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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 22 Nov 2016 [PDF]
• Coalition Strikes Continue Against ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 22 Nov 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.
• U.S. Airstrike in Syria Kills Senior al-Qaida Leader AFPS 22 Nov 2016 -- As part of ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist networks, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook today confirmed that U.S. forces conducted a precision airstrike near Sarmada in northwest Syria Nov. 18 that killed Abu Ayyub al-Masri, a senior al-Qaida leader in Syria.
• Statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook on Strike against Al-Qaeda Leader DoD 22 Nov 2016 -- U.S. forces conducted a precision airstrike near Sarmada, Syria, on Nov. 18 that killed Abu Afghan al-Masri, a senior al-Qaeda in Syria leader.
• Airmen provide air base defense in northern Iraq AFNS 22 Nov 2016 -- Giulio Douhet's military concept states, "the only effective way to counter airpower is to destroy its bases on the ground."
• Canadian Helicopters Fly 200 Hours to Back Mosul Offensive - Defense Ministry Sputnik 22 Nov 2016 -- Canada's tactical helicopter squadron has flown 200 hours in support of the operation to recapture Iraq's second city of Mosul from Daesh, the Canadian Armed Forces said in a press release on Tuesday.
• Quiet Desperation: Turkmen Villagers Fear Afghan Conflict, But Won't Say It Out Loud RFE/RL 22 Nov 2016 -- Fighting in neighboring northwestern Afghanistan has grown significantly worse over the last three years. Attacks and battles in the once relatively peaceful Afghan provinces of (from west to east) Herat, Faryab, Badghis, and Jowzjan are now common and have caused Afghan First Vice President Abdul Dostum Rashid to make several trips to the area to lead operations to reclaim territory lost to the Taliban and its militant allies.
• Appointed Afghan Electoral Commissioners Sworn In VOA 22 Nov 2016 -- Afghanistan's new electoral commissioners were sworn in Tuesday, paving the way for long-delayed parliamentary and district council elections.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Carl Vinson Strike Group Completes COMPTUEX/JTFEX NNS 22 Nov 2016 -- The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group returned to its homeport of San Diego after completing Composite Unit Training Exercise and Joint Task Force Exercise (COMPTUEX/JTFEX), Nov. 21.
• Future USS Gabrielle Giffords Completes Acceptance Trials NNS 22 Nov 2016 -- Future Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) successfully completed its acceptance trials Nov. 18.
• USS Scranton Arrives In New Homeport of San Diego NNS 22 Nov 2016 -- Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Scranton (SSN 757) arrived at Naval Base Point Loma (NBPL) in her new homeport of San Diego, Nov. 21.
• Director: DARPA Space Projects Critical to Shifting Trajectories AFPS 22 Nov 2016 -- National security critically depends on space, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is focused today on creating the capabilities needed to help make that environment a real-time operational domain, DARPA Director Dr. Arati Prabhakar said here recently.
• NATO Criticizes Russian Military Buildup In Kaliningrad RFE/RL 22 Nov 2016 -- NATO has accused Russia of "aggressive military posturing" following reports it has deployed anti-ship missiles in the Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad.
• NATO Jets Tracked Russia's Su-35 Jet's Flight Over Atlantic Ocean - Reports Sputnik 22 Nov 2016 -- A Russian Su-35 fighter jet was reportedly tracked by Spanish and Portuguese military planes during its flight over the Atlantic Ocean.
• Russia rejects US criticism over Kaliningrad missile deployment Press TV 22 Nov 2016 -- The Russian Defense Ministry has rejected US criticism over its plans to deploy ballistic missiles along the country's border regions with Lithuania and Poland.
• India's Selective Nod to Blacklisted Defense Firms Sputnik 22 Nov 2016 -- India has partially reversed its policy of not doing business with defence companies suspected of unethical behavior. A banned firm can supply products if there is no available alternative to its weapon system or equipment.
• China, Pakistan Bonhomie Forces India to Rethink Its Nuclear Submarine Plan Sputnik 22 Nov 2016 -- India may be planning to induct more submarines due to hectic activity on this front by China and Pakistan. More clarity will emerge after its finalizes some key aspects of its new purchase policy.
• India Successfully Tests Nuclear-Capable Agni-I Missile Sputnik 22 Nov 2016 -- India successfully tested a homemade nuclear-capable intermediate range Agni-I ballistic missile, senior Defense Ministry sources told Sputnik.
• MEPs Vote to Create 'Rapid Response' EU Army and 'Military Schengen' Sputnik 22 Nov 2016 -- The European Parliament has voted for the controversial creation of an EU Army, as MEPs backed the benefits of the taxpayer-funded force on Tuesday, November 22.
• China, Malaysia begin joint military exercises amid closer ties People's Daily 22 Nov 2016 -- Chinese and Malaysian armed forces began a joint exercise on Tuesday in Paya Indah, a wetlands park in the state of Selangor, as the two countries aim to forge closer military ties and safety and security cooperation.
• Russian Ratification of Agreement with De Facto Leaders in Georgia's Abkhazia Region US Dept. of State 22 Nov 2016
• November 22, 2016 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 22 Nov 2016
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 11/22/2016 The White House 22 Nov 2016

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for November 22, 2016

Other Conflicts

• 22 November 2016 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 22 Nov 2016
• Water resources 'a reason for cooperation, not conflict,' Ban tells Security Council UN News 22 Nov 2016 -- Noting that three quarters of UN Member States share rivers or lake basins with their neighbours, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today highlighted the value of water resources as a reason for cooperation, not conflict.
• Syria army forms new volunteer unit to join anti-terror fight Press TV 22 Nov 2016 -- The Syrian military says it has set up a new commando force, comprising volunteer fighters, to join the army soldiers and their allies in their campaign to rid the Arab country of terrorist groups.
• Russia accuses UN envoy of 'sabotaging' Syria talks Press TV 22 Nov 2016 -- Russia's foreign minister has accused UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura of "sabotaging" a resolution backing peace talks between the Syrian government and the foreign-backed opposition.
• Syria militants get anti-aircraft missiles: Report Press TV 22 Nov 2016 -- A report says members of a foreign-sponsored militant group in Syria have received a considerable amount of shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles, a possible indication that the US has eased restrictions on the supply of weapons to the anti-Damascus militants.
• Syrian Army, Militia Observe All Humanitarian Pauses in Aleppo - General Command Sputnik 22 Nov 2016 -- Neither Syrian army nor pro-government militia, controlling the western neighborhoods of Syria's Aleppo, violated any of humanitarian pauses declared in the city, Syrian Army's General Command said on Tuesday.
• Ankara-Backed Free Syrian Army Clashes With Kurdish-Led SDF Near Turkish Border Sputnik 22 Nov 2016 -- Fierce clashes have been reported between fighters of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and troops of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) near the Syrian city of Al-Bab in Aleppo Province, 35 kilometers from the Turkish border.
• Russia Thinks Evidence of Opposition to Comply With UN Aleppo Plan Not Credible Sputnik 22 Nov 2016 -- The claims of adviser to UN special envoy for Syria Jan Egeland that the implementation of a UN humanitarian plan in Aleppo depends on Moscow and Damascus is a distortion of facts, the evidence of opposition's readiness to stick to it may be fake, a Russian diplomatic source told Sputnik.
• Turkey, FSA Rebels to Launch Op to Retake Syria's Manbij From Kurds - Erdogan Sputnik 22 Nov 2016 -- Free Syrian Army rebels along with the Turkish armed forces are to liberate the city of Manbij from the Kurdish fighters, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.
• Official: More Than 1,000 Iranian Soldiers Killed in Syria VOA 22 Nov 2016 -- An Iranian official said Tuesday that more than 1,000 of the country's soldiers have been killed in Syria after Tehran decided to back the government side in the civil war.
• Warring Parties in Syria Bombing Eastern Aleppo into Oblivion VOA 22 Nov 2016 -- The United Nations is calling for an end to the violence and relentless air attacks against eastern Aleppo, warning that the ancient Syrian city is being bombed into oblivion.
• US, Turkey at Cross-purposes in Syria as Their Allies Clash VOA 22 Nov 2016 -- Fighting between Turkish-backed rebels in northern Syria and the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), earmarked by the United States to retake Raqqa from Islamic State (IS) militants, is escalating dramatically.
• Russian Jets Unaffected by EU Fuel Sanctions Against Syria - MoD Sputnik 22 Nov 2016 -- EU sanctions on fuel supplies to Syria do not affect the Russian air group based at the Hmeymim airbase as its combat operations in the war-torn country are part of Russia's contribution to the fight against terrorism, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday.
• Bal and Bastion: Meet Two Coastal Defense Systems Russia Deployed to Kurils Sputnik 22 Nov 2016 -- The K-300P Bastion-P, which NATO refers to as SS-C-5 Stooge, coastal defense missile system has attracted international attention when Russia said that the platform took part in combat operations in Syria. Along with the 3K60 Bal, the Bastion has recently been deployed to the Kuril Islands.
• US Arms' Deployment Threatens EU, Not Russia's Iskander Missiles - Russian MoD Sputnik 22 Nov 2016 -- Not Russia's Iskander missiles in Kaliningrad region, but the deployment of US arms and personnel in Europe threatens EU's security, the Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday.
• Russian Navy to Receive 6 Su-30 Fighter Jets, 10 Helicopters by Year End Sputnik 22 Nov 2016 -- The Russian naval aviation will receive six Su-30SM (Flanker-C) multirole fighter jets, two Il-38 (May) maritime patrol aircraft, as well as 10 helicopters by the end of 2016, Navy Commander Adm. Vladimir Korolev said Tuesday.
• Russia Deploys Bal, Bastion Coastal Missile Systems to Kuril Islands Sputnik 22 Nov 2016 -- Russia has deployed the Bal and Bastion mobile anti-ship missile systems to its far eastern Kuril Islands, the Pacific Fleet's official newspaper reported.
• Daesh may use chemical weapons against Iraqi forces in Mosul: Report Press TV 22 Nov 2016 -- The Daesh Takfiri terrorist group has used chemical weapons in at least 52 incidents since 2014 in Iraq and Syria and it may resort to such warfare to slow the Iraqi forces in Mosul, says a UK-based conflict monitoring group.
• Iraqi troops set to recapture E Mosul district from Daesh: Cmdr. Press TV 22 Nov 2016 -- A senior Iraqi commander says the Iraqi forces have made preparations for retaking another district in the eastern part of the strategic city of Mosul, but the process has slowed down due to the Daesh terrorists' resistance.
• Daesh Used Chemical Weapons 19 Times Around Iraq's Mosul Sputnik 22 Nov 2016 -- Daesh terrorist group has used chemical weapons on at least 19 occasions around its self-declared Iraqi capital of Mosul, the latest research published on Tuesday showed.
• Iraqi Shiite Militias Surrounding Daesh-Held Tal Afar on Mosul Supply Route Sputnik 22 Nov 2016 -- Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Shiite militia is encircling Daesh-held northern Iraqi city of Tal Afar, the PMF command said Tuesday.
• UN Reports Steady Increase in Mosul Displaced VOA 22 Nov 2016 -- The United Nations has reported a steady increase in the number of Iraqis displaced by the military operation to retake control of the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State militants.
• Islamic State Terror: The Lost City of Sinjar VOA 22 Nov 2016 -- Once a bustling Iraqi city and beloved homeland to the Yazidi people, Sinjar lies in ruins. There are no city services and hardly any people.
• Daesh 'desperately' resisting in Sirte as Libya forces advance Press TV 22 Nov 2016 -- A spokesman for the Libyan forces says Daesh is desperately resisting amid the advances of the country's troops in the terrorist group's ex-North African stronghold of Sirte.
• Libya: UN voices extreme concern at worsening humanitarian situation in Benghazi UN News 22 Nov 2016 -- The United Nations is extremely concerned by the continued worsening humanitarian situation in Ganfouda area in the Libyan city of Benghazi due to increased hostilities over the past week, a senior UN aid official in the North African country said today.
• China accepts over 2,000 Myanmar refugees People's Daily 22 Nov 2016 -- Local governments in Wanting and other areas of Yunnan province have undertaken emergency response procedures after military conflicts broke out in northern Myanmar.
• Thousands have fled Myanmar clashes to China: Beijing Press TV 22 Nov 2016 -- Thousands of people have fled ongoing fighting between the military and ethnic rebels in northern Myanmar for China, says the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
• Bangladesh Keeps Border Shut for Myanmar Rohingyas VOA 22 Nov 2016 -- Ignoring international appeals, Bangladesh is holding to its decision to bar Rohingya Muslim refugees fleeing Myanmar by boat after new sectarian violence broke out in the Buddhist-majority country.
• Ukraine Releases Video Of Detained Russia Soldiers As Kyiv, Moscow Trade Accusations RFE/RL 22 Nov 2016 -- Ukrainian authorities have released a video showing what they say was the detention of two military deserters who had defected to Russia, escalating a standoff between Kyiv and Moscow over the fate of the two men.
• Russia accuses Ukraine of kidnapping soldiers, urges their release Press TV 22 Nov 2016 -- Russia says two of its servicemen have been abducted by Ukraine's security officials in Crimea, demanding their immediate release.
• Recording Appears To Tie Serbian Nationalist To Crimea Seizure RFE/RL 22 Nov 2016 -- A Serbian nationalist leader who is accused of plotting to kill Montenegro's prime minister may have helped send fellow Serbian militants to Crimea to support Russia's seizure of the Black Sea peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, a recorded conversation suggests.
• The CAF conduct airlift operations in support of French operations in West Africa and the Sahel region Canada DND 22 Nov 2016 -- The Canadian Armed Forces conducted their first flight under Operation FREQUENCE, providing airlift support to France's operations in West Africa and the Sahel region.
• Colombia opposition rejects revised peace deal with FARC rebels Press TV 22 Nov 2016 -- The Colombian opposition has rejected the latest version of a landmark deal between FARC rebels and the country's government as the guerrilla group is pressing Bogota to ratify the accord.
• Talks on unification of Cyprus fail to strike deal: UN Press TV 22 Nov 2016 -- The United Nations says the latest round of talks between rival leaders on unifying Cyprus after 42 years have broken up without agreement.
• Kismayo Under Pressure as Somali Refugees Return From Kenya VOA 22 Nov 2016 -- Some 18,000 former refugees have poured into the Somali city of Kismayo this year, with most struggling to find adequate shelter, food, health care and jobs.
• UN mission in Central African Republic steps up patrols after armed groups clash in Bria town UN News 22 Nov 2016 -- The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic has called for an immediate end to violence after the clashes that broke out on Monday in Bria town between armed elements of the Front populaire pour la renaissance de la Centrafrique (FPRC) and the Union pour la paix en Centrafrique (UPC).
• UN human rights body appoints Commission of Inquiry on Burundi UN News 22 Nov 2016 -- Following a decision of the United Nations Human Rights Council, in which it setup a commission of inquiry to investigate human rights violations and abuses in Burundi, including whether they may constitute international crimes, the President of the body has appointed the Commission's Chair and members.

News Reports

• Trump Vows To Cancel Pacific Trade Deal On Day One RFE/RL 22 Nov 2016 -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump vowed he will pull out of a controversial Pacific Rim trade deal on his first day in office.
• Trump's Decision to Abandon TPP Could Benefit China VOA 22 Nov 2016 -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, abandons a massive trade deal that was a key plank of President Barack Obama's re-engagement with Asian nations.
• UN Preparing for Crisis in DRC VOA 22 Nov 2016 -- The United Nations is making contingency plans to respond to a sudden increase in humanitarian needs should the Democratic Republic of the Congo's political situation turn violent.
• Egyptian Court Overturns Life Sentence for Morsi VOA 22 Nov 2016 -- Ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has had his life sentence overturned by Egypt's top appeals court Tuesday, in the second of three convictions.
• Egypt court overturns ex-president Morsi's life sentence Press TV 22 Nov 2016 -- An Egyptian appeals court has overturned one of two life sentences issued against ousted President Mohamed Morsi on espionage charges and ordered a retrial.
• Turkey issues warrant for arrest of Kurdish leader in Syria Press TV 22 Nov 2016 -- A Turkish court has issued a warrant for the arrest of a prominent Kurdish leader in Syria over an allegation of involvement in a deadly bombing in Ankara in February.
• Turkey sacks 15,000 civil servants, military personnel in crackdown Press TV 22 Nov 2016 -- Turkey has expanded its post-coup crackdown by dismissing thousands more civil servants as well as police and military personnel.
• Turkey Dismisses 15,000 More People In Postcoup Crackdown RFE/RL 22 Nov 2016 -- Turkey has dismissed a further 15,000 people from the military, police, and the civil service as part of an ongoing crackdown over the July failed coup attempt.
• Turkey Fires 15,000 More as Part of Failed Coup Probe VOA 22 Nov 2016 -- The Turkish government eliminated about 15,000 employees from the military, police and the civil service on Tuesday as part of an investigation into the failed coup attempt.
• Turkey Looks East as EU Mulls Suspending Its Membership Bid VOA 22 Nov 2016 -- Turkey's decades-long bid to join the European Union hangs increasingly in the balance as criticism grows over an ongoing crackdown following July's failed coup; but, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is warning Brussels that Ankara is now ready to go its own way.
• Assad Guarantees Most Favorable Conditions for Russian Projects in Syria Sputnik 22 Nov 2016 -- Syrian President Bashar Assad guarantees that Damascus will create the most favorable conditions for Russian projects in Syria, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Tuesday.
• State Department Terrorist Designations of Victor Quispe Palomino, Jorge Quispe, Palomino and Tarcela Loya Vilchez US Dept. of State 22 Nov 2016 -- The Department of State has designated Victor Quispe Palomino, Jorge Quispe Palomino, and Tarcela Loya Vilchez as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which imposes sanctions on foreign persons and groups determined to have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States.
• State Department Terrorist Designations of Abdullah Ahmed al-Meshedani, Basil Hassan, and Abdelilah Himich US Dept. of State 22 Nov 2016 -- The Department of State has designated Abdullah Ahmed al-Meshedani, Basil Hassan, and Abdelilah Himich as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which imposes sanctions on foreign persons and groups determined to have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States.
• US Issues Europe Travel Alert for Holiday Season VOA 22 Nov 2016 -- The U.S. State Department has issued a travel alert for Americans regarding "a heightened risk of terrorist attacks throughout Europe, particularly during the holiday season."
• Key Figure in Paris, Brussels Attacks Slapped With Sanctions VOA 22 Nov 2016 -- The U.S. is taking aim at an Islamic State terror group operative thought to have played a key role in launching the terror attacks on both Paris and Brussels.
• Doctors in US, Africa Work to Contain Future Ebola Outbreaks VOA 22 Nov 2016 -- Thousands of people died during the Ebola epidemic in West Africa, but as memories fade and concerns about future outbreaks of that magnitude subside, health care specialists say the danger is not completely over.
• Xi charts new course for China-LatAm community of common destiny People's Daily 22 Nov 2016 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called on China and Latin American countries to strengthen dialogue on global issues and boost cooperation on domestic development, in a bid to better build their community of common destiny on a new starting point in history.
• Salehi: Iran receives letters from Oman on purchase of heavy water IRNA 22 Nov 2016 -- Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi said Iran has received letters from Omani officials expressing their readiness to purchase heavy water from Iran.
• US: Iran's shipping of its excess heavy water to Oman no violation of JCPOA IRNA 22 Nov 2016 -- US State Department spokesman John Kirby said that Iran's decision to send its excess heavy water to Oman is no violation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
• Speaker: US House of Representatives working on 50 anti-JCPOA plans IRNA 22 Nov 2016 -- Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said the US House of Representatives is working on 50 plans to destroy the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
• AEOI head says countries request to buy heavy water ISNA 22 Nov 2016 -- The head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi said they have received letter offering to buy the surplus heavy water from Iran.
• Iran transfers 11 tonnes of heavy water to Oman: AEOI Press TV 22 Nov 2016 -- The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says the country has transferred 11 tonnes of heavy water to Oman as part of its obligations under last year's nuclear agreement with the P5+1 group of countries.
• Iran Intelligence Ministry dismantles terrorist team in eastern country Press TV 22 Nov 2016 -- Iran's Intelligence Ministry has busted a terrorists team in the eastern parts of the country, an Iranian security official says.
• Iranian lawmakers urge countermeasures against JCPOA violations Press TV 22 Nov 2016 -- A majority of Iranian lawmakers have urged the administration of President Hassan Rouhani to take appropriate measures to respond to any violations of a multilateral nuclear deal by the United States.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesman Blasts Obama for Pulling up DPRK KCNA 22 Nov 2016 -- A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK Tuesday gave the following answer to a question raised by KCNA as regards the fact that Obama pulled up the DPRK over its legitimate bolstering of nuclear force: