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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 27 Oct 2016 [PDF]
• Inherent Resolve Strikes Target ISIL in Syria, Iraq AFPS 27 Oct 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.
• Tunisia denies hosting US drones for Libya operations Press TV 27 Oct 2016 -- Military officials in Tunisia have rejected claims that the country is hosting a base for US drone operations against the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in neighboring Libya.
• US Deploys Drones to Tunisia for 'Training Operation' - Embassy Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- US unmanned aerial systems were deployed to Tunisia for a joint training mission, the spokesman for the US Embassy of Tunisia in Washington, DC, Houssem Abbes, told Sputnik on Thursday.
• Tunisia Denies US' Use of Base to Operate Anti-Daesh Drone Missions in Libya Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- Tunisia did not allow the United States to use a base of the national army to operate drone missions against Daesh positions in Libya, Defense Ministry spokesman Belhassen Oueslati told Sputnik on Thursday commenting on recent US media reports.
• Two top al-Qaeda leaders killed in northeastern Afghanistan Press TV 27 Oct 2016 -- Afghanistan's intelligence service says two top al-Qaeda leaders were killed in a drone airstrike in the country's troubled northeastern region.

Defense Policy / Programs

• USS Ross Completes Operations with Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group NNS 27 Oct 2016 -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) completed operations with Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group Oct. 26.
• USS Detroit Makes Historic Inaugural Port Visit in Canada NNS 27 Oct 2016 -- Littoral combat ship USS Detroit (LCS 7) traveled across the Detroit River for the ship's inaugural port visit and received a warm welcome from the city of Windsor, Ontario, Oct. 24.
• USNA Breaks Ground at New Cyber Security Studies Center to Prepare Future Navy Cyber Warriors NNS 27 Oct 2016 -- The U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new $106-million Center for Cyber Security Studies Oct. 21.
• NATO Secretary General: We are as united as ever NATO 27 Oct 2016 -- NATO Defence Ministers wrapped up two days of talks in Brussels on Thursday, which marked progress in creating four NATO battalions in the Baltic States and Poland, closer cooperation with the European Union and training for Iraqi officers. "Over the past two days, we assessed the various challenges confronting NATO," said Secretary General Stoltenberg. "We took stock of our progress since the Warsaw Summit – and we mapped out the road ahead. We are as united as ever in our determination to protect our citizens."
• Defence Ministers take forward NATO-EU cooperation NATO 27 Oct 2016 -- Allied Defence Ministers discussed practical steps to take forward NATO's cooperation with the European Union on Thursday (27 October 2016). Ministers were joined by the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, as well as the Defence Ministers of Finland and Sweden.
• NATO chief downplays concerns over formation of joint European army Press TV 27 Oct 2016 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has downplayed suggestions that EU military buildup might undermine the Western alliance as the bid to establish an independent European army appears to gain momentum.
• Russia to eliminate all its chemical weapons by end 2017 Press TV 27 Oct 2016 -- Russia says it plans to annihilate all of its remaining chemical weapons by the end of next year, a year earlier than previously scheduled.
• Malta Refuses to Refuel Russian Warships Heading For Syria - Foreign Minister Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- Malta will not refuel Russian warships heading for Syria, Foreign Minister George Vella told local media on Thursday, amid claims that a Russian battlegroup may be refueled in the Mediterranean near the island country.
• Russian Naval Battle Group's Deployment Off Syria Evidence of Fleet's Power Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- The deployment of a Russian naval battle group from its northwestern port to the Mediterranean demonstrates the Northern Fleet's logistical preparedness, the deputy defense minister said Thursday.
• Preparing for the Long Shot: Range of BrahMos Cruise Missile to be Doubled Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- Developments in the last fortnight indicate an unprecedented buildup of confidence between India and Russia as evident from the many deals and agreements that have been reached.
• India to Begin Trials of Homegrown AIP Equipment in December Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- Delays had forced the Indian Navy to abandon its plan to deploy AIP in Scorpene submarines.
• India for Selective Blacklisting of Foreign Defense Companies Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- The previous government's comprehensive blacklisting norms are a major hindrance to India's defense acquisition calendar.
• UK Gov't Support Deal to Sentinel Surveillance Aircraft to Sustain 160 New Jobs Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- The UK government supports the British Sentinel surveillance aircraft, that will ensure 160 new jobs across the United Kingdom.
• Surveillance aircraft support deal sustains around 160 UK jobs UK MOD 27 Oct 2016 -- Minister for Defence Procurement, Harriett Baldwin announces £131.5 million support contract for RAF's Sentinel surveillance aircraft.
• UK maritime personnel train the Libyan Coastguard UK MOD 27 Oct 2016 -- UK Armed Forces personnel will tomorrow begin operations to help train the Libyan Coastguard, the Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has confirmed.
• China, Saudi Arabia hold first joint anti-terrorism drill People's Daily 27 Oct 2016 -- The Chinese and Saudi Arabian armies held their first joint counter-terrorism drill from Oct. 10 to 25 in China.
• China 'to hold drills in disputed South China Sea' Press TV 27 Oct 2016 -- Chinese naval forces are gearing up to conduct military drills near disputed islands in the South China Sea, in what appears to be a reaction to a recent US patrol in the area.
• Venezuelan Armed Forces Council to Work Regularly Amid Opposition Protests Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- Venezuela's National Armed Forces Council, the principal body for consultations on defense issues, will be working on a regular basis amid the ongoing protests of the opposition, dissatisfied with the current leadership, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Wednesday.
• October 27, 2016 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 27 Oct 2016
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 10/27/2016 The White House 27 Oct 2016

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for October 27, 2016

Other Conflicts

• 27 October 2016 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 27 Oct 2016
• Taiwan, Japan to hold dialogue on maritime affairs CNA 27 Oct 2016 -- Taiwan and Japan will hold a dialogue on maritime affairs cooperation in Tokyo on Oct. 31, Foreign Minister David Lee (李大維) said on Thursday.
• UAE welcomes UN peace plan to end crisis in Yemen Press TV 27 Oct 2016 -- The United Arab Emirates, a key Saudi ally in its deadly aggression against Yemen, has welcomed a new United Nations peace proposal to end the Yemen conflict.
• Turkey Suggests Participation of Free Syrian Army in Raqqa Op Instead of Kurds Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- Ankara suggested the partipation of the Free Syrian Army's (FSA) in the operation to retake Daesh's de facto capital of Raqqa instead of the self-defense forces of the Syrian Kurds, Turkey's Defense Minister Fikri Isık said Thursday.
• Turkey May Strengthen Military Presence in Iraq Due to Increased Daesh Threat Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- Turkey is considering the deployment of more troops to the camp in northern Iraqi town of Bashiqa due to increased threat from Daesh terrorist group, if Ankara-Baghdad talks on the camp status come to a deadlock, Turkish media reported, citing government sources.
• Turkish Air Forces to Advance to Syria's Raqqa, Manbij After Taking Al-Bab Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- According to the Turkish president, the country's air forces are aiming at Syria's Raqqa and Manbij after liberating the city of Al-Bab from Daesh terrorists.
• Turkish Army Destroys 103 Daesh, Kurdish Forces' Positions in Northern Syria Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- Turkish forces have destroyed 94 Daesh positions and 9 PYD positions in the past 24 hours, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement on Thursday.
• Syrian forces purge terrorists from town in Hama province Press TV 27 Oct 2016 -- Syrian army soldiers and their allies have managed to liberate a key town in the country's west-central province of Hama from the grip of Takfiri terrorists.
• 6 children killed in terrorist rocket attacks in Syrian city of Aleppo Press TV 27 Oct 2016 -- At least six children have been killed and over a dozen people injured after Takfiri terrorists launched rocket attacks on a school as well as a house situated in residential areas of Syria's Aleppo.
• Russia: No jets have flown over Aleppo for past 9 days Press TV 27 Oct 2016 -- Moscow says Russian and Syrian aircraft have not carried out any sorties over Aleppo for nine days in line with their "humanitarian pause."
• Russia Hit With Outrage At UN Over Attacks On Syrian Children RFE/RL 27 Oct 2016 -- Russia has been confronted with sharp accusations at the United Nations of killing dozens of children and other civilians in Syria, provoking an angry response from Moscow's UN ambassador.
• Russia Registered US Attack Drone in Area Where Idlib School Was Attacked - MoD Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- Russian reconnaissance means have registered a US attack drone in the area where a school in Syrua's Idlib had been bombed, the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday.
• UNSC Should Refer School-Bombing Case in Idlib to ICC - UN Envoy Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- The UN Security Council should immediately refer the case of a school bombing in Syria to the International Criminal Court now that Russia supports such an investigation, UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown said at a briefing Thursday.
• 'We are not giving up,' despite evacuation failure - UN envoys on Syria UN News 27 Oct 2016 -- Expressing their disappointment that the sick and wounded were not evacuated from Syria's war-torn eastern Aleppo, the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria and his Senior Advisor today vowed to press on with their efforts to extract those with medical emergencies and get assistance to those with desperate needs inside the city.
• UN Calls for War Crime Probe Into Strike on Syrian School VOA 27 Oct 2016 -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for an investigation Thursday into an air strike on a school in Syria that killed more than 20 people, most of them children, the day before.
• 772 Daesh terrorists killed, 23 captured since start of Mosul operation: Iraq Press TV 27 Oct 2016 -- Iraq's Joint Operations Command (JOC) has announced that more than 700 Takfiri militants have been killed and nearly two dozen others arrested ever since government forces and allied fighters launched a massive operation to dislodge the terrorists from the northern city of Mosul.
• Iraqi, Kurdish Forces Approaching Outskirts of Mosul AFPS 27 Oct 2016 -- Iraqi and Kurdish forces are about 5 miles from Mosul's outskirts and are clearing towns and villages to the north, east and south of Iraq's second-largest city, Pentagon Press Operations director Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters today.
• Peshmerga forces won't enter Iraq's Mosul: Kurdish leader Press TV 27 Oct 2016 -- The leader of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region has assured that Kurdish Peshmerga forces will not set foot in Mosul during a joint operation with the army and allied fighters aimed at liberating the Daesh-held northern city.
• Iraqi forces gain more ground in push to retake Mosul Press TV 27 Oct 2016 -- Iraqi government forces have managed to liberate more areas around the northern city of Mosul as part of a massive offensive aimed at retaking the entire city from Takfiri Daesh terrorists.
• Daesh executing civilians as Iraqi forces advance Press TV 27 Oct 2016 -- Daesh executes over 230 civilians in Mosul as the battle to liberate the Iraqi city from the Takfiris gains momentum.
• Obama Asks Erdogan To Coordinate With U.S., Iraq In Fight Against IS RFE/RL 27 Oct 2016 -- U.S. President Barack Obama has personally intervened in a dispute between Turkey and Iraq involving the battle against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group, asking Turkey's leader to coordinate his actions with both Washington and Baghdad.
• Internationally-backed Libyan forces attack Daesh positions in Sirte Press TV 27 Oct 2016 -- Libyan forces have launched a fresh offensive against Daesh positions in the Mediterranean port city of Sirte.
• France, Armenia to Discuss OSCE Minsk Group Karabakh Proposals - Ministry Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- The suggestions of the OSCE Minsk Group for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be discussed by French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and his Armenian counterpart Edward Nalbandian during their meeting later on Thursday, the French Foreign Ministry's spokesman said.
• Ethiopian Troop Withdrawals in Somalia Raise Concern of Al-Shabab Resurgence VOA 27 Oct 2016 -- Ethiopian troops who have been fighting Al-Shabab militants in Somalia have vacated a series of military bases, sparking fears of a militant resurgence and a possible setback for African Union efforts to stabilize the country.
• Burundi Officially Informs UN of Intent to Leave ICC VOA 27 Oct 2016 -- Burundi has presented its letter of intent to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

News Reports

• Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Moscow, October 27, 2016 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 27 Oct 2016
• Vladimir Putin Addresses 13th Annual Valdai Discussion Club Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the US-Russia ties, the situation in Syria and Russia's role on the global arena during the 13th annual Valdai Discussion Club session in Sochi.
• Putin Denies Russian Interference In U.S. Presidential Election RFE/RL 27 Oct 2016 -- President Vladimir Putin has again dismissed allegations that Russia has been meddling in the U.S. presidential election, saying those claims were just an effort to distract the attention of the U.S. electorate from real issues.
• US hacking 'hysteria' aimed at distracting voters: Putin Press TV 27 Oct 2016 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed as "hysteria" claims by US officials that Moscow is trying to influence the upcoming presidential election in America.
• Xi to Join Mao, Deng as 'Core' Leaders of China's Communist Party VOA 27 Oct 2016 -- China's communist party has elevated President Xi Jinping's status to a "core" leader, putting him on par with Chinese strongmen such as Mao Zedong and Deng Xioaping.
• Party members called on to unite around CPC Central Committee with Xi as "core" Xinhua 27 Oct 2016 -- A key meeting of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has called on all its members to "closely unite around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core."
• Unrestricted power, unsupervised Party member not allowed in CPC Xinhua 27 Oct 2016 -- Unrestricted power or any unsupervised Party members are not allowed to exist within the Communist Party of China (CPC), said a statement released after a key CPC meeting on Thursday.
• CPC pledges strict discipline for organizations, members Xinhua 27 Oct 2016 -- A key meeting of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has insisted that Party discipline should be thoroughly enforced with no exceptions made for any organizations or members.
• No hideout for corrupt officials in CPC: communique Xinhua 27 Oct 2016 -- There will no longer be any place for corrupt officials to hide in the Communist Party of China (CPC), according to a communique released Thursday after a four-day key meeting of the CPC.
• CPC meeting affirms collective leadership Xinhua 27 Oct 2016 -- China's leaders on Thursday stressed the importance of adherence to the collective leadership system of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
• UN adopts resolution urging end to Cuban embargo, US abstains for first time People's Daily 27 Oct 2016 -- The UN General Assembly on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to adopt a resolution urging an end to U.S. embargo on Cuba, and the United States abstained for the first time in 25 years.
• UN votes to condemn US embargo on Cuba, US abstains for first time Press TV 27 Oct 2016 -- The United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution condemning the United States' sanctions regime against Cuba.
• Thousands Rally in Venezuela Streets Against President Maduro VOA 27 Oct 2016 -- Venezuela's political standoff deepened Wednesday as tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in several cities and opposition leaders called for a general strike later this week.
• US, Japan, South Korea agree to put more pressure on North Korea Press TV 27 Oct 2016 -- Senior officials from the United States, Japan and South Korea have agreed to step up pressure on North Korea to get it to abandon its nuclear and missile programs.
• India 'to expel Pakistani diplomat over spying' Press TV 27 Oct 2016 -- India has declared a Pakistani diplomat persona non grata for "espionage activities" and said it will expel him from the country, as tensions are already running high between New Delhi and Islamabad.
• Pakistani Embassy Official Tied to Delhi Spy Ring, Declared 'Persona Non Grata' Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- Delhi police claim that Pakistani Embassy official Mehmood Akhtar was the kingpin of a spy ring and recruited Indians who came seeking visas to travel to Pakistan.
• Indian Police Arrest Alleged Pakistani Spies for Leaking Defense Information Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- Indian police arrested in New Delhi two Pakistani men on suspicion of espionage and leaking confidential documents related to India's defense sector, local media reported on Thursday.
• India Expels Pakistani Staffer on Spying Charges VOA 27 Oct 2016 -- India has expelled a staffer of the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi, accusing him of running a spy racket that accessed sensitive information about Indian security operations.
• Former Russian Defense Ministry Official Sentenced For Treason RFE/RL 27 Oct 2016 -- A Moscow court has sentenced a former Defense Ministry official to 12 years in prison for treason, the latest in a string of treason cases heard by Russian courts.
• Pakistani Capital Bans Political Gatherings VOA 27 Oct 2016 -- Authorities in Pakistan have banned all political gatherings and street rallies in the capital city in a bid to discourage next week's planned anti-government march here.
• Officials defend Taiwan's national sovereignty CNA 27 Oct 2016 -- Taiwan's high-ranking officials in charge of China affairs expressed regret and discontent on Thursday after a Chinese official stated a day earlier that Taiwan has never been a country.
• U.S. reiterates support for Taiwan's Interpol participation CNA 27 Oct 2016 -- The U.S. Department of State reiterated Washington's support for Taiwan's meaningful participation in the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) Wednesday, ahead of the organization's annual assembly next month.
• Turkey Provides US With Evidence Sufficient for Arrest of Cleric Gulen Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- Turkey hopes for the arrest of the Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is blamed for an attempted coup in the country, Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Thursday.
• Turkish Prosecution Orders to Detain 73 Military Pilots Over Alleged Gulen Links Sputnik 27 Oct 2016 -- The Turkish Prosecutor's Office authorized the detention of 73 military pilots suspected of having links with the movement of Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen who is believed by Ankara to be the mastermind behind a recent failed coup attempt, local media reported on Thursday.
• Turkey Announces Detention of Dozens More Military Members VOA 27 Oct 2016 -- The post-coup attempt fallout continued in Turkey Thursday as authorities ordered the detention of 73 air force pilots alleged to have been part of the failed July putsch.
• Turkey orders arrest of pilots in post-coup crackdown Press TV 27 Oct 2016 -- Turkish prosecutors have issued arrest warrants for 73 air force pilots as part of Ankara's ongoing crackdown on alleged plotters and sympathizers of the July 15 coup attempt.
• DRC Tensions Continue Despite Regional Backing of Election Delay VOA 27 Oct 2016 -- Central African heads of state meeting Wednesday in Luanda, Angola, endorsed the deal signed last week in the Democratic Republic of Congo that delays that country's elections by nearly two years. But the regional stamp of approval has not diminished tensions in the country itself.
• South Africa's Zuma Stops Release of Corruption Report VOA 27 Oct 2016 -- South African President Jacob Zuma is leaving no stone unturned to stop the release of a report that implicates him in alleged corruption.
• Severe hunger in southern Madagascar likely persist into 2017 due to drought-hit crops, UN warns UN News 27 Oct 2016 -- The impact of severe El Niño-induced drought on crop production in southern Madagascar, where nearly 850,000 people are acutely food insecure, is likely to persist into 2017 and requires an intensified humanitarian response, the United Nations agriculture agency said today.