Further Reading

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 01 Dec 2016 [PDF]
• Military Strikes Target ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 01 Dec 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.
• Pentagon Details Progress for Mosul; Third Axis at City's 'Doorstep' AFPS 01 Dec 2016 -- Iraqi forces are making significant progress in isolating Mosul, as part of efforts to liberate the northern Iraqi city from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the Defense Department's press operations chief told reporters at the Pentagon today.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Senate Panel OKs Funds to Fight Online Propaganda VOA 01 Dec 2016 -- The United States could bolster its fight against foreign online propaganda in a major way if Congress passes a portion of the National Defense Authorization Act that would pour $160 million into the effort over two years.
• Dunford: Global Security Environment Has Implications for Joint Force AFPS 01 Dec 2016 -- The United States is the world's indispensable nation, but that status is not guaranteed and military leaders must continue to look for new, innovative ways to maintain U.S. leadership in the future, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Nov. 29 in New York City.
• Wasp ARG Departs 5th Fleet, Enters Mediterranean NNS 01 Dec 2016 -- Amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) and amphibious dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) with embarked Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) transited the Suez Canal and entered the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, Dec. 1.
• Makin Island ARG, 11th MEU Depart 7th Fleet after Successful Series of Mil-to-Mil Exchanges NNS 01 Dec 2016 -- The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) departed the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations after concluding several port visits and exchanges with partner militaries Nov 30.
• McCain Threatens Cuts in US Navy Effort to Build Fleet of Small Combat Ships Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- John McCain warned that the US Navy's Littoral Combat Ship program faces the prospect of further cutbacks by Congress amid soaring costs and frequent breakdowns.
• US Navy Ponders $14 Billion Request to Buy More Troubled Littoral Ships Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- As the US Navy prepares to request a Congressional allotment of $14 billion to purchase littoral combat ships, congressional auditors are raising questions about whether the vessels are a worthwhile investment, saying that the fleet "stands at a crossroads."
• Atambaev Says Russian Military Will Have To Leave Kyrgyz Base RFE/RL 01 Dec 2016 -- BISHKEK -- Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev has said the Russian military will have to leave its base in Kyrgyzstan in the future.
• Russia Should Withdraw Military Base From Kyrgyzstan After Deal Expires Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev thinks that the Russia should withdraw the joint military base from the Kyrgyz territory.
• Ukraine launches missile tests near Crimea Press TV 01 Dec 2016 -- Ukraine has declared the start of a two-day, major missile test near the Crimean Peninsula, stirring tensions with Russia, which regards the region as part of its territory.
• Ukraine Starts Drills in Black Sea Despite Russian Concerns Over Crimea Security Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- Ukraine launched early on Thursday two-days missile drills in the Black Sea, triggering Russian concerns over Crimean security.
• Ukraine Conducts 16 Missile Launches During Dec.1 Drills Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- Ukraine conducted a series of 16 successful missile launches during announced drills on Thursday, according to presidential press secretary Svyatoslav Tsegolko.
• Better Combat Compensation for Armed Forces UK MOD 01 Dec 2016 -- Members of the Armed Forces and their families are set to receive bigger compensation payments for injuries or death sustained in combat, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has announced.
• Upper House of Polish Parl't Approves Creation of Territorial Defense Forces Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- The Polish Senate, the parliament's upper house, passed a bill on forming the Poland's Territorial Defense Forces (WOT) on Thursday.
• Drone-Wary Nordics Demand Harsher Anti-Surveillance Laws Amid Espionage Fears Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- Last week, the Nordic nations experienced an unparalleled drone incursion. Possibly unrelated drone observations were made by servicemen in Sweden, Finland and Norway. Today, calls for harsher anti-drone laws are being heard from across Scandinavia.
• China's facilities in Djibouti not for military expansion: spokesperson People's Daily 01 Dec 2016 -- China's support facility project in the east African nation Djibouti is not military expansion, a spokesperson with the Ministry of Defense said Wednesday.
• US Bags Long-Pending Indian Artillery Deal, Eyes More Share Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- In a face saver for the outgoing US Administration, India has agreed to sign a deal for artillery guns. Over the past one year, it has been Russia that has scored big with India by signing several defence and nuclear power contracts.
• Iran Contemplates Creating Naval Bases in Syria and Yemen Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- Major General Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, the Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces, has recently said that due to foreign threats Tehran might need to create naval bases in other countries, particularly Syria and Yemen. Political analyst Seyed Hadi Afghahi told Sputnik that these remarks were a strategic assessment, not a plan of action.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 12/1/2016 The White House 01 Dec 2016
• December 1, 2016 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 01 Dec 2016

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 01, 2016

Other Conflicts

• 1 December 2016 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 01 Dec 2016
• Ansarullah delegation in China to discuss Yemen crisis Press TV 01 Dec 2016 -- A delegation from the Yemeni Houthi Ansarullah movement has traveled to China to hold talks with senior officials over the conflict in the impoverished country exacerbated by the Saudi military aggression.
• Yemeni political parties vow to support new government Press TV 01 Dec 2016 -- Political factions in Yemen have expressed full support for the newly-formed "national salvation government", vowing to help the administration accomplish its political, economic, security and military tasks for a final popular victory.
• Yemeni President Refuses to Adopt Peace Plan Proposed by UN Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi gave a letter to UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Sheikh Ahmed with a government's denial to adopt a peace plan proposed by the United Nations, local media reported on Thursday.
• Turkey Vows to Prevent Creation of Kurdish Militia Corridor in Syria Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- Turkey is determined to prevent attempts by Syrian Kurdish fighters to create a corridor between the areas they control in northern Syria, the Turkish National Security Council (NSC) said Thursday.
• Turkish, Russian Foreign Ministers Meet Amid Tensions Over Syria VOA 01 Dec 2016 -- The Russian and Turkish foreign ministers pledged Thursday to work together to resolve the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Syrian city of Aleppo.
• UN Seeks Humanitarian Pause to Get Seriously Wounded Out of East Aleppo VOA 01 Dec 2016 -- United Nations officials warn civilians in eastern Aleppo are in a state of extreme desperation. They are calling for a humanitarian pause to allow safe passage of the seriously wounded out of the besieged Syrian city, while allowing food and medicine to reach the estimated one-half-million people trapped inside.
• Russia Pledges to Clear Aleppo of 'Terrorists' VOA 01 Dec 2016 -- Russia pledged Thursday to continue its support of Syrian forces in Aleppo until the city is "cleared of terrorists."
• As Assad Pushes into Aleppo, Rebellion's Future Unclear VOA 01 Dec 2016 -- The Syrian army's push into rebel-held areas of Aleppo continues, and entire districts of Syria's largest city have been returning to government control for the first time in years.
• Russia proposes corridors to allow aid into Aleppo: UN Press TV 01 Dec 2016 -- The United Nations says Russia has proposed setting up four humanitarian corridors to militant-held eastern Aleppo in a bid to let in aid and facilitate evacuations from the battered Syrian city.
• Syrian army gains in Aleppo spark alarm Press TV 01 Dec 2016 -- A senior UN official says Aleppo risks becoming a "giant graveyard" as the Syrian army offensive to retake the city is gaining momentum.
• UN Says Russia Proposes Four Humanitarian Corridors For East Aleppo RFE/RL 01 Dec 2016 -- Russia wants to discuss the idea of setting up four humanitarian corridors to eastern Aleppo to allow in aid and to evacuate the estimated 400 sick and wounded needing treatment, the United Nations says.
• Erdogan's Remark on Toppling Assad Proves FSA Tool in His Hands – Official Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent statement about Ankara's plans to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad prove that the Free Syrian Army (FSA) is a tool in his hands, Mais Krydee, official representative of the Hmeymim internal opposition group, told Sputnik.
• UN Syria Envoy Reiterates Request to al-Nusra Front to Leave Aleppo Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura reiterated on Thursday his calls for al-Nusra Front group's militants to leave eastern Aleppo.
• Syrian Army Repels Militants Attack on Sheikh Saeed District of Eastern Aleppo Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- The Syrian army forces repelled militants' attack on Sheikh Saeed district of eastern Aleppo, media reported on Thursday.
• Battle to liberate Iraqi city of Mosul could take months: Red Cross Press TV 01 Dec 2016 -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that the Iraqi government's operation to liberate the northern flashpoint city of Mosul from the Daesh terrorist group could take weeks or months.
• 500,000 in Mosul facing 'catastrophic' water shortages: UN Press TV 01 Dec 2016 -- The United Nations has sounded alarm bells over "catastrophic" drinking water shortages in Mosul where Daesh terrorists are fighting an army offensive to retake the Iraqi city.
• Nigerian court denies bail to Biafra separatist leader Press TV 01 Dec 2016 -- A Nigerian high court has refused to release on bail a leading separatist activist, whose arrest last year sparked a wave of violent protests across the country.
• Colombian Congress ratifies government peace accord with FARC rebels Press TV 01 Dec 2016 -- Colombia's Congress has unanimously ratified a revised peace deal reached between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) group, in an approval that is almost certain to end over a half-century of hostilities in the Latin American country.
• Colombian Parliament Approves Peace Deal With FARC Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- Colombia's Vice Interior Minister Luis Ernesto Gomez said that Colombia's parliament has ratified a peace agreement with FARC.
• Revised Colombia Peace Accord Approved US Dept. of State 01 Dec 2016 -- Press Statement by John Kerry, Secretary of State
• Colombia: Santa Rosa incident constituted ceasefire protocol violations, finds UN-led mechanism UN News 01 Dec 2016 -- Following its investigation into a 13 November incident in Colombia's Santa Rosa municipality that resulted in the death of two Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP) members, a United Nations-coordinated tripartite ceasefire monitoring mechanism has said that the events of that day constituted violations of the ceasefire protocol.
• International community has obligation to prevent 'ethnic cleansing' in South Sudan - UN rights experts UN News 01 Dec 2016 -- With "many of the warning signals of impending genocide" already present in South Sudan and amid a "mindboggling" scale of rape of women and girls, a team of United Nations human rights experts called on the international community to take immediate action to avert mass bloodshed, as they wrapped up a 10-day visit to the crisis-riven country.
• UN: Ethnic Cleansing Under Way in South Sudan VOA 01 Dec 2016 -- A U.N. human rights monitor says "ethnic cleansing" is under way in parts of South Sudan, and warns the country is on the brink of a genocide.
• Somali Election Process Drags On VOA 01 Dec 2016 -- Somalia's presidential elections were scheduled for November 30, but the head of Somalia's electoral body announced Monday they will be postponed.
• 2 More Armed Groups Agree to End Use of Child Soldiers VOA 01 Dec 2016 -- A humanitarian group says its work of persuading armed groups to stop the recruitment of child soldiers is making slow, but steady progress. The group, known as Geneva Call, reports it received pledges by two rebel groups to end this practice during a recent three-day training workshop, which taught respect for international law.

News Reports

• Retired Marine General Mattis is Trump's Defense Secretary Pick VOA 01 Dec 2016 -- President-elect Donald Trump has picked retired Marine General James Mattis as his defense secretary, but Mattis will need a change in a federal law to be able to take the job.
• Pakistanis Baffled, Bemused, Buoyant Over Trump's 'Fantastic' Praise RFE/RL 01 Dec 2016 -- The office of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has cited a phone conversation with Donald Trump in which it says the U.S. president-elect described nuclear-armed Pakistan as a "fantastic country" and its embattled prime minister as a "terrific guy."
• Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation (approved by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on November 30, 2016) Ministry of Foreign Affairs 01 Dec 2016
• Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly President of Russia 01 Dec 2016 -- Vladimir Putin delivered the Annual Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly. The Address was traditionally delivered at the Kremlin's St George Hall.
• Putin urges US to join Russia in fight against global terrorism Press TV 01 Dec 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed hope that Washington will join Moscow in efforts to counter international terrorism, stressing that bilateral cooperation is in the interest of the entire world.
• New Putin Doctrine Says U.S. Pressure 'Undermining' Global Stability RFE/RL 01 Dec 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has endorsed a new foreign-policy doctrine accusing the United States and its allies of undermining "global stability" by trying to "contain" Russia.
• Putin Stresses National Unity, Domestic Programs In Low-Key Parliament Address RFE/RL 01 Dec 2016 -- In his annual state-of-the-nation address, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the country is unified like never before and is fully capable of achieving its strategic economic and geopolitical goals.
• Russia Ready to Cooperate With Trump Administration, Join Anti-Terrorism Efforts Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- Vladimir Putin said that Russia was ready to cooperate with Donald Trump Administration, especially in the field of fighting against international terrorism.
• Putin: Russia 'Ready to Cooperate' with Trump Administration VOA 01 Dec 2016 -- President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia is "ready to cooperate" with the administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, adding that it is "important to normalize and develop bilateral relations on an equal and mutually beneficial basis."
• Putin Delivers Conciliatory Annual 'State of Nation' Speech VOA 01 Dec 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual "state of the nation" address Thursday was less remarkable for what it contained than for what it lacked -- anger and blame heaped on countries supposedly looking to make an enemy of Russia.
• US Senate passes 10-year extension of Iran Sanctions Act Press TV 01 Dec 2016 -- The US Senate has passed a 10-year extension of existing sanctions against Iran, sending the measure to the White House for President Barack Obama to sign into law.
• US Senate Unanimously Passes Bill to Reauthorize Iran Sanctions Through 2026 Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- Members of the US Senate voted on Thursday in favour of extending 1996 sanctions against Iran.
• Rouhani says Iran stood strong at hard times Press TV 01 Dec 2016 -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says the country has stood strong in the face of severe plunges in international prices of oil over the past two years.
• South Korea Vows to Unveil Unilateral Sanctions Against North on Friday Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- South Korea plans to impose unilateral sanctions against North Korea in the wake of a UN Security Council sanctions over the North's continued nuclear tests, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
• Japan Working on Strengthening Unilateral Sanctions Against N Korea Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- Tokyo is about to finalize sanctions against Pyongyang after the UNSC sanctions imposed after North Korean nuclear test in September.
• China to seriously implement UN sanctions on North Korea: Chinese Foreign Ministry Press TV 01 Dec 2016 -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry says Beijing would seriously implement new United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs.
• Pyongyang Calls UNSC Resolution Imposing Sanctions Over Nuke Tests 'Falsified' Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- The new UN Security Council resolution imposing new sanctions on North Korea following its nuclear test in September is "falsified," and it will deepen tensions on the Korean peninsula, the North Korean embassy to Moscow said in a press release on Thursday.
• Few Expect New UN Sanctions to Deter North Korea VOA 01 Dec 2016 -- U.S. allies in East Asia on Thursday welcomed the incrementally tougher sanctions imposed on North Korea by the United Nations Security Council, but few in the region expect these new measures to deter the Kim Jong Un government.
• President Xi: Build China's cultural confidence People's Daily 01 Dec 2016 -- President Xi Jinping has called upon artists in the country to consolidate the confidence in Chinese culture, serve the people and create more inspiring and classical works to revive the nation.
• France's Hollande Won't Seek Second Term as President VOA 01 Dec 2016 -- In a surprise announcement, French President Francois Hollande said Thursday that he would not run for re-election, leaving the leftist field wide open ahead of next year's vote in which the far right is expected to poll strongly.
• France's President Hollande Won't Seek Re-Election Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- On Thursday night, President François Hollande addressed the nation asserting that he would not seek re-election.
• Turkey's Dogan rejects executive's links to Gulen Press TV 01 Dec 2016 -- Turkey's Dogan news agency has ruled out that a government probe launched against an executive of its holding company could be linked to Fethullah Gulen, a US-based cleric whom Ankara accuses of masterminding a mid-July coup attempt.
• Erdogan Says EU Must Fulfill Obligations Under Refugee Deal With Turkey Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that the European Union must fulfill its obligations under the refugee deal with Ankara reached in March, local media reported.
• WikiLeaks Releases Info on German Inquiry Into BND Surveillance, Work With NSA Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- WikiLeaks released on Thursday 90 gigabyte of information on German parliamentary inquiry into surveillance of the country's foreign intelligence agency Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) and its cooperation with the US National Security Agency (NSA).
• South Korea Vows to Unveil Unilateral Sanctions Against North on Friday Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- South Korea plans to impose unilateral sanctions against North Korea in the wake of a UN Security Council sanctions over the North's continued nuclear tests, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
• Thailand Has New King, Marking New Era VOA 01 Dec 2016 -- Thailand's crown prince, Maha Vajiralongkorn, has ascended to the throne as the country's new king, marking a new era in Thai history after the 70-year reign of his late father, Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in October.
• Thai crown prince accepts invitation to become new king Press TV 01 Dec 2016 -- Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, 64, has officially become Thailand's new king, succeeding his late father who ruled the Southeast Asian country for seven decades.
• Europol Brings Down Global Cybercrime Syndicate VOA 01 Dec 2016 -- Europol, the European Union's law enforcement agency, said Thursday it has arrested five people in an online criminal enterprise and seized 39 computer servers following a four-year-long international investigation.
• Russian Space Agency Confirms Progress Cargo Spacecraft Burns Up in Atmosphere Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- Russian space agency Roscosmos has confirmed that Progress cargo spacecraft burned up it the atmosphere and its debris fell in south Siberia's Tuva Republic.
• Contact Lost With Cargo Ship En Route To International Space Station RFE/RL 01 Dec 2016 -- Russia's space agency says it has lost contact with an unmanned cargo ship shortly after it blasted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan with supplies for the International Space Station.
• Unmanned Russian Rocket Delivering Cargo to ISS Suffers Rocket Anomaly - NASA Sputnik 01 Dec 2016 -- An unmanned Russian rocket with supplies for the International Space Station suffered an anomaly shortly after its launch from the Baiknour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced in a press release on Thursday.
• Investigative Chief Alleges Ukrainian Lawmaker May Have Spied For Russia RFE/RL 01 Dec 2016 -- The head of investigations in Ukraine's Security Services (SBU) has charged that Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Onyshchenko may have been spying for Russia.
• Gambia Accused of Media Blackout as Country Votes for President VOA 01 Dec 2016 -- Gambians are voting Thursday in a presidential election where incumbent Yahya Jammeh, in power since 1994 and criticized for widespread human rights abuses, is running for a fifth consecutive term.
• Joint Statement on Dismantling of International Cyber Criminal Infrastructure Known as Avalanche US Dept. of Justice 01 Dec 2016