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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 28 Apr 2017[PDF]
• Inherent Resolve Strikes Continue Against ISIS Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 28 Apr 2017 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 28 strikes consisting of 53 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• Afghan Taliban declare start of 'spring offensive' Press TV 28 Apr 2017 -- The Taliban militant group in Afghanistan has announced the start of its so-called spring offensive, a heightened campaign of bombings, ambush attacks, and other raids that begins as weather conditions improve.
• Former Afghan Warlord Hekmatyar Holds First Meetings With Government Since Peace Deal RFE/RL 28 Apr 2017 -- Notorious former Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has held talks with government representatives in eastern Afghanistan after years outside the country, his first public meetings with officials from the Western-backed government since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.
• USS Zephyr/US Coast Guard Team Seize $22.5 Million Worth of Cocaine NNS 28 Apr 2017 -- The Cyclone-class patrol coastal ship USS Zephyr (PC 8), its embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) personnel and coalition forces intercepted an immense amount of contraband while on patrol conducting Operation Martillo in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations April 19.

Defense Policy / Programs

• 5th-Generation Fighters Arrive in Bulgaria AFPS 28 Apr 2017 -- (Editor's Note: Additional reporting by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jessica Hines, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa)
• USS Laboon Visits Bahrain NNS 28 Apr 2017 -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) wrapped up a port visit to Manama, Bahrain, April 25.
• Montenegro Ratifies Pact On NATO Membership RFE/RL 28 Apr 2017 -- Montenegro's parliament has ratified a pact on NATO membership, marking a historic turn toward the West amid protests from traditional ally Russia and the country's pro-Russian political opposition.
• Montenegro parliament votes for NATO membership Press TV 28 Apr 2017 -- Montenegro's parliament has formally agreed to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), signaling a U-turn by a traditional Russia ally.
• NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) – Continuation of C-17 Logistics Support Services and Equipment DSCA 28 Apr 2017 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) for continuation of C-17 logistics support services and equipment. The estimated cost is $300 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on April 27, 2017.
• NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) – Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) System Components DSCA 28 Apr 2017 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) for Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) system components. The estimated cost is $33.5 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on April 27, 2017.
• Statement by the NATO Secretary General on the violence in the Parliament in Skopje NATO 28 Apr 2017
• China exporting more submarines People's Daily 28 Apr 2017 -- China's exported submarines are relatively cheap but offer advanced technology, and designs for some of their features could be modified to meet customers' requirements, making them more competitive in the global market, an expert said Thursday.
• Live-fire drills, new weapons planned People's Daily 28 Apr 2017 -- China will conduct "combat-oriented live-fire drills" and test new weapons to protect national security and regional stability, Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said on Thursday.
• Defense ministry disavows rumors that aircraft carrier will be named after mantis shrimp People's Daily 28 Apr 2017 -- China's Ministry of National Defense denounced on April 27 the rumor that the country's newly launched aircraft carrier will be named after the mantis shrimp, an animal widely ridiculed by Chinese internet users for its bizarre appearance. The ministry clarified that no name has been chosen yet.
• North Korea test-fires new ballistic missile: South Korean military Press TV 28 Apr 2017 -- North Korea has reportedly test-fired a ballistic missile from a location north of the capital Pyongyang, amid escalating tensions with the United States and neighboring South Korea.
• South Korea Rejects Trump's $1B THAAD Demand VOA 28 Apr 2017 -- The South Korean government has quickly refuted U.S. President Donald Trump's call for Seoul to pay $1 billion for the THAAD missile defense system.
• Trump's latest remarks on trade, THAAD land like bombshell in S. Korea ARIRANG 28 Apr 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump came down hard on South Korea during his exclusive interview with Reuters, raising doubts about two pillars of their bilateral relationship. Trump says he wants a renegotiation or termination of the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement and that Seoul should pay for the THAAD missile defense system.
• Defense Ministry: No Payment for THAAD KBS World Radio 28 Apr 2017 -- The Defense Ministry has reaffirmed its basic stance that the U.S. is to cover the costs for the deployment of the THAAD anti-missile system.
• Trump Calls for FTA Renegotiation and $1Bln for THAAD KBS World Radio 28 Apr 2017 -- The U.S. President Donald Trump suggested charging Seoul with a one-billion dollar bill for the deployment of the U.S. THAAD anti-missile system. He also hinted at his intentions to terminate the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement unless the deal is renegotiated for better trade terms for the U.S.
• Who will pay for THAAD? US & South Korea hold different opinions People's Daily 28 Apr 2017 -- US President Donald Trump said he wants South Korea to pay for the deployment of the controversial Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, according to Reuters.
• Israel - 76mm Naval Gun and Technical Support DSCA 18 Apr 2017 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Israel for 76mm Naval Gun and Technical Support. The estimated cost is $440 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on April 26, 2017.
• Syria in talks to buy Russian air defense systems: Assad Press TV 28 Apr 2017 -- Syria says it is negotiating with Russia to buy state-of-the-art Russian missile defense systems to help defend the Arab country against Israeli and American aggression.
• Government of Australia - Anti-Radiation Missiles DSCA 28 Apr 2017 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia for Anti-Radiation Missiles. The estimated cost is $137.6 million.
• New Zealand – P-8A Aircraft and Associated Support DSCA 28 Apr 2017 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to New Zealand for P-8A aircraft and associated support. The estimated cost is $1.46 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on April 27, 2017.
• Government of Slovakia – Bell 429 Light Utility Helicopters DSCA 28 Apr 2017 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Slovakia for Bell 429 light utility helicopters. The estimated cost is $150 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on April 27, 2017.
• Government of Greece - CH-47D Helicopters DSCA 28 Apr 2017 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Greece for CH-47D helicopters. The estimated cost is $80 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on April 27, 2017.

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

• Infighting between rival terrorist groups leaves dozens dead in Syria: Observatory Press TV 28 Apr 2017 -- At least 40 foreign-sponsored militants have been killed during a fresh wave of infighting that broke out between rival Takfiri terrorist groups on the outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus, says a UK-based monitoring group.
• Congo's Ethnic Violence Displaces More Than 1M People VOA 28 Apr 2017 -- The United Nations has issued a flash appeal of $64.5 million to provide emergency assistance over the next six months to hundreds of thousands of people uprooted by ethnic violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo's southern Kasai, Lomami and Sankuru provinces.
• MSF Evacuates International Staff in South Sudan's Upper Nile VOA 28 Apr 2017 -- Doctors Without Borders said it has evacuated international staff from two towns in South Sudan because of intense fighting between the army and rebel groups.
• Thai Military Steps Up Security in Restive Muslim Border Provinces VOA 28 Apr 2017 -- Thailand's military in the southern border provinces is on high alert on the 13th anniversary of a wave of insurgent attacks that included the deaths of 32 insurgents inside a mosque.

News Reports

• Trump Foreign Policy Gets Tough Scrutiny at 100-day Mark VOA 28 Apr 2017 -- Love him or hate him, President Donald Trump engenders strong feelings, and with his presidency reaching the symbolic 100-day milestone at a moment of international tensions, battle lines are sharply drawn on the effectiveness of his still-developing foreign policy.
• Egypt's president endorses new legislation granting him more powers Press TV 28 Apr 2017 -- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has signed into law a bill that has recently been approved in the parliament to grant him more powers concerning appointments in the country's judiciary.
• Explainer: Macedonia At A Crossroad RFE/RL 28 Apr 2017 -- Scores of demonstrators stormed Macedonia's parliament on April 28 and attacked several lawmakers after an ethnic Albanian deputy was elected speaker. It's one of the most alarming developments in that Balkan nation since it lurched into political gridlock more than two years ago.
• West Condemns Macedonian Violence As Balkan Tensions Rise RFE/RL 28 Apr 2017 -- The European Union, the United States, NATO, and several Balkan countries have condemned the violent storming of Macedonia's parliament by nationalist demonstrators who assaulted several lawmakers and journalists.
• China reiterates dialogue on N. Korea 'only right choice' Press TV 28 Apr 2017 -- The Chinese Foreign Minister has warned that the situation on the Korean Peninsula is "at a critical point," reiterating that negotiations were "the only right choice" to defuse the tensions and avoid chaos.
• All options must remain on the table on North Korea: Tillerson Press TV 28 Apr 2017 -- US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has told the United Nations Security Council that "all options" regarding North Korea "must remain on the table."
• 'Things can slip out of control,' China says of North Korea tensions Press TV 28 Apr 2017 -- China has once again warned that the tensions involving North Korea could slip out of control, as a war of words between Washington and Pyongyang remains likely to turn into a war of bullets.
• Trump says 'major conflict' with North Korea possible Press TV 28 Apr 2017 -- US President Donald Trump has warned that a "major conflict" with North Korea is "absolutely" possible in the ongoing standoff over its nuclear and missile programs.
• Tillerson Says Threat Of North Korean Nuclear Attack On South Korea, Japan Is 'Real' RFE/RL 28 Apr 2017 -- U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has told the United Nations the threat of a North Korean nuclear strike on Seoul or Tokyo "is real" and that failure to act may bring "catastrophic consequences."
• Tillerson Urges UN Security Council to Take Action Before N. Korea Does VOA 28 Apr 2017 -- U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Friday that Washington would not rule out a military response to future North Korean aggression and that it would seek to increase the rogue nation's financial and international isolation.
• Trump says he prefers diplomatic approach to solving Korean Peninsula issue People's Daily 28 Apr 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he would prefer a diplomatic approach to solving the Korean Peninsula issue, but warned that a major conflict with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is possible.
• China draws red line for North Korea issue: war is not allowed People's Daily 28 Apr 2017 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi took a tough position on the North Korea issue on Wednesday, saying that war on the Korean Peninsula is absolutely unacceptable.
• Trump administration is not to withdraw from JCPOA: US official IRNA 28 Apr 2017 -- The Executive Director of the Arms Control Association Daryl G. Kimball said that the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's letter to US Congress regarding Iran's commitment to JCPOA indicates that President Donald Trump's campaign criticism against Iran nuclear deal has come to an end.
• Medvedev's Popularity Sinks Amid May Day Politics in Russia VOA 28 Apr 2017 -- The independent Russian television channel Dozhd (Rain) reported Friday that the central executive committee of the country's ruling party, United Russia, had distributed to its regional branches a list of 36 slogans that party activists should use during party activities next week marking the annual May Day holiday.
• PACE President Stripped Of Powers After Meeting Syria's Assad RFE/RL 28 Apr 2017 -- The president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has been stripped of his leadership powers after he joined Russian State Duma deputies on a trip to Syria to meet with President Bashar al-Assad.
• China announces readiness to construct permanent manned space station Press TV 28 Apr 2017 -- China has announced its plan to begin the construction of a permanent manned space station, placing the East Asian giant higher among the few countries with advanced space technology.