05 April 2017 Military News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 05 Apr 2017[PDF]

Inherent Resolve Strikes Target ISIS in Syria, Iraq AFPS 05 Apr 2017 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Most Senior Daesh Leader Killed in Eastern Afghanistan Nangarhar Province Sputnik 05 Apr 2017 -- One of the most senior Daesh terrorist group leaders reportedly has been killed in eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan Reacts Angrily to Pakistan's Fencing of Border VOA 05 Apr 2017 -- Afghanistan is calling on Pakistan to stop fencing off the border between the two countries, suggesting that Kabul might resort to military action if diplomacy fails to resolve the issue.

Defense Policy / Programs

T-45C Operational Pause Implemented NNS 05 Apr 2017 -- The Navy implemented a three-day operational pause for its T-45C fleet Wednesday at the direction of Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker, Commander, Naval Air Forces.
White House Official: Iraq Trip Provides 'Invaluable, Informative Experience' AFPS 05 Apr 2017 -- Jared Kushner, the senior advisor to President Donald J. Trump, said his trip with Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford to Iraq was an "invaluable, informative experience."
F-16 crashes near Joint Base Andrews AFNS 05 Apr 2017 -- A D.C. Air National Guard F-16C Fighting Falcon, assigned to the 113th Wing at Joint Base Andrews, crashed at about 9:15 a.m. today approximately six miles southwest of the base. The aircraft was flying along with other D.C. ANG aircraft in a routine training mission in the greater Washington area. The aircraft carried one pilot.
Short-range air defense tops review of Army programs, G-8 says Army News 05 Apr 2017 -- Last year the Army kicked off an effort called the Strategic Portfolio Analysis and Review, or SPAR, to review 780 programs and evaluate their impact on warfighting.
US, Lithuanian Soldiers conduct exercise Savage Wolf Army News 05 Apr 2017 -- Soldiers of Company B (Barbarian), 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo., participated in Savage Wolf, a combined exercise, with Lithuanian soldiers on a range outside Rukla, April 4.
Remarks by Secretary of Defense Mattis and President of Egypt El-Sisi at the Pentagon DoD 05 Apr 2017 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis; President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
Remarks by Secretary Mattis and Minister Ng at the Pentagon DoD 05 Apr 2017 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis
US Pacific Fleet Commander Emphasizes Importance of ROK, US Naval Partnership During Third Visit to Korea NNS 05 Apr 2017 -- Adm. Scott Swift, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, highlighted the importance of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and U.S. Navy partnership when he visited the peninsula, April 3-5.
Carl Vinson Strike Group Hosts Reception in Singapore NNS 05 Apr 2017 -- The USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (CSG) hosted a reception for local guests while in Singapore during a port visit, April 4.

Russian, Turkish Navies Hold Joint Drills in Black Sea Sputnik 05 Apr 2017 -- Russia's Black Sea Fleet and Turkey's navy held joint exercises in the Black Sea, the fleet's spokesman Vyacheslav Trukhachev said Wednesday.
Oscar II-Class Nuclear Submarine Orel to Rejoin Russian Navy in April Sputnik 05 Apr 2017 -- The Oscar II-class nuclear-powered attack submarine Orel will be back in service with the Russian navy by the end of April.

New Norwegian Defense Leaves Country Defenseless, Embarrassing Report Finds Sputnik 05 Apr 2017 -- The Norwegian army can only defend an area of about 600 square kilometers, which corresponds to a single medium-size Norwegian municipality (out of 426), a new army report has found to the embarrassment of the Norwegian Defense Ministry.

China Reveals How Many Fighter Jets the New Aircraft Carrier Can Dock Sputnik 05 Apr 2017 -- Chinese media has revealed that the new Chinese aircraft carrier will be able to dock 36 Jian-15 fighters [J-15].

Brazil's Potential Purchase of Pantsir-S1 Systems Clogged by Finance Trouble Sputnik 05 Apr 2017 -- Brazil is interested in buying Russian Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile systems, but the financial situation does not allow to plan such purchase on a tight deadline, Raul Jungmann, the country's defense minister, said Wednesday.

Pacom Detects, Tracks North Korean Missile Launch AFPS 05 Apr 2017 -- U.S. Pacific Command detected and tracked what officials assess to be a North Korean missile launch at 11:42 a.m. yesterday, Hawaii time - 5:42 p.m. EDT - Pacom officials announced.
DPRK fires ballistic missile into eastern waters People's Daily 05 Apr 2017 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday test-fired one ballistic missile into eastern waters, South Korea's defense ministry said.
Tokyo, Beijing Urge North Korea to Refrain From Missile Test Provocations Sputnik 05 Apr 2017 -- Kenji Kanasugi, Japanese foreign ministry chief of Asia-Pacific affairs, and Chinese Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs Wu Dawei have jointly urged North Korea to abstain from further provocations following their recent missile test, a statement released by the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.
Update: North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile into Sea of Japan Sputnik 05 Apr 2017 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired off another projectile presumed to be a missile as Japanese, Korean and US forces hold military drills in the region.

Japanese PM Calls to Maintain N Korea Tracking System Following Missile Test Sputnik 05 Apr 2017 -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, at an emergency meeting of the National Security Council, ordered to maintain the tracking system at a high-level in connection with North Korea's new missile test, General Secretary of the Cabinet Yoshihide Suga said on Wednesday.

Indian Submariners Complete Training to Run Scorpene Class Submarines Sputnik 05 Apr 2017 -- The first two crews to operate and run Kalvari-class submarines, based on the French Scorpene, completed their training from the reference operator of the French Defense Ministry earlier this week. The diesel-electric submarines are expected to be commissioned into the Indian Navy within a few months.
India Deploys Amphibious Warfare Ship in South Indian Ocean Sputnik 05 Apr 2017 -- The Indian Navy has deployed one of its three Shardul-class amphibious warfare ships to provide surveillance support in the Indian Ocean Region, primarily against illegal fishing and smuggling.
Detect, Track, Destroy: India to Receive Armed Heron Drones from Israel Sputnik 05 Apr 2017 -- An announcement that India will receive its first armed Heron drones from Israel has come as Narendra Modi prepares to make history as the first Indian prime minister to ever visit the country.

No official word on sale of F-35 jets from U.S.: Defense Ministry CNA 05 Apr 2017 -- Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday that there has been no official word from the United States on sales of F-35 fighter jets, after Japanese media reported recently that Washington has a plan to sell Taiwan F-35s.
Taiwan to draw on submarine upgrade experience to build own subs CNA 05 Apr 2017 -- Taiwan will draw on the experience of an ongoing program to upgrade two of its aging submarines to support a project to build the country's own submarines, an institute contracted to conduct the programs said Wednesday.

Royal Navy boat chases Spanish warship out of Gibraltar waters Press TV 05 Apr 2017 -- A British Royal Navy patrol boat chased a Spanish warship out of Gibraltar's territorial waters in the latest spat between the UK and Spain over the disputed enclave's future after Brexit.
UK personnel arrive in Poland and Estonia UK MOD 05 Apr 2017 -- The British Army's Light Dragoons have arrived in Poland as part the UK commitment to NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence in Eastern Europe.

Defense Industry

DoD News: Contracts for April 05, 2017
This Latin American Country Launches Unexpected Campaign to Promote its Weapons Sputnik 05 Apr 2017 -- Brazil is famous for many of its industries: soccer, coffee, plastic surgeries and so on. However, the country has recently decided to launch a campaign taking into account its military industry.

Other Conflicts

5 April 2017 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 05 Apr 2017
Protecting refugees, ensuring security of countries 'complimentary goals, special UN forum told UN News 05 Apr 2017 -- Protecting refugees and assuring the safety of countries that receive them are complementary goals, a senior United Nations official today said in a special security forum that discussed denying safe havens to people who finance or commit terrorist acts, or to terrorists who try to abuse the asylum system.

Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen issues a statement on grave humanitarian situation in areas controlled by coup forces SPA 05 Apr 2017 -- The Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen said in a statement today that it recognizes the grave humanitarian situation in the areas still being controlled by the coup forces in Yemen, adding that it is doing its best to ensure food and medicine supplies to the Yemeni people.

Haley threatens to bypass Security Council in dealing with Syria Press TV 05 Apr 2017 -- The United States threatens to take "its own action" in dealing with Syria, citing the United Nation's failure in dealing with crisis in the war-ravaged Middle Eastern country.
Donors pledge $6 billion to help support future of war-torn Syria at UN-backed conference UN News 05 Apr 2017 -- Forty-one donors today pledged a combined $6 billion for critical humanitarian programmes in 2017 and another $3.7 billion for 2018 for the people of Syria reeling under a devastating conflict since 2011 at a United Nations-supported conference in the Belgian capital, Brussels.
Iran condemns use of chemical weapons in Syria IRNA 05 Apr 2017 -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said on Wednesday that Iran strongly condemns any use of chemical weapons in Syria regardless of the perpetrators and the victims.
NATO Secretary General condemns reported chemical weapons attack in Syria NATO 05 Apr 2017
Turkey occupying Syria, trying to build city near al-Bab: Syrian envoy Press TV 05 Apr 2017 -- The Syrian ambassador to Russia has accused Turkey of seeking to establish a city near the northern Syrian city of al-Bab, citing Turkish troops' presence and occupation of the area.
Russia, West trade barbs over Syria attack in UNSC meeting Press TV 05 Apr 2017 -- Representatives from Russia and Western countries have been engaged in a war of words during an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) concerning a recent suspected chemical attack in Syria.
Syria struck terrorist chemical depot in Idlib: Russia Press TV 05 Apr 2017 -- Russia says the Syrian Air Force recently hit a depot used by terrorists to make and store ammunition, including chemical weapons, in the Arab country's northeastern Idlib Province.
Gas attack in Syria 'consequence' of Obama approach, Trump says Press TV 05 Apr 2017 -- US President Donald Trump has once again targeted his predecessor over his Syria policy following a suspected gas attack in the war-torn country.
Trump Denounces 'Horrific' Syria Chemical Attack As U.S. Hints At Unilateral Action RFE/RL 05 Apr 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has described a reported chemical attack in the Syrian province of Idlib that left more than 70 people dead and dozens injured as "an affront to humanity."
Russia Rejects Draft UN Resolution On Apparent Syria Chemical Attack RFE/RL 05 Apr 2017 -- Russia's Foreign Ministry has rejected a draft UN Security Council resolution condemning an apparent chemical-weapons attack in Syria's Idlib Province that left dozens killed and injured.
Trump Promises Response to Syrian Chemical Attack Sputnik 05 Apr 2017 -- In the wake of the recent chemical attack that killed at least 70 people, including women and children, in the Idlib province of Syria, Trump was fired up about his administration's next steps in the region.
Trump Says Idlib Chemical Attack Won't Be Tolerated, Attitude to Assad Changed Sputnik 05 Apr 2017 -- The chemical attack in Syria's Idlib province is an affront to humanity and cannot be tolerated, US President Donald Trump said in a joint press conference with Jordan's King Abdullah II on Wednesday. He added that his attitude to Syrian President Bashar Assad changed.
Moscow Believes Ankara Serious About Commitment to Syrian Truce Sputnik 05 Apr 2017 -- Moscow believes that Ankara is serious in its commitment to the ceasefire in Syria and the two sides continue bilateral discussions of any existing disagreements, Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said Wednesday.
Kremlin on Idlib Attack: Russia to Continue Supporting Assad in War on Terror Sputnik 05 Apr 2017 -- The Kremlin spokesman commented on the chemical attack in Idlib blamed by Western states on Damascus.
Chemical attack, if confirmed, would be largest in Syria, UN Security Council told UN News 05 Apr 2017 -- Briefing an emergency meeting of the Security Council following the reports of alleged chemical weapons use in Khan Shaykhun, southern rural Idleb, Syria, a senior United Nations official for disarmament affairs said that while many details are not yet fully known, new information continues to come in on the incident.
Brussels conference 'a moment of truth' for decisive steps to up support on Syria - UN chief UN News 05 Apr 2017 -- Speaking at a major international conference on Syria, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on the international community to increase support for the victims of the conflict in the war-ravaged country as well as for the neighbouring ones that are sheltering millions of refugees.
Trump Calls Syria Attack 'An Affront to Humanity' VOA 05 Apr 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump condemned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday for the deadly chemical weapons attack in Syria, calling it "an affront to humanity," but declining to say what action the United States might take in response.
Global Chorus of Condemnation After Gas Attack in Syria VOA 05 Apr 2017 -- Britain, France and the United States strongly condemned Russia Wednesday during an emergency U.N. Security Council for its support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his government's role in a suspected chemical weapons attack.
Gap Widens Between US, Europe Over Syria VOA 05 Apr 2017 -- A gap is widening between the Trump administration and European allies over the future of President Bashar al-Assad and how to end the six-year war in Syria.
Fears Over Damage to Syrian Dam as Battle For Raqqa Intensifies VOA 05 Apr 2017 -- As U.S.-backed coalition forces prepare for a final assault on the Islamic State de-facto capital Raqqa, there is a continuing push to expel fighters from nearby Tabqa dam.

Dunford: Iraqis, Coalition Have Adapted, Continue Attacking ISIS AFPS 05 Apr 2017 -- Iraqi and coalition forces will learn from the civilian casualty incident of March 17 and continue to support Iraqi forces taking the fight to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in Mosul, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today.
Senior Daesh commander, dozens of militants killed in Mosul Press TV 05 Apr 2017 -- Iraqi government forces, backed by fighters from allied Popular Mobilization Units, have carried out fresh operations against Takfiri Daesh militants in the strategic northern city of Mosul, inflicting substantial losses on them.
Bomb attack kills 31 in Baghdad café Press TV 05 Apr 2017 -- A bomb attack at a café in the north of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, has killed at least 31 people.
Daesh kills 31 in overnight raids in Iraq's Tikrit Press TV 05 Apr 2017 -- At least 31 people have been killed and more than 40 others wounded in attacks by the Daesh terrorist group in Iraq's northern city of Tikrit, security forces have announced.
Brazen Overnight Attack in Tikrit Signals IS Resolve VOA 05 Apr 2017 -- Islamic State's brazen overnight attack on Tikrit, killing at least 31 security personnel and civilians, is part of a series of diversionary attacks designed to mask its mounting losses in Mosul and portray that it has strength elsewhere in Iraq, analysts say.

Top UN official in DR Congo concerned about rising number of civilian deaths in Kasai UN News 05 Apr 2017 -- The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo today expressed concern about a reported rise in the number of civilian casualties in the central Kasai region as a result of clashes between the Kamuina Nsapu militia and the Congolese security forces.

Two Blasts Touched Off in Somali Capital; Seven Killed VOA 05 Apr 2017 -- A heavy explosion was heard Wednesday night in Mogadishu, a police officer said, hours after a car bomb killed at least seven people in the Somali capital.

Building solid foundation for peace in Colombia needs 'consistent vigilance' - UN envoy UN News 05 Apr 2017 -- While the first phase in implementing the recently agreed peace deal between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP) remains largely on track, the "relatively short window of opportunity" to build a solid foundation for peace requires consistent vigilance, the United Nations envoy in that country told the Security Council today.

News Reports

Remarks by President Trump and His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan in Joint Press Conference The White House 05 Apr 2017

Trump Removes Bannon from Security Council VOA 05 Apr 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday removed his chief political strategist, Stephen Bannon, from the National Security Council, reversing an early appointment that had drawn the ire of foreign policy experts in Washington.

Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Moscow, April 5, 2017 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 05 Apr 2017

On-the-Record-Briefing: Previewing the Visit of President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China US Dept. of State 05 Apr 2017 -- Special Briefing by Susan Thornton, Acting Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
China Hopes Xi-Trump Meeting Will Inject Stability Into Relationship VOA 05 Apr 2017 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will be looking for signs that U.S. foreign policy is shifting more toward his own this week when he sits down for his first face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump at the president's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

Stopping Flow of Foreign Fighters to ISIS 'Will Take Years,' Official Says AFPS 05 Apr 2017 -- Countering the flow of foreign terrorist fighters supporting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria requires intelligence sharing, national and international collaboration and strategic patience, a senior military officer said today.

Six Central Asians Detained In St. Petersburg, No Sign Of Ties To Bomb Suspect RFE/RL 05 Apr 2017 -- Russian authorities say that six citizens of Central Asian states have been detained in St. Petersburg on suspicion of recruiting for Islamic militant groups.

Top US Official Confirms Laptop Restrictions on Flights May Expand VOA 05 Apr 2017 -- The United States may soon extend its ban on computers in the cabin on some flights from the Middle East and Africa to more airports, the head of Homeland Security confirmed Wednesday.

President Tsai receiving briefings on Trump-Xi meeting: official CNA 05 Apr 2017 -- A national security team has been giving President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) regular briefings to keep her informed on the upcoming meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping (習近平), the Presidential Office spokesman said Wednesday.

U.S. Deports Russian In 2015 Spy Case That Continues To Reverberate RFE/RL 05 Apr 2017 -- U.S. authorities have deported a man convicted of working as an unregistered Russian government agent, in a case that has shed light on Russian intelligence operations in the United States.

Congresswoman Urges US to Lead Drought and Famine Relief in Africa VOA 05 Apr 2017 -- Political and humanitarian leaders gathered Tuesday on Capitol Hill to call for action to prevent a looming humanitarian disaster in parts of Africa.

U.S. Senators Urge Lukashenka To Release Protesters, Warn Of Russia Risks RFE/RL 05 Apr 2017 -- A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has sent a letter to Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka expressing "great concern" over a crackdown on citizens protesting against a controversial tax on the unemployed and urged the "immediate" release of those detained.

Alfredo Beltran Leyva Sentenced to Life in Prison for Leading an International Drug Trafficking Conspiracy US Dept. of Justice 05 Apr 2017 -- Alfredo Beltran Leyva, also known as Mochomo, one of the leaders of the Beltran Leyva Organization, a Mexican drug-trafficking cartel responsible for importing multi-ton quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States, was sentenced today to life in prison for his participation in an international narcotics trafficking conspiracy.

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