Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 18, 2014

Smoke rises after an U.S.-led air strike in the Syrian town of Kobani Ocotber 10, 2014. Credit: Reuters/Umit Bektas

Exclusive: As Easy Targets Thin, Syria Air Strikes By U.S. Allies Plunge -- Reuters

(Reuters) - As U.S. fighter jets pound Islamic State targets in Syria, Washington's coalition allies appear increasingly absent from the air war.



Although President Barack Obama's administration announced the Syrian air strikes three months ago as a joint campaign by Washington and its Arab allies, nearly 97 percent of the strikes in December have been carried out by the United States alone, according to U.S. military data provided to Reuters.



The data shows that U.S. allies have carried out just two air strikes in Syria in the first half of December, compared with 62 by the United States.



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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 18, 2014

Surge in U.S. airstrikes backs Iraqi Kurds’ offensive against Islamic State -- Washington Post



Hundreds of US troops now deployed in Iraq’s Anbar province -- Stars and Stripes



US, Cuba Relations Raises Questions on Guantanamo, Refugees and Military -- Sputnik



Intel concerns about Russia-Cuba ties preceded Obama’s deal to dismantle sanctions -- Washington Times



Freed U.S. spy, never before disclosed, was vital asset -- Washington Post



A look at North Korea’s cyberwar capabilities -- AP



Russian crews trained for Mistral ships leave French port — Russian Navy source -- ITAR-TASS



Shipbuilder: Russian Mistral Sailors To Leave France -- Defense News



Pentagon confirms military buildup along Russian borders for ‘peace and stability’ -- RT



Russia Continues Nuclear Arms Reductions in ‘Businesslike Way’: US Official -- Sputnik



Danger in the skies as Russia, NATO play cat-and-mouse -- AFP



Russia Blames Hash For Sweden's Report Of Fighter Near-Miss -- Defense News



Philippines to get frigates, gunboats, helicopters as tension simmers -- ZEE News



Top Secret Japanese Submarines Likely to Replace Australia's Aging Fleet -- Sputnik



Next Generation U.K. Boomers Benefit from U.S. Relationship -- USNI



Japan, Australia Selected for Pacific F-35 Sustainment -- Defense News



Japan, Australia to Provide Maintenance Hubs for US F-35 Warplanes in 2018 -- Sputnik



Pentagon Sets up F-35 Maintenance Plan in Asia -- DoD Buzz



South Korea balks as U.S. picks Japan, Australia to service F-35s in Asia -- Reuters



NASA launches study for Skunk Works SR-72 concept -- Flight Global



Humvees Sell for up to $42K in First Public Auction of Military Truck -- Defense Tech



U.S. Congress sets limits on overseas data collection -- Washington Post



Groups call for House to shake up spy oversight -- The Hill



Pentagon's floating missile defense future: a pair of billion-dollar blimps -- CSM



Pawlikowski On Air Force Offset Strategy: F-35s Flying Drone Fleets -- Colin Clark, Breaking Defense



Former sex workers who served US troops get day in court -- Stars And Stripes



When Interrogations Began: A View From Inside the CIA -- Joseph R. DeTrani, Defense One



How the Torture Could Start Again -- Frederick A.O. Schwarz, Politico



Hollywood endangers U.S. special forces by revealing tactics to Islamic extremists -- Washington Times