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Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 17 May 2017[PDF]
• Military Strikes Continue Against ISIS Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 17 May 2017 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 29 strikes consisting of 87 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• Top NATO Commanders Recommend Joining Anti-IS Coalition RFE/RL 17 May 2017 -- Top NATO commanders have recommended that the military alliance join the international coalition fighting the Islamic State extremist group.
• Militants attack TV, radio building in Afghanistan Press TV 17 May 2017 -- Afghan security forces have engaged three gunmen who have attacked a state radio and television building in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar Province.
• Attackers Storm Afghan State Television Building, Civilians Killed RFE/RL 17 May 2017 -- Attackers stormed the state television building in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, triggering an hours-long gunbattle with security forces that left at least two civilians dead.
• Possible US Troop Increase in Afghanistan Aimed at Breaking Stalemate VOA 17 May 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump is considering whether to send up to 5,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, a decision expected to come before a NATO summit on May 25. But the question being asked is what can the U.S. achieve with such a small number of extra troops in a country where 350,000 Afghan security forces are already engaged in battle.
• Militants Storm Afghanistan's National Broadcaster VOA 17 May 2017 -- A group of at least four Islamic State militants, including suicide bombers, stormed an office of Afghanistan's state broadcaster in eastern Nangarhar province Wednesday, killing at least six people and wounding up to 20 others.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Quality of life to improve for 386th AEW Airmen AFNS 17 May 2017 -- In the upcoming months, the Airmen of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing will see some changes beginning that will affect their long-term quality of life in Southwest Asia.
• Saber Junction 17: Training Can be a Minefield Army News 17 May 2017 -- As simulated battles rage throughout the wooded hills of the Joint Multinational Readiness Center during exercise Saber Junction 17, few Soldiers notice the curious structure consisting of four waist high tubes attached to a large plate pointing in various directions resting in a field.
• Remarks by Secretary Mattis and Minister Lourenco at a Memorandum of Understanding Signing at the Pentagon DoD 17 May 2017-- Presenter: Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis; Angolan Minister of Defense Joao Lourenco
• USS Lake Erie Provides MEDEVAC Support NNS 17 May 2017 -- Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) performed a medical evacuation after a request came from a U.S. Army logistics support vessel (LSV) in the early hours of May 15.
• Readout of Secretary Mattis' Bilateral Meeting with Norwegian Minister of Defense Ine Eriksen Søreide DoD 17 May 2017
• Remarks by Secretary Mattis and Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide at the Pentagon DoD 17 May 2017
• NATO Military Chiefs Discuss Issues Confronting Alliance AFPS 17 May 2017 -- NATO chiefs of defense are discussing issues from Afghanistan to Russia to the southern flank during the 177th Military Committee meeting here today.
• NATO Secretary General welcomes political progress in Skopje NATO 17 May 2017 -- I welcome President Ivanov's decision to grant Mr. Zaev's parliamentary majority a mandate to form a new government. This is a step in the right direction, and the right thing to do. I encourage the swift formation of a new government, a timely confirmation vote in parliament and a constructive attitude by all parties. It is important the country can start to focus on its urgently needed reforms. I urge all those concerned to continue their efforts to advance the country's Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
• S. Korean politician raises possibility of returning THAAD People's Daily 17 May 2017 -- South Korea's ruling Democratic Party has put forward the possibility of returning the controversial THAAD anti-missile system to the United States.
• THAAD detected N Korea missile: Seoul Press TV 17 May 2017 -- South Korea's defense minister says that North Korea's latest missile test was detected by the recently installed THAAD missile system.
• S Korea to Convince US to Turn THAAD Radars Away From Chinese Territory Sputnik 17 May 2017 -- South Korea plans to put China at ease by convincing the US to deploy THAAD radars in South Korea directed strictly to the north and not covering some Chinese territory.
• S Korea to Consider Sending THAAD System Back to US - Ruling Party Leader Sputnik 17 May 2017 -- South Korean ruling Democratic Party's leader would consider the possibility of uninstalling and sending the THAAD system back to the United States.
• DPRK defends its latest missile launch, seeks int'l support People's Daily 17 May 2017 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has justified its latest long, medium-range ballistic missile test-firing as "routine work to raise nuclear capability for self-defense," rejecting a UN Security Council statement of condemnation.
• UN Security Council sees "ample possibility" to use sanctions against DPRK People's Daily 17 May 2017 -- There is "ample possibility" for the UN Security Council to impose new sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in response to its missile launch, said council President Elbio Rosselli on Tuesday.
• Pyongyang Developing Missiles Faster Than Seoul Expected Sputnik 17 May 2017 -- Following a UN Security Council directive ordering North Korea to cease all ballistic missile and nuclear weapons developments, a South Korean minister said Tuesday that Pyongyang is making progress on its missile program faster than expected.
• North Korean Nukes and Missiles 'Recipe for Disaster' VOA 17 May 2017 -- The head of the U.S. Pacific Command warned Wednesday that the combination of ballistic missiles and nuclear warheads in the hands of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un represents "a recipe for disaster."
• Germany may pull troops out of Turkey base Press TV 17 May 2017 -- German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has warned that Berlin could allow the movement of troops out of a base in southern Turkey if Ankara keeps denying German lawmakers access to the site.
• Looking to Buy? Germany Seeks Classified F-35 Intelligence Sputnik 17 May 2017 -- The German government has sent a request to the US military asking for secrets about Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
• India Looks for Foreign Engine Maker to Power Indigenous Multi-Role Helicopter Sputnik 17 May 2017 -- Months after unveiling the full-scale model of the Indian multi-role helicopter, the Indian government-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has issued a request for information to supply turbo-shaft engine for 10-12.5 ton AUW class twin engine helicopter.
• Navy Proliferation: Singapore Buys 2 German-Made Submarines Sputnik 17 May 2017 -- The trend of naval expansion is not limited to global powers like China, Russia and the US: The Republic of Singapore Navy has moved to beef up its fleet, too.
• Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Sean Spicer aboard Air Force One en route Washington, D.C. The White House 17 May 2017

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for May 17, 2017

Other Conflicts

• 17 May 2017 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 17 May 2017
• In Sign of Closer Sino-Philippine Ties, US Naval Exercises Skip a Disputed Sea VOA 17 May 2017 -- Annual exercises held by the Philippine and U.S. navies are skipping the South China Sea this year as the Southeast Asian nation's leader takes another step toward a stronger political and economic relationship with China, the sea's most ambitious claimant.
• Military Buildup: China Installs Anti-Frogman Guns in South China Sea Sputnik 17 May 2017 -- China has reportedly further militarized a disputed reef in the South China Sea, just days after agreeing to minimize tensions with Vietnam.
• China sets up defense systems on South China Sea reef Press TV 17 May 2017 -- China has set up rocket launchers on a reef in the disputed South China Sea as a defensive measure against Vietnamese military combat divers.
• Saudi air raid on Yemen leaves over 20 civilians dead Press TV 17 May 2017 -- At least 23 civilians have lost their lives when Saudi fighter jets carried out an airstrike in Yemen's southwestern province of Ta'izz as the Riyadh regime continues with its atrocious aerial bombardment campaign against its impoverished southern neighbor.
• Syria's warring sides to respond to UN bid for drafting constitution Press TV 17 May 2017 -- Syria's warring parties have reportedly been presented with a "surprise" United Nations proposal aimed at mapping a way forward to a new draft constitution for the conflict-ridden Arab country.
• Syria censures deadly US strikes on civilians in Raqqah, Dayr al-Zawr Press TV 17 May 2017 -- Syria has written to the United Nations, severely condemning recent fatal airstrikes by the US-led coalition against civilians as illegal and a breach of its sovereignty.
• Putin Says Hope Exists for Restoring Peace in Libya, Russia Ready to Help Sputnik 17 May 2017 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday there is hope for establishing peace in the Libya and Moscow is ready to contribute to the process of settlement in the crisis-torn state.
• Xi says China willing to assist Myanmar in peace progress People's Daily 17 May 2017 -- President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China is willing to continue to provide Myanmar with assistance in its internal peace progress.
• Indian troops clash with students in Kashmir Press TV 17 May 2017 -- Hundreds of stone-throwing student protesters have clashed with New Delhi government forces in Indian-controlled Kashmir as tensions continue to rock the disputed Himalayan region.
• Red Cross: 115 bodies found in Central African Republic Press TV 17 May 2017 -- The Red Cross says 115 bodies have been found in the Central African Republic's town of Bangassou following several days of attacks by militants.
• As Somalia combats insecurity, poverty, drought worsens 'more rapidly than projected' - UN official UN News 17 May 2017 -- The humanitarian crisis in Somalia is worsening, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council, calling for more than $800 million in aid to offset the impact of a severe drought in a country that is already battling insecurity and poverty.
• As four countries face famine, world 'must step up now' says top UN food security forum UN News 17 May 2017 -- With famine looming in four countries, the United Nations-backed Committee on World Food Security (CFS) stressed today the need to rally support for both immediate relief to people at risk and for longer-term initiatives.
• UN: Congolese Civilians Paying Price in Kasai Conflict VOA 17 May 2017 -- In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Nations says civilians are paying a high price in the conflict in the central Kasai region. A U.N. report out this week accuses state security forces of killing dozens of women and children.

News Reports

• Former FBI Head Mueller Named Special Prosecutor in Russia Probe VOA 17 May 2017 -- In a surprise move, a former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation was named Wednesday as a special prosecutor to oversee the investigation of “Russian government efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election and related matters,” according to the U.S. Justice Department.
• White House Reeling After Twin Allegations Related to Russia VOA 17 May 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump's White House was left reeling Wednesday following the stunning allegation that he sought to derail a criminal investigation into links his former national security adviser had with Russian officials on top of reports that Trump disclosed highly classified intelligence to two Moscow diplomats last week.
• Trump's Woes Trigger More Alarms on Capitol Hill VOA 17 May 2017 -- For weeks, most Republican lawmakers limited their comments about the crisis-plagued Trump administration to vague expressions of concern – if they commented at all. That common stance began to shift late Tuesday after media reports surfaced that former FBI director James Comey had written memos alleging President Donald Trump pressured him to halt an investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn's ties to Russia.
• Did Trump Ask FBI to End Investigation Into Flynn? VOA 17 May 2017 -- Following a bombshell revelation that President Trump may have asked then-FBI Director James Comey to drop the agency's probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, a powerful Republican Congressional committee chairman has asked the FBI to hand over Comey's notes on the incident within a week.
• Trump asked Comey to end Flynn investigation Press TV 17 May 2017 -- US President Donald Trump asked former FBI Director James Comey to end a probe into alleged ties between ousted national security adviser Michael Flynn and Russia.
• Putin Offers To Provide Record Of Controversial Trump-Lavrov Talks RFE/RL 17 May 2017 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Moscow is prepared to provide a record of a White House meeting in which U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly shared classified intelligence with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
• Putin: I Can Prove Trump Passed No Secrets VOA 17 May 2017 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says President Donald Trump never passed any classified information to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov when they met last week in Washington, and he has the transcripts to prove it.
• Trump, Erdogan Avoid Discord Over Kurds in White House Talks VOA 17 May 2017 -- After meetings Tuesday at the White House, President Donald Trump and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, praised the strength of the two countries' relations, while at the same time sidestepping their differences over strategies for confronting Islamic State extremists in northern Syria.
• Former Top U.S. Officials Call For New Sanctions, More Aggressive Action On Russia RFE/RL 17 May 2017 -- The United States should impose new sanctions and move more aggressively to "shape Russian thinking" in response to Moscow's actions in Ukraine and elsewhere, former top State and Defense department officials said.
• South Korea's President Moon says war with North highly possible Press TV 17 May 2017 -- South Korea's newly-elected President Moon Jae-in has warned of a "high possibility" of conflict with North Korea amid the latter's rapidly advancing missile and military nuclear programs.
• Moon Warns of War on Korean Peninsula Sputnik 17 May 2017 -- Following the deployment of the cutting-edge US-built THAAD missile system in South Korea and Sunday's successful launch of Pyongyang's most powerful ballistic missile to date, newly elected South Korean President Moon Jae-in has declared that war with the North is a "high possibility."
• Seoul Calls for Reopening of Communication Hotline With Pyongyang Sputnik 17 May 2017 -- South Korean Unification Ministry's spokesman Lee Duk-haeng said that South Korea calls for reopening of the intra-Korean communication channel that was cut off in 2016 after North Korea's nuclear and missile tests.
• WikiLeaks Source Chelsea Manning Freed From U.S. Military Prison RFE/RL 17 May 2017 -- Chelsea Manning, the U.S. soldier who was convicted of leaking hundreds of thousands of classified documents, says she is seeking to put her past behind her following her release from prison.
• US Releases Chelsea Manning VOA 17 May 2017 -- Chelsea Manning, the U.S. Army soldier who gave more than 700,000 classified military and diplomatic documents to WikiLeaks in 2010, was freed from prison early Wednesday after serving seven years of a 35-year sentence.
• U.S. State Department Issues Report on Human Rights Sanctions on Iran US Dept. of State 17 May 2017-- The State Department released today its semi-annual report to Congress detailing sanctions imposed on persons involved in human rights abuses in Iran. The report cites recent sanctions against the Tehran Prisons Organization and Sohrab Soleimani, the former head of the Tehran Prisons Organization, as required by the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Accountability and Divestment Act of 2010, as amended by the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012.
• Three debates of presidential candidates in brief IRNA 17 May 2017 -- Candidates of the 12th presidential elections, slated to held on May 19, expressed their views about various economic, political and social issues in the framework of three rounds of televised debates.
• Rohani Scorecard: Did Iran's President Deliver? RFE/RL 17 May 2017 -- When Hassan Rohani was elected as Iran's president in June 2013, he assumed power at a time when the Islamic republic was facing unprecedented sanctions, international isolation, and a worsening economy that was a source of discontent at home.
• U.S. Extends Iran Nuclear Sanctions Relief, Adds Other Sanctions RFE/RL 17 May 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is extending sanctions relief for Iran that was granted under the 2015 nuclear agreement, while imposing new economic penalties over Iranian ballistic-missile activity.
• Diplomat: JCPOA converts sanctions into opportunities IRNA 17 May 2017 -- Iran's professional diplomatic team changed sanctions into one of the best cooperation opportunities through marathon negotiations with major world powers, said Iran's General Consul in Kazan, Tatarstan on Wednesday.
• Trump administration renews Iran sanctions waivers Press TV 17 May 2017 -- The administration of US President Donald Trump has extended sanctions relief for Iran to uphold Washington's part of the 2015 landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers.
• India to Build Ten Cost-Effective Nuclear Reactors Sputnik 17 May 2017 -- In a major boost to the domestic nuclear power industry, the Indian government has decided to build ten indigenous pressurized heavy-water reactors (PWHR) of 700-megawatt capacity.
• 'WannaCry' may be dwarfed by new, mega-scale cyberattack, experts warn Press TV 17 May 2017 -- Cybersecurity experts have warned that "WannaCry," the ransomware that affected computers worldwide, will probably be dwarfed by a new, mega-scale cyberattack.
• Poroshenko Hails 'Historic Day' As Visa-Free EU Travel Deal Is Signed RFE/RL 17 May 2017 -- Representatives of the European Parliament and the European Council have signed a document in Strasbourg formalizing a long-awaited visa-liberalization deal with Ukraine.
• Public Sharply Divided Over Ukraine's Ban On Russian Social Networks RFE/RL 17 May 2017 -- KYIV -- Censorship and a blow to freedom of expression, or a long-overdue move in defense of national security?
• Haley Calls for UN to Intervene in Venezuela 'Humanitarian Crisis' VOA 17 May 2017 -- United States Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley is calling on the international organization to address what she called a humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.
• Death toll from Venezuela unrest hits 42 as violence continues Press TV 17 May 2017 -- At least four people have died of gunshot wounds at separate protests in Venezuela, bringing the fatality toll from the recent unrest in the country to 42.
• Côte d'Ivoire: UN chief welcomes country's return to calm after unrest UN News 17 May 2017 -- United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has commended the Government of Côte d'Ivoire for restoring security following a mutiny over pay, his spokesperson said.