DefenceTalkRussia has conducted more than 50 air strikes since Tuesday against Islamic State (IS) jihadists near the Syrian city of Palmyra, the defence ministry in Moscow said. “The Russian air force has increased the intensity of its strikes against targets of the armed units of international terrorist organisations near the city of Palmyra,” the ministry […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-conducts-over-50-strikes-on-is-near-palmyra-in-3-days-67830/

DefenceTalkA Pakistani Taliban militant wanted for his role in a school massacre has died in a US drone strike in Afghanistan, Pakistani and American military officials said Wednesday. Omar Narai, also known as Omar Khalifa and Khalid Khurasani, died in Nangarhar province over the weekend, security officials from both countries said. Narai “was killed along […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-drone-strike-kills-pakistan-militant-behind-school-attack-67824/

DefenceTalkPentagon chief Ashton Carter on Friday hit out at Russia for bombing US-backed forces in southern Syria who he said were fighting the Islamic State group, calling their actions “problematic.” “This was an attack on forces, first of all, that were fighting ISIL. Obviously that’s the first thing that’s problematic about this Russian conduct,” Carter […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-slams-russia-for-striking-us-backed-syrian-rebels-67692/

DefenceTalkNATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday demanded that Russia withdraw its forces and military hardware from Ukraine, and halt its support for pro-Moscow separatists battling Kiev. “Russia needs to stop supporting the militants and withdraw its forces and military equipment from Ukrainian territory,” Stoltenberg said after a meeting of NATO defence ministers with their Ukrainian […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-demands-russia-withdraw-from-ukraine-67666/

DefenceTalkPoland on Wednesday said it plans to send F-16 fighter jets plus 210 soldiers and military personnel to Iraq and Kuwait to join the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State jihadi group. Up to 60 members of the special forces will be sent to Iraq while 150 soldiers and military personnel will head to Kuwait, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/poland-to-send-f-16-jets-soldiers-in-fight-against-isis-67663/

DefenceTalkUS Apache helicopters have struck an Islamic State target for the first time in Iraq, the Pentagon said Monday. The sophisticated attack choppers destroyed an IS car bomb Sunday near Qayyarah, which is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Mosul, the group’s main stronghold in Iraq. “The government of Iraq approved the use of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-apache-helicopters-strike-isis-for-first-time-in-iraq-67634/

DefenceTalkArmy Chief General Raheel Sharif, in a meeting with senior US officials at GHQ on Friday, raised the demand of targeting Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants and their chief Mullah Fazlullah in their hideouts in Afghanistan. Talking to Commander Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan General John Nicholson and US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pakistans-general-raheel-asks-us-to-bomb-ttp-hideouts-inside-afghanistan-67631/

DefenceTalkFrance has deployed special forces in northern Syria to advise the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighting the Islamic State group, a defence ministry official said Thursday. “The offensive at Manbij is clearly being backed by a certain number of states including France. It’s the usual support — it’s advisory,” the official told AFP, without giving […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-says-special-forces-in-syria-advising-rebels-67627/

DefenceTalkChinese construction on a South China Sea islet claimed by the Philippines would prompt “actions being taken” by the United States and other nations, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter warned Saturday. Speaking at a security summit in Singapore, Carter said Beijing risks building a “Great Wall of self-isolation” with its military expansion in the contested […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-vows-action-if-china-builds-new-south-china-sea-structures-67601/

DefenceTalkTwo US troops were wounded over the weekend in separate Islamic State attacks in Iraq and Syria, Pentagon officials said. The casualty in Syria marks the first time an American soldier has been injured in that country since military advisors deployed there at the end of last year. Pentagon spokesman Captain Jeff Davis said the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/two-us-troops-injured-in-iraq-syria-during-is-attacks-67565/