Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 06 Mar 2017[PDF]
• U.S., Coalition Continue Strikes Against ISIS AFPS 06 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.
• Update: air strikes against Daesh UK MOD 06 Mar 2017 -- The RAF are continuing to take the fight to Daesh in Iraq and Syria.
• Afghan Offensive Kills 250 IS Militants VOA 06 Mar 2017 -- Afghan officials say a month-long military operation, backed by American air power, has killed at least 250 Islamic State militants in an eastern province bordering Pakistan.
• US Airstrikes in Yemen Kill Former Gitmo Detainee VOA 06 Mar 2017 -- A former Guantanamo Bay detainee was among several al-Qaida operatives killed in recent U.S. airstrikes on terror targets in Yemen, a Pentagon spokesman said on Monday.
• Trump Adopts New Strategy to Counter Terrorism in Yemen Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- US President Donald Trump has ordered the Pentagon to intensify the campaign against the terrorist group Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in Yemen.
• US Navy Spy Ship Forced to Change Course After Iranian Attack Vessels Approach Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- The USNS Invincible, escorted by the British Royal Navy, experienced a close encounter with high-speed attack ships deployed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, ultimately compelling the US spy ship and her formation to alter her course.
• US Navy Ship Changes Course After Iranian Vessel Interaction VOA 06 Mar 2017 -- Iranian vessels came within 550 meters of a U.S. Navy ship Saturday in the Strait of Hormuz, in what a Navy official told VOA was an "unprofessional and unsafe" encounter that forced the U.S. ship to change direction.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DoD Releases FY-2016 Freedom of Navigation Report DoD 06 Mar 2017 -- Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) released its fiscal year 2016 freedom of navigation (FON) report, which provides a summary of excessive maritime claims that were challenged by U.S. forces during the period of Oct. 1, 2015, through Sept. 30, 2016.
• US departs Aero India, leaves stronger relationships behind AFNS 06 Mar 2017 -- U.S. aircraft, crew and support personnel, as well as members of the State Department and other U.S. representatives returned home this week after a strong showing at Aero India 2017 at Air Force Station Yelahanka, India, Feb. 20.
• Airmen, Marines hone tactical recovery skills AFNS 06 Mar 2017 -- The thunderous sound of an MV-22 Osprey echoes over an open field as it lands. Emerging from its lowered door is the I Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Pendleton, California, who advance on the New Mexican desert to fulfill their objective: find the downed aircrew and bring them home safely.
• Supporting the fight, breaking records AFNS 06 Mar 2017 -- Air National Guardsmen from the 120th and 182nd Airlift Wings departed for home this week following a four-month deployment at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.
• U.S. Detects, Tracks Multiple North Korea Missile Launches AFPS 06 Mar 2017 -- Defense Department officials detected and tracked multiple missile launches out of North Korea today, four of which landed in the Sea of Japan, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters this morning.
• Air Force Conducts Red Flag 17-2 Exercise at Nellis AFB AFPS 06 Mar 2017 -- The Air Force's two-week premier air-to-air combat training exercise Red Flag 17-2 began here Feb. 27, 2017 and will conclude March 10.
• Alaska Air Guardsmen Bid Farewell to C-130 Hercules Aircraft AFPS 06 Mar 2017 -- On a bright, chilly morning yesterday, a small crowd of onlookers and well-wishers listened to the sound of the Alaska Air National Guard's C-130H Hercules turboprops recede into the distance for the last time.
• Army poised to advance cross-domain capabilities with state-of-the-art hangar Army News 06 Mar 2017 -- The U.S. Army celebrated a ribbon cutting for a new research and development aircraft hangar at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Feb. 10.
• US Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Participate in MultiSail 2017 NNS 06 Mar 2017 -- The U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) are participating in the annual bilateral training exercise MultiSail 2017, March 6-10.
• PHIBRON 11 Arrives in Okinawa for Patrol Preparations NNS 06 Mar 2017 -- Flagship of Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11 and the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (BHR ARG), USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), arrived at White Beach, Okinawa, March 4.
• Royal Australian Ship Interdicts 800 Kilograms of Narcotics in Arabian Sea NNS 06 Mar 2017 -- Royal Australian navy frigate HMAS Arunta (FFH 151) seized more than 800 kilograms of hashish while conducting maritime security operations as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 under U.S.-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).
• Philippine Sea Completes Souda Bay Visit NNS 06 Mar 2017 -- Guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) conducted a scheduled port visit in Souda Bay, Greece, March 1-5.
• Readout of Secretary Mattis' Call with Japan Minister of Defense Tomomi Inada DoD 06 Mar 2017
• NATO's Joint Viking 2017 drills kick off in Norway Press TV 06 Mar 2017 -- NATO has launched extensive military exercises in Norway's northern region of Finnmark, some 300 kilometers from the Russian border.
• Polish Defense Minister Claims NATO Seeks to Protect Suwalki Isthmus From Russia Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- NATO forces, deployed in Poland, are aimed at protecting Suwalki isthmus, bordering on Lithuania and Russia's Kaliningrad region, so that Moscow was unable to cut off the Baltic States from their "territorial rear area," Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz said Monday.
• Cutting-Edge Admiral Grigorovich Frigate Joins Russian Naval Flotilla in Med Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- The Russian Black Sea Fleet's frigate the Admiral Grigorovich has replaced the Smetlivy as part of the Russian naval task force in the Mediterranean, according to the Fleet's press service.
• EU foreign ministers approve creation of military headquarters Press TV 06 Mar 2017 -- European Union foreign ministers have agreed on a plan to create a military training headquarters as the body adopts a more assertive approach to military issues in the wake of Britain's decision to exit the continental bloc.
• EU to approve new military training headquarters SPA 06 Mar 2017 -- The European Union is set to approve the creation of a headquarters for its military training missions in Somalia, Mali and the Central African Republic, AP reported.
• China announces lowest defense spending increase People's Daily 06 Mar 2017 -- China's defense budget will increase by around 7 percent in 2017, Fu Ying, spokesperson for the two-week 12th National People's Congress (NPC) annual session told a press conference on Saturday in Beijing. The new increase is the country's slowest defense budget rise in recent years.
• UN chief Guterres condemns reported firing of multiple ballistic missiles by DPR Korea UN News 06 Mar 2017 -- United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the reported firing of ballistic missiles today by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), three of which landed in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone.
• NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu condemns latest ballistic missile tests by North Korea NATO 06 Mar 2017
• DPRK test-fires 4 ballistic missiles into east waters People's Daily 06 Mar 2017 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) test-fired four ballistic missiles into east waters early Monday as combined forces of South Korea and the United States launched their joint military exercises last week, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) of South Korea said.
• North Korea 'fires four ballistic missiles, three land in Japanese waters' Press TV 06 Mar 2017 -- North Korea has reportedly launched four ballistic missiles, three of which have landed into the Sea of Japan, in an area where Tokyo claims as its sovereign territory.
• Tokyo, Seoul Concerned Over New Pyongyang's Missile Launches Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- Japan and South Korea expressed concern on Monday over the launch of four missiles by North Korea in the direction of the Sea of Japan.
• China Opposes North Korea Missile Launches - Foreign Ministry Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- China strongly opposes North Korea launching missiles, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Monday amid the latest Pyongyang missile laucnhes.
• Seoul 'Strongly Condemns' Pyongyang's Rocket Launches Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- The government of South Korea strongly condemned North Korea's launches of four ballistic missiles, calling them a serious threat to peace and security in the region.
• At governing body, UN atomic energy chief airs concern over DPR Korea's nuclear plan UN News 06 Mar 2017 -- The head of the United Nations atomic energy agency today expressed serious concern about the nuclear programme of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), as he also provided an update on the agency's verification and monitoring activities in Iran.
• Pentagon Calls North Korean Missile Launches 'Very Serious Threat' VOA 06 Mar 2017 -- The U.S. Defense Department called North Korea's missile launch a "very serious threat" and said it is taking steps to increase defenses against the communist nation's ballistic missiles.
• N. Korea fires "several projectiles" into East Sea: S. Korean military ARIRANG 06 Mar 2017 -- The South Korean military says North Korea fired off four ballistic missiles from an area around its Dongchang-ri long-range missile site at 7:36 am, South Korea time.
• North Korea Fires 'Unidentified Projectile' Into East Sea - Reports Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- Pyongyang has launched several "unidentified projectiles" into the East Sea on Monday, South Korean media reported.
• German Armed Forces in Decay as 'Even Their Tornado Bombers Can't Fly at Night' Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- German media recently revealed that the Bundeswehr is lacking essential ammunition and is not ready to deter serious attacks. In an interview with Radio Sputnik, military expert Alexei Leonkov pointed out that the German armed forces are facing overall decline of their combat capability.
• Bundeswehr 'Almost Completely' Out of Ammunition, German Media Report Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- Germany's armed forces depots are almost completely empty. The Bundeswehr has ordered new ammunition to fill their rapidly shrinking reserves, according to Die Welt.
• German Army, Police to Stage First Ever Joint Anti-Terror Drills Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- The first ever joint exercise to train cooperation between German police and military in anti-terror scenarios will begin in several states on Tuesday, the German Interior Ministry announced Monday.
• India To Purchase New Army Assault Rifle Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- Indian Army has not inducted modern assault rifles for long due to failure in developing local made rifles as per the requirement of army.
• Iran Reportedly Fires Two Ballistic Missiles in Gulf of Oman Over Weekend Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- Iran reportedly launched two short-ranged ballistic missiles over the weekend from Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps bases in Bandar-e-Jask.
• No decision yet on military pension reform: MND CNA 06 Mar 2017 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Monday that no decision has been made on how to reform the pension system for military personnel, denying reports that the 18 percent interest rate on savings accounts will be phased out within six years.
• Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Sean Spicer The White House 06 Mar 2017

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 06, 2017

Other Conflicts

• 6 March 2017 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 06 Mar 2017
• Yemenis' retaliatory attack leaves two Saudi troopers dead Press TV 06 Mar 2017 -- Yemeni army soldiers, backed by fighters from allied Popular Committees, have reportedly launched an attack against Saudi border guards in the kingdom's southwestern region of Jizan, leaving two troopers dead.
• US Naval Intelligence Office warns commercial ships from sea mines planted by Al-Houthis in Bab Al-Mandab SPA 06 Mar 2017 -- The US Office of Naval Intelligence has warned commercial ships from the risks of sea mines planted by Al-Houthi militias in the Strait of Bab Al-Mandab near the entrance to the port of Mokha.
• Daesh terrorists impose 'Afghan dress' in Syria's Raqqah Press TV 06 Mar 2017 -- The Daesh Takfiri terrorist group has imposed an 'Afghan-style' dress code on men in Syria's northern province of Raqqah so that its members can't be distinguished from civilians.
• Syrian Army Advances Against Daesh in Deir ez-Zor Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- Syrian army units clashed with terrorists of groups affiliated with Daesh in the southern outskirts of the eastern Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor, local media reported on Monday.
• Kurds Shed Light on Russia-Damascus Deal to Prevent Turkey's Attack on Manbij Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- Control over six villages to the west of the Syrian city of Manbij has been turned over to the Syrian Army, sources in the Manbij Military Council (MMC) said.
• Kurdish-Led SDF Take Control Over Strategic Highway Between Deir ez-Zor, Raqqa Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- The units of the Syrian Democratic Forces alliance gained control of a highway leading from Raqqa, Daesh's de facto capital, to Deir ez-Zor, cutting off an escape route for terrorists, the SDF press service said Monday.
• 200k civilians displaced since Mosul operation started: IOM Press TV 06 Mar 2017 -- A high-profile NGO says more than 200,000 civilians have been displaced since the onset of the operation to liberate the northern Iraqi city of Mosul from Takfiri Daesh terrorists.
• Ankara launches vast security operation against PKK militants in southeast Press TV 06 Mar 2017 -- Security forces in Turkey have launched one of their largest "anti-terrorist" operations over the past years against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group in the country's troubled southeast.
• Militant raids kill five Pakistani soldiers near Afghan border Press TV 06 Mar 2017 -- At least five Pakistani soldiers have lost their lives in a series of assaults on several northwestern border posts by dozens of militants based in neighboring Afghanistan, security sources say.
• Dozens killed as intense fighting erupts in Myanmar-China border town Press TV 06 Mar 2017 -- At least 30 people have been killed in fresh intense fighting between Myanmar's military forces and ethnic armed groups near the border with China.
• FM spox downplays UAE claims about three Iranian Persian Gulf Islands IRNA 06 Mar 2017 -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said on Monday that the UAE claims over three Iranian Persian Gulf islands are only repetition of previous nonsense claims.
• Worrying Signs Just Keep Trickling Out RFE/RL 06 Mar 2017 -- Warnings that another conflict may erupt in the Balkans have been coming in from former diplomats and think tanks in recent weeks.
• Armenia, Azerbaijan Far From Agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh Issue - Lavrov Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- Armenia and Azerbaijan are far from agreeing on common approach to a number of key aspects of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
• Security Council wraps up Lake Chad Basin visit; stops in 'epicentre' of Boko Haram violence UN News 06 Mar 2017 -- The crisis in Africa's Lake Chad Basin is of global concern and action is needed "right now," the United Nations Security Council today said, wrapping up its four-country tour with the promise of long-term support for the Governments and the people in their fight against Boko Haram.
• Nigeria: 'Wrong Coordinates' Cause of Deadly Rann Bombing VOA 06 Mar 2017 -- A senior Nigerian military official said the cause of the accidental bombing of a displaced persons camp in the country's northeast in January was the result of incorrect coordinates.
• South Sudan General Announces New Rebel Group VOA 06 Mar 2017 -- A senior South Sudanese military official who resigned last month said he has formed a new rebel group to fight President Salva Kiir.
• AMISOM Marks 10 Years in Somalia, to Everyone's Regret VOA 06 Mar 2017 -- On March 6, 2007, African Union peacekeepers deployed in Mogadishu to help protect the Somali government, then facing a fierce onslaught from Islamist militias.
• World must 'act fast,' scale up life-saving assistance in drought-hit Somalia - UN UN News 06 Mar 2017 -- As a severe drought deepens in Somalia, the risk of famine is looming in the long-troubled country, with about half the population in need of some form of assistance, according to an assessment by United Nations agencies and humanitarian partners.

News Reports

• White House Aides Defend Claim That Obama Wiretapped Trump Tower VOA 06 Mar 2017 -- White House aides are defending President Donald Trump's unsubstantiated claim that former President Barack Obama ordered a wiretap on telephones Trump used at his Trump Tower headquarters in New York.
• Kremlin Comments on Trump's Wiretapping Claims Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- The Kremlin spokesman commented on claims made by US President Donald Trump, who accused his predecessor of ordering Trump Tower's wiretapping prior to the 2016 election.
• Congress will investigate Trump's wiretap claims against Obama Press TV 06 Mar 2017 -- Republican leaders in Congress have appeared willing to honor US President Donald Trump's request for an investigation after he claimed that his predecessor had his telephones wiretapped during the 2016 presidential campaign.
• FBI challenges Trump's Obama wiretap claim: Report Press TV 06 Mar 2017 -- FBI Director James Comey has reportedly challenged US President Donald Trump's wiretapping claims against his predecessor Barack Obama, advising the Justice Department to publicly refute the charges.
• FBI Director Asks Department of Justice to Refute Trump's Wiretap Claims Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- FBI Director James Comey has asked the US Department of Justice to publicly deny the president's assertion that his predecessor ordered his phones tapped - and so far, the Justice Department has not.
• Trump signs new executive order on immigration Press TV 06 Mar 2017 -- US President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order on immigration banning citizens of six Muslim-majority countries from entering the US, but removing Iraq from the original list.
• Trump Signs Revised Travel Order RFE/RL 06 Mar 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a revised executive order that temporarily bars entry into the United States of citizens from six Muslim-majority countries after his original order was blocked by U.S. federal judges.
• Trump Signs New Executive Order on Immigration Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- US President Donald Trump signed a new executive order on immigration after after his January order suspending immigration from seven predominantly-Muslim nations, all of which are considered to be hot spots for terrorism, was frozen by the courts.
• Trump Signs New Travel Ban Order VOA 06 Mar 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump signed a new executive order Monday, barring travelers from six countries to the United States for three months, and all refugees for four months, after federal appeals judges blocked a similar order last month.
• Supreme Leader: Enemy's military move to unify nation IRNA 06 Mar 2017 -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Monday that enemy's military move will unify one nation but cultural inroads weaken their wills and deviate the young generation.
• Amano reaffirms non-diversion of nuclear material declared by Iran IRNA 06 Mar 2017 -- Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Yukiya Amano says the IAEA will continue to verify the non-diversion of nuclear material declared by Iran under its Safeguards Agreement.
• European countries support JCPOA: Spokesman IRNA 06 Mar 2017 -- Spokesman of Foreign Ministry Bahram Qasemi said here on Monday that the European countries support nuclear deal inked between Iran and the six world powers.
• Some regional states pave way for foreign presence: Dehqan Press TV 06 Mar 2017 -- Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan says some regional countries are paving the way for the presence of foreign military powers in the region, stressing that the provision of security cannot be entrusted to others.
• IAEA verifies Iran's adherence to JCPOA for over one year Press TV 06 Mar 2017 -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has once again verified Iran's adherence to its commitments under a July 2015 nuclear agreement between the Islamic Republic and six global powers.
• Iran Formally Charges Member Of Nuclear Negotiating Team RFE/RL 06 Mar 2017 -- Iran's judiciary has laid formal criminal charges against a member of the team that negotiated the 2015 agreement with world powers on Tehran's nuclear program.
• FM spokesman rejects Bahraini officials' latest anti-Iran claims IRNA 06 Mar 2017 -- Spokesman of Foreign Ministry Bahram Qasemi refused latest claims of Bahraini rulers that allegedly related Iran to internal affairs of Bahrain.
• South Korea quadruples reward for defectors from North Press TV 06 Mar 2017 -- South Korea has quadrupled its reward for North Korean defectors who have secret information about their reclusive home country.
• Pyongyang Slams South Korean Foreign Minister Over Calls to Penalize North Sputnik 06 Mar 2017 -- North Korea on Sunday hit out at South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, who called for his northern neighbor's leadership to be punished for its alleged involvement in the murder of its ruler's exiled half-brother.
• Expelled DPRK ambassador says "extreme measures" by Malaysia to harm bilateral ties People's Daily 06 Mar 2017 -- The ambassador of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Malaysia (DPRK), who has been expelled by the Malaysian government, on Monday expressed "grave concerns over the extreme measures taken" by Malaysia which will harm bilateral ties.
• N Korea expels Malaysian ambassador in tit-for-tat move Press TV 06 Mar 2017 -- North Korea has labelled the Malaysian ambassador to Pyongyang as "persona non grata" and ordered him to leave the country "within 48 hours," in an apparent tit-for-tat move after the Southeast Asian nation expelled the North's top envoy in an unprecedented diplomatic row, which broke out between the two sides over the recent bizarre assassination of the North Korean leader's half-brother in Kuala Lumpur.
• S. Korean special prosecutors say President Park ordered support for Samsung power transfer People's Daily 06 Mar 2017 -- South Korean special prosecutors, who wrapped up their independent investigation last week into a corruption scandal embroiling President Park Geun-hye, said on Monday that President Park had ordered support for the power transfer of Samsung Group.
• China will not tolerate Taiwan independence bid: PM Li Press TV 06 Mar 2017 -- China has once again ruled out the notion of independence for Taiwan, saying it will not tolerate any form of activity which attempts to separate the self-ruled island from the Chinese mainland.
• Ties with Caribbean allies under control: foreign minister CNA 06 Mar 2017 -- Foreign Minister David Lee (李大維) admitted Monday that relations with one or more of the Republic of China's diplomatic allies in the Caribbean are "kind of unstable" but said they are still under control.
• China Taking Political Risks for Economic Reforms, Foreign Investments VOA 06 Mar 2017 -- China is responding to international criticism that it gives favorable treatment to state-owned enterprises (SOEs) while neglecting of the needs of foreign companies, and even foreign markets that buy Chinese goods.
• UN Court Reports Turkey to Security Council VOA 06 Mar 2017 -- A United Nations court has referred Turkey to the Security Council for failing to release a judge imprisoned for suspected involvement in last year's failed coup.
• German-Turkish Tensions Escalate VOA 06 Mar 2017 -- A steady flow of German politicians has angrily condemned Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over his comments accusing Berlin of returning Germany to its Nazi past. Justice Minister Heiko Maas described the remark as "absurd, disgraceful and outlandish."
• Bahraini officials file lawsuit to dissolve largest leftist political party Press TV 06 Mar 2017 -- Bahraini authorities have filed a lawsuit to dissolve the country's largest leftist political party as part of the ruling Al Khalifah regime's heavy-handed crackdown on political dissidents and pro-democracy campaigners in the tiny Persian Gulf kingdom.