DefenceTalkThe strategy against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is working, but degrading and destroying the terror group will require “strategic patience,” Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III said today. Austin, the commander of U.S. Central Command, told reporters at the Pentagon that Iraq remains the focus of operations for his command and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/anti-isis-strategy-working-needs-patience-austin-says-60792/

DefenceTalkBritain will shortly begin re-deploying its unmanned armed drones from Afghanistan to counter Islamic State jihadists in Iraq, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told parliament on Thursday. The remotely-piloted Reaper aircraft will provide surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence support to the Iraqi troops and international coalition forces taking on the IS group in northern Iraq. The drones […]https://www.defencetalk.com/britain-to-re-deploy-drones-from-afghanistan-to-iraq-60775/

DefenceTalkUS military advisors are likely to take a more direct role in the ground campaign against jihadists in Iraq once Iraqi forces are ready to go on the offensive, the top US officer said in comments aired Sunday. General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he had not yet encountered […]https://www.defencetalk.com/future-ground-role-for-us-military-advisors-in-iraq-likely-dempsey-60745/

DefenceTalkUS Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday it was ultimately up to Iraqis to fight back against the Islamic State group advancing in Iraq despite US-led airstrikes. “Over time we believe that the strategy will build, the capacity will build, Daesh will become more isolated,” he said, referring to the jihadist IS by […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iraqis-will-have-to-fight-is-to-win-back-country-60743/

DefenceTalkAdvancing Islamic State fighters seized a third of the Syrian border town of Kobane Thursday despite US-led air strikes, as Turkey rejected sending troops in against the jihadists on its own. In fighting that killed dozens, calls grew for ground action to support Kobane’s beleaguered Kurdish defenders. But after talks with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/isis-advances-in-kobane-as-turkey-rejects-solo-ground-action-60733/

DefenceTalkThe campaign of air strikes against ISIS has now grown to include targets in Syria with support from several Arab states. And in their aftermath, the Administration has wasted little time in describing the effectiveness of these strikes in degrading ISIS capabilities and disrupting ISIS operations. However, this air-only strategy will never be decisive in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/destroying-isis-in-iraq-the-missing-element-60724/

DefenceTalkHMS Defender has arrived on station to provide vital support to a US Navy carrier task group in the Gulf, using her world-class air defence weapon systems to protect the US Navy aircraft carrier, USS George H W Bush and her aircraft as they launch airstrikes as part of the international coalition against ISIL. HMS […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uk-deploys-type-45-destroyer-to-gulf-60680/

DefenceTalkFollowing the Government’s decision to prepare to contribute to international led efforts to disrupt and degrade ISIL, the Australian Defence Force will now deploy approximately 600 ADF personnel to the Middle East. The Australian contingent will move to the United Arab Emirates where they will prepare to respond to future Government decisions regarding Iraq. This […]https://www.defencetalk.com/australia-sends-air-task-force-to-iraq-60575/

DefenceTalkIsrael’s army has launched five criminal investigations into incidents involving its forces during the Gaza war, a top legal official said on Wednesday, two weeks after a truce took hold. The United Nations and international rights groups have condemned Israel for numerous attacks which resulted in heavy civilian casualties, in a conflict that killed more […]https://www.defencetalk.com/israeli-army-launches-5-criminal-probes-over-gaza-war-60568/

DefenceTalkThe United States will lead a broad coalition of nations to take the fight to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, President Barack Obama said in a nationally televised address tonight at the White House. The president vowed to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL, and added that he will not hesitate to target […]https://www.defencetalk.com/obama-announces-counterterror-campaign-against-isil-60548/