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Current Operations

• OIF/OEF/OND Casualty Update 31 May 2011 [PDF]

• NATO and Libya - Operational Media Update: 30 May 2011
• NATO Hits More Libyan Targets as Diplomatic Efforts Appear to Fizzle VOA 31 May 2011 -- NATO aircraft bombed targets near the Libyan capital Tripoli overnight, just hours after South African President Jacob Zuma met with embattled Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in his military camp.
• NATO and the African Union pursue dialogue on Libya NATO 31 May 2011 -- On 31 May 2011, the NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Jean Ping, met to continue discussions on the Libya crisis.
• U.S. Forces Iraq Re-evaluates Priorities AFPS 31 May 2011 -- In September 2010, Operation Iraqi Freedom became Operation New Dawn, as the focus of the U.S. mission in Iraq changed from security operations to stability, with the capabilities of the fledgling Iraqi security forces as a key factor.
• Force Repels Attack on Reconstruction Team in Herat AFPS 31 May 2011 -- Afghan and coalition forces repelled an attack on the provincial reconstruction team headquarters in the Herat district of Afghanistan's Herat province yesterday, military officials reported.
• Task Force Slugger, ANSF continues push into Nerkh Army News 31 May 2011 -- A recent three-day operation, based out of a joint security station in Nerkh, pushed westward into the Nerkh District of Wardak Province, Afghanistan, in an effort to detain insurgents in an area traditionally known to be an enemy safe haven.
• Afghanistan Demands End to Airstrikes on Houses VOA 31 May 2011 -- Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai is warning NATO forces in his country that he will no longer allow them to target houses with airstrikes. The warning follows an airstrike Afghan officials say killed 14 people Saturday, including women and children, in Helmand Province.
• Afghan Leader Lashes Out At NATO Over Air Strikes RFE/RL 31 May 2011 -- President Hamid Karzai has warned NATO-led forces in Afghanistan that launching attacks on Afghan homes in pursuit of insurgents is 'not allowed' and that NATO risks being seen as an 'occupying force' if it continues strikes that cause civilian casualties.
• Op OMID HAFT clears insurgents from Loy Mandeh area of Afghanistan UK MOD 31 May 2011 -- British forces from all three Services have supported hundreds of Afghan soldiers in carrying out a major operation to clear insurgents from one of their last remaining strongholds in central Helmand.
• Marine Corps Hornets, Harriers team up for tandem operations in Afghanistan USMC News 31 May 2011 -- There was a different sort of roar across the southwestern Afghan skies, May 21. For the past year, Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornets reigned over the airspace, providing much needed close-air support to coalition forces below.
• Iran expresses disappointment over NATO air strikes on civilians ISNA 31 May 2011 -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast voiced disappointment on Tuesday at NATO attack in Helmand Province, Afghanistan which claimed lives of some civilians.
• Pakistan army denies NATO intrusion reports IRNA 31 May 2011 -- Pakistan army Tuesday denied reports that NATO helicopters entered the North Waziristan tribal agency and frisked away five militants.
• Pakistani forces kill 17 militants IRNA 31 May 2011 -- Pakistani security forces Tuesday killed 17 militants in Orakzai Agency, a stronghold of Taliban, security officials said.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DOD Announces Charges Sworn Against Five Detainees Allegedly Responsible for 9/11 Attacks DoD 31 May 2011 -- The Department of Defense announced today the office of military commissions prosecutors have sworn charges against five individuals detained at Guantanamo Bay: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin 'Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi.
• Supreme Court: US Muslim Cannot Sue Former Official VOA 31 May 2011 -- The nation's highest court has rejected a lawsuit against a former U.S. attorney general over the arrest of an American Muslim suspected of involvement in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Abdullah al-Kidd cannot personally sue former Attorney General John Ashcroft.
• Remarks by Secretary Gates at the USS Missouri, Hawaii DoD 31 May 2011
• Bold Monarch 2011 Kicks Off in Spain NNS 31 May 2011 -- Participants and observers from more than 25 countries departed May 30, for the NATO exercise Bold Monarch 2011, the world's largest submarine rescue exercise.
• Phoenix Express Provides Practical Small Arms Training for U.S., Greek Navies NNS 31 May 2011 -- Sailors from the U.S. and Greek navies partnered to sharpen their small arms handling skills during a training course as part of Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11), May 26.
• Phoenix Express 2011 Provides MIO Training NNS 31 May 2011 -- Phoenix Express 2011 (PE-11), a multi-national maritime exercise that began May 23rd in Souda Bay, Crete, is helping Sailors from U.S., North African and European naval forces to understand better how to perform Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO), used to deter illicit trafficking at sea.
• Military training leaders shape future through special-duty assignments AFNS 31 May 2011 -- In order to fill its mission requirements, the Air Force employs service members in specialized positions to perform a specific duty. These special duties allow Airmen to step outside their conventional roles and experience a completely new side of the Air Force.
• New warrior, family operations center opens AFNS 31 May 2011 -- Air Force officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening for the Air Force's new Warrior and Family Operations Center here May 25.
• Post-conflict Era to Challenge Military Trainers AFPS 31 May 2011 -- With just two months remaining on his brigade's deployment to Afghanistan as part of the 30,000-troop surge there, Army Col. Sean Jenkins has seen the operational benefit of the nose-to-the-grindstone training regimen and nearly back-to-back deployments on his soldiers.
• Field artillery regiment completes first air assault mission in battalion's history Army News 31 May 2011 -- Soldiers from Task Force Duke's 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment, supporting combat operations in Serpa District, Khowst province, Afghanistan, made battalion history with the unit's first combat air assault, May 13.
• APG leadership program focuses on BRAC, budget challenges Army News 31 May 2011 -- Army civilian leaders are focusing on collaboration as APG faces challenges from base realignment and closure, or BRAC, and future budget constraints.
• RDECOM commander: Finding source of IED materials is key Army News 31 May 2011 -- Locating and disabling the sources of components in Improvised Explosive Devices is vital to defeating the insurgents who use them.
• ARRA: Sacramento District transforms barracks into energy-efficient, comfortable quarters Army News 31 May 2011 -- Listen to old soldiers reminiscing and you may hear a lot of things, but you probably won't hear stories about the wonderful living conditions they experienced.
• DoD News: Senior Executive Service Announcements DoD 31 May 2011
• Gates to Reaffirm U.S. Commitments to Asia AFPS 31 May 2011 -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will participate in the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore this week, where officials expect he will outline continued U.S. commitment to the Asia-Pacific region.
• Indian Navy gets new MiG-29K carrier-borne fighters IRNA 31 May 2011 -- Indian naval aviation has acquired new teeth with induction of nine MiG-29K carrier-borne fighter jets from Russia with an extended range of 3,000 kms and capable of firing air-to-air and air-to-sea missiles.
• Russia delivers another batch of naval fighters to India RIA Novosti 31 May 2011 -- Russia's MiG aircraft maker delivered a new batch of five MiG-29K/KUB carrier-based fighters to the Indian navy in May, the company said.
• Russian sub joins NATO exercise for first time RIA Novosti 31 May 2011 -- A Russian Black Sea Fleet task force led by a submarine is taking part in NATO naval drills off the coast of Spain, the Russian Defense Ministry said, the first time a Russian submarine has participated in any NATO exercise.
• Army chopper crashes in Isfahan IRNA 31 May 2011 -- An IRI Army helicopter crashed in Isfahan Monday morning.
• Iran navy saves foreign ship in Indian Ocean ISNA 31 May 2011 -- The Islamic Republic of Iran navy saved a MV Ocean bulk carrier as it confronted pirates for the 12th time since late March.
• Urging stronger non-proliferation rules, Ban calls for nuclear weapons-free world UN News Centre 31 May 2011 -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today reiterated his call for a world free of nuclear weapons and called for the strengthening of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty as the cornerstone for global disarmament, and the bringing into force of the agreement banning nuclear arms tests.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney, 5/31/2011 The White House 31 May 2011
• May 31, 2011 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 31 May 2011

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for May 31, 2011
• ATK Introduces Hostile Fire Indication Capability for its AAR-47 Missile Warning System ATK 31 May 2011 -- ATK (NYSE: ATK) announced that its recently-developed Hostile Fire Indication (HFI) capability upgrade for the AAR-47 Missile Warning System has been approved by the Department of the Navy for Fleet introduction. In addition to the AAR-47's longstanding, combat-proven ability to detect incoming missile threats, the new HFI capability provides enhanced protection through detection of smaller-caliber weapon fire and rocket propelled grenades. ATK is the first company to deliver this key capability as part of a proven missile warning system.
• CASSIDIAN delivers 3rd phase of RDTM project as Toulon military base goes into operation EADS 31 May 2011 -- The RDTM (Réseaux de Desserte Terre et Marine) project was awarded to Cassidian by the DGA on 31 December 2009 and is part of the transformation process to upgrade the networks operated by DIRISI (Direction Interarmées des Réseaux d'Infrastructure et des Systèmes d'Information de la défense).
• CASSIDIAN to protect Canadian Naval Vessels against laser-based Attacks EADS 31 May 2011 -- Cassidian, the defence and security division of EADS, will develop innovative solutions to protect ships of the Canadian Navy against new types of asymmetric threats.
• General Dynamics NASSCO Awarded $744 Million Contract to Build Mobile Landing Platform Ships General Dynamics 31 May 2011 -- General Dynamics NASSCO announced today that it has received from the U.S. Navy a $744 million modification to its Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) contract to fully fund construction of the first two ships of the new ship class. Construction of the first ship will begin immediately, with delivery to occur by the spring of 2013. The contract includes an option for the construction of a third MLP which, if exercised, will increase the total contract value to approximately $1.3 billion.

Other Conflicts

• 31 May 2011 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 31 May 2011
• Sharp divide remains on how to resolve Libyan conflict – UN official UN News Centre 31 May 2011 -- Parties to the Libyan conflict remain sharply divided on how to start peace talks, with the Government adamant on a truce, including the cessation of an international bombing campaign, and the opposition demanding that Muammar al-Qadhafi and his family first relinquish power, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today.
• Zuma: Gadhafi Not Ready to Leave VOA 31 May 2011 -- Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini has opened a consulate in the Libyan rebel stronghold of Benghazi, saying the regime of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is over.
• War Crimes Suspect Mladic Extradited After Serbia Rejects Appeal RFE/RL 31 May 2011 -- Serbian authorities have extradited Bosnian Serb wartime general Ratko Mladic to the UN-backed International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague, where he will face genocide, war crimes, and other charges stemming from his role in the Balkan wars of the 1990s.
• Serbian war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic transferred to UN tribunal for trial UN News Centre 31 May 2011 -- The Serbian war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic was today transferred to the United Nations tribunal for the former Yugoslavia to face charges of genocide and other crimes committed against Bosnian Muslim, Bosnian Croat and other non-Serb civilians in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995.
• Mladic On Plane For Hague After Appeal Rejected RFE/RL 31 May 2011 -- Serbian authorities have confirmed that Bosnian Serb wartime general Ratko Mladic is aboard a plan on his way to The Hague for trial for alleged war crimes.
• Mladic on his way to The Hague - Serbian minister RIA Novosti 31 May 2011 -- Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb military chief, is being flown to The Hague where he will face a tribunal on war crimes and genocide charges, Serbian Justice Minister Snezana Malovic said.
• Mladic Appeal Rejected by Serbian Judges VOA 31 May 2011 -- Serbian judges have rejected an appeal by wartime General Ratko Mladic against his extradition to The Hague. The decision clears the way for Mladic to face war-crimes charges.
• India, Pakistan inches forward in talks on Siachen IRNA 31 May 2011 -- India and Pakistan on Tuesday inched forward in their talks on Siachen saying it has enhanced understanding of each other's position and agreed to continue the discussions in a meaningful and result-oriented manner.
• Sudan: UN efforts under way to assist civilians displaced from Abyei UN News Centre 31 May 2011 -- The United Nations said today that humanitarian operations in Sudan are under way, focusing on identifying the location of the tens of thousands of civilians uprooted by the recent clashes in the disputed town of Abyei and responding to critical relief needs.
• North-South Sudan Agree on Demilitarized Zone Along Border VOA 31 May 2011 -- North and south Sudan have agreed to set up a joint security mechanism to manage tensions along their disputed frontier once the country splits into two in July. The deal establishes a demilitarized zone to be jointly monitored under international supervision. Ethiopia is offering to send peacekeepers to act as a buffer between opposing forces.
• Sri Lanka: UN expert calls on Government to probe executions captured on video UN News Centre 31 May 2011 -- An independent United Nations human rights expert has called on Sri Lankan authorities to thoroughly investigate the apparent execution of several men by Government soldiers, saying a disputed video of the incident seems to be authentic.
• Growing Insecurity Raises Concerns in the DRC VOA 31 May 2011 -- A resident of the Democratic Republic of Congo's North Kivu province says both local and foreign armed groups have intensified attacks on unarmed civilians there.
• SOMALIA: Under-fives make up almost half of Mogadishu casualties IRIN 31 May 2011 -- Hundreds of children younger than five have been wounded in the latest round of fighting in Mogadishu, Somalia's capital, accounting for almost half of all trauma cases in May, according to the UN World Health Organization (WHO).
• OPT: Freedom of movement in Gaza gets a boost IRIN 31 May 2011 -- The opening of Rafah on 28 May, the only official border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, has created a lifeline for Palestinians living in Gaza, but some, mostly refugees, will still be restricted to their localities because they lack identification papers.
• Ivorian Refugees Strain Resources in Liberia VOA 31 May 2011 -- Ivory Coast is still reeling from a post-electoral crisis that killed at least 3,000 people and displaced more than a million after former president Laurent Gbagbo refused to cede power to U.N.-certified winner of last November's election, Alassane Ouattara.

News Reports

• Clinton: Position of Syrian Leader Less Tenable by the Day VOA 31 May 2011 -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has not engaged in serious reform efforts and its position becomes 'less tenable' every day.
• Yemen Unrest Deepens, Downward Spiral Spreads VOA 31 May 2011 -- Yemeni government troops in Sana'a are again fighting members of the Hashid tribe, just one of several forces, including militants and anti-government protesters, seeking to oust President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
• YEMEN: Civilians flee violence in the south IRIN 31 May 2011 -- Thousands of civilians have fled their homes in the coastal town of Zinjibar, capital of Yemen's Abyan Governorate, some 500km southeast of Sana'a, following three days of intensified army ground attacks and air strikes against militants who stormed the city on 28 May, local media report.
• UN Condemns Yemeni Government Crackdown on Taiz Protesters VOA 31 May 2011 -- The United Nations' human rights agency says it has received reports that Yemeni troops have killed more than 50 anti-government protesters in the city of Taiz since Sunday.
• UN rights chief deplores 'reprehensible' violence against Yemeni civilians UN News Centre 31 May 2011 -- The United Nations human rights chief today condemned the intensified use of force against anti-Government protestors in Yemen, amid reports that over 50 people have been killed since Sunday in the city of Taiz and hundreds more have been injured.
• FM: Ties to be resumed with Egypt after restrictions lifted ISNA 31 May 2011 -- Iran and Egypt would resume relations after restrictions are lifted, said Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi on Tuesday.
• Egyptian delegation in Tehran for talks with authorities ISNA 31 May 2011 -- A delegation of Egyptian elites, thinkers, religious clerics and revolutionary activists are in Tehran for talks with Iranian authorities.
• KENYA: Food crisis lands government in the dock IRIN 31 May 2011 -- Just as it declares a national disaster over drought, the Kenyan government is being sued over its alleged failure to respect a new constitutional right to food.
• U.S. Envoy 'Surprised' At Kyrgyz Reaction To Head Of Violence Probe RFE/RL 31 May 2011 -- The new U.S. ambassador to Kyrgyzstan has described as 'surprising' Kyrgyzstan's reaction to the head of an international commission that investigated last year's deadly interethnic clashes in the south of the country, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.
• European Court Rules That Khodorkovsky's Rights Were Violated RFE/RL 31 May 2011 -- The European Court of Human Rights has found Russian authorities guilty of violating the rights of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, but ruled it had no proof the former oil tycoon's jailing on fraud and tax-evasion charges was politically motivated.