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