DefenceTalkThe US is weighing potential military options in Libya as Islamic State expand their influence in the north African nation roiled by political instability, a Pentagon official said Wednesday. The growing IS presence in Libya is a “significant concern” and the United States is assessing how best to respond to the group’s “metastasis” from Iraq […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-says-weighing-military-options-in-libya-66589/

DefenceTalkNATO member states are discussing a request to use the alliance’s AWACS air surveillance aircraft in the battle against the jihadist Islamic State group, an official said Friday. An AWACS commitment would mark a departure for NATO which up to now has had no direct role in combating IS but is increasingly concerned by the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-discussing-use-of-awacs-in-anti-isis-operations-66563/

DefenceTalkSyrian government forces were close to capturing a rebel stronghold in the southern province of Daraa on Monday, backed by Russian air strikes, a monitor and state media said. “Army units are continuing to progress on several axes in Sheikh Miskeen,” state news agency SANA said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/syrian-forces-near-capture-of-rebel-stronghold-in-south-66552/

DefenceTalkJordan’s army said border guards killed 12 people trying to enter the kingdom from Syria in a clash on the frontier on Saturday. An armed forces general command official said the 12 were killed in a clash between border guards and a group of 36 people, some armed, trying to cross from the conflict-ridden country. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/jordan-says-12-killed-in-clash-on-syria-border-66538/

DefenceTalkA year after officially taking over the fight against Taliban and other insurgent forces in Afghanistan, local security troops have scored only “mixed results,” a US general said Tuesday. Despite billions of dollars in training, donated equipment and assistance over more than a decade, Afghan troops still are having trouble in many situations, said Brigadier […]https://www.defencetalk.com/after-year-leading-fight-afghan-forces-see-mixed-results-66443/

DefenceTalkFierce fighting raged Saturday between regime forces backed by Russian air strikes and Islamic State group fighters in northern Aleppo province, a monitor said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 16 IS fighters had been killed in a failed attack on a regime position near the town of Al-Bab in the northeast […]https://www.defencetalk.com/fierce-clashes-as-regime-battles-is-in-aleppo-monitor-66391/

DefenceTalkA UK military training team will deploy to Nigeria as part of the ongoing efforts to train local forces to combat Boko Haram. More than 35 personnel from the Second Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment (2 R ANGLIAN), will shortly deploy to deliver infantry training to Nigerian military personnel preparing to tackle the extremist group […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uk-military-train-nigerian-forces-fighting-boko-haram-66371/

DefenceTalkIslamabad: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, on Tuesday said Pakistan will not send ground troops to Saudi Arabia or any other country after having joined the 34-state Islamic military alliance led by Saudi Arabia. In a briefing to the National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee at the Parliament House, Aziz said […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pakistan-will-not-send-ground-troops-as-part-of-saudi-military-alliance-66332/

DefenceTalkThe Saudi-led coalition fighting rebels in Yemen on Thursday denied an accusation by Tehran that its warplanes had targeted the Iranian embassy there. An investigation found that “the allegations are false and that no operations were carried out around the embassy or near to it,” a coalition statement said. “It also confirms the embassy building […]https://www.defencetalk.com/saudi-led-coalition-denies-bombing-iran-embassy-in-yemen-66301/

DefenceTalkKabul: A US soldier was killed and two wounded in an ongoing battle in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, where Afghan troops are pushing back Taliban insurgents, the Pentagon said. The troops had come under fire on Tuesday while conducting a mission with Afghan special forces in Marjah, Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said. “This is an […]https://www.defencetalk.com/afghan-battle-ongoing-as-us-soldier-killed-pentagon-66269/