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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 13 Sep 2017[PDF]
• Coalition Strikes Target ISIS Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 13 Sep 2017 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting 65 strikes consisting of 76 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• US troops using new base in Iraqi Kurdistan: Officials Press TV 13 Sep 2017 -- US forces have been deployed to Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, Kurdish officials say, noting that the presence is part of the joint military campaign the two sides have been running against terror groups for months now.
• At Least Three Killed In Suicide Blast Outside Kabul Cricket Stadium RFE/RL 13 Sep 2017 -- At least three people were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up while attempting to enter a cricket stadium in the Afghan capital, Kabul, officials say.
• US Bombing Campaign in Afghanistan Intensifies, Hitting New High VOA 13 Sep 2017 -- The U.S. military dropped 555 bombs in Afghanistan against Taliban and Islamic State targets in August, the highest number in a single month since 2012.
• AFRICOM: US Airstrikes Kill 6 Al-Shabab Members in Somalia VOA 13 Sep 2017 -- The U.S. military says six al-Shabab militants were killed in fresh airstrikes in southern Somalia Wednesday, the fourth U.S. attack against the militant group this month alone.
• US claims 6 Shabab militants killed in Somalia air raids Press TV 13 Sep 2017 -- The United States Africa Command has claimed that its airstrikes have killed six members of the al-Shabab militant group in southern Somalia.
• Army Continues to Support Irma Response AFPS 13 Sep 2017 -- More than 17,000 soldiers and Army civilians have been mobilized as part of the Total Army response to Hurricane Irma, Army spokesman Col. Patrick Seiber said yesterday.
• Pennsylvania National Guard sends aircraft, crew to support Irma response Army News 13 Sep 2017 -- More than 40 Pennsylvania National Guard members and four CH-47 Chinook helicopters are currently assisting with the response to Hurricane Irma.
• Wisconsin Army National Guard, other Army state units contribute to Irma response Army News 13 Sep 2017 -- As the nation marked the 16th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks in on Monday, more than 2,500 Wisconsin National Guard troops began loading up into military trucks or aircraft, en route to Florida to assist the ongoing Hurricane Irma relief efforts.
• USS Iwo Jima, USS New York and USS San Jacinto Begin Key West Recovery Operations NNS 13 Sep 2017 -- The amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), the amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21) and the guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56), along with various embarked air and amphibious landing assets, arrived on station off of Key West, Florida, Sept. 12, to support Hurricane Irma relief efforts.

Defense Policy / Programs

• AF awards contract to begin designing next Air Force One aircraft AFNS 13 Sep 2017 -- The Air Force awarded a contract modification for just under $600 million to Boeing Sept. 12, 2017, for preliminary design efforts for the next presidential aircraft.
• Boeing Strikes Deal to Redesign Bankrupt Russian Firm's Jets as Air Force One Sputnik 13 Sep 2017 -- Two Boeing 747-8 commercial jetliners once owned by defunct Russian airline Transaero will receive hundreds of millions of dollars worth of design upgrades before eventually becoming the US president's personal ride, Air Force One.
• USS Shiloh Builds Readiness Underway NNS 13 Sep 2017 -- The Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG67) departed Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Sept. 8.
• En Route Media Availability with Secretary Mattis DoD 13 Sep 2017 -- Presenter: Defense Secretary Jim Mattis
• DoD, academia test systems for GPS denial AFNS 13 Sep 2017 -- Navigating the globe was once done using the sun, moon and stars as references, but modern times bring modern methods, and the majority of the world now relies on GPS for its navigation needs.
• Pentagon still preparing for global warming despite Trump's order to stop Press TV 13 Sep 2017 -- The Pentagon continues to take measures for protection of its bases against impacts of global warming although US President Donald Trump rescinded all climate-related federal agency actions directed by former President Barack Obama, a report says.
• CENTCOM Head Denies Reports of US Plans to Potentially Abandon Base in Qatar Sputnik 13 Sep 2017 -- US Central Command head Gen. Joseph Votel says that the country does not consider plans to abandon its base in Qatar amid the diplomatic crisis.
• U.S., Russia To Hold Discussions On START Nuclear Arms Treaty RFE/RL 13 Sep 2017 -- The United States and Russia plan to soon start discussions at the expert level on a nuclear arms-reduction treaty signed in 2010, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has said.
• Russian nuclear missile hits mock target 6,000 km away Press TV 13 Sep 2017 -- The Russian military has successfully test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) ahead of a major military drill slated to begin in a few days.
• Central Europe Jittery on Eve of Massive Russian Exercises VOA 13 Sep 2017 -- Russia has been funneling troops and armor into Belarus for several weeks and on Thursday the Kremlin will order them to start attacking neighboring NATO countries.
• Survey: Small Arms Buying, Selling Fuels Conflicts and Instability VOA 13 Sep 2017 -- A survey finds the United States is the world's top small arms trader in a multi-billion-dollar industry, followed by Italy, Brazil, Germany and South Korea.
• State Department approves sale of 18 Super Hornet jets to Canada Press TV 13 Sep 2017 -- The United States will sell Canada $5.2 billion worth of Super Hornet jet fighters and their associated equipment, the State Department says.
• India Reinforces Massive Assistance to Afghanistan's Fight Against Terror Sputnik 13 Sep 2017 -- India's increased assistance to Afghanistan comes close on the heels of Donald Trump's "new Afghan strategy" to tackle "terrorist havens" in Pakistan.
• Belarus to Manufacture Defense Equipment under Make in India Program Sputnik 13 Sep 2017 -- India would immensely benefit from military cooperation with Belarus as it would ensure transfer of high-end Belarusian technology for upgrading Soviet-era tanks and military equipment.
• India's First Woman Defense Minister Plans to Overcome Gender Inequality in Army Sputnik 13 Sep 2017 -- The Indian Army will be inducting 800 women soldiers this year and has plans to increase women's presence with a yearly intake of 52 women soldiers. The Indian Air Force inducted women fighter pilots last year. The Indian Navy has also undertaken a project to deploy women in warships.
• India Close to Launching Second Indigenous Nuke Submarine Sputnik 13 Sep 2017 -- The Indian Navy is preparing to drop its second nuclear-capable submarine into the open seas within the next month close to the first anniversary of India became the first nation outside the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – Russia, US, UK, France, China – to commission its first homemade nuclear attack submarine.
• Amid Western Concerns, Belarus Says Zapad Drills Will Comply With International Agreements RFE/RL 13 Sep 2017 -- Belarus says its upcoming military maneuvers with Russia won't violate international agreements, amid Western concerns about the war games.
• Chinese naval fleet departs for joint drill in Russia People's Daily 13 Sep 2017 -- A Chinese naval fleet sailed from a port in Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province Wednesday for Russia's Vladivostok to take part in a scheduled joint military exercise with the Russian navy.
• Israeli Drills Focus on 'Scenario of Full-Scale Hostilities' Against Hezbollah Sputnik 13 Sep 2017 -- The Israeli army is holding war games practicing a scenario of a conflict with Hezbollah turning into "full-scale hostilities amid Tel Aviv's repeated claims that the Lebanon-based group fighting against Daesh terrorists alongside government forces in Syria allegedly poses a threat to Israel's security.
• Seoul Conducts Live-Fire Drills to Practice Bombing Key Pyongyang Facilities Sputnik 13 Sep 2017 -- South Korea conducts drills involving German Taurus KEPD 350 and F-15K Slam Eagle fighter jets to practice precision bombing of North Korean key facilities.
• South Korea plans to deploy 'Maritime THAAD' People's Daily 13 Sep 2017 -- South Korea plans to introduce Standard Missile 3 (SM-3), a ship-based missile system known as "Maritime THAAD" used by the U.S. Navy, the South Korean army claimed on Sept. 12, haiwainet.cn reported.
• Erdogan remains defiant as NATO allies criticize S-400 deal with Russia Press TV 13 Sep 2017 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dismissed criticism from his NATO allies over his country's purchase of Russia's strategic S-400 missile defense systems, saying Ankara would not "wait for" the Western military alliance to help Ankara with security affairs.
• Erdogan Says Turkey's Deal With Russia on S-400 Supplies 'Made US Furious' Sputnik 13 Sep 2017 -- Erdogan has commented on Washington's reaction to the Ankara-Moscow deal on S-400 systems' supplies a day after a contract had been signed.
• Defence Secretary announces £55m contract for UK bomb disposal robots at DSEI UK MOD 13 Sep 2017 -- Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has announced a contract worth up to £55 million for 56 innovative bomb disposal robots at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) Exhibition in London this morning.
• Press Briefing by Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, 9/13/2017, #14 The White House 13 Sep 2017
• Background Briefing: Previewing the Community of Democracies Governing Council Ministerial US Dept. of State 13 Sep 2017

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for September 13, 2017

Other Conflicts

• UN chief calls for action on Myanmar and DPR Korea; launches reform initiatives UN News 13 Sep 2017 -- United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today reiterated his call for Muslims from Myanmar's Rakhine state to be granted nationality or at least a legal status that would allow them to lead a normal life, while also urging the international community to help provide assistance for the nearly 380,000 people who have fled into Bangladesh.
• Syria moving steadily towards victory: President Assad Press TV 13 Sep 2017 -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says despite suffering from foreign-sponsored terrorism for the past seven years, his country is moving steadily towards victory, a day after the Russian military announced that government troops were in control of 85 percent of the whole Syrian territory.
• Syrian forces recapture five towns from Daesh in Homs province Press TV 13 Sep 2017 -- Syrian government troops, backed by fighters from allied popular defense groups, have taken back more areas from Daesh terrorists in the country's central province of Homs, a day after the Russian military announced that government troops were in control of 85 percent of the whole Syrian territory.
• Iran signs deals to repair Syrian power grid Press TV 13 Sep 2017 -- Tehran has signed deals worth "several hundred million euros" with Damascus to repair Syria's power grid in the Aleppo city and the provinces of Latakia and Dayr al-Zawr.
• Deir ez-Zor Victory 'Important', But Not Enough to Eliminate Terror - UN Chief Sputnik 13 Sep 2017 -- The United Nations chief has commented on the liberation of Deir ez-Zor by the Syrian army with Russia's aerial assistance.
• Somalia facing complex immediate and long-term challenges, UN Security Council told UN News 13 Sep 2017 -- Highlighting complex immediate and long-term challenges in Somalia, the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in the country (UNSOM) called for practical support, as well as political encouragement to the Somali leadership, both at the Federal and the state levels.
• Nigeria: Famine averted but millions still at risk, stresses top UN relief official UN News 13 Sep 2017 -- Noting important progress in delivering life-saving aid to millions in north-east Nigeria, the top United Nations humanitarian official underscored that international assistance to people suffering amid the crisis must not dwindle.
• Peacebuilding efforts needed to tackle Boko Haram, end Lake Chad Basin crisis, Security Council told UN News 13 Sep 2017 -- While the efforts of the Governments in Africa's Lake Chad Basin have diminished Boko Haram's combat capacity in the region, the terrorist group has changed its tactics, increasing the use of suicide attacks, the top United Nations political official reported to the Security Council today.
• UNSC Expresses 'Deep Concern' Over Rohignya Crisis in Myanmar Sputnik 13 Sep 2017 -- After the UN Security Council held closed consultations on the violence against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar, the president of the UNSC voices the states' concern over the situation in the country.
• UN Chief Assails 'Ethnic Cleansing' of Myanmar's Rohingyas VOA 13 Sep 2017 -- U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday the displacement of hundreds of thousands of members of Myanmar's Rohingya community can only be described as ethnic cleansing.
• Explainer: Who Are Myanmar's Rohingya? VOA 13 Sep 2017 -- Rohingya Muslims have long been seen as one of the world's most persecuted minority groups. Despite having a long history in Myanmar, the mostly Muslim group is not officially recognized by the government, which considers them illegal migrants from neighboring Bangladesh. They are also subject to intense societal and governmental discrimination in Buddhist-majority Myanmar.
• Security Council calls on Guinea-Bissau leaders to 'find common ground' for swift resolution of political crisis UN News 13 Sep 2017 -- Concerned by the political crisis in Guinea-Bissau, the United Nations Security Council today urged political actors to "put the interests of [the people] above all other consideration" and called on the country's leaders to engage in genuine dialogue, find common ground and implement the Conakry Agreement of 14 October 2016, including by appointing a consensus Prime Minister, as required by that accord.

News Reports

• Ads Purchased By Russian Operatives Reported To Have Actively Promoted Trump Agenda RFE/RL 13 Sep 2017 -- Ads that Russian operatives purchased on Facebook during last year's presidential election actively promoted then-Republican candidate Donald Trump's anti-immigration campaign and other conservative causes, U.S. media are reporting.
• RT Says U.S. Ordered Contractor For RT America To Register As 'Foreign Agent' RFE/RL 13 Sep 2017 -- Russian state broadcaster RT and U.S. media are reporting that the U.S. Justice Department has asked RT to register a company that supplies extensive services for its U.S. outlet as a "foreign agent." *
• DHS Statement on the Issuance of Binding Operational Directive 17-01 Department of Homeland Security 13 Sep 2017 -- After careful consideration of available information and consultation with interagency partners, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke today issued a Binding Operational Directive (BOD) directing Federal Executive Branch departments and agencies to take actions related to the use or presence of information security products, solutions, and services supplied directly or indirectly by AO Kaspersky Lab or related entities.
• U.S. Government Agencies Ordered To Remove Kaspersky Software RFE/RL 13 Sep 2017 -- The U.S. government has ordered all U.S. federal agencies to phase out use of Kaspersky Lab software products, citing "ties between certain Kaspersky officials and Russian intelligence and other government agencies."
• Kaspersky Lab Denies Claims of Attempts to Conduct Cyberespionage Sputnik 13 Sep 2017 -- Kaspersky Lab cybersecurity firm denies accusations of attempts to conduct cyberespionage and says they are based on inaccurate assumptions of company's links to Russian authorities.
• US Orders Federal Agencies to Remove Kaspersky Products VOA 13 Sep 2017 -- U.S. security officials on Wednesday ordered government agencies to get rid of products and services from Kaspersky Lab, a Moscow-based cybersecurity firm.
• Outgoing US Ambassador to Russia Saw Evidence Russia Hacked US Election VOA 13 Sep 2017 -- John Tefft, the outgoing U.S. ambassador to Russia, says he believes Russia engaged in cyberattacks during the 2016 presidential election.
• Top US Official: Russia 'Ever More Aggressive' in Cyberspace VOA 13 Sep 2017 -- Russia is not backing down in cyberspace, instead ramping up the pace of its operations against the United States, according to the nation's top intelligence official.
• Kremlin Says Russia Proposed Full Normalization With U.S. After Trump's Election RFE/RL 13 Sep 2017 -- The Kremlin's chief spokesman said Russian officials made direct proposals to Washington about full normalization of ties between the two countries following President Donald Trump's election, but nothing came of it.
• UK will regret leaving EU, warns EU President Jean-Claude Juncker Press TV 13 Sep 2017 -- European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has warned that Britain will regret its decision to leave the European Union, saying that the bloc will "move on" after London's departure.
• EU Commission President Rules Out Turkish Membership in Foreseeable Future VOA 13 Sep 2017 -- The head of the European Union Commission has ruled out Turkish membership of the bloc for the "foreseeable future" because of human rights concerns. In his annual State of the Union address Wednesday, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker cited human rights concerns as the reason.
• Turkey EU membership far off: European Commission chief Press TV 13 Sep 2017 -- The head of the European Commission (EC) urges Turkey to stop comparing EU leaders to "Nazis," saying Ankara's behavior has cast chances of its EU membership far-off.
• Trump calls new DPRK sanctions "very small step" People's Daily 13 Sep 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the UN Security Council's fresh sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) were just another "very small step."
• S Korea links detected xenon to North's nuclear test Press TV 13 Sep 2017 -- South Korea has confirmed that the traces of radioactive xenon gas it recently detected were from a North Korean nuclear test earlier in the month.
• North Korea Extremely Interested in Direct Dialogue With US - Moscow Sputnik 13 Sep 2017 -- According to the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, despite North Korea's strong desire to engage with the US, it is very unlikely Washington has enough political will for this.
• Zarif: Visits by IAEA experts no pretext to find out Iran's secrets IRNA 13 Sep 2017 -- Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif upon arrival in Sochi Airport on Wednesday said that according to the JCPOA, any visit by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) cannot be a pretext to get acquainted with Iran's secrets.
• Iran ready for US worst scenario on nuclear deal: Official IRNA 13 Sep 2017 -- Iran is prepared to deal with even the worst US scenario on the future of the nuclear deal, said the head of Iran's Strategic Council on Foreign Relations.
• Inspecting Iran's nuclear sites possible only under certain conditions: Iranian official IRNA 13 Sep 2017 -- JCPOA has set out conditions for inspection of Iran's nuclear sites and no country can easily demand for the inspection, said the head of Iran's Strategic Studies Council Kamal Kharrazi.
• Iran criticizes US approach to undermine spirit, text of JCPOA ISNA 13 Sep 2017 -- Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Iran in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Reza Najafi has criticized the US approach to undermine the spirit and the text of the nuclear deal.
• US moves run counter to spirit, letter of nuclear deal: Iran's IAEA envoy Press TV 13 Sep 2017 -- Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says the US administration's recent moves with regard to the Iranian nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), run counter to the deal.
• Nuclear Weapons Experts Warn Trump Against Abandoning Iran Deal VOA 13 Sep 2017 -- More than 80 experts on nuclear non-proliferation issues urged the Trump administration Wednesday to not abandon the global agreement reached with Iran to curb Tehran's nuclear weapons development program.
• Israel premier support Kurdish independence vote in Iraq Press TV 13 Sep 2017 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voices support for the formation of a Kurdish state in the lead-up to a planned independence referendum in Iraq's Kurdistan region, which has sparked strong criticisms from the central government as well as Iraq's neighbors.
• Chinese cargo spacecraft completes automated fast-docking with space lab People's Daily 13 Sep 2017 -- China's first cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou-1, completed an automated fast-docking with Tiangong-2 space lab at 11:58 p.m. Tuesday.
• Saakashvili Rallies Supporters In Western Ukraine, Vows To Help Solve Country's 'Political Crisis' RFE/RL 13 Sep 2017 -- Mikheil Saakashvili has told a rally in western Ukraine that he had returned to the country to help solve the country's "political crisis" and that he intends to travel to Kyiv next week.
• Former Georgian Leader, Ukraine President Face Off in Charged Political Standoff VOA 12 Sep 2017 -- Former governor of Odessa and onetime Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili was served Tuesday with a legal notice to appear before a Ukrainian court to explain why he broke through a cordon of police and border guards to enter the country from Poland.
• Moldova's President Says Lawmakers, Government Trying To Usurp His Powers RFE/RL 13 Sep 2017 -- Moldova's pro-Russia president, Igor Dodon, has accused parliament and the country's government of attempting to limit his powers as supreme commander of Moldova's armed forces in the interest of foreign powers - warning that the alleged effort will lead to mass street protests.
• Conservative Aceh Shows Limits of Saudi Investment in Indonesia VOA 13 Sep 2017 -- It could have been game, set and match for Saudi cultural expansion into Aceh, Indonesia's westernmost province, after it was wrecked by a 2004 tsunami that caused devastation across the region. Saudi Arabia immediately sent aid to the region which, in the face of such disaster, might have been unusually receptive to new ideas.