jun 2016 -- The US Air Force (USAF) is set to start training the first cadre of Israeli F-35 fighter pilots from next month, despite the stealth aircraft's substandard performance in tests due to software issues.
• Afghanistan Seeks Russian Helicopters Delivery After Request - Deputy FM Sputnik 16 Jun 2016 -- Afghanistan seeks to secure the delivery of Russian helicopters and increased military support from Russia as soon as possible, Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai told Sputnik on Thursday.
• June 16, 2016 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 16 Jun 2016
• Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz en route Orlando, FL, 6/16/2016 The White House 16 Jun 2016

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for June 16, 2016

Other Conflicts

• 16 June 2016 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 16 Jun 2016
• China Defends Ship Sailing near Japan People's Daily 16 Jun 2016 -- Chinese authorities have responded to the concerns from the Japanese government over a Chinese warship in waters off Japan's southwestern coast.
• Taiwan, Japan to resolve Okinotori dispute: official CNA 16 Jun 2016 -- Taiwan is determined to address the dispute with Japan over fishing near the Okinotori atoll in talks scheduled for late July, an official said Thursday.
• Some 13 million Yemenis need immediate help amid bleak conditions – senior UN relief official UN News 16 Jun 2016 -- The top United Nations relief official for Yemen has reported that more than 13 million Yemenis are in need of immediate life-saving assistance as a result of a bleak humanitarian situation in the country that continues to worsen.
• UAE: War 'Practically' Over in Yemen VOA 16 Jun 2016 -- The United Arab Emirates announced that the war in Yemen is over for its troops after being a key ally in the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed rebels for over a year.
• Aid Deliveries to Syria's Besieged Areas Making Progress VOA 16 Jun 2016 -- Progress is being made in the delivery of humanitarian assistance to tens of thousands of Syrians trapped in besieged areas. In Geneva, a senior United Nations official said 16 of Syria's 18 besieged areas soon will have been reached.
• US likely to use Nusra terrorists to topple Syria's Assad: Russia Press TV 16 Jun 2016 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the United States is likely seeking to preserve the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front terrorist group as a tool to unseat Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
• Syrian Army Takes Full Control of Turkmen Mountain Near Latakia Sputnik 16 Jun 2016 -- The strategically important region of the Turkmen Mountain, located in the northeast of Latakia on the border with Turkey, is now entirely under the Syrian Army's control.
• UN human rights panel concludes ISIL is committing genocide against Yazidis UN News 16 Jun 2016 -- The Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) [also known as ISIL and Da'esh] is committing genocide against Yazidis that amounts to crimes against humanity and war crimes, a United Nations-mandated human rights inquiry reported today.
• UN: Islamic State Committing Genocide Against Yazidis VOA 16 Jun 2016 -- United Nations investigators said the Islamic State (IS) militant group is committing genocide against the Yazidis, an ethnic Kurdish religious community.
• UN health agency expresses concern over disease outbreaks in besieged city of Fallujah UN News 16 Jun 2016 -- The low level of immunity coupled with poor hygiene conditions raises the risk of disease outbreaks, such as measles, in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, where more than 42,000 people have been displaced since the beginning of military operations in May.
• Iraq's Fallujah facing 'humanitarian disaster' amid food crisis: NGO Press TV 16 Jun 2016 -- The Daesh-held Iraqi city of Fallujah is facing a "humanitarian disaster" as many of its hunger-stricken residents remain trapped with no "safe passage" to make their way out, a prominent NGO warns.
• Iraq army, Peshmerga forces start closing in on Mosul Press TV 16 Jun 2016 -- The Iraqi military and Kurdish Peshmerga forces have reportedly launched operations to tighten the noose around the Takfiri Daesh terrorists in their stronghold of Mosul, as part of larger-scale attempts to fully liberate the northern Iraqi city.
• Aid Agencies Race to Help Families Fleeing IS-held Fallujah VOA 16 Jun 2016 -- Hundreds of families were pouring out of the Fallujah war zone Thursday after Islamic State militants apparently lost control of the main road southwest of the city.
• No US Allies Prepared to Send Troops to Aid Fight Against Daesh in Libya Sputnik 16 Jun 2016 -- US Special Envoy for Libya Jonathan Winer said that the allies of the United States are not considering sending military forces to support the internationally-backed Libyan GNA against Daesh.
• Ukrainian PM: Maintain Western Sanctions Until Russian Withdrawal RFE/RL 16 Jun 2016 -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroysman urged Western governments to maintain tough sanctions on Russia until it withdraws forces from eastern Ukraine and cedes control of Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Moscow seized from Kyiv in 2014.
• Minsk Implementation Seen as Key to EU-Russia Relations VOA 16 Jun 2016 -- European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker's trip to Russia this week has raised further speculation that EU sanctions against Russia, over its actions in Ukraine, are wavering just ahead of a vote on whether to extend the punitive measures.
• U.S. Official Confident EU Will Continue To Back Russia Sanctions RFE/RL 16 Jun 2016 -- The U.S. State Department's chief sanctions-policy coordinator is confident the European Union will maintain its travel and economic restrictions against Russia until Moscow fulfills the terms of a peace agreement to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
• Eritrea Says More than 200 Ethiopians Killed in Border Clash VOA 16 Jun 2016 -- The government of Eritrea says its forces killed more than 200 Ethiopian troops and wounded more than 300 during fighting Sunday and Monday in a contested border area.
• China refutes "incursion" in disputed border region with India People's Daily 16 Jun 2016 -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said Wednesday that Chinese frontier guards carried out routine patrols on the China-controlled side of border with India.
• Seven killed in latest Kashmir fighting Press TV 16 Jun 2016 -- At least five pro-independence fighters and two Indian soldiers have been killed in a series of separate clashes across the restive disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, military sources say.
• IRGC busts terrorist groups in northwest Iran Press TV 16 Jun 2016 -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) forces have engaged in clashes with two terrorist groups in the country's northwest near the border with Iraq, killing a number of terrorists.
• Malian parties must make peace and reconciliation 'a reality,' UN envoy tells Security Council UN News 16 Jun 2016 -- Despite some progress, key challenges to implementing Mali's peace and reconciliation agreement remained, one year after the Government and armed groups signed the accord, the United Nations envoy in the West African country told the Security Council today.
• Number of Child Soldiers in Somalia May Top 5,000, UN Reports VOA 16 Jun 2016 -- A top official with the U.N. Children's Fund says there could be 5,000 child soldiers in Somalia as al-Shabab continues its recruiting campaigns.

News Reports

• US Efforts Doing Little to Dent Islamic State's Global Reach VOA 16 Jun 2016 -- Despite losing critical ground in Iraq and Syria, the Islamic State terror group has no intention of slowing fading away, and instead it has been shifting its focus to ensure it remains the world's top terror organization, according to a top U.S. intelligence official.
• CIA Director: IS Working To Deploy Militants For Attacks In West RFE/RL 16 Jun 2016 -- CIA Director John Brennan says the extremist Islamic State (IS) group is attempting to deploy fighters in the West to carry out further attacks, drawing from a pool of tens of thousands of militants throughout the world that outnumbers that of Al-Qaeda at the height of its reach.
• Islamic State Caliphate Staring Into 'Death Spiral' VOA 16 Jun 2016 -- For the United States and its coalition partners, it is the sound of progress – the dull roar of engines as Iraqi Humvees kick up dust and dirt on the outskirts of Fallujah. In the distance, smoke rises as Iraqi forces push on with a slow but steady advance.
• Kremlin Propaganda In Czech Republic Plays Long Game To Sow Distrust In EU RFE/RL 16 Jun 2016 -- Sowing distrust and disbelief in Europe and its institutions is the main aim of Russian propaganda in the Czech Republic, according to a new study.
• White House Gives Ukraine $220 Million In Aid For Reform Efforts RFE/RL 16 Jun 2016 -- The White House says it will give Ukraine $220 million in new aid this year to support Kyiv's economic, political, and energy reform efforts.
• Ankara 'Makes Three Important Steps' Toward Thaw With Moscow Sputnik 16 Jun 2016 -- According to Turkish newspaper Habertürk, over the last week Ankara made three important steps toward the improvement of political, economic and cultural ties with Russia.
• Indian Space Agency Embarks on Launch of 22 Satellites on Single Mission Sputnik 16 Jun 2016 -- The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is bracing for a landmark rocket launch on 20 June by placing as many as 22 satellites into orbit.
• Ban dismayed at actions aimed at restricting political opposition in Bahrain UN News 16 Jun 2016 -- Concerned at recent reports in Bahrain of intimidation of human rights defenders and activists for peacefully promoting human rights, as well as for legitimately exercising their rights to freedoms of expression and association, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said that such actions by the State authorities could potentially damage the human rights situation in the country.
• Ban expresses deep concern over the continuing political uncertainty in Haiti UN News 16 Jun 2016 -- Concerned that the prevailing uncertainty in Haiti is further compounding the numerous political and socio-economic challenges facing the country, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that further delays in completing the electoral process can potentially affect stability in the country, as well as international support to it.
• Ethiopia Dismisses Human Rights Watch Report on Oromia Region VOA 16 Jun 2016 -- Ethiopian authorities have dismissed a 61-page report by Human Rights Watch that details the killings of more than 400 people over the past seven months in a crackdown on protests in the country's Oromia region.
• Croatia's Parliament Ousts Government VOA 16 Jun 2016 -- Croatia's parliament ousted the country's government Thursday after a no-confidence vote that went against Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic.