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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 16 May 2016 [PDF]
• Military Strikes Target ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 16 May 2016 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• US Will Not Oppose Afghan Peace Talks with Armed Group VOA 16 May 2016 -- The United States on Monday said it will not oppose the ongoing political talks aimed at resolving conflicts between the Afghan government and the insurgent group Hezb-i-Islami led by former prime minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Department of Defense Press Briefing by Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook in the Pentagon Briefing Room DoD 16 May 2016 -- Presenter: Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook
• Work Salutes Contributions of Romanian, Polish Troops AFPS 16 May 2016 -- The United States will never forget the service and sacrifice of Romanian and Polish troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, including those who paid the ultimate price, Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work said.
• AF demonstrates key rocket engine technologies for next generation launch systems AFNS 16 May 2016 -- The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory and contractor Aerojet Rocketdyne achieved a major milestone under the Hydrocarbon Boost (HCB) program, which is advancing domestic rocket engine technologies in support of next generation launch systems. The HCB program completed full power, full duration tests of the oxygen-rich staged combustion (ORSC) sub-scale preburner. Testing was conducted at the historic rocket Test Stand 2A at Edwards Air Force Base; the facility was first utilized to test the F-1 engine used to power Saturn V rockets in the Apollo program to reach the moon.
• Blue Ridge Completes Spring Patrol, Returns to Yokosuka for Scheduled Dry-Docking Period NNS 16 May 2016 -- U.S 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) and embarked 7th Fleet staff returned to Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka May 16, concluding a three-month patrol.
• Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26) NNS 16 May 2016 -- The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the future John P. Murtha (LPD 26) during a ceremony at the Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard, May 13.
• USS Decatur, USS Momsen to Visit Busan, Republic of Korea NNS 16 May 2016 -- Guided-missile destroyers USS Decatur (DDG 73) and USS Momsen (DDG 92) are scheduled to arrive in Busan, Republic of Korea, for a mission planning conference, May 17.
• CVW 9 Completes Material Condition Inspection NNS 16 May 2016 -- Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 Sailors completed a mid-deployment Material Condition Inspection (MCI) while embarked on USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), May 13.
• USS Spruance Finishes Historic Port Call in Tonga NNS 16 May 2016 -- Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) completed a four-day port call in the northern port of the Kingdom of Tonga, May 10.
• 'Extremely Aggressive' Russia Endangers Lives, Work Says AFPS 16 May 2016 -- In buzzing the USS Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea last month, Russia engaged in reckless actions that unnecessarily endangered lives, Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work said.
• Russian, Belarusian FMs Criticize U.S. Missile-Defense Plans RFE/RL 16 May 2016 -- Belarusian Foreign Minister Uladzimer Makey says Belarus and Russia are concerned about the establishment of U.S. missile-defense systems in Eastern Europe.
• As NATO Beckons, Ukraine Signs Military Cooperation Plan With Turkey Sputnik 16 May 2016 -- Ukrainian General Staff said that Ukraine and Turkey have signed on Monday a military cooperation plan.
• Iran will never backtrack in face of US aggression: Commander ISNA 16 May 2016 -- A senior Iranian commander said the Islamic Republic will never backtrack in the face of acts of aggression by the United States in the region.
• Russia to Make Every Effort to Deliver S-300 Air Defense Systems to Iran Sputnik 16 May 2016 -- Moscow strives to deliver Russia's S-300 air defense systems to Iran.
• Reports of Dongfeng missiles in Xiamen 'untrue': defense ministry CNA 16 May 2016 -- The Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Monday dismissed as "untrue" some media reports that China has raised its war preparedness by deploying Dongfeng 21D missiles in Xiamen, opposite the Taiwan-held Kinmen Islands.
• Saudi troops partake in Turkish-led military drills Press TV 16 May 2016 -- Saudi ground and naval forces are taking part in multinational war games being held in the Turkish cities of Ankara and Izmir.
• May 16, 2016 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 16 May 2016
• Daily Press Briefing by the Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 05/16/16 The White House 16 May 2016

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for May 16, 2016

Other Conflicts

• 16 May 2016 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 16 May 2016
• Chinese Embassy Refutes The Washington Post's Editorial on South China Sea, saying the US should not become a "dangerous rock" in the region People's Daily 16 May 2016 -- The following is a letter from Mr. Zhu Haiquan, Press Counselor and Spokesman of the Chinese Embassy in the US to The Washington Post's editorial page, which is published on May 16, 2016, in response to WP's editorial titled "Dangerous Rocks in the South China Sea" on May 8, 2016.
• Background Briefing on the Conflict in Syria and the International Syria Support Group US Dept. of State 16 May 2016
• New Ceasefire in Syria's Aleppo Depends on Nusra Front's Actions Sputnik 16 May 2016 -- Russian Deputy Foreign Minister said that the issue of ceasefire renewal in Syria's province of Aleppo depends heavily on the actions that could be taken by the Nusra Front terrorist group.
• Iraqi forces launch op to free town in western Anbar Province Press TV 16 May 2016 -- Iraqi military forces and volunteer fighters have launched an operation to liberate the town of Rutbah in western Anbar Province from the Daesh terrorist group, the army says.
• Islamic State Retaliates Against Baghdad With Car Bombings VOA 16 May 2016 -- Islamic State militants have returned to using vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices for a bombing campaign in Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq.
• World Powers Back Lifting Libyan Arms Embargo VOA 16 May 2016 -- World powers say they will back Libya's new government in its bid to lift a U.N. arms embargo, a move that could help the government combat internal security threats and fight Islamic State.
• World powers ready to arm Libyan government: statement Press TV 16 May 2016 -- The United States and other world powers have voiced readiness to supply weapons to Libya's internationally-recognized government to counter militants and rivals.
• New clashes kill army soldier in east Ukraine: Military Press TV 16 May 2016 -- The Ukrainian military has announced the death of one of its soldiers in new clashes between government troops and pro-Russia forces in the country's troubled east.
• Over nine million people in Lake Chad need food aid: UN Press TV 16 May 2016 -- The United Nations (UN) says more than nine million people living in the Lake Chad region are in dire need of food aid, blaming the Boko Haram Takfiri terrorist group for triggering the unrest in the area.
• EU brokers secret deal with Sudan to stop refugees: Report Press TV 16 May 2016 -- The European Union has reportedly brokered a controversial deal with Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir in an effort to stop refugees entering the continent from Africa.
• Background Briefing on the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict US Dept. of State 16 May 2016 -- Special Briefing by Senior State Department Officials
• Joint Statement of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Secretary of State of the United States of America, and State Secretary for European Affairs of France US Dept. of State 16 May 2016
• Armenia, Azerbaijan Presidents To Meet In Vienna Over Nagorno-Karabakh RFE/RL 16 May 2016 -- The Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents are set to meet in Vienna to discuss a fragile cease-fire in Azerbaijan's breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region.
• Colombia's FARC to remove child soldiers from ranks Press TV 16 May 2016 -- Colombia's FARC rebel group has agreed to remove child soldiers from its ranks as part of agreements with the government aimed at ending the decades-long conflict in the South American country.
• Nearly one in five suicide bombers used by Boko Haram is now a child - UN UN News 16 May 2016 -- The number of children used by Boko Haram as suicide bombers up tenfold over the past year, the United Nations humanitarian wing has reported, also warning that the group's gunmen continue to carry out attacks on civilian and military targets despite the ramped up military operations in the Lake Chad Basin region.
• Kosovo still faces 'hard-nosed realities,' but is vital for European security - UN envoy UN News 16 May 2016 -- Unemployment, inequality, and the challenges of developing a productive economy to meet global development goals and overcome legacies of impunity, are among the "hard-nosed realities" facing Kosovo, the head of the United Nations political mission there said today, calling for international involvement to help Kosovo's institutions, and the wider region as a whole, overcome such obstacles.

News Reports

• Why Islamic State Militants Care So Much About Sykes-Picot RFE/RL 16 May 2016 -- One hundred years ago, on May 16, 1916, representatives from the United Kingdom and France (with the agreement of Russia) met in secret and signed what has come to be known as the Sykes–Picot Agreement. The pact, signed amid World War I, divided the Ottoman Empire into spheres of imperial control, and is often held responsible for establishing the current borders of the Middle East.
• Dy FM: US gov't fails to honor JCPOA commitments IRNA 16 May 2016 -- Deputy Foreign Minister for Euro-American Affairs Majid Takht-e Ravanchi said on Monday that the US government has not properly honored its commitments to Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
• Iran, critical of US illegal action to seize fund, seeks international arbitration IRNA 16 May 2016 -- Special working group composed by President Hassan Rouhani to decide what to do to retake Iranian fund from the US said on Monday that Iran would seek international arbitration to restore its rights.
• China Silent on 50th Anniversary of Cultural Revolution VOA 16 May 2016 -- Fifty years ago today, the Chinese Communist Party started the country down a path to the Cultural Revolution, which it said would bring about a more just society, but in practice led to complete social and economic disaster.
• Turkey on Edge as Officials Warn of Islamic State Threats VOA 16 May 2016 -- Turkey went on high alert Monday after intelligence officials warned of possible imminent Islamic State bombing attacks as Turks prepare to celebrate a national holiday.
• UN rapporteur raps EU-Turkey deal to stop refugees Press TV 16 May 2016 -- The United Nations special rapporteur on the human rights of refugees, has strongly denounced a recently signed agreement between the European Union and Turkey over curbing the flow of asylum seekers to Europe.
• Kenya Sees 3rd Week of Anti-Electoral Commission Rallies VOA 16 May 2016 -- For the third Monday in a month, hundreds of protesters gathered in Nairobi to demand major reforms in the country's electoral commission, starting with the resignation of the commission members. Protests also took place in western Kenya.
• New Report Alleges Corruption Involving Liberian Officials VOA 16 May 2016 -- The London-based Global Witness organization has released a new report in which it alleges that over $950,000 in bribes and other suspicious payments were made to top Liberian officials by the United Kingdom-based Sable Mining company and its Liberian lawyer, Varney Sherman.
• CIA 'mistakenly' destroys 6,700-page torture report Press TV 16 May 2016 -- The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has "mistakenly" deleted its only copy of a Senate report into the agency's brutal interrogation techniques.
• Big Leap: Indian Space Agency Sets Sights on Homemade Space Shuttle Sputnik 16 May 2016 -- The Indian space agency has an ambitious program, and is now taking the first steps towards developing its very own 'space shuttle' program.