13 February 2017 Military News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 13 Feb 2017[PDF]

Military Strikes Target ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 13 Feb 2017 -- 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, coalition air forces build relationships through munitions AFNS 13 Feb 2017 -- Members of the Royal Australian Air Force and U.S. Air Force constructed 4,000-pounds of Joint Direct Attack Munitions in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Okra at an undisclosed location Feb. 9.

UN Accused of Complicity in Pakistan's Alleged Unlawful, Coerced Repatriation of Afghans VOA 13 Feb 2017 -- An international rights defender has accused Pakistan and the United Nations refugee agency of complicity in promoting "unlawful and coerced" repatriation of tens of thousands of Afghan refugees.
Russia Gathers Stakeholders, Sans US or NATO, for Afghanistan Conference VOA 13 Feb 2017 -- Russia is hosting a conference in Moscow this week that will bring together Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, India and Iran to discuss a possible solution of the conflict in Afghanistan.

DoD Prepares Response to Possible Dam Collapse in California AFPS 13 Feb 2017 -- The Defense Department stands ready to assist in operations surrounding a failing dam in northern California, a Pentagon spokesman told reporters today.
National Guard assist New Orleans police after tornado cuts through neighborhoods Army News 13 Feb 2017 -- Louisiana Army National Guard members continue to provide 24-hour security operations in New Orleans East after a powerful tornado struck the area Tuesday.

Defense Policy / Programs

F-35A stealth brings flexibility to battlespace AFNS 13 Feb 2017 -- Stealth isn't new in the Air Force; but, stealth combined with the multirole capabilities of the F-35A Lightning II is proving to be a game changer in the Nevada desert.
Generation integration: F-35B participates in exercise Agile Lightning USMC News 13 Feb 2017 -- Squadrons with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing participated in exercise Agile Lightning held at Marine Corps bases in Southern California and Arizona, Jan. 30 to Feb. 3.
GHWBCSG Conducts Strikes from Mediterranean NNS 13 Feb 2017 -- The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWBCSG) commenced strike missions in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) from the eastern Mediterranean Sea, Feb. 13.
Hue City Completes Port Visit in Klaipeda, Lithuania NNS 13 Feb 2017 -- Guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) completed a scheduled port visit in Klaipeda, Lithuania, as part of the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWBCSG) deployment, Feb. 10.
USS Somerset Visits Duqm, Oman NNS 13 Feb 2017 -- Amphibious transport dock USS Somerset (LPD 25) departed Duqm, Oman, following a port visit and mid-deployment maintenance availability, Feb. 10.
USS Iwo Jima Returns to Sea Following Continuous Maintenance Availability NNS 13 Feb 2017 -- Amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) departed its homeport of Naval Station Mayport for the first time in 2017, Feb. 12, following the completion of a three-month continuous (CMAV) maintenance availability.
USS Porter Departs Black Sea NNS 13 Feb 2017 -- Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) departed the Black Sea, Feb. 11, after conducting maritime security operations, theater security engagements with allies and partners, and participating in the multinational exercise Sea Shield 2017.
NRNW Wraps Up Solid Curtain/Citadel Shield NNS 13 Feb 2017 -- Navy Region Northwest (NRNW) installations conducted Exercise Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield (SC-CS) 2017 in coordination with local law enforcement and emergency personnel, Jan. 30-Feb. 10.
Flight Operations, Crew Training Highlight Latest Coronado Underway NNS 13 Feb 2017 -- Sailors aboard littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) are training and conducting operations at sea following the ship's departure from Singapore, Feb. 10.
Space aggressors jam AF, allies' systems AFNS 13 Feb 2017 -- The 26th Space Aggressor Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base is always gearing up for the next exercise in replicating enemy action against space-based and space-enabled systems.
US Navy Selects Indian Shipyard to Repair Its Vessels Operating in Indian Ocean Sputnik 13 Feb 2017 -- US is concerned about India's unwillingness to implement Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), military bases sharing agreement, which was signed in August 2016. Meanwhile, US has started tying up with Indian shipyard for repairing and alternation services for hundreds of naval vessels.
Flying High: Task Force Southwest Marines test new drone capabilities USMC News 13 Feb 2017 -- Throughout Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the armed services used unmanned aerial equipment to capture imagery of battlespaces, execute reconnaissance and conduct airstrikes on enemy targets. These devices proved indispensable in their abilities to move quickly and clandestinely.

US military helicopters arrive in Germany to boost NATO Press TV 13 Feb 2017 -- The US Army has begun unloading dozens of helicopters at a port in northern Germany as NATO continues boosting its combat presence in Eastern Europe.

Russian Navy Enters Active Phase of Int'l Drills in Arabian Sea Sputnik 13 Feb 2017 -- Russia's anti-submarine ship Severomorsk has started active phase of the international AMAN-2017 drills.

Egypt Ready to Support Efficiency of Lebanese Army Sputnik 13 Feb 2017 -- The president of Egypt expressed support for Lebanon's fight against terrorism.

Trump Calls North Korea 'Big Problem' Following Missile Launch VOA 13 Feb 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump called North Korea a "big, big problem" following the communist nation's latest ballistic missile launch.
U.S. Condemns North Korean Ballistic Missile Launch AFPS 13 Feb 2017 -- The United States strongly condemns North Korea's weekend ballistic missile launch and its other recent attempts and will take all necessary measures to deter and defeat threats to U.S. and ally territories and citizens, Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters today.
DPRK claims successful test firing of medium long-range ballistic missile People's Daily 13 Feb 2017 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday claimed it successfully test-fired a surface-to-surface medium- and long-range ballistic missile Pukguksong-2 and its top leader Kim Jong Un guided the test firing, according to the state news agency KCNA.
US has 'ironclad' commitment to protecting allies, Pentagon tells N Korea Press TV 13 Feb 2017 -- The US Department of Defense has censured North Korea for its latest missile test, saying that Washington's commitment to protecting the homeland and its allies is "ironclad."
N Korea Tested Land-Based Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile - Pentagon Sputnik 13 Feb 2017 -- The North Korean military appears to have tested a land-based variant of its submarine-launched intermediate-range ballistic missile on Saturday, US Department of Defense spokesperson Jeff Davis said in a briefing.
China Condemns North Korea's Ballistic Missile Test Launch Sputnik 13 Feb 2017 -- China condemns the missile test carried out by North Korea Sunday in contradiction to the UN Security Council resolutions, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Monday.
UN chief Guterres 'strongly condemns' DPR Korea's ballistic missile launch UN News 13 Feb 2017 -- United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today voiced strong opposition to the latest ballistic missile launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, calling on Pyongyang to fully comply with its international obligations to denuclearize.
UN Chief Calls on North Korea to Return to Full Nuclear Compliance VOA 13 Feb 2017 -- The U.N. Security Council is set to hold emergency talks Monday about North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch.
Trump's Response to North Korea's Missile Launch Raises Concerns VOA 13 Feb 2017 -- President Donald Trump's carefully worded and measured condemnation of North Korea's missile test on Sunday leaves unclear what new policies he may pursue to halt the Kim Jong Un government's advancing nuclear program.
North Korea Declares Nuclear-Capable Ballistic Missile Test Successful Sputnik 13 Feb 2017 -- North Korea has declared its ballistic missile test successful, media reported.

Han Kuang military exercise to include live-fire drills: MND CNA 13 Feb 2017 -- Taiwan's annual military exercises for 2017 will be held before the end of May and include both computer-simulated war games and live-fire drills as has been the case in the past, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Monday.

China to complete power grid for border troops by 2020 People's Daily 13 Feb 2017 -- China plans to install a power system for all its border troops by 2020, according to an implementation plan for grid construction issued in December of last year.
Canine combatants set to be let off the leash People's Daily 13 Feb 2017 -- The PLA has decided that four-legged Special Forces will play a more important role in military operations in the future, so training programs have been adjusted to resemble actual combat situations as much as possible.
China Reveals Launch Date of New Aircraft Carriers Sputnik 13 Feb 2017 -- Chinese media has revealed when the country is expecting to reinforce its fleet of aircraft carriers with two more domestically built vessels: the second aircraft carrier is scheduled to be launched later this year while the third one is expected in about 2021. It also provided some details about their technical characteristics.

Germany Confirms Plans to Buy Naval Strike Missiles From Norway Sputnik 13 Feb 2017 -- Germany will purchase naval strike missiles for some $1.19 billion from Norway.

Supersonic BrahMos Russian-Indian Missile Upgraded to Be Launched From Fighters Sputnik 13 Feb 2017 -- India is due to test the air-launched version of the supersonic Russian-Indian BrahMos cruise missile in the next three months, according to the Russian newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
India Not in a Hurry to Sign Foundational Defense Agreements With the US Sputnik 13 Feb 2017 -- US is pushing India to sign the two Foundational Defense Agreements, the Communication and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), which India is yet to sign as per the US-India strategic defense partnership.

Remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada in Joint Press Conference The White House 13 Feb 2017

Defense Industry

DoD News: Contracts for February 13, 2017
Saab Woos India With Offer to Build Fighter Jet Factory in Exchange for Contract Sputnik 13 Feb 2017 -- Swedish aerospace company Saab has offered India a new fighter jet factory if the defense organization is able to secure a deal to supply New Delhi with over 200 military jets. Saab is currently neck and neck with US company Lockheed Martin to supply India's Air Force with 250 single engine combat planes.
L&T Forms JV With France's MBDA for Development of Fifth Generation Systems Sputnik 13 Feb 2017 -- In September last year, US manufacturer Lockheed Martin and Raython had set up missile ventures to receive missile contract from Indian armed forces. As Donald Trump has pressurized US manufacturers to not to deviate jobs from Americans, this may prove to be an appropriate moment for MBDA to enter Indian missile ventures.

Other Conflicts

13 February 2017 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 13 Feb 2017

China firmly opposes U.S. endorsement of Japan's illegal claim on Diaoyu islands People's Daily 13 Feb 2017 -- China on Monday firmly opposed the affirmation made by U.S. and Japanese leaders that the U.S.-Japan security treaty covered China's Diaoyu islandsin the East China Sea.

20 killed as Houthis, Hadi loyalists clash in western Yemen Press TV 13 Feb 2017 -- Nearly two dozen people have been killed in overnight clashes between fighters from the Yemeni Houthi Ansarullah movement and militiamen loyal to resigned president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi in the country's strategic western province of Hudaydah, military and medical officials say.
UN chief urges Yemeni warring sides to return to negotiations Press TV 13 Feb 2017 -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the resumption of peace talks between the warring sides in Yemen, which has been under incessant attacks by the Saudi regime and its allies.

Civilians in Syria's 'Four Towns' need support as humanitarian catastrophe looms - UN relief official UN News 13 Feb 2017 -- A senior United Nations relief official has today called on all parties to come to an agreement and allow immediate and unfettered humanitarian access to more than 60,000 civilians trapped in four Syrian towns of Al-Zabadani, Al-Fu'ah, Kafraya and Madaya.
Rights Report: Syria Dropped Banned Chlorine Bombs on Aleppo VOA 13 Feb 2017 -- A leading international human rights organization is accusing Syrian government forces of dropping banned chlorine bombs on residential areas of a key northern city at least eight times late last year.
Syria signals readiness for prisoner swap deals with militants Press TV 13 Feb 2017 -- The Syrian government has expressed its readiness for prisoner swaps with militant groups ahead of a new round of peace talks in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana.
Syrian Kurds Want Turkish 'Occupants' to Stay Away From Liberating Raqqa Sputnik 13 Feb 2017 -- The Syrian Kurds are capable of liberating the city of Raqqa, a stronghold of the Daesh terrorist group, on their own without participation of Turkey, Representative to Russia of Northern Syria's Rojava Kurdish region Rodi Osman told Sputnik.
Turkey renews call for establishment of safe zone in northern Syria Press TV 13 Feb 2017 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has renewed his call for the establishment of a "safe zone" in northern Syria, an area he says should be free from terrorists and should include a "no-fly zone."
Russia Sends Military Police Battalion to Syria to Boost Security of Personnel Sputnik 13 Feb 2017 -- Russia has sent a military police battalion to protect its personnel in Syria.

Iraqi military: 13 Daesh commanders killed, Baghdadi fate unclear Press TV 13 Feb 2017 -- Iraqi Air Force says it has killed at least 13 commanders of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group during an airstrike that targeted a house in the country's west where the group's ringleader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was thought to be meeting with other extremists.
Pentagon Unable to Confirm Reports About Daesh Leader's Heavy Injuries Sputnik 13 Feb 2017 -- The US Department of Defense has no information to corroborate reports that Daesh leader Abu Bakr Baghdadi was injured in an Iraqi military strike on February 9, department spokesperson Jeff Davis said in a briefing on Monday.

Myanmar police to probe allegations of abuse against Muslim Rohingyas Press TV 13 Feb 2017 -- Myanmar's police are to conduct a "departmental enquiry" to determine whether law enforcement officers have committed human rights violations against the Muslim Rohingyas in the Buddhist-majority country.

Israel's Netanyahu To Offer 'Responsible Policies' During U.S. Visit RFE/RL 13 Feb 2017 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will put forward "responsible policies" when he travels to meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Iran on the agenda.
Veteran Palestinian prisoner elected new Hamas Gaza chief Press TV 13 Feb 2017 -- The Palestinian Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, has named a high-ranking member of its military wing as its new leader in the Gaza Strip.

Clashes between militia, army leave 11 dead in central DR Congo Press TV 13 Feb 2017 -- At least 11 people have been killed in a series of violent clashes between the army and fighters loyal to a slain militia chief in central Democratic Republic of the Congo, a local activist says.
UN and partners launch multimillion dollar appeal for DR Congo UN News 13 Feb 2017 -- The United Nations and humanitarian partners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have appealed for nearly $750 million to aid 6.7 million people this year.

Somali Military Court Sentences 7 Al-Shabab Militants to Death VOA 13 Feb 2017 -- A military court in northern Somalia town of Bosaso has on Monday sentenced seven suspected al-Shabab Islamist militants to death.

Amid unprecedented needs, UN and partners launch $1.6 billion aid appeal for South Sudan UN News 13 Feb 2017 -- Against the backdrop of dramatic deterioration of the humanitarian situation in South Sudan due to a combination of conflict, economic decline and climatic shocks, the United Nations together with relief partners have appealed for $1.6 billion to provide life-saving assistance and protection to 5.8 million people across the country.

Opinions Differ on EU Deal with Libya to Curb Migration VOA 13 Feb 2017 -- The European Union is touting a plan it says will help Libya curb the number of migrants leaving its shores, but some advocates believe the plan does little more than trap African and Middle Eastern migrants in a war zone.

News Reports

'Knives out' amid fears Flynn may 'put Putin before America' Press TV 13 Feb 2017 -- "Unhappiness" rises in the administration of US President Donald Trump, says a senior White House official as pressure mounts on the new commander-in-chief to dismiss his national security adviser over his contact with Russia.
White House 'Evaluating' Flynn's Contacts With Russian Ambassador RFE/RL 13 Feb 2017 -- The White House said U.S. President Donald Trump is "evaluating the situation" regarding his embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn's conversations with Russia's ambassador to Washington, signalling an uncertain future for Flynn.
Trump's national security adviser under attack for Russia ties Press TV 13 Feb 2017 -- US President Donald Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn, has come under attack for reportedly contacting Russia and discussing then-President Barack Obama's sanctions against the country.
Trump Makes First Calls to African Leaders VOA 13 Feb 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump made his first phone calls to African heads of state Monday, speaking with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and South African President Jacob Zuma.

US Accuses Venezuela VP of Major Role in International Drug Trafficking VOA 13 Feb 2017 -- The United States has designated Venezuela's vice president as an international narcotics trafficker under its Kingpin Act.
Background Briefing on an Announcement From the Treasury Department US Dept. of State 13 Feb 2017 -- Special Briefing by Senior Administration Officials
Treasury Sanctions Prominent Venezuelan Drug Trafficker Tareck El Aissami and His Primary Frontman Samark Lopez Bello US Dept. of Treasury 13 Feb 2017 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Venezuelan national Tareck Zaidan El Aissami Maddah (El Aissami) as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act) for playing a significant role in international narcotics trafficking.

UN Security Council urges joint measures to protect 'critical infrastructure' from terrorist attacks UN News 13 Feb 2017 -- Given the importance of critical infrastructure for a country's prosperity and security and against the backdrop of increasingly diverse physical and cyber threats from terrorist groups, the United Nations Security Council today underlined the need for international collaboration – both domestically and across borders – to ensure their protection.

European Parliament Paves Way For Visa-Free Travel For Georgians, Ukrainians RFE/RL 13 Feb 2017 -- BRUSSELS -- The European Parliament is set to endorse new rules governing the suspension of visa-free regimes with countries outside the European Union, a key step toward visa-free travel for Georgians and Ukrainians to the Schengen zone.

Turkmen President Extends Rule In Tightly Controlled Vote RFE/RL 13 Feb 2017 -- Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, the authoritarian president of gas-rich Turkmenistan, has secured a third term in office by winning 97.69 percent of the vote in the February 12 election, according to the Central Election Commission.

Cameroon Strike Leaders Plead Not Guilty VOA 13 Feb 2017 -- Tensions continue in Cameroon as the strike in English-speaking regions nears the end of its third month.

UK may lose access to EU's GPS navigation Press TV 13 Feb 2017 -- Leaving the European Union would put the UK at the risk of losing access to the EU-wide Galileo satellite navigation, a super-accurate global positioning system (GPS) that is partly designed and implemented by British companies.
UK May Lose Access to EU Galileo GPS System After Brexit Sputnik 13 Feb 2017 -- According to media reports, the United Kingdom may be cut off from the new EU global positioning system (GPS) Galileo, which British companies helped to develop, and will have to hold separate negotiations to obtain access to the system after London leaves the European Union.

Turkish Police Detain Over 1,300 Terrorist Suspects During Last Week Sputnik 13 Feb 2017 -- 1,300 terror suspects, including 45 supposed the Daesh members, were arrsted in Turkey since February 6, according to Turkey's Interior Ministry statement.

Shamkhani:JCPOA's success depends on conclusive commitments of all parties IRNA 13 Feb 2017 -- Supreme Leader's Representative and secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said on Monday that success of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) depends on undisputable fulfillment of unfinished tasks by the west and full implementation of commitments by all parties.
West must make amends for JCPOA implementation shortfalls: Iran Press TV 13 Feb 2017 -- A senior Iranian official says Western countries must make amends for their lost ground in the implementation of the landmark nuclear agreement signed between the Islamic Republic and six global powers in 2015.
Iran's Hardliners Grow More Confident VOA 13 Feb 2017 -- With tensions between the United States and Iran mounting over Tehran's test-firing of mid-range ballistic missiles, Iran's hardliners appear emboldened. They talk now of having a chance of winning their country's presidential election in May - or at least turning incumbent Hassan Rouhani into a lame-duck president, if he does manage to secure reelection.
Iran sentences man to 10 years in jail for espionage Press TV 13 Feb 2017 -- Iran has sentenced a 62-year-old man to a 10-year prison term on the charge of plotting against national security through acts of espionage, an Iranian judiciary official in the northeastern city of Mashhad says.

Bomb Rips Through Protest Rally in Pakistan, at Least 13 Killed VOA 13 Feb 2017 -- Police and witnesses in Pakistan say that a suicide bomber detonated a blast at a protest rally in the eastern city of Lahore, killing at least 13 people and wounding around 85 others.

China plans to launch 1st cargo spacecraft as early as mid-April People's Daily 13 Feb 2017 -- China plans to launch its first cargo spacecraft via a Long March-7 Y2 carrier rocket in April, sources said Monday.

Turkish-Russian Rapprochement Questioned VOA 13 Feb 2017 -- Russia is to host a pan-Kurdish conference Wednesday, and among those invited to attend are members of the Syrian Kurdish group the PYD.

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