Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF/OEF Casualty Update 02 Apr 2007 [PDF]
• DoD Identifies Army Casualties
• April 2 airpower: C-17s provide global airlift support AFPN 02 Apr 2007 -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for April 2.
• Admiral Outlines Progress of Security Operation in Baghdad AFPS 02 Apr 2007 -- Over the past month in Baghdad, Iraqi security and coalition forces seized more than 300 weapons caches, detained more than 1,400 suspects, and found and cleared more than 300 improvised explosive devices, a coalition spokesman told reporters in the Iraqi capital yesterday.
• Coalition Forces Kill Six Terrorists, Detain 10 Suspects AFPS 02 Apr 2007 -- Coalition forces killed six terrorists and detained 10 suspects yesterday and today during operations targeting al Qaeda in Iraq couriers and vehicle-bomb cells, military officials reported.
• Hawes Provides Medical Assistance at Sea Navy NewsStand 02 Apr 2007 -- The guided missile frigate USS Hawes (FFG 53) provided medical assistance to a Liberian cargo vessel while conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the southern Persian Gulf, March 30.
• Officials Announce Major Unit Rotations for Iraq AFPS 02 Apr 2007 -- More than 7,000 servicemembers will deploy to Iraq in the coming months, including two units that will not have been back at their home stations for the year they expected when they returned home from their last deployments, Defense Department officials said today.
• DoD Announces Force Adjustments 02 Apr 2007 -- The Department of Defense announced today additional major units scheduled to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
• Army Prepares for Next Rotations in Iraq Army News Release 02 Apr 2007 -- The Department of the Army confirmed today the Department of Defense's announcement for the next rotation of one corps headquarters, two division headquarters and two brigade combat teams in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom
• 3rd Infantry Division (Headquarters) arrives in Iraq MNF-I 02 Apr 2007 -- Multi-National Corps-Iraq welcomed the 3rd Infantry Division Headquarters out of Fort Stewart, Ga., to Iraq this week.
• British Official: London Shares Iran's Preference for Direct Talks on Captured Sailors VOA 02 Apr 2007 -- A British official says London shares Tehran's preference for early bilateral discussions to resolve the case of 15 captured British sailors seized by Iran in the Gulf.
• Iran/U.K.: London, Tehran Clash In War Of Images RFE/RL 02 Apr 2007 -- London says the 15 British sailors and marines captured on March 23 were unlawfully seized in Iraqi waters, while Tehran says they trespassed into Iranian territory.
• Iran/U.K.: Expert Discusses British Sailors' Apparent Cooperation With Iranian Authorities RFE/RL 02 Apr 2007 -- Iran's state-run media say all 15 British naval personnel and marines being held by Tehran have confessed to illegally entering Iranian waters.
• Iran to stop broadcasting film of detained U.K. crew - radio RIA Novosti 02 Apr 2007 -- Iranian television will no longer broadcast film of the detained British Navy personnel due to 'positive changes' in Britain's stance on the issue, Iranian state radio said Monday.
• Iran warns U.S. not to meddle in U.K. crew seizure RIA Novosti 02 Apr 2007 -- Iran has urged U.S. President George Bush to stay out of the issue of the U.K. crew detention, the Foreign Ministry said Monday.
• Iran Says All 15 British Captives Confess to Entering Iranian Waters VOA 02 Apr 2007 -- Iran says all 15 British sailors and marines in Iranian custody have confessed to illegally entering Iranian waters.
• CENTCOM Chief Visits Afghanistan, Meets With Military Leaders AFPS 02 Apr 2007 -- The new commander of U.S. Central Command met with U.S. military leaders in Afghanistan last week as part of an introductory tour of U.S. operations in the Middle East and Horn of Africa.
• Afghan President Karzai honors Air Force surgeon AFPN 02 Apr 2007 -- The command surgeon for the Combined Security Transition Command, Col. Donald Thompson received the Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan High Medal recently.
• French help fuel Operation Enduring Freedom AFPN 02 Apr 2007 -- In pursuing the war on terrorism, the United States fights side-by-side with its coalition partners.
• AFGHANISTAN: Lack of development in Helmand revives Taliban IRIN 02 Apr 2007 -- More than five years after the ousting of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, residents of the southern province of Helmand say their lives have become more insecure.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Army to Field Improved Body Armor Army News 02 Apr 2007 -- The Army continues to upgrade body armor to increase protection from bullets and fragments, and soon will field the Improved Outer Tactical Vest to Soldiers deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Military Sealift Command Played Vital Role in Joint U.S./ROK Exercise Navy NewsStand 02 Apr 2007 -- More than 60 Military Sealift Command (MSC) civilian and Navy personnel took part in a joint U.S/Republic of Korea (ROK) Exercise Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration (RSOI) from March 25 through March 31.
• Supplemental Funds Vital for Reserves, Deployed Troops AFPS 02 Apr 2007 -- Army reserve-component training and equipment reset will be immediately affected if an emergency supplemental funding request isn't signed into law by April 15, Defense Department officials said here today.
• Fiscal 2007 New Start and Additional Fiscal 2006 Joint Capability Technology Demonstrations Announced 02 Apr 2007 -- The Department of Defense announced the selection of seven Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD) projects for Fiscal 2007 and three JCTD projects that started at the end of Fiscal 2006.
• KC-135 key player in fighting war on terrorism AFPN 02 Apr 2007 -- More than 50 years after entering the Air Force inventory, the KC-135 Stratotanker continues to serve by supporting the service's newest fighter jet, the F-22 Raptor, during its first overseas deployment.
• F-16 accident report released AFPN 02 Apr 2007 -- Air Force officials completed an investigation of the F-16 Fighting Falcon accident 20 miles northwest of Baghdad Nov. 27, which resulted in the death of the F-16's pilot, Maj. Troy Gilbert.
• Bilateral training strengthens U.S., Japanese alliance AFPN 02 Apr 2007 -- Japan Air Self-Defense Force members frequently deploy to U.S. Air Force bases, and when they do, they need to know how to properly maintain equipment, even if it's not something they typically work on.
• Special Boat Operators Reach Milestone MCADS Drop Navy NewsStand 02 Apr 2007 -- Special Warfare Boat Operators (SB) from Special Boat Team 20 (SBT-20) reached a milestone on March 28 when they successfully completed the 100th and 101st insertion of the Maritime Craft Aerial Deployment System (MCADS) off the coast of North Carolina.
• Blue Ridge Scores High On FEP Evaluation Navy NewsStand 02 Apr 2007 -- USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) pulled into its homeport of Yokosuka, Japan, March 23, after completing a regularly scheduled underway period, the crew received word from then Commanding Officer Capt. Jeff Bartkoski of Blue Ridge's successful completion of their Final Evaluation Problem (FEP).
• Gulf of Guinea Multilateral Exercise Improves Maritime Security Navy NewsStand 02 Apr 2007 -- Three naval vessels, USS Kauffman (FFG 59), the French ship Commandant L'Herminier (F 791) and a Cameroonian patrol boat participated in maneuvering exercises off the coast of Limbe, Cameroon March 21 to strengthen regional maritime partnerships, and improve maritime security and safety in the Gulf of Guinea.
• USS Nebraska Changes Command Navy NewsStand 02 Apr 2007 -- Cmdr. Carl Lahti relieved Cmdr. Geoffrey deBeauclair as commanding officer of USS Nebraska (SSBN 739)(Gold) on March 29, in a change of command ceremony held at the Naval Undersea Museum, here.
• Tortuga , ROK Team for Amphibious Landing Navy NewsStand 02 Apr 2007 -- USS Tortuga (LSD 46) joined forces with amphibious ships and destroyers from the Republic of Korea (ROK), to conduct an amphibious landing near Mallipo Beach, Republic of Korea, on March 29 as part of exercise Foal Eagle 07.
• USS Dubuque Makes Historic Indian Port Visit Navy NewsStand 02 Apr 2007 -- USS Dubuque (LPD 8) visited Visakhapatnam, India, on March 30 to conduct training and familiarize Indian sailors with an amphibious transport dock ship, in anticipation of the arrival of their recently purchased USS Trenton.
• ICEX 2007 Camp Inhabitants Battle Harsh Arctic to Support Underwater Exercise Navy NewsStand 02 Apr 2007 -- U.S. Navy and Royal Navy Sailors and civilians called a polar ice camp atop the harsh, frozen Arctic Ocean home in March while supporting Ice Exercise 2007 (ICEX-2007), a joint tactical exercise on and under a mile-long ice floe adrift off the northern coast of Alaska.
• U.S.-ROK Counterparts Leave Lasting Impressions Navy NewsStand 02 Apr 2007 -- U.S. Sailors and Marines expressed heartfelt good-byes to their Republic of Korea (ROK) counterparts who disembarked ships of the Sasebo, Japan-based Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ESXARG) on April 1.
• U.S.-ROK Military Team up for Pohang Service Project Navy NewsStand 02 Apr 2007 -- Sailors and Marines from the United States and Republic of Korea (ROK) extended their hands in friendship and collectively extended a hand to help a women's hospital and elderly home here April 1.
• US, Korean Navys Team to Test Harbor Defense During RSOI/FE Navy NewsStand 02 Apr 2007 -- Service members from Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron (NCWRON) 33 and members of the 308th Early Warning Squadron from the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy, teamed up March 19 through March 31 with one mission in mind: harbor defense.
• Airmen tackle increased operations tempo AFPN 02 Apr 2007 -- Airmen from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing continue to maintain increased operations, both in the air and on the ground, in support of ground forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.
• Press Briefing by Dana Perino The White House 02 Apr 2007
• Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 02 Apr 2007

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 02, 2007
• BAE SYSTEMS AWARDED $7.2 MILLION CONTRACT FOR LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP GUN BAE Systems 02 Apr 2007 -- BAE Systems has received its second contract from General Dynamics for $7.2 million to supply a 57-mm Mk 110 Naval Gun system to be installed on the U.S. Navy's fourth Littoral Combat Ship (LCS 4) as its main armament.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN AWARDED CANADIAN FORCES CONTRACT FOR SNIPER ADVANCED TARGETING POD Lockheed Martin 02 Apr 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received a contract from the Canadian Forces for 36 Sniper® Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP), making the Canadian Forces the seventh international customer to join the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard flying with the Sniper ATP
• F-35 WILL BRING 5TH GENERATION CAPABILITY TO NAVY Lockheed Martin 02 Apr 2007 -- The United States Navy's first stealth fighter - the F-35 Lightning II - will bring tremendous improvements in combat capability, operational flexibility and overall force efficiency, a Lockheed Martin official and former Naval aviator said on Monday.
• LOCKHEED MARTIN RECEIVES $150 MILLION CONTRACT FOR F-2 COMPONENT WORK Lockheed Martin 02 Apr 2007 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] received a contract from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) on March 31 valued at $150 million to manufacture components for five additional F-2 production aircraft. MHI is the prime contractor for the F-2, Japan's operational support fighter.

Other Conflicts

• DAILY PRESS BRIEFING BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL United Nations 02 Apr 2007
• France Says Europe Should Renew Aid to Palestinians VOA 02 Apr 2007 -- Palestinian Foreign Minister Ziad Abu Amr says he expects the international community to restore aid to the Palestinians, now that there is a new unity government.
• Israeli Defense Minister Warns Gaza Palestinians VOA 02 Apr 2007 -- Israel's defense minister says he has authorized the army to take limited action against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.
• Ban Ki-moon encouraged by 'determined will of Arab leaders' in seeking solutions UN News Centre 02 Apr 2007 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon returned to United Nations Headquarters in New York today from a tour of the Middle East and said he was "encouraged by the very active support and determined will of Arab leaders" in tackling a variety of problems from the Palestinian issue to the conflicts in Sudan and Somalia.
• Secretary-General deplores murder of 5 African Union peacekeepers in Darfur UN News Centre 02 Apr 2007 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today led United Nations condemnation of the murder of five African Union (AU) peacekeepers in Darfur, saying it illustrates the need to send a hybrid UN-AU force to the war-torn Sudanese region and announcing plans to dispatch a team of experts to Addis Ababa as part of preparations for the planned operation.
• Sanctions on Sudan Under Consideration, United States Says Washington File 02 Apr 2007 -- The United States is looking at the "next diplomatic steps" to take with regard to Sudan in order to pressure the government to allow peacekeeping forces into the Darfur region to provide security and stability, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said April 2.
• SUDAN: AU, UN condemn killing of Darfur peacekeepers IRIN 02 Apr 2007 -- The African Union (AU) has launched an investigation into the killing of five of its peacekeepers by unidentified assailants in Sudan's western region of Darfur, saying attacks against its troops were increasing.
• Five AU Peacekeepers Killed in Darfur VOA 02 Apr 2007 -- Five African Union peacekeepers have been killed in Sudan's embattled Darfur region
• Eritrean, Ugandan Presidents Discuss Somali Conflict VOA 02 Apr 2007 -- The presidents of Eritrea and Uganda have discussed the deteriorating situation in Somalia during a meeting in Eritrea
• SOMALIA: Uneasy calm as Mogadishu guns fall silent IRIN 02 Apr 2007 -- Shukri Ali last ventured outside her apartment in the central area of the Somali capital of Mogadishu four days ago.
• NATO Head Says No 'Rush' On Kosovo Decision RFE/RL 02 Apr 2007 -- NATO's secretary-general today said the UN Security Council should not "rush," but also not unnecessarily delay a decision on the future of the UN-administered Serbian province of Kosovo.
• CONGO: Illegal small arms could threaten elections IRIN 02 Apr 2007 -- Large numbers of illegally-held small arms remain in circulation in the Republic of Congo posing a security risk to the central African country which has been plagued by conflicts in the recent past, officials said at a meeting convened to discuss the problem.

News Reports

• US House of Representatives Leader Visits Lebanon, Defends Trip to Syria VOA 02 Apr 2007 -- U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and German Prime Minister Angela Merkel are visiting Lebanon amid intensive diplomatic activity and attempts to resume Arab-Israeli peace talks
• Kazakhstan: Deadly Melee Leaves Unanswered Questions RFE/RL 02 Apr 2007 -- It has been two weeks since a pool-hall brawl in southeastern Kazakhstan erupted into deadly violence pitting ethnic Chechens against mostly ethnic Kazakhs