• Military Menu                       

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

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 14 Mar 2017[PDF]
• Counter-ISIS Strikes Continue in Syria, Iraq AFPS 14 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.
• Guard Members Aid First Responders During East Coast Storm AFPS 14 Mar 2017 -- The Virginia National Guard has nearly 200 personnel staged and ready for duty today at key locations across Northern Virginia to assist with the state's multi-agency response to possible heavy snow.
• National Guard troops assisting civilian authorities during Mid-Atlantic winter storm Army News 14 Mar 2017 -- The Virginia National Guard has nearly 200 personnel staged and ready for duty today at key locations across Northern Virginia to assist with the state's multi-agency response to possible heavy snow.
• National Guard called out as winter storm pummels Northeast Army News 14 Mar 2017 -- Winter storm Stella dumped up to two feet of snow Tuesday in portions of Pennsylvania and New York and was bearing down on New England with gale-force winds as four governors declared states of emergency.
• USS Laboon Seizes Heroin on the High Seas; Second CTF-150 Seizure in Last Two Weeks NNS 14 Mar 2017 -- USS Laboon (DDG 58) intercepted a small stateless dhow in the international waters of the Arabian Sea March 13, seizing 270 kilograms of heroin.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US loosening limits on Pentagon drone raids: Report Press TV 14 Mar 2017 -- The administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to roll back limitations that tie the Pentagon's hands in carrying out lethal drone strikes around the world, officials say.
• Trump Gives CIA Power to Use Drones to Bomb Suspected Terrorists Sputnik 14 Mar 2017 -- On Monday, US President Donald Trump gave the CIA the green light to conduct drone strikes against suspected militants, according to the Wall Street Journal.
• U.S. Navy Admiral and Eight Other Officers Indicted for Trading Classified Information in Massive International Fraud and Bribery Scheme US Dept. of Justice 14 Mar 2017 -- Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Bruce Loveless and eight other high-ranking Navy officers are charged in a federal indictment with accepting luxury travel, elaborate dinners and services of prostitutes from foreign defense contractor Leonard Francis, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA), in exchange for classified and internal U.S. Navy information.
• Marine Corps Leaders Express Outrage About 'Marines United' Activity AFPS 14 Mar 2017 -- The conduct of Marines in a private social media group that shared explicit photographs of female Marines denigrates the core values of the service, and illegal behavior will be prosecuted, the service's leaders said on Capitol Hill today.
• Pacific Partnership 2017 Shifts Focuses To Humanitarian Aide/Disaster Relief NNS 14 Mar 2017 -- Members of the United States armed forces and Sri Lankan Air Force and Navy exchanged best practices and lessons learned during a first-ever, bilateral Humanitarian Aide/Disaster Relief Symposium during a critical Pacific Partnership 2017 Sri Lanka evolution at the Magam Ruhunupura International Convention Center in Hambantota, Sri Lanka March 13.
• Secretary General: NATO Adapting to New Security Environment AFPS 14 Mar 2017 -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has turned a corner and more nations are increasing defense spending, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said yesterday in Brussels.
• Italy to Deploy Six Fighter Jets to Iceland's Base as Part of NATO Air Mission Sputnik 14 Mar 2017 -- Italy will deploy six Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets to Keflavik Air Base from mid-March to mid-April in order to maintain NATO's periodic peacetime air defense presence in Iceland, the Alliance said a statement Tuesday.
• Moscow Moves To Incorporate Breakaway Georgian Region's Military RFE/RL 14 Mar 2017 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his government to conclude an agreement to effectively incorporate the military of Georgia's breakaway South Ossetia region into the Russian armed forces' command structure.
• Putin Orders to Sign Agreement to Include S Ossetia Divisions in Russian Army Sputnik 14 Mar 2017 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved an agreement with South Ossetia on the inclusion of some of its military units into the Russian Armed Forces, a decree posted Tuesday on the official Russian legal information website says.
• N Korea warns of 'merciless' attacks as US warships join S Korea in war games Press TV 14 Mar 2017 -- North Korea has warned Washington of "merciless" retaliatory attacks if a US navy aircraft carrier strike group violates its sovereignty during joint war games with South Korean forces.
• North Korea: 'Merciless' Retaliation if US Violates Sovereignty Sputnik 14 Mar 2017 -- After the US and South Korea kicked off their annual joint military exercises, North Korea lashed back after learning that the USS Carl Vinson, a nuclear-propelled aircraft carrier, was planned to take part.
• Libya Ready to Implement Arms Contracts With Russia Reached Under Gaddafi Sputnik 14 Mar 2017 -- The Libyan government in the country's east is ready to implement the contracts with Russia on arms supplies reached under former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Libya's House of Representatives Chairman Aguila Saleh Issa told Sputnik.
• Government of Singapore – XM395 Accelerated Precision Mortar Initiative (APMI) Rounds DSCA 14 Mar 2017 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Singapore for XM395 Accelerated Precision Mortar Initiative (APMI) rounds. The estimated cost is $66 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on March 13, 2017.
• Department Press Briefing - March 14, 2017 US Dept. of State 14 Mar 2017
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Sean Spicer, 3/14/2017, #23 The White House 14 Mar 2017

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for March 14, 2017

Other Conflicts

• China Sends Warning to Japan Over Deployment of Warship to the South China Sea Sputnik 14 Mar 2017 -- Tensions in the South China Sea are continuing to rise after China asked Japan to reveal why they are planning to send its largest warship on a three month tour of the ocean.
• Russia warns against planned Saudi attack in Yemen Press TV 14 Mar 2017 -- Russia has warned against an imminent military attack by Saudi Arabia against the Yemeni port city of Hudaydah, emphasizing that the offensive would exacerbate the humanitarian situation in Yemen.
• Liberation of Yemeni islands from Al-Houthi militias contributes to protecting international navigation in Bab Al-Mandab Strait SPA 14 Mar 2017 -- Yemeni islands with their strategic positions constitute paramount importance militarily and commercially, and their liberation by coalition forces for supporting the legitimacy in Yemen led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has directed a painful blow to Al-Houthi militias and ousted Saleh's forces.
• Syria talks officially kick off in Astana Press TV 14 Mar 2017 -- A third round of talks aimed at finding a political solution to the conflict in Syria has officially gotten underway in Kazakhstan's capital Astana.
• Top EU Diplomat Unveils Syria Plan As Conflict Enters Seventh Year RFE/RL 14 Mar 2017 -- The European Union unveiled a plan to support the reconstruction of war-torn Syria on the eve of the sixth anniversary of the first protests against President Bashar al-Assad's government.
• Russian Delegation Comments on Syria Opposition's Decision to Skip Peace Talks Sputnik 14 Mar 2017 -- Russia regrets that the Syrian armed opposition delegation decided to not take part in the ongoing talks in Astana on the situation in the country, head of the Russian delegation Alexander Lavrentyev said Tuesday.
• Kremlin Aware of Challenges to Astana Talks on Syria Sputnik 14 Mar 2017 -- Russia had been aware of challenges to the Syrian talks in Astana since their inception, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday, adding the negotiating process was not made easier by emerging differences between the parties.
• Syria 'worst man-made disaster since World War II' – UN rights chief UN News 14 Mar 2017 -- The conflict in Syria is the "worst man-made disaster the world has seen since World War II," the United Nations human rights chief today said, calling for an end to all tortures, executions and unfair trials, and at the very least, for the names and localities of people held in detention or information about where they are buried.
• Battle for Mosul is in last stage, Iraqi PM Abadi says Press TV 14 Mar 2017 -- Iraqi Prime Minster Haidar al-Abadi says that the military operation aimed at liberating west Mosul from Daesh is "in its last stage."
• Iraqi forces recapture Mosul's train station, reach Great Mosque Press TV 14 Mar 2017 -- Iraqi forces have managed to retake the train station in the flashpoint northern city of Mosul and surround the Great Mosque as they continue to purge Daesh terrorists from the city's western section.
• Clashes Between Rival Iraqi Kurds Fuel Fears of Proxy War VOA 14 Mar 2017 -- Fears are growing the mountainous Iraqi Sinjar region is becoming the focal point of a proxy conflict in the region.
• No Russian Special Forces in Egypt - Russian Defense Ministry Sputnik 14 Mar 2017 -- There are are no Russian special forces units in Egypt contrary to media reports, the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said Tuesday.
• Kremlin Rejects Reports of Russian Military Deployment Near Libyan Border VOA 14 Mar 2017 -- Kremlin officials and Russian lawmakers are denying published reports that Moscow has deployed a team of special forces and drones to a military base in Egypt near the Libyan border.
• Russia rejects reports of troop deployment near Libyan border Press TV 14 Mar 2017 -- Russia has categorically dismissed Western media reports claiming it deployed special forces to an Egyptian town near conflict-ridden Libya.
• Reuters: Russia Apparently Deploys Forces Near Libyan Border In Egypt RFE/RL 14 Mar 2017 -- The Reuters news agency reports that Russia appears to have deployed special forces to an air base near the Libyan border in Egypt.
• East Libyan forces launch offensive, seize oil terminals Press TV 14 Mar 2017 -- East Libyan forces have regained control of two major oil ports of Ras Lanuf and al-Sidra from a rival faction that seized them earlier this month.
• Libyan Army Establishes Control Over Ras Lanuf, As Sidr Cities Sputnik 14 Mar 2017 -- The Libyan government troops drove on Tuesday the militants from the northern country's port cities of Ras Lanuf and As Sidr.
• Libyan Army Gains Control Over Ras Lanuf Airport - Reports Sputnik 14 Mar 2017 -- Libyan government troops have gained control over Ras Lanuf Airport in Libya as part of a campaign to retake oil fields, Arab media reported Tuesday.
• UN rights wing urges calm, protection of civilians amid hostilities in eastern Libya UN News 14 Mar 2017 -- Raising alarm over reports of serious human rights and humanitarian law violations and abuses stemming from recent fighting in eastern Libya's oil crescent area, the United Nations human rights arm has called on all parties to ensure that civilians are protected and that the situation is de-escalated.
• Regional Task Force Battles Boko Haram VOA 14 Mar 2017 -- In Boko Haram-affected areas in Niger, Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria, a force of more than 10,000 African troops is working to degrade and destroy the terrorist group.
• Yanukovych: Granting Autonomy Status to Donbass Should Be Decided Via Referendum Sputnik 14 Mar 2017 -- The issue of granting Ukraine's eastern Donbass region the status of autonomy and broader powers within the country should be decided through a referendum, former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych told Sputnik Tuesday.
• South Sudan: UN expert urges action to end rights abuses in a country where 'impunity is the norm' UN News 14 Mar 2017 -- Amid a "massive" increase in gross human rights violations, as well as an escalation in fighting in South Sudan, the head of a United Nations rights probe said today that to prevent further escalation and abuses in a country where "impunity is the norm," the international community must be bold enough to push for establishment of a court and bring prosecutions.
• UN Official Insists on Swift Action to End Abuses in South Sudan VOA 14 Mar 2017 -- There has been a "massive" increase in human rights abuses in South Sudan over the past nine months, partly because of the failure of the international community to set up a court and bring perpetrators to justice, a U.N. official said Tuesday.
• Freed South Sudan Political Detainee Calls for Release of Others VOA 14 Mar 2017 -- A former political detainee in South Sudan says more than 30 such prisoners continue to be held against their will, despite a vow from President Salva Kiir to release them.
• Aid Workers Released from Detention in South Sudan VOA 14 Mar 2017 -- Seven staff members for U.S.-based Christian humanitarian aid organization Samaritan's Purse were released from their detention by "armed personnel" Tuesday in South Sudan's famine- stricken area of Mayendit, and have been flown from Unity State to a safe location.

News Reports

• U.S. Concerned By Detentions In Belarus, Urges Respect For Freedoms RFE/RL 14 Mar 2017 -- The United States and the United Nations have voiced concern about what human rights groups say is the Belarusian government's biggest crackdown on protesters in years.
• Ousted U.S. Prosecutor Bharara A Thorn In Russia's Side For Years RFE/RL 14 Mar 2017 -- Preet Bharara's supporters may be criticizing his firing as a federal prosecutor, which the Trump White House characterizes as a routine renewal of ranks among U.S. attorneys under a new president. But it is unlikely that any tears are being shed in Moscow.
• Populist Tilt? Rare Limelight For Dutch As Vote Offers Fresh EU Test RFE/RL 14 Mar 2017 -- Voters head to the polls in the Netherlands on March 15 in the first of several elections across Western Europe likely to test EU unity amid a wave of nationalist and populist sentiment sweeping the continent.
• CPPCC advances 'social, economic' progress People's Daily 14 Mar 2017 -- Session concludes, having produced many proposals on issues like alleviating poverty and reducing smog
• French judges formally charge Fillon in fake jobs scandal Press TV 14 Mar 2017 -- Judges in France have filed charges against presidential candidate Francois Fillon as part of an investigation into the former prime minister's alleged payment from tax-payer funds to family members for fake jobs.
• Fillon Placed Under Formal Investigation for Embezzling Public Funds Sputnik 14 Mar 2017 -- Embattled French presidential candidate Francois Fillon has been placed under a formal investigation on allegation he had misappropriated public funds, local media reported Tuesday.
• South Korea prosecutors to summon ex-president Park as criminal suspect Press TV 14 Mar 2017 -- South Korean prosecutors have announced plans to summon former president Park Geun-hye as a criminal suspect following the confirmation of her legislative impeachment and dismissal from office.
• U.S. reaffirms its one-China policy ahead of Tillerson's China visit CNA 14 Mar 2017 -- The United States reaffirmed on Monday its commitment to the one-China policy, which is based on the three Sino-U.S. communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act, ahead of a visit by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to Beijing scheduled for later this week.
• Former President Ma Ying-jeou indicted over Sept. 2013 incident CNA 14 Mar 2017 -- Former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was indicted Tuesday for alleged abetment in the disclosure of information that should have been kept secret under the Communication Security and Surveillance Act, prosecutors in Taipei said.
• Turkey's Erdogan warns of more sanctions against 'rotten' Netherlands Press TV 14 Mar 2017 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned that there is still more room for imposing further sanctions on the Netherlands, amid an unprecedented deepening row between the two NATO allies that erupted after a ban on Turkish ministers prevented them from speaking at political events in Rotterdam.