DefenceTalkThe Danish F-16s that have dropped some 425 bombs on Isis targets in Iraq are coming home, but Denmark vows to remain an active player in the fight against the terror group. Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen said over the weekend that the seven F-16s that Denmark committed to the international coalition’s fight against the Islamic […]https://www.defencetalk.com/denmark-to-pull-fighter-jets-from-iraq-65140/

DefenceTalkThe United States for the first time Sunday deployed half a dozen F-16 warplanes to Turkey to help operations against the Islamic State group, US officials said. The deployment marks the first time since an international coalition began bombing IS targets in Iraq and Syria a year ago that US jets will launch strikes from […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-deploys-f-16s-to-turkey-for-is-fight-64960/

DefenceTalkThe United States launched its first airstrike from Turkey on an Islamic State target in Syria, as Ankara vowed it was ready to step up its own fight against militants. “A US drone today carried out one airstrike in Syria near Raqa,” a Turkish official told AFP, referring to the town in northern Syria that […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-bombs-is-syria-target-from-turkey-for-first-time-64955/

DefenceTalkWASHINGTON: Anti-Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant forces have made significant gains in northern Syria, which will have positive effects in Iraq as well, a senior U.S. Central Command official said today. During a telephone conference from Southwest Asia with Pentagon reporters, Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve Chief of Staff Marine Corps Brig. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/general-significant-gains-made-by-anti-isil-forces-in-northern-syria-64598/

DefenceTalkThe first full exercise of NATO’s new rapid reaction force is taking place in eastern Europe. The Organization’s chief said the alliance was implementing its biggest defense reinforcement since the Cold War. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) created the rapid reaction force to deter Russia from taking any action against its eastern European allies […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-implementing-biggest-defense-reinforcement-since-cold-war-64561/

DefenceTalkIraq’s leadership was indignant after US accusations that its forces lack the will to fight but assessments of the army’s ability suggest the rank-and-file have reasons to shy from battle. Pentagon chief Ashton Carter said Sunday, a week after the loss of Ramadi to the Islamic State group, that there was “an issue with the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/litany-of-problems-keep-iraqi-army-weak-64352/

DefenceTalkCamp Taji has been a key location in the U.S. training effort portion of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve. Soldiers, from the 82nd Airborne Division and 310th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Forward Advise and Assist, provide hands-on training to Iraqi soldiers during their nine-month deployment to the region. “Generally, the Iraqis are pretty […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-soldiers-prepare-iraqi-army-for-sustained-success-64175/

DefenceTalkUS-led air strikes targeting the Islamic State group killed at least 52 civilians in a village in northern Syria, a monitoring group said on Saturday. “Air strikes by the coalition early on Friday on the village of Birmahle in Aleppo province killed 52 civilians,” said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human […]https://www.defencetalk.com/52-civilians-dead-in-coalition-strikes-in-syria-monitor-64088/

DefenceTalkIraqi forces have entered Tikrit, dodging bombs and sniper fire in search of their biggest victory yet against embattled jihadists who tried to light new fires elsewhere in Iraq and Syria. The Islamic State group has suffered stinging defeats in the heart of its self-proclaimed “caliphate” recently, but its ultraviolent ideology has inspired attacks and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iraqi-forces-enter-is-held-tikrit-after-10-day-push-63465/

DefenceTalkThe US military’s top officer, General Martin Dempsey, told lawmakers on Wednesday it was possible special operations forces could eventually be sent to Syria to back up American-trained rebels. But officials said Dempsey’s comment was addressing a “hypothetical” scenario for the moment as moderate opposition forces have not yet been trained. Asked if more American […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-forces-could-have-role-in-syria-in-future-dempsey-63397/