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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 14 Jun 2017[PDF]
• Department of Defense Press Briefing by Major General Joseph Martin via teleconference from Baghdad, Iraq DoD 14 Jun 2017 -- Presenter: Major General Joseph Martin, Commanding General, Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command-Operation Inherent Resolve; Captain Jeff Davis, Director, Defense Press Office
• ISIS Defeat in Mosul 'Inevitable,' Ground Forces Commander Says AFPS 14 Jun 2017 -- Iraqi security forces are making progress every day against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in west Mosul, with the defeat of the enemy inevitable, the commander of coalition ground forces told reporters today.
• Inherent Resolve Strikes Target ISIS in Syria, Iraq AFPS 14 Jun 2017 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 31 strikes consisting of 50 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• Statement by Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis on Afghanistan Troop Levels DoD 14 Jun 2017 -- Yesterday afternoon, the President directed the Department of Defense to set troop levels in Afghanistan. This will enable our military to have greater agility to conduct operations, recognizing our military posture there is part of a broader regional context.
• Trump allows Mattis to raise Afghanistan troop level Press TV 14 Jun 2017 -- US President Donald Trump has reportedly allowed Pentagon chief James Mattis to increase the number of American troops in Afghanistan, amid mounting criticism about the new administration's strategy in the war-torn country.
• Islamic State Militants Capture Tora Bora VOA 14 Jun 2017 -- Islamic State militants captured parts of Afghanistan's Tora Bora region Tuesday night, after days of heavy fighting with Afghan Taliban and pro-government militias.
• In Kabul, UN chief calls for peace and compassion UN News 14 Jun 2017 -- Expressing solidarity with Afghan people, in the wake of recent violence in the country, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today underscored the Organization's full commitment to work with the Government and people of the country to build a sustainable and prosperous future for them.
• On Surprise Visit To Kabul, UN Chief Calls For Political Solution To Afghan Conflict RFE/RL 14 Jun 2017 -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has used his unannounced visit to Kabul to issue a plea for all parties in the 15-year war in Afghanistan to find a political solution.
• Pakistan Army Chief Slams US Drone Operation VOA 14 Jun 2017 -- Pakistan's military chief is sharply criticizing a suspected U.S. drone strike that killed two key Haqqani network commanders in northwestern Pakistan earlier this week.
• CTF 150 Makes Record Number of Drug Busts in Four Months NNS 14 Jun 2017 -- In a four-month span, Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 of the Bahrain-based Combined Maritime Forces has proven itself a formidable force against narcotics trafficking, with 10 drug seizures totaling over 3,300 kilograms of heroin, cocaine, cannabis resin and hashish since March.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Fighter wings successfully field test F-35A ammunition loader AFNS 14 Jun 2017 -- The 388th Fighter Wing, the Air Force's first F-35 Lightning II operational wing, recently received five F-35A bulk ammunition loaders for field use.
• Mattis, Dunford: 2018 Budget Will Continue Readiness Recovery AFPS 14 Jun 2017 -- The addition of $21 billion to the fiscal year 2017 Defense Department budget began the recovery from the readiness trough caused by sequestration spending cuts, but Congress must pass the fiscal 2018 request and repeal the Budget Control Act to continue those gains, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told a Senate subcommittee today.
• Iranian Navy Trains Laser on US Chopper, Turns Spotlight on American Ship VOA 14 Jun 2017 -- An Iranian military vessel trained a laser on an American helicopter that was accompanying three U.S. military ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Navy officials said Wednesday.
• US, Iraqi air forces recover, return pallets to DOD system AFNS 14 Jun 2017 -- Air transportation specialists assigned to the 370th Air Expeditionary Air Advisory Group began recovering more than $2.1 million in U.S. Air Force aerial port assets from Iraqi air force counterparts.
• Marine Corps Modernizing Emergency Response Capabilities AFPS 14 Jun 2017 -- Marine Corps bases worldwide are gaining increased emergency response capabilities with the implementation of the Consolidated Emergency Response System.
• DARPA Programs Create Defense Systems for Data, Networks AFPS 14 Jun 2017 -- The internet is an infrastructure that supports all aspects of modern life, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is creating technology to protect U.S. data, networks and national security, DARPA's acting director said in Baltimore today.
• Exercise Unified Focus 2017 kicks off in Cameroon Army News 14 Jun 2017 -- U.S. Army Africa and several partner nations inaugurated a new joint exercise, Unified Focus, at the Douala Naval Base, April 24. The purpose of the exercise was to gather the military partners of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) from around the Lake Chad Basin area, in order to practice joint planning and coordination through a series of scripted scenarios.
• VMA-311 conducts first APKWS live-fire training in Pacific USMC News 14 Jun 2017 -- Marines with Marine Attack Squadron 311, currently attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced), conducted training with the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System for the first time in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region during live-fire training in the skies above the W-183 range training area, Okinawa, Japan, June 9, 2017.
• MWSS-473 participates in exercise Maple Flag 50 USMC News 14 Jun 2017 -- Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron 473, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve participated in exercise Maple Flag 50, May 24 to June 9, 2017.
• USS Sterett Arrives in Zhanjiang, China NNS 14 Jun 2017 -- Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett (DDG 104) arrived in Zhanjiang, China, June 12, 2017, for a scheduled port visit.
• USS Chafee Departs on Western Pacific Deployment NNS 14 Jun 2017 -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for an independent deployment to the Western Pacific and South America, June 13.
• USS Michael Murphy Returns From Five-Month Deployment NNS 14 Jun 2017 -- USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) returned to its homeport Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after a successful five-month deployment June 13.
• UAE Ambassador to US Suggests Removing US Airbase From Qatar Sputnik 14 Jun 2017 -- UAE Ambassador to the United States Yousef Al Otaiba said that the United States should remove its airbase from Qatar as it acts as an insurance against action being taken against Doha amid ongoing diplomatic crisis.
• Russian president says NATO instrument of US foreign policy Press TV 14 Jun 2017 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has again criticized the expansion of NATO, saying the Western military alliance has become a tool in the hand of the United States to advance its foreign policy.
• Russia Launches Tactical, Naval Aviation Drills in Western Military District Sputnik 14 Jun 2017 -- According to Russian Defense Ministry, tactical and naval aviation exercises kicked off in the Western Military District.
• 'Real Quality': Serbia Looks Forward to Impending Delivery of MiG Fighter Jets Sputnik 14 Jun 2017 -- Serbia's deal with Russia for the procurement of six MiG fighter jets and the modernization of an additional four from the existing Serbian fleet is a great deal which enables Belgrade to update its air force with quality planes at a lower price than neighbors in the region, Nenad Miloradovic of the Serbian defense ministry told Sputnik Srbija.
• Indian Naval Ships Sail Into Australian Waters for Bilateral Drills Sputnik 14 Jun 2017 -- A month after rejecting Canberra's request for participating in the Malabar exercise, three Indian naval ships arrived at Australian port Fremantle for the week-long bilateral exercise AUSINDEX-17. This would be the second edition of the exercise after the first in 2015 at Visakhapatnam.
• India Successfully Test-Fires Missile Rival of Israeli Spike & US's Javelin Sputnik 14 Jun 2017 -- India has successfully test-fired its third generation anti-tank missile at the Pokhran range. Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Prospina missile is claimed to be far superior to Javelin of the US and Israeli Spike missile.
• Belarus-Russia Drills to Continue 'No Matter How Much West Pushes' Sputnik 14 Jun 2017 -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has confirmed that his country will take part in the Zapad-2017 joint drills with Russia this fall, no matter how much external pressure is brought to bear against Minsk.
• First F-35 Fighter Jet Assembled in Japan Carries Out Successful Test Flight Sputnik 14 Jun 2017 -- The first F-35 fighter jet assembled in Japan completed its maiden flight, local media reported Tuesday.
• U.S. Senate Narrowly Defeats Bid To Block Some Saudi Arms Sales RFE/RL 14 Jun 2017 -- The U.S. Senate has narrowly defeated a move to block President Donald Trump's planned sale of $500 million in precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia out of concern they could be used to kill civilians in Yemen.
• 1,500 British troops exercising with NATO allies in Europe UK MOD 14 Jun 2017 -- Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon visits some of the 1,500 British personnel currently exercising across five countries in Europe.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for June 14, 2017

Other Conflicts

• 14 June 2017 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 14 Jun 2017
• Head of UN human rights inquiry decries 'disastrous' civilian death toll in Syria UN News 14 Jun 2017 -- Conflict in Syria continues to rage with "disastrous consequences" for civilians who continue to bear the brunt of the six-year war, the head of a United Nations-mandated human rights investigation said today.
• Syrian delegation in Baghdad discusses border security Press TV 14 Jun 2017 -- A high-level delegation from the Syrian Defense Ministry has held talks in Baghdad with Iraqi officials on border security to coordinate the ongoing fight against the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.
• 'Half of Raqqa Residents' Flee as Kurds Rush to Liberate Terrorist 'Capital' Sputnik 14 Jun 2017 -- Half of the residents of Raqqa have been forced to leave the city amid the operation to drive out Daesh, SDF commander Abdulaziz Yunus told Sputnik.
• 'Fragile Peace' in Syria's Aleppo is Threatened by Terrorist Clusters Sputnik 14 Jun 2017 -- Extremists are present to the west and the north of Aleppo, the Russian military said.
• Syria Safe Zones Lead to 'Discernible Reduction in Levels of Violence' - UN Sputnik 14 Jun 2017 -- The de-escalation zones established by Russia, Iran and Turkey in Syria have led to "a discernible reduction in levels of violence", a UN commission said.
• Why Islamic State Chose Raqqa as Its Syrian Capital VOA 14 Jun 2017 -- U.S.-backed forces are continuing their assault on the Islamic State's stronghold of Raqqa. Here's a look at Raqqa and how IS turned the city into its de facto capital in Syria.
• Syrian Civilians, Infrastructure Targeted by Warring Parties VOA 14 Jun 2017 -- The Commission of Inquiry on Syria finds civilians and civilian infrastructure continue to be deliberately targeted by the warring factions, with complete disregard for international law that calls for the protection of civilians in conflict.
• Iraqi forces repulse major Daesh counter-attack in western Mosul Press TV 14 Jun 2017 -- Iraqi army soldiers have thwarted a major counter-attack by members of the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group in a western district of Mosul as government forces and allied fighters from Popular Mobilization Units are pushing to drive the extremists out of their last bastion in the strategic northern city.
• One killed as Saudi forces intensify attacks on Shia town Press TV 14 Jun 2017 -- Saudi regime forces have launched a fresh wave of attacks against a besieged town in Saudi Arabia's Shia-populated Eastern Province, killing at least one person and injuring nearly 40 others over the past 48 hours.
• US forces present in Philippines, not fighting Press TV 14 Jun 2017 -- The Philippine military says US armed forces are on the ground in the Philippines near the town of Marawi, providing support to local forces without directly taking part in an ongoing battle against Daesh militants in the town.
• UN aid official warns of 'disastrous consequences' of power cut in Gaza UN News 14 Jun 2017 -- A senior United Nations humanitarian official in the occupied Palestinian Territory warned today about the disastrous consequences of a further reduction in electricity supply to the Gaza Strip on the living conditions of two million Palestinians.
• At Least 7 Dead in Mogadishu Attack VOA 14 Jun 2017 -- At least seven people were killed Wednesday when suspected al-Shabab militants attacked a busy restaurant in the Somali capital popular with diaspora and government staff.
• Security Council briefed on proposal to reduce number of AU-UN troops in Darfur UN News 14 Jun 2017 -- The African Union (AU) and the United Nations are proposing 44 per cent and 30 per cent reductions in their troop and police presence in Sudan's Darfur region as a step towards an eventual exit, a senior UN peacekeeping official told the Security Council.
• Hundreds of thousands in eastern Ukraine at grave risk after water supplies disrupted - UN aid chief UN News 14 Jun 2017 -- Raising alarm over lack of safe drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people on both sides of the so called contact line in Donetsk Oblast of eastern Ukraine since 11 June, the top United Nations relief official today called on all parties to the conflict to abide by their obligations under international law and ensure that civilian areas and infrastructure are not targeted.

News Reports

• US Senate Approves Amendment With New Round of Russia Sanctions VOA 14 Jun 2017 -- The U.S. Senate on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved an amendment that would strengthen sanctions against Russia as a punishment for its campaign to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
• U.S. Secretary Of State Urges 'Flexibility' Ahead Of Russia Sanctions Vote RFE/RL 14 Jun 2017 -- U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has urged lawmakers not to restrict the White House's ability to negotiate with Russia, as the Senate moves closer to cementing existing sanctions against Moscow and imposing new ones.
• US Aims for Stronger Partnership With Central America VOA 14 Jun 2017 -- Senior American officials say the United States will signal strong commitment to Central America when top leaders from the region gather in Miami this week, despite a 2018 budget that proposes a significant cut in aid to those countries.
• Taiwan will never give in to threats from China: President Tsai CNA 14 Jun 2017 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) reiterated Wednesday that her administration will never give in to threats from China and that Taiwan will continue to play its due role in the international community.
• Iran calls on US to fulfill commitments under nuclear deal Press TV 14 Jun 2017 -- Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says the US needs to honor its commitments under the landmark nuclear agreement between Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries.
• UN rights chief urges dialogue among Qatar and countries involved in diplomatic dispute UN News 14 Jun 2017 -- Voicing alarm over the possible impact on the rights of people in the wake of decision by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Bahrain to cut diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar, the top United Nations human rights official called on all States involved to urgently resolve the dispute.
• Turkish MP gets 25 years in jail for exposing MIT arms aid to Syria militants Press TV 14 Jun 2017 -- A Turkish court has sentenced a prominent lawmaker from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) to 25 years in jail for his role in leaking secret documents to a newspaper showing the country's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) shipped weapons to foreign-backed Takfiri terrorists in Syria.
• Egypt parliament approves transfer of islands to Saudi Arabia Press TV 14 Jun 2017 -- The Egyptian parliament has finally sealed a controversial agreement for the transfer of sovereignty of two islands in the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia.
• Egypt Parliament Committee Approves Handover of Red Sea Islands to Saudi Arabia Sputnik 14 Jun 2017 -- The Egyptian parliament committee on the legislative and constitutional affairs backed the maritime borders deal transferring two Egyptian islands in the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia, local media reported Tuesday.
• Clashes erupt as Egyptians protest islands' transfer to Saudis Press TV 14 Jun 2017 -- Egyptian police have clashed with the demonstrators who had taken to the streets of the capital, Cairo, to denounce a parliamentary committee's approval of a contentious deal to hand over two strategic Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia.