• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 14 Oct 2016 [PDF]
• Counter-ISIL Strikes Hit Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 14 Oct 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.
• Afghan Forces' Battlefield Casualties Worry NATO VOA 14 Oct 2016 -- A spokesman for the U.S.-led foreign military coalition in Afghanistan said it is worried about the number of casualties Afghan security forces have suffered in recent battles with the Taliban.
• More than 200 troops killed in Lashkargah in 10 days: Officials Press TV 14 Oct 2016 -- Hundreds of members of the Afghan security forces have been killed during an ongoing militant assault on a main city in the the troubled southern province of Helmand, local officials say.
• Afghan Officials Say More Than 200 Troops Killed In Helmand RFE/RL 14 Oct 2016 -- Afghan officials say hundreds of members of the Afghanistan's security forces have been killed in recent fighting against Taliban militants in and around Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Navy to Commission Destroyer Zumwalt NNS 14 Oct 2016 -- The Navy will commission the destroyer Zumwalt (DDG 1000), Saturday, Oct. 15, during a 5 p.m. EDT ceremony in Baltimore.
• Former NCIS Supervisory Special Agent Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Taking Bribes from Defense Contractor in Massive Fraud and Corruption Scandal US Dept. of Justice 14 Oct 2016 -- A former Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) supervisory special agent was sentenced in federal court today to 144 months in prison for disclosing sensitive law enforcement reports to a defense contractor who was the target of a criminal fraud investigation in exchange for cash, luxury travel and the services of prostitutes.
• PHIBLEX 33 comes to a close USMC News 14 Oct 2016 -- Philippine and U.S. Marines came together for the closing ceremony of Philippine Amphibious Landing Exercise 33 in Taguig City, Philippines, Oct. 11, 2016.
• Clinton Says US Would 'Ring China With Missile Defense' VOA 14 Oct 2016 -- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton threatened to "ring China with missile defense" systems and issued a tough rebuke to Beijing's disputed South China Sea claims, according to comments revealed by WikiLeaks.
• DoD Civilians, Service Members Must Remain Non-Partisan, Apolitical AFPS 14 Oct 2016 -- Surveys show Americans respect the U.S. military more than most institutions in the country, in part, because it is viewed as non-partisan.
• DoD Decision Breathes New Life into Critical OCX Satellite Program AFPS 14 Oct 2016 -- An Air Force program that will provide a vital new command system for the global positioning system satellite constellation in the shortest time possible will continue despite cost growth, Defense Department officials confirmed today.
• Secretary General in Rome: Italy plays a key role in the defence of our Allies NATO 14 Oct 2016 -- At the end of a two-day visit to Rome, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg underlined Italy's essential role in strengthening NATO's collective defence and projecting stability beyond Allied borders.
• Joint press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Paolo Gentiloni, Foreign Affairs Minister of Italy at the NATO Defense College - Secretary General's opening remarks NATO 14 Oct 2016 -- (As delivered)
• Alliance marks 65th Anniversary of the NATO Defense College NATO 14 Oct 2016 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg led the North Atlantic Council and the NATO Military Committee in celebrating the 65th anniversary of the NATO Defense College (NDC) on Thursday (13 October 2016). During a commemorative ceremony in Rome, the Secretary General highlighted the NDC's role as a leading centre for forward-looking education.
• NATO Concerned Over Russia's Latest Arms Deployments Near Bloc's Borders Sputnik 14 Oct 2016 -- NATO member states are extremely concerned over Russia conducting military exercises and deploying arms near the alliance's borders, after Moscow deployed missile systems in Kaliningrad, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Friday.
• Russian warships depart for Iranian Caspian Sea coasts for friendly ties IRNA 14 Oct 2016 -- Two Russian warships departed for Iran and Kazakhstan coasts on Friday in the framework of 15-day friendship expedition.
• Russia to Develop Prototype of Self-Propelled Gun for Airborne Forces in 2017 Sputnik 14 Oct 2016 -- The first development prototype of a self-propelled weapon dubbed Lotos for the Russian Airborne Forces will be created and tested in 2017, the Research Institute of Precision Machine Building (TsNIITochMash) CEO said Friday.
• Putin Ratifies Agreement on Russian Air Group Deployment in Syria Sputnik 14 Oct 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin ratified an intergovernmental agreement on the deployment of the Russian Armed Forces' air group in Syria, the Kremlin said on Friday.
• CSTO Leaders Agree To Set Up Crisis Response Center RFE/RL 14 Oct 2016 -- The leaders of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member-states have decided to set up a joint crisis response center to exchange information on common threats, including terrorism, and make decisions in real time.
• CSTO Leaders Approve Development Strategy Until 2025 - Armenian President Sputnik 14 Oct 2016 -- The leaders of the six-nation regional military alliance called the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) approved the program for the organization's development until 2025, including a collective security strategy, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said Friday.
• U.S., South Korean, Japanese Military Leaders Discuss North Korean Threat AFPS 14 Oct 2016 -- Stressing the regional aspect of the threat North Korea poses, Maritime Self-defense Force Adm. Katsutoshi Kawano, the Japanese chief of defense, joined discussions with senior U.S. and South Korean military leaders at the Pentagon today.
• China Poised to Take Over US Air Base, Invest in Portugal's Azores Sputnik 14 Oct 2016 -- A year after the US decided to roll back its presence in the Azores, it looks like China is ready to step in and use the Lajes Field air base on the Portuguese-run mid-Atlantic island chain.
• Japanese Jet Scrambles to Ward Off Chinese, Russian Planes Rise in 2016 Sputnik 14 Oct 2016 -- The number of Japanese jet scrambles has risen in 2016, mostly due to Chinese and Russian activity, Japan's Defense Ministry said Friday.
• Overseas cyber attacks target Chinese military, science and maritime affairs People's Daily 14 Oct 2016 -- China has become a major victim of overseas cyber attacks, with Advanced Persistent Threat (APT), a network hacking process, angling for information about the country's military, scientific and maritime affairs, a leading Internet security company warned.
• Russia open to sell missile systems to Turkey: Official Press TV 14 Oct 2016 -- A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country could sell missile systems to neighboring Turkey in light of a rapprochement between Moscow and Ankara.
• Turkey Extends Post-Coup Crackdown to NATO Military Envoys Sputnik 14 Oct 2016 -- Last month Turkey fired some 150 NATO military envoys in Europe and the US in a continuous purge, following the attempted overthrow of the Turkish government in July.
• Royal Navy tests unmanned fleet of the future UK MOD 14 Oct 2016-- The Royal Navy is leading 'Unmanned Warrior 16', an innovative demonstration of autonomous systems which could transform the way in which the Armed Forces of the future help keep Britain safe.
• Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz en route Joint Base Andrews, 10/14/2016 The White House 14 Oct 2016
• October 14, 2016 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 14 Oct 2016

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 14, 2016

Other Conflicts

• 14 October 2016 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 14 Oct 2016
• China Declines Japanese Protest Over Gas Exploration in East China Sea Sputnik 14 Oct 2016 -- China has refuted a Japanese protest over China's alleged revival of maritime gas exploration in the East China Sea. According to Beijing, the exploration activities are being conducted "totally within China's jurisdiction."
• China Warns Australia: 'Act and Speak Cautiously' on South China Sea Sputnik 14 Oct 2016 -- Chinese officials urge Canberra to work to maintain the "healthy and stable development" of military ties between the two countries.
• Migration Refugee Crisis Unfolding in Yemen, Djibouti VOA 14 Oct 2016 -- The International Organization for Migration warns a migration refugee crisis unfolding in Yemen and Djibouti is having a serious impact across the Horn of Africa.
• Rebel Infighting Further Complicates Solution for Syria VOA 14 Oct 2016 -- Rebels in northern Syria have been fighting among themselves after one of the largest Syrian rebel groups was accused of having ties to the Islamic State.
• No special expectations from new Syria meeting: Lavrov Press TV 14 Oct 2016 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says he has "no special expectations" for the upcoming round of multilateral talks on the future of Syria, stating that Moscow has not yet witnessed reciprocal steps from its Western partners.
• Syria's Aleppo Bombarded in Overnight Airstrikes VOA 14 Oct 2016 -- Warplanes belonging to Russia and the Syrian government conducted a massive air raid on targets in rebel-held areas of Aleppo overnight and into Friday morning, according to a monitor group.
• As Mosul Battle Looms Large, Iraqi Troops Get Pentagon Drone Defense System Sputnik 14 Oct 2016 -- Colonel John Dorrian, spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led international coalition against Daesh, announced Thursday that the US Defense Department has given anti-aircraft systems to Iraqi soldiers in order to fend off drone attacks from jihadists.
• Week of violence in South Sudan kills 60: Army Press TV 14 Oct 2016 -- South Sudan's military has warned about the surge of violence in the country, raising fears of a full-scale civil war.
• In South Sudan, Machar Says Party Wants Peace But Prepares for War VOA 14 Oct 2016 -- South Sudan's exiled former vice president and opposition leader says he'll reluctantly take his movement back to all-out war if a peace deal with the government cannot be restored.
• Colombia's president extends ceasefire with rebels through yearend Press TV 14 Oct 2016 -- Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has extended a ceasefire with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) through the end of the year in order to give more time for a peace deal rejected by voters.
• Colombian President Extends Cease-fire With Marxist Rebels VOA 14 Oct 2016 -- Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said Thursday he agreed to extend a cease-fire deal with a Marxist rebel group in the country in hopes of reviving a failed peace accord.
• Tough Philippine Fight Against Rebels Raises Tension, Support VOA 14 Oct 2016 -- Parts of the southern Philippine island Mindanao are growing tense as the government steps up its fight against a violent Muslim rebel group, a campaign that weary locals broadly support but that troops and police may never win.
• Concerned by recent violence in Myanmar, UN aid chief calls for stronger humanitarian action UN News 14 Oct 2016 -- Concluding a three-day mission to Myanmar today, the top United Nations aid official called on all sides to find peaceful ways to resolve their differences and urged strengthened humanitarian action to support the people affected by violence in the Southeast Asian country.
• Rohingya Muslims flee Myanmar army assault Press TV 14 Oct 2016 -- At least 26 people have been killed as terrified civilians flee violent attacks by Myanmar's security forces in northern Muslim-majority Rakhine state.
• Militants shoot dead three soldiers in Pakistan's Balochistan Press TV 14 Oct 2016 -- At least three Pakistani soldiers have been killed in an attack by militants on a paramilitary patrol in the province of Balochistan.
• Taliban Gunmen Target Pakistan Security Forces VOA 14 Oct 2016 -- Gunmen on motorcycles killed at least three Pakistani paramilitary forces Friday in the southwestern city of Quetta.
• Ukrainian Troops Launch Offensive in South of Donetsk People's Republic Sputnik 14 Oct 2016 -- A company-sized group Ukrainian troops launched an attack on the Donetsk People's Republic in violation of the existing ceasefire agreement.
• Minsk Agreements Are Ukraine's Chance for 'Salvation' - Russian OSCE Envoy Sputnik 14 Oct 2016 -- The Ukrainian government continues to conceal its domestic issues with so-called Russian aggression, hindering progress in carrying out reconciliation agreements, Russia's permanent representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said Friday.
• Gunmen kill 12 Egyptian soldiers in Sinai Press TV 14 Oct 2016 -- Twelve members of Egypt's security forces have been killed and eight others injured in an attack by gunmen suspected of having links to the Daesh Takfiri terrorists in the northeastern province of North Sinai.
• Central African Republic: Amid rising violence, UN rights office urges armed groups to exercise 'utmost restraint' UN News 14 Oct 2016 -- In the wake of a number of killings and attacks on civilians in the Central African Republic (CAR), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has called on all actors in the country to exercise restraint and prevent any further escalation in violence.
• UN Condemns Escalating Violence in CAR VOA 14 Oct 2016 -- United Nations agencies are condemning attacks by ex-Seleka fighters in the Central African Republic and calling for restraint to prevent further escalation of violence.
• Mozambique Negotiator's Killing May Re-focus Peace Talks VOA 14 Oct 2016 -- Last week's brazen killing of a senior opposition negotiator, Jeremias Pondeca, dealt a blow to Mozambique's already troubled peace talks, further postponing the oft-delayed closed-door talks that are aimed at finding a path to peace in this Southern African nation.
• Niger, Its Neighbors Preparing for Final Operation Against Boko Haram Sputnik 14 Oct 2016 -- The military forces of Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Benin are preparing a final assault on the Boko Haram jihadist group, Nigerian Defense Minister Hassoumi Massoudou has announced.
• Burundi: Security Council hopes for 'swift solution' between government and human rights bodies UN News 14 Oct 2016 -- Expressing "deep concern" over the political situation in Burundi, the United Nations Security Council reiterated its demand that all stakeholders to refrain from any action that could threaten peace and stability in the country or undermine the East African Community-led inter-Burundian dialogue.

News Reports

• Thai King's Body Returns to Palace as Year of Mourning Begins VOA 14 Oct 2016 -- Thailand is shrouded in grief, with residents wearing black as they begin a year of official mourning following the death of beloved King Bhumibol Aduladej at age 88. He died Thursday.
• China supports Philippine anti-drug campaign: FM spokesman Press TV 14 Oct 2016 -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman says his country supports the Philippines' crackdown on illicit drugs and will cooperate with the Southeast Asian country in the war against narcotics.
• Ukrainian Nationalists Stage Torchlight March In Kyiv As New Far-Right Party Is Born RFE/RL 14 Oct 2016 -- Thousands of nationalists have marched through Kyiv in a torchlight procession to celebrate Ukrainian fighters past and present on a day that saw a fearsome far-right military force formally enter the country's political fray.
• Turkey may hold vote on presidential system in months: Minister Press TV 14 Oct 2016 -- Turkey says it may hold a referendum in the coming months on adopting a presidential system instead of the current parliamentary one as well as other amendments to the constitution.
• Calls Increase for Investigation of Turkey's Ruling Party VOA 14 Oct 2016 -- As authorities in Turkey continue to make arrests in connection with July's failed military coup, some observers there are asking why the crackdown has not affected the ruling AKP party, given that the coup attempt's alleged ringleader, U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, once had close ties with the party and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
• Haiti: UN supporting government to provide emergency food assistance to 750,000 people UN News 14 Oct 2016 -- United Nations relief agencies are continuing work on the ground to assist Haiti in the aftermath of powerful Hurricane Matthew with the World Food Program (WFP) today helping to provide supplies for some 750,000 people, while the UN health agency and its regional partner have appealed to donors for $9 million for emergency health operations.
• UN deputy chief briefs Member States on new UN approach to cholera outbreak in Haiti UN News 14 Oct 2016 -- Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said today that the first track of the new United Nations approach to tackling cholera involves intensifying efforts to treat and eliminate the disease and boost access to clean water and sanitation; and the second track aims to develop a framework proposal to Member States for material assistance to those Haitians most affected by cholera after the 2010 outbreak.
• President Obama Further Eases Restrictions on Cuba VOA 14 Oct 2016 -- U.S. President Barack Obama's administration announced Friday the easing of restrictions on Cuba in an attempt to create more economic opportunities between the two countries.
• Syrian Terror Suspect Wasn't Placed in 'Secure Cell' Due to Legal Restrictions Sputnik 14 Oct 2016 -- On Wednesday night, 22-year-old Syrian migrant Jaber al-Bakr, suspected of plotting a terrorist attack in Germany committed suicide in one of the pre-trial detention facilities in Leipzig. In an interview with Sputnik, Saxony's Minister of Justice Sebastian Gemkov commented on the issue.
• Two Wisconsin Men Charged With Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIL US Dept. of Justice 14 Oct 2016 -- Jason Michael Ludke, 35, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin has been charged in a criminal complaint with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Yosvany Padylla-Conde, 30, also of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was charged in the same complaint with aiding and abetting Ludke's attempt to provide material support to ISIL.
• UN refugee agency welcomes France's decision to close Calais 'jungle' camp UN News 14 Oct 2016 -- The United Nations refugee agency today welcomed the announcement by President François Hollande earlier this month that France will close the informal camp for refugees and migrants in the northern port town of Calais, stressing the vital importance of finding proper alternative accommodation for the thousands of people there.
• Twitter Tricks: Will The Real Gulnara Karimova Please Stand Up? RFE/RL 14 Oct 2016 -- Speculation about the fate of Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of the late Uzbek President Islam Karimov once tipped as his potential successor, has gripped Central Asia and observers of the region ever since she vanished from public life amid a corruption scandal more than two years ago. So Uzbek social media was understandably set ablaze when a new Twitter account earlier this month began publishing a stream of posts suggesting Karimova herself was the author of the tweets.