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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 03 Apr 2017[PDF]
• Military Strikes Continue Against ISIS in Syria, Iraq AFPS 03 Apr 2017 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, conducting 20 strikes consisting of 51 engagements against ISIS targets yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• ISIS Bomb Caused Mosul Civilian Casualties, Iraqi Officials Say AFPS 03 Apr 2017 -- Iraqi officials believe that the March 17 blast in Mosul that killed 61 civilians -- including many women and children -- was caused by the blast of an Islamic State of Iraq and Syria vehicle-borne explosive device.
• Dunford, Kushner Examine Counter-ISIS Fight, Discuss Lessons for Strategy AFPS 03 Apr 2017 -- The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff arrived here today on one of his periodic visits to assess the health of the campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
• U.S. Airstrikes Hit Terrorists in Yemen AFPS 03 Apr 2017 -- The U.S. military conducted airstrikes over eastern Yemen during the weekend, targeting the sites of extremist group al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, director of Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters today.
• Afghanistan Forces Kill Over 20 Daesh Militants in Eastern Nangrahar Province Sputnik 03 Apr 2017 -- 27 militants form the Daesh terrorist group were killed, while 32 others were injured by the Afghanistan's security forces in the eastern Nangrahar province, according to official statement.
• Pakistan resumes repatriating Afghan refugees despite criticism Press TV 03 Apr 2017 -- Pakistan has resumed its mass repatriation of Afghan refugees under a UN program weeks after an international human rights watchdog criticized Islamabad for deporting thousands to a war-torn nation.
• Pakistan Resumes Repatriation Of Afghan Refugees Under Controversial UN Program RFE/RL 03 Apr 2017 -- Pakistan has resumed its repatriation of Afghan refugees under a controversial program by the United Nations, a UN official said.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Holding Ground: battalion defensive training in Ukraine Army News 03 Apr 2017 -- The Ukrainian army's 1st Battalion, 28th Mechanized Infantry Brigade conducted a battalion wide defensive training operation from March 27-29 at the Yavoriv Combat Training Center on the International Peacekeeping and Security Center, near Yavoriv, Ukraine.
• MACS-4, JMSDF stick landings in joint training USMC News 03 Apr 2017 -- Marine Air Control Squadron 4 Detachment B conducted a cross-training exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, March 30, 2017.
• U.S., Republic of Korea team up for MCM portion of Foal Eagle NNS 03 Apr 2017 -- U.S. mine countermeasures, surface and expeditionary assets and counterparts from the Republic of Korea navy wrapped up the mine countermeasures portion of the bilateral exercise Foal Eagle March 29.
• CP-17 Finishes Colombia Visit, Concludes Mission NNS 03 Apr 2017 -- The humanitarian mission Continuing Promise 2017 (CP-17) concluded March 31 after wrapping up its visit to Mayapo, Colombia.
• USS Nimitz Wins 13 Battle "E" Departmental Awards Despite Shipyard Time NNS 03 Apr 2017 -- Thirteen departments aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) earned departmental awards March 29 as part of the Commander, Naval Air Forces, Pacific Fleet Battle Effectiveness (Battle "E") and Departmental Awards Competition despite spending nine months of 2016 in the shipyard.
• USS Ross Begins Fifth FDNF Patrol NNS 03 Apr 2017 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) departed Naval Station Rota, Spain to begin its fifth scheduled forward-deployed patrol in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe April 3.
• VP-16 Participates in Swedish Exercise WASA III NNS 03 Apr 2017 -- A P-8A Poseidon, assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 16, detached to Ronneby, Sweden to participate in the Swedish-led anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise "WASA III" in the littoral waters between the Swedish mainland and Gotland island.
• Nimitz Strike Group Conducts Strait Transit Training Exercise NNS 03 Apr 2017 -- The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) participated in a show of force transit training exercise with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11 off the coast of Southern California, March 31.
• USS Makin Island Hosts Kuwait Navy Staff, US Ambassador NNS 03 Apr 2017 -- The U.S. ambassador to Kuwait and members of the Kuwait Naval Force visited the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), March 15.
• Exercise Obangame Express 2017 Concludes with Closing Ceremonies NNS 03 Apr 2017 -- The main closing ceremony for exercise Obangame Express 2017 was held March 31, 2017 at Camp Gallieni in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.
• USS Donald Cook Returns to Rota NNS 03 Apr 2017 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) returned to Naval Station Rota, Spain, March 30, 2017, after finishing its fifth forward-deployed patrol.
• F-35 'scarcely' fit to fly: Pentagon's chief tester Press TV 03 Apr 2017 -- The F-35 stealth jet has been dogged by issues and is "scarcely fit to fly," says the Pentagon's newly retired chief weapons tester.
• First Responders Conduct Vigilant Guard 17 Exercise in Georgia AFPS 03 Apr 2017 -- Six months after Hurricane Matthew struck the coast of the southeastern United States, the state of Georgia hosted a large-scale training exercise designed to test the response to a real-life disaster.
• NORTHCOM, National Guard complete Vigilant Guard 17 Army News 03 Apr 2017 -- Six months after hurricane Matthew struck the coast of the Southeast United States, the state of Georgia hosted a large-scale training exercise to respond to real-life disaster scenarios.
• South Carolina National Guard participates in Vigilant Guard 17 Army News 03 Apr 2017 -- U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers from South Carolina, Georgia and a multitude of other states came together throughout the state of Georgia March 27-31, 2017 to participate in Vigilant Guard 17.
• Oklahoma National Guard and Latvian forces gain experience at Allied Spirit VI Army News 03 Apr 2017 -- Soldiers from the Oklahoma National Guard are working closely with the 1st Latvian Brigade, during Allied Spirit VI at the 7th Army Training Command's Joint Multinational Readiness Center here, March 24.
• Special operations troops from 15 countries conduct Allied Spirit VI Army News 03 Apr 2017 -- Special operations forces joined more than 3,000 service members representing 15 NATO and partner nations to participate in exercise Allied Spirit VI at 7th Army Training Command's Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, March 8 to 31.
• Canada, Ukraine Sign Defense Cooperation Agreement Sputnik 03 Apr 2017 -- Representatives of Ukraine and Canada signed an agreement to enhance bilateral defense cooperation, according to the statement of the Canadian Ministry of National Defense.
• UK military to train Jordan's air force Press TV 03 Apr 2017 -- UK Prime Minister Theresa May is set to announce the deployment of the country's military trainers in Jordan in order to help the Middle Eastern country in attacking alleged Daesh (ISIL) positions in Iraq and Syria.
• Moscow Considers Irresponsible to Create Kosovo Armed Forces Sputnik 03 Apr 2017 -- Russian Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the Kosovar authorities were trying to create a "fake juridical" ground for creation of Kosovo armed forces.
• South Korea, Japan, US start 3-day joint exercise on Korean Peninsula Press TV 03 Apr 2017 -- The United States, South Korea, and Japan have reportedly started a three-day joint military exercise on the Korean Peninsula to simulate countering a North Korean submarine-launched missile attack.
• Russia, Belarus to Carry Out Observation Flight Over Poland by April 7 Sputnik 03 Apr 2017 -- Russian and Belorusian experts will carry out an observation flight on April 3 – 7 over the territory of Poland, Sergei Ryzhkov, head of the Russian Defense Ministry's Nuclear Risk Reduction Center, said.
• Beijing Set to Commission First Made-in-China Aircraft Carrier Sputnik 03 Apr 2017 -- China's first domestically constructed aircraft carrier is slated to take on the high seas for the first time within the next three weeks. The Shandong will be the second aircraft carrier to join the People's Liberation Army Navy's rapidly growing fleet.
• US commander comments denounced IRNA 03 Apr 2017 -- Secretary of Iran's Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei has slammed recent comments by the head of the US Central Command calling Iran a "destabilizing" country in the Middle East.
• Iran commander: US will regret any adventurism Press TV 03 Apr 2017 -- The former head of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has warned the United States against any military "adventurism" after a top US military commander threatened Tehran with military action.
• Saudi fighter pilots get 60% pay boost as Yemen bombing rages Press TV 03 Apr 2017 -- Saudi Arabia has increased its air force pilots' salary by up to 60 percent shortly after its bombing campaign against Yemen enters its third year.
• Royal Fleet Auxiliary's new tanker arrives in UK for customisation work sustaining 300 jobs UK MOD 03 Apr 2017 -- The first of the newest support ships for the Royal Navy, RFA Tidespring, has arrived in Cornwall for customisation, helping to sustain 300 UK jobs.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Sean Spicer, 4/3/2017, #34 The White House 03 Apr 2017

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for April 03, 2017

Other Conflicts

• 3 April 2017 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 03 Apr 2017
• Peace 'incomplete' without demining, UN chief says ahead of World Mine Awareness Day UN News 03 Apr 2017 -- On the eve of the International Day for World Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, Secretary-General António Guterres urged all Governments to remember landmines and explosive remnants of war when discussing peace agreements or when sending urgent humanitarian aid to conflict zones.
• Al-Houthi, Saleh Militias Hide their Yemeni Detainees in 480 Secret Prisons SPA 03 Apr 2017 -- Al-Houthi militias and the forces of the ousted Saleh have set up a total of 480 secret prisons in the Yemeni provinces under their control to hide those Yemeni prisoners, most of whom have been arbitrarily arrested.
• Turkey plans new 'anti-terror' offensives in Syria, says Turkish president Press TV 03 Apr 2017 -- President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey is planning new offensives this spring inside war-torn Syria after Ankara officially announced the completion of a months-long military campaign on the Arab country's soil.
• 'We Consider Them Occupants': Damascus Comments on Remaining Turkish Troops Sputnik 03 Apr 2017 -- Turkey continues to occupy the Syrian territory despite announcing the end of its operation there, the Syrian Ambassador to Russia said. He urged sides fighting terrorism to coordinate their actions.
• Kurdish Militia Say Gain Control of All Roads Around Syrian City of Tabqa Sputnik 03 Apr 2017 -- Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) took under control all roads leading to the northern Syrian city of Tabqa, according to the YPG monthly bulletin obtained by Sputnik.
• Syria: Agriculture should be kick-started now despite huge destruction - UN report UN News 03 Apr 2017 -- With six years of conflict in Syria causing more than $16 billion of lost crop and livestock production and destroyed farming assets, a United Nations report published today stressed the need to reboot and kick-start the agricultural sector now to dramatically reduce the need for humanitarian aid and migration.
• Who Will Retake Raqqa? VOA 03 Apr 2017 -- Thousands of civilians have been fleeing Raqqa, the de facto capital of the Islamic State terror group in Syria, in the past few days as airstrikes on the city intensify – a foretaste of when the battle to oust the militants from the besieged city starts in earnest.
• Iraqi Forces Slow Old Mosul Offensive to Avoid Civilian Casualties Sputnik 03 Apr 2017 -- According to reports, Iraqi armed forces have slowed down the pace of their offensive near Old Mosul to avoid civilian casualties.
• Iraq delays Mosul operations for civilian safe passageways Press TV 03 Apr 2017 -- The Iraqi military has temporarily halted operations around the densely populated areas around west Mosul's Old City to allow safe passage for civilians.
• British troops continue support to UN South Sudan mission UK MOD 03 Apr 2017 -- British troops in South Sudan are continuing to support the UN's efforts to increase stability in the East African nation.
• US Embassy Helps Dozens of South Sudanese in POC Camp Get Out of Juba VOA 03 Apr 2017 -- The U.S. embassy in South Sudan says it helped more than 40 South Sudanese, half of whom hold American dual citizenships, fly out of South Sudan over the weekend.
• Secessionist Groups Blamed for Cameroon Arson Attacks VOA 03 Apr 2017 -- Cameroon's government says secessionist groups in the English-speaking regions have been behind arson attacks on public buildings, most recently a large market in the town of Limbe. The destruction is prompting renewed calls for dialogue to end the five-month strike in the English-speaking areas.
• Al-Shabab Seizes Key Somali Town After Ethiopians Pull Out VOA 03 Apr 2017 -- Ethiopian troops fighting militant Islamist group al-Shabab have withdrawn from a key military base in central Somalia's Galgudud region, according to residents.
• Al-Shabab Militants Seize Ceelbuur Town in Central Somalia Sputnik 03 Apr 2017 -- Militants of the al-Shabab terrorist group occupied the town of Ceelbuur located in the central part of Somalia soon after pullout of the Ethiopian troops of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) from the town, according to local media reports.

News Reports

• Trump Reverses US Policy Toward Egypt, Welcoming Sissi VOA 03 Apr 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump reversed years of chilled relations with the world's largest Arab nation Monday, warmly welcoming Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi to the White House and pledging collaboration with Egypt in the fight against radical Islamist terrorism.
• Remarks by President Trump and President Al-Sisi of Egypt Before Bilateral Meeting The White House 03 Apr 2017
• St. Petersburg metro bombing suspect 'from Kyrgyzstan' Press TV 03 Apr 2017 -- Security services in Kyrgyzstan say a national of the Central Asian state has been behind an explosion which left over a dozen people dead in St. Petersburg, Russia.
• Blast in St. Petersburg Metro Kills 11, Injures Dozens VOA 03 Apr 2017 -- Russian authorities have identified a suspect in Monday's deadly subway bombing in St. Petersburg, the Interfax news agency reports.
• Death Toll in St. Petersburg Metro Attack Rises to 11, 45 Injured Sputnik 03 Apr 2017 -- Officials have revised the previous fatality count from 10 to 11 after an explosion in a St. Petersburg subway car on Monday. Eight individuals have been added to the list of people with injuries from the attack, the investigating commission said.
• Russian Subway Blast Kills At Least 10; Terrorism Suspected RFE/RL 03 Apr 2017 -- A bomb blast ripped through a subway car in the Russian city of St. Petersburg on April 3, killing at least 10 people and injuring dozens of others in what officials suspect was a terrorist attack.
• Senior Chinese, U.S. officials agree Xi-Trump meeting significant for bilateral ties People's Daily 03 Apr 2017 -- Senior Chinese and U.S. officials agreed on Sunday that the upcoming meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump matters greatly to the development of China-U.S. relations.
• Trump's North Korea Comments Raise Speculation About Chinese President's Visit VOA 03 Apr 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump's tough but vague talk on North Korea, in advance of this week's visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, is fueling a wide range of speculation that he may pursue a major policy shift that could either lead to a grand bargain with Beijing or start a preemptive war.
• US will tackle North Korea alone if necessary: Trump Press TV 03 Apr 2017 -- The United States has threatened to take a unilateral action to restrain North Korea's nuclear program unless China increases pressure on Pyongyang.
• Calls Mount in Britain to Defend Gibraltar as Brexit Heats Up Sovereignty Dispute VOA 03 Apr 2017 -- Britain's exit process from the European Union only formally began last week, but already London is engaged in a heated dispute with Brussels and Spain over the future sovereignty of its overseas territory of Gibraltar.
• Gibraltar of Discord: EU May Back Spain in Dispute With UK Over Territory Sputnik 03 Apr 2017 -- As the Brexit talks were triggered, the old dispute over contested Gibraltar sparked again between London and Madrid; Brussels may take the Spain's side on the issue, according to British media.
• EU Congratulates Vucic On 'Convincing' Win, Hopes EU Path Remains RFE/RL 03 Apr 2017 -- European Union Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn has congratulated Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic on his "convincing" victory in a presidential election over the weekend, saying he was "looking forward" to working together on the Balkan state's accession to the bloc.
• Vucic Wins Serbian Presidential Election With Over 55% of Votes Sputnik 03 Apr 2017 -- Serbia's Prime Minister Alexandar Vucic won the presidential election in Serbia with 55.13 percent of the votes after 91.39 percent of ballots were counted.
• Serbian Prime Minister Vucic Claims Victory in Presidential Election Sputnik 03 Apr 2017 -- Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic claimed he had won presidential election held in Serbia on Sunday.
• Qasemi: Hoisting any flag in Kirkuk except Iraq's national flag mounts tension IRNA 03 Apr 2017 -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said on Monday that hoisting any flag except Iraq's national flag in Kirkuk in Northern Iraq, runs counter to the country's constitution and will mount tension.
• Iraqi alliance: Kurdish flags in Kirkuk threaten national unity Press TV 03 Apr 2017 -- The Iraqi National Alliance (INA), headed by senior cleric Ammar al-Hakim, says the hoisting of Kurdish flags over government buildings in Kirkuk is threatening national unity.
• Turkey coup staged with government knowledge: Opposition leader Press TV 03 Apr 2017 -- The main Turkish opposition party has accused the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of having prior knowledge of the failed July 15, 2016 putsch, saying Ankara carried out a "controlled" coup in an attempt to exploit its outcomes.
• 262 Turkish diplomats, soldiers seeking asylum in Germany Press TV 03 Apr 2017 -- At least 262 Turkish diplomats and military personnel have filed for political asylum in Germany since a last year failed coup blamed on supporters of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen.
• Turkish President Courts Kurdish Vote VOA 03 Apr 2017 -- With Turkey's referendum on whether to extend the country's presidential powers less than two weeks away, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has turned his campaign toward the Kurdish minority.
• Bahraini king grants military courts right to try civilians Press TV 03 Apr 2017 -- Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifah has granted the country's military tribunals the right to try civilians, initiating yet another wave of crackdown against the opposition in the island country.
• Leftist candidate declared winner in Ecuador's presidential race Press TV 03 Apr 2017 -- Ecuador's ruling party candidate Lenin Moreno, a paraplegic, has been declared the winner of the presidential runoff in the Latin American country and is expected to provide continuity to President Rafael Correa's leftist policies.
• Moreno Wins Ecuador Presidential Election After 99% of Votes Counted Sputnik 03 Apr 2017 -- Lenin Moreno, a candidate from Ecuador's ruling PAIS Alliance party, got 51.16 percent of votes after 99 percent of ballots of the Ecuador's presidential election have been processed, according to the National Electoral Council's data.
• Afghan Lawmakers Call for Stoning of Fellow Parliamentarian VOA 03 Apr 2017 -- Lawmakers in Afghanistan have called for stoning to death of a fellow parliament member for stating the country's long border with Pakistan is an international boundary.
• Armenia's Ruling Party Wins Parliamentary Vote Amid Claims of Violations VOA 03 Apr 2017 -- Amenia's ruling party won slightly less than 50 percent of the vote in a parliamentary election, officials said on Monday.
• Lukashenka Says He Hopes Accord With Russia Can 'Preserve The Stability' RFE/RL 03 Apr 2017 -- Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka says he hopes the settlement of an energy dispute with Russia can ease tensions with Moscow and bring stability to his own country, which has been hit by a wave of street demonstrations.