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/

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/

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/

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/

DefenceTalkThe latest in military technology and the addition of up to 450 more U.S. troops announced yesterday will enhance the U.S.-led coalition’s efforts to enable ground forces in the campaign to defeat Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorism in Iraq and Syria, the deputy commander for operations and intelligence for Operation Inherent Resolve […]https://www.defencetalk.com/additional-troops-new-technology-enhance-counter-isil-battle-67341/

DefenceTalkThe United States will send Apache attack helicopters and more troops to Iraq, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said in Baghdad Monday, as the coalition weighs retaking second city Mosul from the Islamic State group. President Barack Obama hailed the 2011 withdrawal of American troops from Iraq as a major accomplishment of his presidency, but […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-to-deploy-more-forces-to-back-iraqs-anti-is-war-67277/

DefenceTalkRussia denied Thursday its fighter jets were engaged in reckless or provocative behaviour when they flew just metres from a US destroyer in international waters in the Baltic Sea, exacerbating tensions between the rival powers. The aircraft repeatedly buzzed the USS Donald Cook this week, including an incident on Tuesday when a Russian Su-24 jet […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-denies-reckless-behavior-in-us-warship-flyby-67253/

DefenceTalkA United States Navy destroyer operating in international waters in the Baltic Sea experienced several close interactions by Russian aircraft April 11 and 12. USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) encountered multiple, aggressive flight maneuvers by Russian aircraft that were performed within close proximity of the ship. On April 11, Donald Cook was conducting deck landing […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-navy-ship-encounters-aggressive-russian-aircraft-in-baltic-sea-67250/

DefenceTalkRussia’s Kamov Ka-52 (‘Hokum-B’) helicopter has made its combat debut in Syria, according to a Russian defense industry source. “Both Mi-28N and Ka-52 combat helicopters have started to make combat sorties in Syria. Mi-28N was used for the first time near Palmira (Homs province) in late March, while Ka-52 has made its combat debut in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russias-ka-52-alligator-combat-helicopter-made-its-debut-in-syria-67238/

DefenceTalkHMEIMIM AIR BASE (SYRIA): Around a dozen Russian warplanes stand on the tarmac at the Hmeimim base inside government-held territory on Syria’s Mediterranean coast. Nearby the giant radar of an S-400 air defence system — the most modern in Russia’s arsenal — whirs non-stop. A month ago Russian President Vladimir Putin surprised the West by […]https://www.defencetalk.com/fewer-russian-jets-on-ground-in-syria-key-to-fighting-67222/