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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 08 Nov 2017[PDF]
• Scrambling to Track Islamic State Terrorists, Coalition Turns to Biometrics VOA 08 Nov 2017 -- As U.S.-backed forces made their final push into the city of Raqqa to liberate what had once been the Syrian capital of the Islamic State's self-declared caliphate, they faced a problem.
• USNS Comfort Restocks to Continue Post-Hurricane Care AFPS 08 Nov 2017 -- The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort replenished its medical supplies, food and other necessities, by connecting with the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn while underway off the coast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Nov. 6.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Three-Carrier Strike Force Exercise to Commence in Western Pacific NNS 08 Nov 2017 -- The USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) strike groups will commence a three-carrier strike force exercise in the Western Pacific, Nov. 11-14.
• USS Ashland Completes Indo-Asia-Pacific Deployment, Returns to Sasebo NNS 08 Nov 2017 -- The amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) arrived at its forward-deployed base in Sasebo, Japan, Nov. 8, after completing a five-month deployment in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
• USS Oscar Austin Arrives in Ponta Delgada, Portugal NNS 08 Nov 2017 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) arrived in Ponta Delgada, Portugal, for a scheduled port visit Nov. 7, 2017.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis' meeting with Turkish Minister of Defense Nurettin Canikli DoD 08 Nov 2017
• 'Mad Dog' Mattis' Nordic Tour Results in Joint Exercises, Missile Purchase Sputnik 08 Nov 2017 -- US Defense Secretary James Mattis has visited Scandinavia, where he has taken part in tripartite talks with his Nordic counterparts, which are expected to have far-reaching consequences for both Sweden and Finland.
• New Commands, Cyber, Afghanistan on Plate for NATO Defense Ministers AFPS 08 Nov 2017 -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg previewed the NATO Defense Ministers meeting, saying the alliance will continue to adapt to the challenges of the 21st century.
• NATO Ministers Agree To Upgrade Command Structure Amid Tensions With Russia RFE/RL 08 Nov 2017 -- NATO defense ministers have endorsed a plan to establish two new military headquarters designed to improve the movement of troops across the Atlantic and within Europe, as the alliance looks to counter the growing threat from Russia.
• NATO Agrees on New Command Structure to Move Forces Across Europe - Stoltenberg Sputnik 08 Nov 2017 -- The move comes amid the unprecedented NATO military buildup in eastern Europe, which has been further boosted since 2014 in the wake of the crisis in Ukraine.
• Doorstep statement by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg prior to the meetings of NATO Defence Ministers NATO 08 Nov 2017
• Press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following the the meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of Defence Ministers NATO 08 Nov 2017
• UK military cuts to hurt NATO: US general Press TV 08 Nov 2017 -- The UK should stop making more cuts to its armed forces before hurting its position in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a top US general has warned.
• UK steps up commitment to European security UK MOD 08 Nov 2017 -- The UK is increasing its commitment to European security as the Defence Secretary announces a package of support to stand by our allies.
• Armed Forces Minister reinforces UK support to Gibraltar UK MOD 08 Nov 2017 -- Minister for the Armed Forces, Mark Lancaster, arrives in Gibraltar today.
• France hikes defense spending amid involvement in conflicts Press TV 08 Nov 2017 -- French lawmakers have approved an increase of nearly two billion euros in defense spending in 2018 as Paris boosts its involvement in the ongoing conflicts across the Middle East and Africa.
• Germany Likely to Buy Lockheed Martin F-35s Sputnik 08 Nov 2017 -- The German Air Force, also known as the Luftwaffe, is moving closer to buying the Lockheed Martin F-35 fifth-generation fighter.
• Anti-Sub Aircraft, Missile Defense on Seoul's Wish List for Major US Arms Sale Sputnik 08 Nov 2017 -- During Trump's visit to South Korea, he convinced South Korean President Moon Jae-in to acquire advanced US weapons systems. Moon told reporters during a joint press conference between the two leaders that Seoul would buy cutting-edge US military assets - a purchase to the tune of "billions of dollars," according to Trump.
• Sweden Mulls Purchase of US Patriot Air Defense System – Reports Sputnik 08 Nov 2017 -- The Swedish government plans to start talks with the United States on buying the US missile defense system Patriot in the coming years, local media reported on Tuesday.
• Taiwanese Military Grounds Mirage Fleet After Jet Goes Missing In Flight Sputnik 08 Nov 2017 -- The Taiwanese military grounded its fleet of French-made multirole Mirage 2000 aircraft on Wednesday after Capt. Ho Tsu-yu's plane disappeared from their radars 34 minutes after taking off.
• Press Gaggle by a Senior Administration Official Aboard Air Force One en route Beijing, China | 11/8/2017 The White House 08 Nov 2017

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for November 08, 2017

Other Conflicts

• 8 November 2017 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 08 Nov 2017
• US Condemns Iranian Support for Yemen Rebels VOA 08 Nov 2017 -- The White House is calling for the United Nations to examine Iran's role in the conflict in Yemen, alleging the Iranian government is perpetuating the fighting in order to "advance its regional ambitions."
• Diplomacy best way to resolve crises, including Yemen conflict, says Iran Press TV 08 Nov 2017 -- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has underlined the need for regional crises, including the conflict in Yemen, to be resolved though diplomacy.
• Saudi airstrikes, continued blockade show Riyadh's failure, frustration in Yemen: Iran Press TV 08 Nov 2017 -- Iran has condemned a recent aerial attack by Saudi fighter jets on residential areas in the Yemeni province of Hajjah, saying intensified airstrikes by Riyadh indicate the regime's failure to achieve its goals in the impoverished country.
• U.S. Calls For UN Action Against Iran For Allegedly Arming Yemeni Rebels RFE/RL 08 Nov 2017 -- The United States has called on the United Nations to hold Iran accountable for allegedly supplying Yemeni rebels with missiles that have been fired at Saudi Arabia, the main backer of Yemen's government in a three-year-old civil war.
• Russian Opposition Throws Doubt On Renewal Of UN Inquiry Into Syrian Gas Attacks RFE/RL 08 Nov 2017 -- Russia has rejected a UN investigative report blaming the Syrian government for a deadly sarin-gas attack, casting doubt on whether it will agree to extend the investigation's mandate before it expires next week.
• Syrian forces along with Lebanon's Hezbollah capture Daesh's last stronghold Press TV 08 Nov 2017 -- The Syrian forces along with allied fighters from Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement have liberated Bukamal, the last major Daesh-held town in Syria.
• Syrian army, allies enter Daesh's last stronghold on border with Iraq Press TV 08 Nov 2017 -- Syrian army soldiers, backed by pro-government fighters from popular defense groups, have entered the last major Syrian city controlled by the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group in the country's eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr.
• Russia, Syria question validity of OPCW report on Idlib sarin attack Press TV 08 Nov 2017 -- Russia and Syria have censured the findings of a UN-led investigation blaming the Syrian government for a chemical attack on the town of Khan Shaykhun, with Moscow casting doubt on the extension of the probe's mandate before its expiry next week.
• Syrian Army Reportedly Enters Abu Kemal, Daesh's Last Largest Hotbed in Syria Sputnik 08 Nov 2017 -- The Syrian government forces have been conducting a massive operation in the Deir ez-Zor province aiming to completely wipe Daesh terrorists out as over 90 percent of the war-torn state's territory has already been liberated.
• Tillerson Joins Other Diplomats, Signs Onto Statement Condemning Syrian Chemical Weapons VOA 08 Nov 2017 -- U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and several other diplomats signed onto a statement Wednesday condemning the Syrian government's use of chemical weapons against its citizens.
• Daesh militants besiege 10,000 civilians in western Iraq: UN Press TV 08 Nov 2017 -- The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) says members of the Takfiri Daesh militant group have laid siege to a town in Iraq's western province of Anbar, as army soldiers, backed by allied fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units, are engaged in a multi-pronged operation to retake the last remaining militant bastions in the country.
• ICC prosecutor urges handover of Al-Saiqa brigade commander, others wanted for alleged crimes in Libya UN News 08 Nov 2017 -- The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Major Mahmoud Mustafa Busayf al-Werfalli, a commander in the Al-Saiqa Brigade accused of murdering 33 people in the context of the ongoing conflict in Libya, ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda told the United Nations Security Council.
• UN Warns Of Humanitarian Impact Of Increased Hostilities In Eastern Ukraine RFE/RL 08 Nov 2017 -- The United Nations has raised "extreme" concern that an escalation of fighting near water infrastructures in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk could lead to a deadly chlorine gas disaster.
• Clashes near vital infrastructure in eastern Ukraine may have 'grave' impact on population, UN warns UN News 08 Nov 2017 -- Recent escalation of fighting in close proximity of critical infrastructure and services in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, could endanger over a million lives, the top United Nations official in the country has warned.

News Reports

• Trump Arrives in China for Thorny Talks on Trade, North Korea VOA 08 Nov 2017 -- Donald Trump arrived in Beijing Wednesday, his first visit as U.S. President to a nation that has been a focus, often a negative one, in his drive to secure jobs at home. Trade is to top the agenda, but so is North Korea. White House officials say the president intends to press China - North Korea's closest ally and top trading partner - to push the North to abandon its nuclear program, the topic of a speech he gave in Seoul just hours before arriving in Beijing.
• Trump In China Amid North Korea Tensions RFE/RL 08 Nov 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has begun a visit to China that is expected to be dominated by talks on trade and North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
• Trump administration tightens sanctions against Cuba Press TV 08 Nov 2017 -- The US government has announced new restrictions against Cuba, tightening sanctions as part of President Donald Trump's pledge to reverse his Democratic predecessor's measures toward closer relations with Havana.
• US to Impose New Sanctions on Cuba as Part of Trump's New Policies - Treasury Sputnik 08 Nov 2017 -- Donald Trump has been reconsidering many decisions by his predecessor Barack Obama, including with regard to the relations with Cuba, one of the major achievements of the former administration.
• Treasury, Commerce, and State Implement Changes to the Cuba Sanctions Rules US Treasury 08 Nov 2017 -- Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) are announcing amendments to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR), respectively, to implement changes to the Cuba sanctions program announced by the President in June.
• First U.S.-Qatar Counterterrorism Dialogue US Dept. of State 08 Nov 2017 -- U.S. and Qatari officials met in Washington, DC on November 8 for the first U.S.-Qatari counterterrorism dialogue.
• Speaking in South Korea, Trump threatens North Korea with 'destruction' Press TV 08 Nov 2017 -- US President Donald Trump has once again returned to fiery rhetoric against North Korea, threatening Pyongyang with "destruction" if it continues nuclear "provocations."
• US Senate panel approves North Korea banking sanctions Press TV 08 Nov 2017 -- The US Senate Banking Committee has unanimously approved new sanctions against North Korea amid President Donald Trump's tour of Asia.
• Rouhani urges Saudis to end hostilities, befriend Iran instead of US Press TV 08 Nov 2017 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called on Saudi Arabia to cease its hostile policies against Tehran, warning against the ramifications of putting trust in the US and Israel.
• UN Nuclear Chief Rejects U.S. Claim That Enforcement Of Iran Deal 'Weak' RFE/RL 08 Nov 2017 -- The UN's nuclear inspections chief has rejected claims by U.S. President Donald Trump and other administration officials that his agency's enforcement of the Iran nuclear deal has been "weak."
• Iran Tells Saudi Arabia Threats Will Fail, Calls For Regional Unity RFE/RL 08 Nov 2017 -- Iranian President Hassan Rohani has warned Saudi Arabia that threats against Iran will achieve nothing as tensions continue to rise between the regional rivals.
• Russia To Seek Doping Whistle-Blower's Extradition From U.S. RFE/RL 08 Nov 2017 -- Russia's authorities say they will seek the extradition of Russian whistle-blower Grigory Rodchenkov, who helped orchestrate the country's state-sponsored Olympic doping program and has since fled to the United States.
• Saudi Arabia blocks over 1,200 bank accounts amid crackdown Press TV 08 Nov 2017 -- Saudi Arabia has blocked the bank accounts of over 1,200 individuals and companies as part of the kingdom's purported anti-graft campaign which is considered the biggest purge of the country's elite in the kingdom's modern history.
• Saudi Arabia Steps Up Military Operation in Yemen and Media Campaign Against Iran VOA 08 Nov 2017 -- The war of words between Iran and Saudi Arabia is escalating in the media and on the ground after the weekend launch of a ballistic missile from Yemen which hit near the airport in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. The Saudis accuse Iran of arming Yemen's Houthi rebels, who fired the missile.
• Ukrainian Lawmaker To Propose Cutting Diplomatic Ties With Russia RFE/RL 08 Nov 2017 -- A lawmaker from Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's party has told RFE/RL he plans to propose legislation that would sever diplomatic relations with Russia.
• EU envoys approve sanctions on Venezuela Press TV 08 Nov 2017 -- Members of the European Union have announced their support for a series of sanctions by the bloc against Venezuela as the South American country continues to clash with the Western governments over an ongoing crackdown on the opposition.
• Lebanon cabinet will function despite Hariri resignation: Parliament speaker Press TV 08 Nov 2017 -- Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has announced that the country's government will continue to function despite resignation of Prime Minister Sa'ad Hariri.
• Macedonia Convicts Ex-Security Chief In Wiretap Scandal RFE/RL 08 Nov 2017 -- A Macedonian court has convicted a former intelligence chief in absentia of tampering with evidence of the illegal wiretapping of thousands of people under the Balkan country's previous government.
• Duterte Would Tell Trump to 'Lay Off' Human Rights Questions VOA 08 Nov 2017 -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday that if U.S. President Donald Trump brings up human rights when they meet later this week, he'd tell the American leader to "lay off."