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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 23 May 2017[PDF]
• Counter-ISIS Strikes Hit Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 23 May 2017 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 27 strikes consisting of 99 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• Pentagon Spokesman Describes U.S. Raid in Yemen AFPS 23 May 2017 -- Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula is a formidable terror group that remains intent on attacking Americans and the U.S. homeland, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, director of Pentagon press operations, told reporters today.
• US attack kills 7 in central Yemen: Pentagon Press TV 23 May 2017 -- At least seven people have lost their lives in a US ground and aerial operation in Yemen's central province of Ma'rib, the Pentagon says.
• US Troops Wounded in Yemen Raid on Monday - Pentagon Sputnik 23 May 2017 -- Several US troops were wounded in a raid conducted against the al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) terror group (banned in Russia) in the Marib Governorate of Yemen on Monday night, US Department of Defense spokesperson Capt. Jeff Davis said in a briefing on Tuesday.
• Taliban raid kills 10 Afghan troops in Kandahar Press TV 23 May 2017 -- At least 10 Afghan soldiers have been killed and nine others wounded in a Taliban attack on a military base in southern Afghanistan, officials said.
• Afghan Forces Continue to Suffer Battlefield Casualties VOA 23 May 2017 -- A Taliban attack on a military base in southern Afghanistan has killed at least 11 government soldiers and wounded as many others, while a major insurgent offensive on a remote western district has triggered deadly clashes.

Defense Policy / Programs

• DoD Releases Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Proposal DoD 23 May 2017 -- Today President Donald J. Trump sent Congress a proposed budget request of $639.1 billion, $574.5 billion in the base budget and $64.6 billion in the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) budget. This budget request is $52 billion above the defense budget cap in the Budget and Control Act (BCA) of 2011.
• Official: Budget Request Allows DoD to Get Ready, Balanced, More Lethal AFPS 23 May 2017 -- The president's fiscal year 2018 defense budget request furthers the administration's strategy to "get ready, get balanced and get bigger and more lethal," DoD budgeteers told reporters at the Pentagon today.
• Defense Budget Request Seeks to Balance Current, Future Needs AFPS 23 May 2017 -- President Donald J. Trump's fiscal year 2018 Defense Department budget request proposes a $52.4 billion increase over the 2017 request and seeks to shore up readiness, procure systems for the future and fully fund operations worldwide.
• Readout of Secretary Mattis meeting with the North American Defense Ministerial DoD 23 May 2017
• US, Philippine forces 'shoulder-to-shoulder' exercise strengthens interoperability Army News 23 May 2017 -- Balikatan is a Filipino term meaning "shoulder-to-shoulder" and is an annual exercise involving the U.S. military and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, designed to build bilateral partnership by joining forces to complete humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well as counterterrorism training. The completion of Balikatan 2017 ended with a closing ceremony, May 18.
• I MEF reserve Marines support Joint Task Force exercise USMC News 23 May 2017 -- Marines, soldiers, airmen, and sailors from reserve component units across the country supported I Marine Expeditionary Force Joint Task Force Operational Capability Assessment here, May 8-18, 2017.
• DIA Director Testifies on Top Five Global Military Threats AFPS 23 May 2017 -- North Korea, Russia, China, Iran and extremist organizations are the top five military threats facing the nation, the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency said here this morning.
• Trump's $19.1Bln Space Budget Sustains US Efforts to Land Astronaut on Mars Sputnik 23 May 2017 -- US President Donald Trump's fiscal year 2018 budget request includes $19.1 billion for space exploration that will support efforts send humans into deep space, including a landing on the planet Mars, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) acting Administrator Robert Lightfoot said in a statement on Tuesday.
• US Senators Introduce Bill to Bolster Missile Defense System Sputnik 23 May 2017 -- A bipartisan group of US Senators introduced The Advancing America's Missile Defense Act of 2017, aiming to promote a ballistic missile defense system for the westernmost parts of the United States that are vulnerable to attack from nations like North Korea, Senator Dan Sullivan said in a statement on Monday.
• Polish Navy Wants to Obtain 4 Submarines to 'Protect' Baltic Sea Sputnik 23 May 2017 -- The Polish Navy wants to get at least four submarines to ensure its security in the Baltic Sea, Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz said on Tuesday.
• China's Z-19E armed helicopter offers export advantages: Military expert People's Daily 23 May 2017 -- China's Z-19E armed helicopter, which took its maiden flight on May 18, has major advantages over its international rivals due to its lower price point and competitive trade mode, said Chinese military expert Du Wenlong.
• China tells N Korea not to defy UNSC resolutions Press TV 23 May 2017 -- China has called on North Korea not to defy UN Security Council resolutions by its nuclear and missile activities following Pyongyang's test-launch of a mid-range ballistic missile.
• UNSC condemns North Korea missile test, vows to tighten sanctions Press TV 23 May 2017 -- The United Nations Security Council says it will increase pressure on all countries to tighten anti-Pyongyang sanctions over North Korea's missile tests.
• Military Milestone: All You Need to Know About the New North Korean Missile Sputnik 23 May 2017 -- South Korean experts managed to establish the type of missile that the DPRK military launched on May 21. According to sources in the Defense Ministry of the Republic of Korea, it was a Pukykson-2 type missile. In the West, it is known as KN-15.
• Top US Intel Official: North Korea on Trajectory to Nuclear-armed Missile VOA 23 May 2017 -- A top American intelligence official has warned that North Korea is on the path of developing the capability of carrying out a nuclear strike against the United States.
• Germany Made No Decision Yet on Moving Military From Turkey to Jordan Sputnik 23 May 2017 -- The transfer of German military from the Turkish Incirlik base to another location in Jordan is an interesting alternative, but no political decision on the matter has been made yet, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said Tuesday.
• India's Light Helicopters Take Maiden Flight, Commercial Production Soon Sputnik 23 May 2017 -- Close on the heels of the maiden flight of HTT-40 (PT-2), the second prototype of India's indigenously built single-engine, three-ton light utility helicopter (LUH) made its maiden flight on Monday at its facility in Bengaluru. The flight was conducted without any snag in 22 minutes.
• Indian Air Force Sukhoi Jet Goes Missing Near China Border Sputnik 23 May 2017 -- A Sukhoi-30MKI jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has gone missing on Tuesday morning near the Tezpur IAF base in the north-eastern state of Assam while on a routine sortie near the China border.
• India Clears Naval Project to Transport Troops Into War Zone Sputnik 23 May 2017 -- The Indian Defense Ministry has given an in-principle approval to a mega naval project worth more than $3.1 billion to provide critical support to troops in a war zone. The project will involve landing platform docks.
• Indian Army Set to Get 11 US Apache Attack Helicopters - Reports Sputnik 23 May 2017 -- The Indian army is set to get 11 Apache multi-role attack helicopters, purchased from the United States in 2015, forming their own group of attack helicopters for the first time, The Hindu newspaper reported, citing military sources.
• Missile program Iran's defense redline: Gov't spox IRNA 23 May 2017 -- Iran's missile defense program is an unchangeable policy, Government spokesman Mohammad Baqer Nobakht said.
• Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - Navy Blanket Order Training DSCA 23 May 2017 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a Navy blanket order training program. The estimated cost is $250 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on May 22, 2017.
• Taiwan drill tests defense capability against air attack by China CNA 23 May 2017 -- All three branches of Taiwan's military took part in a drill Tuesday to test the country's defense capability against a simulated attack by China, in the second stage of this year's Han Kuang series of military exercises, according to the military.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for May 23, 2017

Other Conflicts

• 23 May 2017 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 23 May 2017
• UN Envoy To Iraq Says Mosul Liberation Imminent, IS 'Caliphate' Days 'Numbered' RFE/RL 23 May 2017 -- The United Nations envoy for Iraq says the defeat of the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in the city of Mosul is "imminent" and that its so-called "caliphate" in Iraq will soon end.
• Like a Rat: Daesh Leader al-Baghdadi Flees Mosul as Terrorists are Liquidated Sputnik 23 May 2017 -- A representative of the Democratic Party of Kurdistan in Mosul, Said Mamuziny, told Sputnik Turkey that the leader of Daesh, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has escaped the Iraqi city of Mosul as the fall of the city nears.
• Trump Calls On Israelis, Palestinians To Compromise For Peace RFE/RL 23 May 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Israelis and Palestinians to reach a compromise for peace, saying that both sides showed readiness to do so during his two-day visit to Israel and the West Bank.
• Trump: Israeli, Palestinian Leaders 'Ready to Reach for Peace' VOA 23 May 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday declared that both the Israeli and Palestinian leaders are "ready to reach for peace."
• New French President Reaffirms Commitment to Fight Terrorism in Sahel VOA 23 May 2017 -- During his election campaign, France's new president Emmanuel Macron promised he would visit French troops in Mali. Just days into his term, he made Mali his second foreign visit, and his first to Africa.
• Unidentified DPRK flying object crosses border with S. Korea People's Daily 23 May 2017 -- An unidentified flying object from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) crossed an eastern border with South Korea Tuesday afternoon, Seoul's military said.
• South Korea fires warning shots at object flying from North Korea Press TV 23 May 2017 -- South Koran military has fired warning shots at a suspected drone flying from North Korea amid fresh tensions between the two neighbors over Pyongyang's new ballistic missile test.
• South Korea Fires Warning Shots At Suspected Drone Near North Korean Border RFE/RL 23 May 2017 -- South Korea's military says it has fired warning shots after an unidentified object flew south from North Korea as tensions continue to rise in the region.
• Pakistan Faces Challenges to Curb Militancy to Protect Chinese Investment VOA 23 May 2017 -- Pakistan views a project to expand its port in Gwadar and link it to China as a way to provide jobs and an economic boost to Balochistan, the country's poorest province.
• Filipino President Duterte Introduces Martial Law in Country's South Sputnik 23 May 2017 -- Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte declared on Tuesday a martial law on the southern island of Mindanao, following the deadly firefight between government security forces and Islamists, Filipino Foreign Minister Alan Peter Cayetano said on Tuesday.
• Manhunt Underway for IS-linked Militant in Philippines VOA 23 May 2017 -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday declared the country's restive south under martial rule for 60 days after security forces' attempt to capture a top Islamic State-linked militant leader failed, setting off clashes that left a major southern city under siege.
• With funding 'down to a trickle,' UN agency renews warning over Burundi refugees UN News 23 May 2017 -- The United Nations refugee agency has increased its funding appeal by $36 million to support Burundians fleeing their homes in what could become the third-largest refugee crisis in Africa.
• Instability, Abuse Force Thousands of Burundians to Flee Country VOA 23 May 2017 -- The United Nations refugee agency reports thousands of Burundians are fleeing instability and abuse in their country as funding to support growing numbers of refugees dries up.
• Indian Army Says it Hit Pakistan Posts in Kashmir; Pakistan Denies it VOA 23 May 2017 -- The Indian army said Tuesday it has hit army posts in Pakistani Kashmir that were providing cover for militants planning to cross into the Indian side of the disputed Himalayan territory. Pakistan denies that any such action took place.

News Reports

• Russia 'brazenly interfered' in US election: Former CIA chief Press TV 23 May 2017 -- Former CIA Director John Brennan has publicly said Russia "brazenly interfered" with the US presidential election and that he was aware of interactions between members of Donald Trump's campaign and Russian officials.
• Ex-CIA Chief Brennan Complained To FSB Director In August Of Election Meddling RFE/RL 23 May 2017 -- Former CIA Director John Brennan said he spoke directly to the head of Russia's main security agency last summer, complaining about the harassment of U.S. diplomats and apparent Russian efforts to meddle in the presidential election campaign.
• CIA Shared Intelligence Over Russia Probe With FBI - Ex-Director Brennan Sputnik 23 May 2017 -- The CIA has routinely shared intelligence information with their partners at the FBI in regards to the ongoing investigation into Russia's alleged efforts to influence the 2016 US election, the agency's former Director John Brennan said in a congressional hearing Tuesday.
• Reports: Trump Asked Intel Chiefs to Disavow Russian Collusion With His Campaign VOA 23 May 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump asked two of the country's top intelligence chiefs to publicly disavow possible Russian collusion with his election campaign, but the officials considered the request to be inappropriate and refused, U.S. media reports say.
• Britain Raises Terror Alert to Critical - the Highest Level VOA 23 May 2017 -- Britain has raised its terrorism alert to critical -- the highest level -- and soldiers are being deployed to assist armed police, Prime Minister Theresa May announced Tuesday.
• ISIL claims responsibility for deadly Manchester attack Press TV 23 May 2017 -- The Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group has taken responsibility for Monday night's attack at the Manchester Arena that killed 22 people, including children, and wounded 59 others.
• British Police Name Salman Abedi As Perpetrator In Manchester Bombing RFE/RL 23 May 2017 -- British police have named Salman Abedi as the dead assailant in what Prime Minister Theresa May called a "callous terrorist attack" at a Manchester pop concert that killed 22 victims, many of them children or teenagers.
• British Police Still Searching for Clues in Manchester Bombing VOA 23 May 2017 -- British police are urgently trying to determine whether the suicide bomber who struck a music concert Monday in the northern city of Manchester acted alone or was part of a larger terror network.
• IS Claims Responsibility for Blast Targeting Ariana Grande Concert VOA 23 May 2017 -- The so-called Islamic State terrorist group has claimed responsibility for Monday's blast at a concert by U.S. pop star Ariana Grande in Manchester, England that killed at least 22 people and injured dozens more.
• 22 killed, 59 injured in "one-man terrorist attack" in Manchester: police People's Daily 23 May 2017 -- A total of 22 people, including children, were killed and 59 others injured in a suicide terror attack at Manchester Arena Monday night, police announced on Tuesday.
• Fresh protests rock Venezuela after man set on fire Press TV 23 May 2017 -- Thousands of doctors have rallied in Venezuela's capital, Caracas, against President Nicolas Maduro amid the unrest which has claimed over 50 lives in the country over the past weeks.
• Iran rejects media hype on uranium contract with Kazakhstan IRNA 23 May 2017 -- The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi rejected the UK media reports that allegedly claimed Astana has suspended uranium export to Tehran.
• Rouhani: Iran fully committed to nuclear deal IRNA 23 May 2017 -- President Hassan Rouhani in a phone conversation with his French counterpart Emanuel Macron Monday evening affirmed Iran's commitment to the nuclear deal signed between Tehran and major world powers, and called for deepening of bilateral ties.
• Official: Iran inks 70 lease contracts for oil tankers in post-JCPOA IRNA 23 May 2017 -- Managing Director of National Iranian Oil Tanker Company (NIOTC) Cyrus Kian Erthi announced on Tuesday that in post-JCPOA era more than 70 contracts on renting Iran's oil tankers were inked by big foreign companies.
• Petrodollars turning Middle East into West's arms depot: Iran official Press TV 23 May 2017 -- A senior Iranian official has lashed out at certain countries for using petrodollars to turn the Middle East into a depository for Western weapons.
• President affirms Taiwan's partnership with U.S. CNA 23 May 2017 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) reiterated Tuesday that Taiwan will continue its role as a reliable partner of the United States in regional security and continue to work for regional peace and prosperity.
• Ex-Turkish Air Force Chief Denies Involvement in 2016 Coup Attempt Sputnik 23 May 2017 -- Former Turkish Air Force Commander Gen. Akin Ozturk on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to the charge of involvement in last year's thwarted military coup attempt.