Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 02 Mar 2017[PDF]
• Officials Provide Details of Latest Counter-ISIS Strikes in Syria, Iraq AFPS 02 Mar 2017 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• Statement by Pentagon Spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis on U.S. Strikes against AQAP in Yemen DoD 02 Mar 2017 -- U.S. forces conducted a series of precision strikes in Yemen against al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, in the early morning of March 2 (Yemen time). More than 20 strikes targeted AQAP militants, equipment and infrastructure in the Yemeni governorates of Abyan, Al Bayda and Shabwah.
• US drone strikes kill six in northwestern Pakistan, southern Yemen Press TV 02 Mar 2017 -- At least six people have been killed in US drone strikes in Pakistan's northwestern tribal region near the border with Afghanistan and the southern regions of war-torn Yemen.
• Perpetrators of terrorist attacks in Kabul must be brought to justice, stresses UN Security Council UN News 02 Mar 2017 -- Strongly condemning yesterday's terrorist attacks in the Afghan capital, Kabul, the United Nations Security Council underscored the need to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of such "reprehensible" acts to justice.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Trump Calls for 12-Carrier Navy, Promises Rebuilt Military AFPS 02 Mar 2017 -- President Donald J. Trump today promised to rebuild the U.S. military and called for a 12-carrier Navy during a visit to the future USS Gerald R. Ford in Newport News, Virginia.
• President Trump Visits Pre-Commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) NNS 02 Mar 2017 -- President Donald J. Trump addressed Sailors from Pre-Commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and shipbuilders from Huntington Ingalls Newport News during a visit to the first-in-class aircraft carrier March 2.
• Trump Defense Budget Under Scrutiny VOA 02 Mar 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump is visiting a Virginia shipyard Thursday to tour the most expensive warship ever built - a high-profile event designed to showcase his budget pledge this week to dramatically boost U.S. military spending.
• Fusion warfare key to C2 future AFNS 02 Mar 2017 -- Despite adversaries' attempts to imitate and interfere, the Air Force's command and control capabilities are the best in the world, said the commander of Air Combat Command during the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium here March 2.
• US, Iraq, Pakistan Conduct VBSS Exercise NNS 02 Mar 2017 -- The U.S. Coast Guard Patrol Force South West Asia (PATFORSWA) Maritime Engagement Team (MET) with Iraqi and Pakistani naval officers are conducting a multilateral visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) exercise at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Feb. 26-March 9.
• Santa Fe Visits Yokosuka during Indo-Asia-Pacific Deployment NNS 02 Mar 2017 -- Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Santa Fe (SSN 763) arrived at Fleet Activities Yokosuka March 2 for a visit as part of its Indo-Asia-Pacific patrol.
• Bataan Amphibious Ready Group Deploys NNS 02 Mar 2017 -- More than 4,000 Sailors and Marines from the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24 MEU) departed from Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Feb. 25 and March 1.
• Secretary General: Switzerland is a valued NATO partner NATO 02 Mar 2017 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed the value of the Alliance's partnership with Switzerland during a visit to Bern and Geneva on Wednesday and Thursday (1-2 March 2017).
• Georgia Proposes Clever Way to Cheat Montreux Convention, Host NATO in Black Sea Sputnik 02 Mar 2017 -- Georgian Chief of General Staff Vladimir Chachibaia says that NATO should create a coast guard base in the Georgian Black Sea port of Poti. This, he argues, would help the alliance evade the provisions established in the Montreux Convention, which limit non-Black Sea powers' access to the body of water.
• Over 10 Baltic Fleet's Ships Participate in Antisubmarine Defense Drills Sputnik 02 Mar 2017 -- According to fleet's press service, more than 10 warships and supply vessels of the Baltic Fleet have left their bases to participate in the military exercises to work out antisubmarine and air defense.
• Sweden To Bring Back Conscription RFE/RL 02 Mar 2017 -- Sweden announced March 2 that it will reintroduce compulsory military service starting this summer to respond to global security challenges.
• Indian Navy All Smiles After Testing Anti-Ship Missile From Submarine Sputnik 02 Mar 2017 -- The first two French Scorpene-class submarines are not equipped with torpedoes, a submarine's primary weapon. The Indian government has put on hold the acquisition of 98 Black Shark heavyweight torpedoes due to a bribery scandal that erupted last year.
• Indian Navy to Set Up Met Facilities for Myanmar Navy Sputnik 02 Mar 2017 -- In recent past, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are playing the China card to get best techno-commercial defense deals from India.
• Indian Navy Puts Out Request For Short Range SAMs Sputnik 02 Mar 2017 -- SRSAM systems will replace Israeli Barak-1 and its ageing Russian close-in weapon systems. French firm MBDA had agreed to transfer technology to India's DRDO for vertical launch SRSAM.
• Indian Army To Invest $2.5B in Israeli Missile System Sputnik 02 Mar 2017 -- In a sign that Israel and India are strengthening ties, the two nations have agreed to a huge weapons deal to jointly expand India's aerial defense systems.
• Germany Says Its Troops Will Stay In Baltics 'As Long As Needed' RFE/RL 02 Mar 2017 -- German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has described a military buildup by Russia along its borders with the Baltic states as "completely irrational" and has vowed to keep German forces in the region as long as necessary.
• S.Korea launches process of providing land for THAAD deployment People's Daily 02 Mar 2017 -- South Korea has launched the process of providing land to the U.S. forces stationed here to deploy the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korean soil, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.
• Deployment of THAAD undermines public support for cooperation between China and South Korea：MOC People's Daily 02 Mar 2017 -- The Chinese government attaches great importance to bilateral economic and trade cooperation with the Republic of Korea (ROK).
• Taiwan keeping close eye on China's military drill: MND CNA 02 Mar 2017 -- Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Thursday that it was closely monitoring a military exercise being conducted by China near the Japanese island of Miyako-jima.
• Cabinet plans travel ban on retired military officers CNA 02 Mar 2017 -- The Cabinet plans to amend the existing law governing cross-Taiwan Strait ties to ban political appointees and senior military officers from traveling to China for a minimum of three years after retiring, a spokesman said on Thursday.
• Bargain Basement Gunboats: Ukraine Hopes to Rebuild Navy Using Old NATO Ships Sputnik 02 Mar 2017 -- Lacking the financial resources to beef up its Black Sea presence with new, domestically produced ships, the Ukrainian Navy is considering buying decommissioned NATO warships on the cheap instead. The only problem, experts say, is that even if NATO gave Ukraine its old ships for free, it would still cost more money than Kiev has to modernize them.
• Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Sean Spicer en route Joint Base Andrews, 3/2/2017 The White House 02 Mar 2017

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 02, 2017

Other Conflicts

• 2 March 2017 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 02 Mar 2017
• Hunger persists in chronic conflict zones despite strong global harvests - UN UN News 02 Mar 2017 -- Despite robust food supply conditions, droughts are worsening food security across swathes of East Africa, and access to food has been dramatically reduced in areas suffering civil conflicts, a new United Nations report has found.
• China values South China Sea navigation freedom more than anyone: spokesperson People's Daily 02 Mar 2017 -- China values freedom and safety of navigation in the South China Seamore than any other country, a spokesperson for the top political advisory body said Thursday.
• Turkey tells Kurds to leave Syria's Manbij or face attack Press TV 02 Mar 2017 -- Turkey has threatened to strike Syrian Kurdish forces if they do not withdraw from the northern city of Manbij near the Turkish border.
• Turkey Sets Up Military Bases in Syrian Cities of al-Bab, Azaz Sputnik 02 Mar 2017 -- Reliable sources in the Middle East have told Sputnik that Turkey continues setting up military bases in the north of Syria. Kurdish politician Rezan Hiddo spoke to Sputnik Turkiye about what Turkey's Armed Forces are up to in the area.
• Erdogan: Turkey Ready to Crush Daesh in Syria Jointly With Russia Sputnik 02 Mar 2017 -- The Turkish leader said Ankara was ready to fight Daesh jointly with Russia if Moscow sent a corresponding request.
• Syria reserves right to use force against Turkey: Envoy Press TV 02 Mar 2017 -- Syria's ambassador to the United Nations says Damascus reserves the right to use force against Turkey's military invasion of the Arab country.
• Syrian army says has liberated Palmyra from Daesh terrorists Press TV 02 Mar 2017 -- The Syrian army says it has fully liberated Palmyra from the grip of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, marking the second recapture of the ancient city.
• Daesh pulls back from much of Syrian ancient city: Report Press TV 02 Mar 2017 -- Daesh Takfiri militants reportedly withdrew from much of Palmyra overnight amid a major push by the Syrian army to rid the ancient city of the terrorists.
• UN Panel Alleges Aleppo War Crimes RFE/RL 02 Mar 2017 -- A UN panel has said the evacuation of eastern Aleppo, after months of siege and bombardments by Russian and Syrian forces, was one of many war crimes committed by those fighting for control of Syria's second-largest city.
• HNC Hopes 'Russia Will Play an Important Role in Syrian Settlement' Sputnik 02 Mar 2017 -- The Syrian opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC) delegation on Thursday expressed hope that Russia will play an important role in restoring peace in Syria.
• Syrian Army Destroys Jabhat Fatah al Sham's Command Post Near Damascus Sputnik 02 Mar 2017 -- The Syrian army destroyed a command post of the Jabhat Fatah al Sham terror group, outlawed in Russia, in the town of Harasta near the country's capital of Damascus, local media reported on Thursday.
• Jaafari: Syria Counterterror Operation to Continue Until Country Fully Liberated Sputnik 02 Mar 2017 -- Bashar Jaafari, the head of the Syrian government delegation to the intra-Syria talks in Geneva, said that the operation against the terrorists in Syria would be continued until the country is fully freed from terrorism.
• Russia-Backed Syrian Army Completely Liberates Palmyra From Daesh Sputnik 02 Mar 2017 -- The Syrian Army, supported by the Russian Aerospace Forces, has completed the operation to liberate the historic city of Palmyra from Daesh terrorists, according to the Kremlin spokesman citing Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's report to President Vladimir Putin.
• Iraqi army force thwart Daesh assault in western Mosul Press TV 02 Mar 2017 -- Iraqi government forces have frustrated an attack by Takfiri Daesh militants in Mosul as they press ahead with their operation to drive the terrorists out of their last urban stronghold in the Arab state.
• Iraq: Civilian casualty figure for February tops 1,000 – UN reports UN News 02 Mar 2017 -- More than 1,000 civilians were killed or injured last month in Iraq, the United Nations mission in the country has announced.
• Into Myanmar's Stalled Peace Process Steps China VOA 02 Mar 2017 -- Myanmar's government is meeting with an alliance of ethnic rebel groups this week to try to revive a peace process that has stalled after months of increased fighting in the country's north.
• Islamabad Approves Plan To 'Mainstream' Federally Administered Tribal Areas RFE/RL 02 Mar 2017 -- ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan's government has approved plans to bring the country's semiautonomous tribal areas into the political mainstream -- a move that would end federal rule of the region and extend the jurisdiction of Pakistan's national courts there.
• Contact Group Agrees to Guaranty Security of Donetsk Filtration Station Sputnik 02 Mar 2017 -- Martin Sajdik, a special representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine stated that the Trilateral Contact Group's (TCG) agreed on the need to halt attacks on the Donetsk water filtration station (DFS).
• Israeli fighter jets, tanks carry out airstrikes, artillery shelling against Gaza Strip Press TV 02 Mar 2017 -- Warplanes and tanks belonging to Israeli regime forces have carried out airstrikes and artillery shelling on the Gaza Strip in yet another act of aggression against the besieged Palestinian coastal enclave.
• Kenya forces kill about 60 Shabab militants in Somalia Press TV 02 Mar 2017 -- Kenyan troops have killed nearly 60 suspected members of the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab militant group during a fierce fighting in southern Somalia, a Kenya's military spokesman says.
• Kenya Defense Forces Kill Over 55 Al-Shabab Militants in Somalia Sputnik 02 Mar 2017 -- 57 al-Shabab militants were killed and unknown number injured by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), operating within the framework of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM), according to the KDF's spokesman.
• Aid Agencies Struggling to Provide Food to South Sudanese Refugees in Uganda VOA 02 Mar 2017 -- Uganda has taken about half of the more than 1.5 million South Sudanese who have fled into neighboring countries, as South Sudan has become Africa's largest refugee crisis, resulting from more than three years of civil war.

News Reports

• Sessions Will Recuse Himself From Any Inquiry Into Trump Campaign VOA 02 Mar 2017 -- U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he would recuse himself from any investigations into President Donald Trump's campaign or investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
• Russian Spokesman Unaware of Meetings Between Sessions and Russian Ambassador VOA 02 Mar 2017 -- A Russian spokesman said Thursday he is not aware of any meetings between U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, then a U.S. senator, and Russia's ambassador during last year's U.S. presidential campaign.
• Briefing on the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report US Dept. of State 02 Mar 2017-- Special Briefing by William R. Brownfield, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
• UN anti-drug body slams Philippines for 'extrajudicial' killings Press TV 02 Mar 2017 -- The UN anti-drug body has censured the Philippines for the rampant use of extrajudicial killings in its war on narcotics.
• Sudan's Bashir appoints first premier since 1989 coup Press TV 02 Mar 2017 -- Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has appointed a prime minister for the first time since the post was abolished following a coup in 1989.
• Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Moscow, March 2, 2017 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 02 Mar 2017
• Russia's Navalny Claims Medvedev Tied To 'Secret' Property Empire In New Investigation RFE/RL 02 Mar 2017 -- MOSCOW -- Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has long styled himself as a liberal-leaning lawyer who loathes corruption, having launched an initiative to combat rampant graft in 2008 -- one of his first acts as president during his four-year stint in the Kremlin.
• After Alleged VX Nerve Agent Use by North Korea, What Response Should Follow? VOA 02 Mar 2017 -- Kim Jong Nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was killed February 13 when two women smeared a liquid that Malaysian authorities say is VX nerve agent on his face at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong have been charged with murder, a crime that carries with it the death penalty. The two women say they thought they were participating in a televised prank.
• North Korea vows to 'nuke aggressors' amid US-South Korea drills Press TV 02 Mar 2017 -- North Korea has lambasted the ongoing joint military exercises by South Korea and the United States with fiery rhetoric, warning of "merciless nuclear counter-action" in case of military aggression by the two countries.
• Malaysia stops visa-free entry of North Koreans Press TV 02 Mar 2017 -- Malaysia is canceling arrangements for the visa-free entry of nationals from North Korea as the diplomatic relations between the two Asian countries growingly strain over the recent assassination of the North Korean leader's exiled half-brother in Kuala Lumpur.
• US, S Korean Financial Regulators Discuss Expanding Sanctions Against N Korea Sputnik 02 Mar 2017 -- South Korea's Minister of Strategy and Finance Yoo Il-ho held a telephone conversation with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to discuss ways to expand sanctions against Pyongyang in the aftermath of the murder of Kim Jong Nam, the reputed half-brother of North Korea's leader, the South Korean finance ministry said Thursday.
• DPRK diplomat brushes off use of chemical weapons in DPRK man's death People's Daily 02 Mar 2017 -- A DPRK diplomat on Thursday brushed off Malaysia's investigation result that shows the DPRK man died here was killed by chemical weapon, saying he likely died of heart attack.
• DPRK warns of "toughest counteraction" against ongoing U.S.-S.Korea joint drill People's Daily 02 Mar 2017 The military of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday threatened to take "the toughest counteractions" against the ongoing South Korea-U.S. joint war games.
• Malaysia to release DPRK suspect in airport killing People's Daily 02 Mar 2017 -- Malaysia's attorney general said on Thursday that a Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) man, who was arrested as a suspect following the airport killing, will be released and deported.
• Pyongyang blasts US, ROK for using man's death to slander DPRK People's Daily 02 Mar 2017 -- an Indonesian woman, a Vietnamese woman and a DPRK man -- are being held in police custody in Malaysia. Police still want to question seven others, including a second secretary of the DPRK Embassy in Malaysia. Four of the seven are believed to have fled the country.
• German officials block pro-Erdogan rally by Turkish minister Press TV 02 Mar 2017 -- German officials have forbidden Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag from addressing President Tayyip Erdogan's supporters in the town of Gaggenau amid a diplomatic row between the two countries.
• India's Moon Mission on 2018 Target, Says ISRO Chief Sputnik 02 Mar 2017 -- ISRO boss AS Kiran Kumar says the second lunar mission Chandrayaan 2 is making good progress; it is scheduled for launch next year. But critics question why should India get into the manned spaceflight race when the US and Russia have scaled back.
• Premier orders establishment of influenza response center CNA 02 Mar 2017 -- Premier Lin Chuan (林全) on Thursday ordered the establishment of an emergency operations center under the Executive Yuan for epidemiological studies of influenza, in a bid to contain the spread of the disease, according to Cabinet spokesman Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇).
• France's Next President? Former Investment Banker Soars Amid Rivals' Woes VOA 02 Mar 2017 -- France's next president may be a 39-year-old maverick former economy minister, affiliated with no mainstream political party and with no experience running for office. Until now.
• May should protect EU nationals before Brexit: UK lawmakers Press TV 02 Mar 2017 -- British lawmakers have further delayed the country's withdrawal from the European Union by requiring the government to address concerns regarding the rights of EU citizens living in the country.
• EU Ambassadors Agree To Prolong Sanctions On Yanukovych, Associates RFE/RL 02 Mar 2017 -- BRUSSELS -- European Union ambassadors have decided to prolong asset freezes imposed by Brussels against Ukraine's former President Viktor Yanukovych and 14 of his associates.
• Egypt's top appeals court acquits Mubarak over killing protesters during 2011 revolution Press TV 02 Mar 2017 -- Egypt's top appeals court has acquitted former dictator Hosni Mubarak of involvement in the killing of hundreds of protesters during the 2011 revolution that ended his nearly three-decade reign.
• Egypt's Court Acquits Ex-President Mubarak on Charges of 2011 Protester Killings Sputnik 02 Mar 2017 -- Egypt's court of cassation finally acquitted ex-president Hosni Mubarak on charges of killing protesters in 2011.
• US Ambassador: Macedonian President Violating Democratic Principles VOA 02 Mar 2017 -- The United States ambassador to Macedonia is calling for President Gjorge Ivanov to reverse his decision to withhold from the opposition a mandate to form a new government with ethnic Albanians.
• Kremlin Seeks to Expand Influence in Increasingly Unstable Balkans VOA 02 Mar 2017 -- Serbia's outgoing prime minister, Aleksandar Vucic, reassured European Union officials visiting Belgrade on Wednesday that his country remains committed to joining the European bloc – but he cautioned that Serbs also want to pursue traditional ties with "friends from the East."