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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 29 Dec 2017[PDF]
• Strikes Target ISIS Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 29 Dec 2017 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria between Dec. 22 and yesterday, conducting 46 strikes consisting of 93 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• Mattis: US will send more diplomats, contractors to Syria Press TV 29 Dec 2017 -- Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says he is expecting to see a larger US civilian presence in Syria, where there are already 2,000 American troops without the authorization of the Syrian government.
• Mattis Says Operations Against ISIS Will Change in 2018 AFPS 29 Dec 2017 -- The destruction of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria's physical caliphate will change the way the coalition will go after the terror group, Defense Secretary James N. Mattis told Pentagon reporters here today.
• Pentagon Preparing for Shift in Syrian Strategy VOA 29 Dec 2017 -- The United States is preparing to shift its approach in Syria, pledging to help with the initial recovery following the collapse of the Islamic State's self-declared caliphate.
• US Airstrikes in Somalia Increasing Pressure on al-Shabab VOA 29 Dec 2017 -- The United States military says its support for the Federal Government of Somalia is making an impact in a year in which the Trump administration increased attacks against al-Shabab militants.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Lines Blurring Between Special Ops, Conventional Forces, Mattis Says AFPS 29 Dec 2017 -- There is a blurring line that separates conventional operating forces from special operations forces and the defense secretary expects general purpose forces will eventually shoulder missions once the province of their special forces brethren.
• Press Gaggle with Secretary Mattis DoD 29 Dec 2017 -- Presenter: Defense Secretary Jim Mattis
• Readout of Secretary Mattis' Phone Call with Kuwaiti Minister of Defense Sheikh Nasser Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah DoD 29 Dec 2017
• US Air Force Developing Swarming Cruise Missile Prototype Sputnik 29 Dec 2017 -- The US Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded two defense contractors more than $100 million each to design a missile with "networked, collaborative behaviors (swarming) to address Integrated Air Defense (IAD) system threats around the world," Lockheed Martin announced December 27.
• Putin Signs Law to Ratify Russia-Syria Agreement to Expand Naval Base in Tartus Sputnik 29 Dec 2017 -- The president's approval is the final step of implementation of the Russia-Syria agreement, which was signed on January 18, after the expansion of the Russian naval facility was ratified by the Russian State Duma on December 21.
• Putin Signs Law Allowing Expansion Of Russian Naval Facility In Syria RFE/RL 29 Dec 2017 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law ratifying an agreement enabling Russia to expand operations at its naval facility in the Syrian port of Tartus.
• Russia To Limit U.S. Military Surveillance Flights Over Russia Next Year RFE/RL 29 Dec 2017 -- Russia plans to limit U.S. military reconnaissance flights over Russian territory under the Open Skies Treaty starting January 1 in response to limits on Russian flights over the United States recently announced by Washington, Russian news agencies reported.
• Turkey, Russia sign deal on supplying S-400 missile systems Press TV 29 Dec 2017 -- Turkey and Russia have signed an accord for Moscow to supply Ankara with S-400 surface-to-air missile defense systems, finalizing a deal that the two countries had been working on for more than a year.
• Turkey Signs Russian Missile Deal, Reportedly Worth $2.5 Billion RFE/RL 29 Dec 2017 -- Turkish defense officials say Ankara and Moscow have signed a deal under which Russia will supply up to two S-400 surface-to-air missile batteries to Turkey.
• Russia, Turkey Sign Loan Agreement on Supply of S-400 Air Defense Systems Sputnik 29 Dec 2017 -- Russia and Turkey signed a loan agreement on the supply of Russia's S-400 air defense missile systems in Ankara on Friday, the TRT channel reported.
• President vows to increase Taiwan's military spending CNA 29 Dec 2017 -- Amid tensions heightened by Chinese military drills near Taiwan and the situation on the Korean peninsula, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) vowed Friday to develop Taiwan's own indigenous defense systems and make a reasonable year-on-year increase in military spending.
• Taiwanese President Announces Defense Spending Boost to Counter China Sputnik 29 Dec 2017 -- Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen announced on Friday that the military aggression of the mainland has reached new heights and that her country would increase its military spending to meet the intensifying security challenge.
• South Korea, Japan Weighing F-35B Acquisitions Sputnik 29 Dec 2017 -- The South Korean and Japanese governments are considering buying Lockheed Martin's F-35 aircraft and helicopter-carrier variant, the F-35B, in addition to major orders of F-35A jets already in the pipeline.
• PLA Rocket Force weaponry updated People's Daily 29 Dec 2017 -- China's defense ministry confirmed Thursday that it has updated weaponry of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force for national defense purposes and that it does not target any third country.
• China's armed police to keep its function unchanged: spokesman People's Daily 29 Dec 2017 -- China's armed police will continue to safeguard national security and social stability after its command mechanism adjustment, a Ministry of National Defense spokesman said Thursday.
• China calls for better Sino-Indian military relations in 2018 People's Daily 29 Dec 2017 -- Chinese authorities on Thursday called for better military relations with India in 2018, urging the latter to manage its border troops in a "proper way."
• Deployment of US Aegis Systems in Japan Has No Relation to INF Treaty - Tokyo Sputnik 29 Dec 2017 -- The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty), signed by the Soviet Union and the United States, does not apply to Japan and does not have any relation to the deployment of the US Aegis ballistic missile defense system on Japanese territory, Japan's Foreign Ministry told Sputnik Friday.
• South Korea kicks off two-day military drills in Sea of Japan Press TV 29 Dec 2017 -- South Korea has launched two-day military exercises off the islands in the Sea of Japan that are also claimed by Tokyo.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for December 29, 2017

Other Conflicts

• Peacekeepers saved many lives despite challenges, UN officials stress at year's end UN News 29 Dec 2017 -- Despite a particularly deadly year for United Nations peacekeepers – with more than 60 'blue helmets' killed in hostile acts – the Organization in 2017 completed its peacekeeping objectives in Côte d'Ivoire, refocused its work in Haiti and will soon complete its mandate in Liberia.
• Saudi military aircraft hit civilian areas in Yemen's Sa'ada, kill 4 Press TV 29 Dec 2017 -- Saudi military aircraft have pounded residential areas in Yemen's northwestern province of Sa'ada, killing four civilians and injuring a number of others.
• Syria advances in Idlib as evacuations continue in Eastern Ghouta Press TV 29 Dec 2017 -- Evacuations continue of critically-ill patients out of an area to the east of the Syrian capital, Damascus, as the Syrian army has made new advancements against Takfiri terrorists in the northwestern province of Idlib.
• Russian foreign minister says American forces must leave Syria Press TV 29 Dec 2017 -- Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the presence of American troops in Syria is unlawful, and that they must completely leave the Syrian soil.
• Syrian Army Takes Control Over Strategic Settlement in Hama Province - Source Sputnik 29 Dec 2017 -- The Syrian government forces have pushed terrorists from the strategically important Abu Dali settlement in Syria's western Hama province, a source told Sputnik Friday.
• Bangladesh to repatriate 1st group of Rohingya Muslim refugees Press TV 29 Dec 2017 -- Bangladesh has prepared for the repatriation of 100,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees to Myanmar under an agreement between the two countries.
• UN chief welcomes exchange of prisoners and detainees in eastern Ukraine UN News 29 Dec 2017 -- United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the recent exchange of prisoners and detainees in eastern Ukraine and commended all those who helped bring about the exchange.
• Israel Strikes Gaza in Response to Rocket Fire VOA 29 Dec 2017 -- Israeli tanks and aircraft struck the Gaza Strip Friday after three rockets were fired from the Palestinian enclave towards Israel, according to Palestinian and Israeli military sources.
• At Least 9 Killed in Egyptian Church Attack VOA 29 Dec 2017 -- A gunman opened fire Friday outside a church south of Cairo and at a nearby Christian-owned store, killing at least nine people, including a policeman.

News Reports

• Trump Says He Expects Mueller Probe Into Alleged Russian Meddling To Be 'Fair' RFE/RL 29 Dec 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes he will be treated fairly by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading an investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion by associates of Trump.
• Russia to probe opposition figure over election boycott campaign Press TV 29 Dec 2017 -- Authorities in Russia will launch a probe into whether opposition figure Alexei Navalny has violated Russian law by campaigning for a boycott of the next presidential election, the Kremlin says.
• Zhirinovsky Registers For His Fifth Russian Presidential Election RFE/RL 29 Dec 2017 -- Vladimir Zhirinovsky, an eccentric nationalist firebrand whose party rarely defies President Vladimir Putin, has become the first officially registered candidate in Russia's March 18 presidential election.
• Interview: Sobchak Calls Presidential Run A Step To Changing Russian System, Rejects Navalny Boycott RFE/RL 29 Dec 2017 -- Russian journalist and TV personality Ksenia Sobchak has dismissed calls by a barred opposition leader for an election boycott as "pointless" and said her candidacy in the March presidential vote could help fuse opposition elements into a legitimate political force in Russia.
• Russia's president signs law toughening terrorist recruitment sentences Press TV 29 Dec 2017 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially approved a bill toughening punishment for the recruitment of terrorists amid fears of the return of defeated Takfiri militants from Syria.
• Spain PM urges Catalan parliament formation in January Press TV 29 Dec 2017 -- Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has called on the new regional parliament to hold its maiden session in mid-January.
• UN bans 4 more North Korean vessels from international ports Press TV 29 Dec 2017 -- The United Nations has banned four more North Korean ships from entering international ports for breaching sanctions against Pyongyang, bringing to eight the total number of the Eastern Asian country's blacklisted vessels.
• Moscow Suggests Russia Could Host Talks Between U.S., North Korea RFE/RL 29 Dec 2017 -- An official in Russia's Foreign Ministry says Russia could host talks between the United States and North Korea if Moscow is asked to do so.
• Beijing Blasts Trump's Claims on Chinese Oil Sales to North Korea Sputnik 29 Dec 2017 -- Beijing has rejected claims that it has illicitly sold oil supplies to North Korea in contravention of UN resolutions, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, disputing earlier claims by US President Donald Trump.
• China Denies Involvement in Illicit Oil Shipments to North Korea VOA 29 Dec 2017 -- China has denied facilitating oil shipments to North Korea in violation of United Nations Security Council sanctions, one day after U.S. President Donald Trump accused Beijing of doing so.
• China rejects Trump's claim of North Korea oil transfer Press TV 29 Dec 2017 -- China has rejected allegations by United States that it helped North Korea evade United Nations sanctions, following claims by US President Donald Trump that Beijing had allowed the transfer of oil to a North Korean ship.
• Iranian Police Disperse, Arrest Demonstrators As Wave Of Protests Hits Cities RFE/RL 29 Dec 2017 -- Iranian police have dispersed antigovernment protesters and arrested dozens of people in the western city Kermanshah and the capital, Tehran, as demonstrations against price hikes have turned political and spread to several cities.
• Xi tells diplomats loyalty is key People's Daily 29 Dec 2017 -- President Xi Jinping called on China's diplomats to remain loyal to the Party and make contributions to the nation on Thursday.
• Free and fair elections 'confirm Liberia's steady march towards lasting peace,' says UN chief UN News 29 Dec 2017 -- United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday congratulated George Weah on his election as the next President of Liberia, and commended Vice-President Joseph Boakai for conceding defeat.
• Kenyan Opposition: If No Dialogue, We'll Inaugurate Odinga VOA 29 Dec 2017 -- Kenya's opposition says it will proceed with its planned inauguration of opposition leader Raila Odinga as president if Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta does not convene a national dialogue. Kenyatta won October's election after Odinga boycotted the vote, and experts warn that an opposition inauguration could create even more division in the country.
• South Africa Court Rules Parliament Failed to Hold President Zuma Accountable VOA 29 Dec 2017 -- South Africa's Constitutional Court ruled Friday that the country's parliament failed to hold President Jacob Zuma accountable for a scandal over using public funds for a multimillion-dollar upgrade to his private home.