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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 02 May 2017[PDF]
• Military Strikes Continue Against ISIS in Syria, Iraq AFPS 02 May 2017 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 15 strikes consisting of 38 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• Update: air strikes against Daesh UK MOD 02 May 2017 -- The RAF are continuing to take the fight to Daesh in Iraq and Syria.
• Afghanistan: UN assesses border management to cope with spike in returns from Pakistan UN News 02 May 2017 -- With an unprecedented 600,000 Afghans returned from Pakistan last year, the United Nations migration agency has completed an assessment of border management capacity at Afghanistan's two main border crossings with Pakistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Statement by Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis DoD 02 May 2017
• PACAF leaders discuss future of warfighting in Indo-Asia-Pacific region AFNS 02 May 2017 -- "I think that America's future security and economic prosperity are indelibly linked to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region," said Navy Adm. Harry B. Harris, Jr., the commander of U.S. Pacific Command, during his testimony before the House Armed Services Committee April 26, 2017.
• Socom Commander: Forces at Forefront of National Security Operations AFPS 02 May 2017 -- Thirty years after its founding, the U.S. Special Operations Command is more relevant than ever in addressing the evolving security threats facing the nation, Socom's commander said today in a congressional hearing.
• Task Force Leaders' Visit Reinforces Independent Somali Defense Force AFPS 02 May 2017 -- The commander of Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa and his command senior enlisted leader joined U.S. Africa Command's commander and the U.S. ambassador to Somalia here April 29 for a series of meetings regarding East African security.
• Readout of Secretary Mattis' Meeting with Czech Minister of Defense Martin Stropnicky DoD 02 May 2017
• Readout of Senior Leaders' Meeting with Tunisian Minister of Defense Farhat Horchani DoD 02 May 2017
• Remarks by Secretary Mattis and Minister Stropnicky at the Pentagon DoD 02 May 2017 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis; Czech Republic Defense Minister Martin Stropnickye
• The AN/TRC-170 continues to stay reliable for the Corps USMC News 02 May 2017 -- Some equipment in the Marine Corps is so valued that it has been around for generations and still operating at top capacity. One such piece of gear is the AN/TRC-170.
• USS Vella Gulf Enters US 6th Fleet Area of Operations NNS 02 May 2017 -- The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) entered the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations April 29.
• Oscar Austin visits Souda Bay NNS 02 May 2017 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), along with embarked Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46.1, arrived in Souda Bay, Greece, for a scheduled port visit May 2.
• Mesa Verde Visits SouOscar Austin da Bay NNS 02 May 2017 -- The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) and embarked Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in Souda Bay, Greece, for a scheduled port visit May 1.
• Navy Unmanned Certification Begins NNS 02 May 2017 -- Fifteen students began classes today at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), where they are expected to be the first class in the nation to earn a certification in Unmanned Maritime Systems (UMS).
• San Antonio Crew Visits Namesake NNS 02 May 2017 -- Seven Sailors from the amphibious transport dock ship, including the Executive Officer, Capt. Edgardo Moreno and Command Master Chief Terry Wylie, spent seven days there visiting elementary schools, high schools and Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps students, being interviewed and participating in Fiesta San Antonio events throughout the week.
• Cheyenne visits Sasebo during Indo-Asia-Pacific Deployment NNS 02 May 2017 -- Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Cheyenne (SSN 773) arrived at Fleet Activities Sasebo, May 2, for a visit as part of its Indo-Asia-Pacific deployment.
• Navy Renews One Guam Commitment at Island Sustainability Conference NNS 02 May 2017 -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Marianas utility experts participated in the Eighth Annual Island Sustainability Conference hosted by the University of Guam on April 19 at the Hyatt Regency Guam.
• EUCOM head: US Needs More Armored Forces in Europe to Deter Russia Sputnik 02 May 2017 -- US European Command head Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti claims that the United States needs more armored forces in Europe.
• US Strategic Bombers Fly Over Korean Peninsula Sputnik 02 May 2017 -- Pacific Air Forces reported that the US B-1B strategic bombers made flights over the Korean Peninsula.
• Future USS Tripoli Launched Following Translation NNS 02 May 2017 -- On April 9 the future USS Tripoli (LHA 7) conducted a translation from land to the dry dock at Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) shipyard. The translation was conducted in preparation of launching the ship which was successfully conducted on May 1.
• Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group Arrives in Hawaii NNS 02 May 2017 -- The Sailors and Marines of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group
  (ARG)/11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived at Joint Base Pearl
  Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, May 1 for the final port call of the ARG/MEU's
  deployment to the U.S. 3rd, 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations.
• NATO Secretary General discusses May Meeting with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel NATO 02 May 2017 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel on Tuesday (2 May 2017) at Palais d'Egmont to prepare for the meeting of NATO leaders in Brussels on 25 May.
• NATO and Partners firmly committed to continue supporting the financial sustainment of the Afghan Security Forces NATO 02 May 2017 -- NATO Allies and Partners, together with representatives of the donors' community, reaffirmed their long-term commitment to continue supporting the financial sustainment of the Afghan security forces, at the plenary meeting of the Afghan National Army (ANA) Trust Fund Board, today (Tuesday, 2 May 2017).
• Poland takes lead of NATO's Baltic Air Policing, supported by Spain NATO 02 May 2017 -- Poland took the lead of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission on Tuesday (2 May 2017), succeeding the Royal Netherlands Air Force at Šiauliai airbase in Lithuania. Spain will replace the German Air Force in supporting the mission from Estonia's Ämari airbase.
• Russia Reduces Nuclear Arsenals Despite Unfavorable International Climate Sputnik 02 May 2017 -- The director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control said that Russia was taking concrete steps to reduce its nuclear arsenals.
• Russia to Launch Indigenous Amphibious Assault Ship in Place of French Mistrals Sputnik 02 May 2017 -- Russia's Project 11711 large amphibious assault ship Pyotr Morgunov is slated to be floated this summer, Defense Ministry spokesman, Capitan First Rank Igor Dygalo, announced.
• Russian-Built AWACS-Type Aircraft to Detect New Generation Targets - Shoigu Sputnik 02 May 2017 -- A Russian-built A-100 airborne early warning and control (AWACS) aircraft will be able to detect new classes of targets, including new generation tactical aircraft, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday.
• Russian Mystery Weapon Claim Seen as Sign of Military Weakness VOA 02 May 2017 -- Does Russia have a "mystery weapon" capable of threatening the entire U.S. Navy?
• Chinese naval fleet starts friendly visit to Philippines People's Daily 01 May 2017 -- A Chinese naval fleet has begun a three-day friendly visit after arriving Sunday at Davao City in the southeastern region of The Philippines.
• India Test-Fires BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Land Attack Missile Sputnik 02 May 2017 -- Amid heightened tension at its western border, the Indian Army has successfully test-fired an extended-range version of the BRAHMOS land-attack cruise missile in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Pakistani, Afghan Spymasters Hold Rare Talks VOA 02 May 2017 -- The Spy chiefs of Pakistan and Afghanistan have held official talks in Kabul on bilateral security and counterterrorism cooperation.
• Defense minister declares 100x rise in Iran's arms production capacity Press TV 02 May 2017 -- Iran's defense minister has announced that the country witnessed a whopping 100-fold increase in its arms production capacity under the current administration.
• Israel unveils US-made advanced F-35 warplanes at air show Press TV 02 May 2017 -- Israel has unveiled its F-35 stealth warplanes recently obtained from the United States, a further vivid sign of Washington's full military support of Tel Aviv in its crackdown on the Palestinian people and aggression against neighbors.
• Japan's MSDF ship embarks on 1st protection mission amid constitutional uncertainty People's Daily 02 May 2017 -- A Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) "helicopter carrier" set sail to escort a U.S. Navy vessel in the Pacific, marking the first time such a protection mission has taken place under the controversial new security legislation.
• As Oil Prices Dip, African Countries Spend Less on Military VOA 02 May 2017 -- African military expenditures have finally slowed down after more than a decade of steady increases, according to a new report on global defense spending. The main reason, the report found, is a drop in oil prices.
• India Delivers Second Fast Patrol Vessel to Mauritius Sputnik 02 May 2017 -- India has delivered the second fast patrol vessel (FPV), christened MCGS Valiant, to the Mauritius Police Force's National Coast Guard.
• Kenya - MD 530 Aircraft DSCA 02 May 2017 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Kenya for MD 530 aircraft. The estimated cost is $253 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on May 1, 2017.
• UK troops deploy to South Sudan to support peacekeeping mission UK MOD 02 May 2017 -- The latest deployment of British troops has arrived in South Sudan to continue support to the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping mission.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for May 02, 2017

Other Conflicts

• Ankara to discuss possible military operations in Syria with Russia, US Press TV 02 May 2017 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he will discuss Ankara's "possible operations" in northern Syria with Russia and the United States, vowing not to allow Kurdish militants to achieve their goals in the region.
• Iran says will send more military advisors to Syria: IRGC commander Press TV 02 May 2017 -- A senior commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the Islamic Republic will dispatch more military advisors to Syria to support the Syrian government and nation in their battle against terrorist groups.
• Syria militant delegation in Kazakhstan for peace talks Press TV 02 May 2017 -- A delegation of Syria's anti-government militants has arrived in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, for talks.
• Daesh attack on Syrian refugee camp near Iraq kills 32: SOHR Press TV 02 May 2017 -- The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says nearly three dozen people have lost their lives when members of the Takfiri Daesh launched an attack against a camp for Iraqi refugees and displaced Syrians in the far northeastern corner of Syria on the border with neighboring Iraq.
• Syrian Army Liberates 236 Settlements From Daesh Since January - Russian MoD Sputnik 02 May 2017 -- The number of settlements liberated by the Syrian government troops from the Daesh terror group, outlawed in Russia, since January has reached 236, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday in a daily bulletin.
• Syria Conflict Could Be Resolved Only Through Talks - Putin Sputnik 02 May 2017 -- According to the Russian president, the Syrian crisis can be solved only through talks.
• Islamic State Regroups in Parts of Iraq VOA 02 May 2017 -- A car-bombing in east Mosul is confirming fears of some analysts that the offensive against the Islamic State is dealing the terror group military defeats but not necessarily political setbacks.
• Pakistani, Indian Military Establish Hotline Contact After Border Escalation Sputnik 02 May 2017 -- Pakistani and Indian local military commanders established hotline contact after a reported escalation in the border regions, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces, said Tuesday in a statement.
• Israel Rejects New Hamas Policy Document VOA 02 May 2017 -- The Palestinian militant group Hamas that rules the Gaza Strip has unveiled a new policy document that claims to ease its stance on Israel. However, Israel and the more moderate Palestinian Authority that rules parts of the West Bank are skeptical, saying nothing has changed.

News Reports

• Trump-Kim Summit Would Likely Require Major Concessions VOA 02 May 2017 -- Despite U.S. President Donald Trump's expressed willingness to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, it seems unlikely to happen anytime soon as neither side is prepared to offer any concessions to warrant such a high level summit.
• DPRK says current crisis on Korean Peninsula most dangerous in half century People's Daily 02 May 2017 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Monday the current crisis on the Korean Peninsula is the most dangerous in half a century since the 1950-1953 Korean War.
• Negotiation the Pareto-optimal path to denuclearization of Korean Peninsula: Chinese official People's Daily 02 May 2017 -- A nuclear-free Korean Peninsula can only be achieved through peaceful negotiations, while any U.S. military action will threaten regional stability and give rise to mistrust among the countries involved, said a senior Chinese official.
• DPRK says U.S. conducts nuclear bomb dropping drill in South Korea People's Daily 02 May 2017 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Tuesday that the U.S. military Monday conducted in South Korea a nuclear bomb dropping drill on targets of DPRK in South Korea, calling it an "extremely reckless" move for nuclear war on the Korean peninsula.
• US pushing Korean Peninsula to brink of nuclear war: Pyongyang Press TV 02 May 2017 -- North Korea says a pair of strategic US bombers, which recently flew over the Korean Peninsula in joint wargames with the South, practiced dropping a nuclear bomb amid rising tensions in the restive region.
• China Warns its Citizens in North Korea to Leave as Conflict with US Looms Sputnik 02 May 2017 -- Fearing a possible US attack on North Korea, Beijing is urging its citizens there to return, as Pyongyang continues its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile tests.
• 'All indications suggest DPR Korea making progress' on nuclear programme - UN atomic agency chief UN News 02 May 2017 -- The head of the United Nations atomic agency today expressed serious concern about the nuclear program of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), saying all indications suggest that the country is moving ahead with its nuclear efforts.
• Responsible actions needed to ensure peace of Korean Peninsula: People's Daily People's Daily 02 May 2017 -- Given the continued escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula over the past months, all concerned parties should implement the resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council in a more strict manner and return to peaceful negotiations, the People's Daily said in an editorial published on Sunday.
• US May Impose New Sanctions on Venezuela Amid Maduro's Initiative Sputnik 02 May 2017 -- US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Michael Fitzpatrick said that the United States may consider imposing new sanctions against Venezuela.
• Venezuela's president calls for popular assembly to rewrite constitution Press TV 02 May 2017 -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has called for a new popular assembly to rewrite the country's constitution as riots continue throughout the country
• Swiss Spy Agency Defends Practices After German Arrest in Tax Case VOA 02 May 2017 -- Switzerland's Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) on Tuesday defended its efforts to combat theft of business secrets after a Swiss man was arrested in Germany on suspicion of working for the spy agency.
• Erdogan: Turkey Will Say 'Goodbye' to EU Unless New Talks Opened RFE/RL 02 May 2017 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged the European Union to open talks on aspects of Turkey's bid to join the EU, warning that otherwise Ankara would have nothing to discuss with the bloc and would say "goodbye."
• Erdogan Warns 'Goodbye' to EU if Accession Chapters Not Opened Sputnik 02 May 2017 -- Turkey will say "goodbye" to the European Union if Brussels does not open its new accession chapters for Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday.
• Erdogan, Putin to Meet Amid Faltering Rapprochement VOA 02 May 2017 -- Turkey could be seeking to play Moscow off Washington, according to some analysts, as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set for separate meetings this month with Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump.
• Putin Meets With Merkel, Will Hold Phone Call With Trump RFE/RL 02 May 2017 -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin have met in the Russian Black Sea port of Sochi for talks focusing on the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, as well as on strained bilateral relations.
• Putin Denies Russia Meddled in US Election VOA 02 May 2017 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin denied Tuesday that Russia interfered in last year's U.S. presidential election, saying such allegations are "simply rumors" that are being leveraged for political reasons in the United States.
• US Congress allocates no money for Trump's border wall Press TV 02 May 2017 -- The US Congress has ignored President Donald Trump's demand to fund his controversial campaign pledge of building a wall along the US-Mexico border in the first 100 days of the administration
• U.S. Envoy Urges Macedonian Leaders To Allow New Government To Form RFE/RL 02 May 2017 -- A high-level U.S. envoy met with Macedonian leaders on May 1 and urged them to allow a newly formed parliamentary majority made up of Social Democrats and ethnic Albanian parties to form a new government.
• Macedonia's New Parliament Speaker Blocked From Taking Office RFE/RL 02 May 2017 -- The stalemate over control of Macedonia's legislature continues after the newly declared parliament speaker, Talat Xhaferi, has been blocked from taking up the post by nationalist lawmakers who oppose his election.
• Rifts Deepen in South Africa's Ruling Alliance VOA 02 May 2017 -- South African President Jacob Zuma was booed off the stage Monday as he tried to address a meeting of the country's largest labor union. Analysts see evidence of deepening rifts in the ruling African National Congress and Zuma's increasing isolation.
• We are in a race against time to achieve the Kingdom's vision 2030, Prince Mohammed bin Salman announces SPA 02 May 2017 -- In a 50-minute interview with Al-Thamnah (the 8th) TV program aired here this evening, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, confirmed that the implementation of the Kingdom's vision 2030 is done through its three-faceted programs, one runs until 2020, another to 2025 and the third to 2030.