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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 05 Jan 2018 [PDF]
• Military Strikes Continue Against ISIS Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 05 Jan 2018 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria between Dec. 29, 2017, and yesterday, conducting 58 strikes consisting of 84 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• US, coalition forces ready to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS in 2018 Army News 05 Jan 2018 -- Today, the 70 nations and four organizations that comprise the coalition that is dedicated to the defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria reflect on progress made in 2017 and look forward to 2018, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported Monday.
• Defence Secretary praises UK efforts as RAF operations against Daesh continue UK MOD 05 Jan 2018 -- In a visit to Kuwait, Iraq and Cyprus, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson commended UK personnel deployed in the fight against Daesh.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Delivering MRAPs safely downrange AFNS 05 Jan 2018 -- Delivering mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles downrange to U.S. troops is vital to their safety and overall mission success. Logistics Airmen at the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing show their commitment to making this happen safely every day.
• Mattis Speaks to Reporters About South Asia, North Korea, Iran AFPS 05 Jan 2018 -- Defense Secretary James N. Mattis discussed strategy in South Asia, issues on the Korean Peninsula and Iranian illicit weapons activities, in an impromptu discussion with Pentagon reporters today.
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Mattis' Phone Call With Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo DoD 05 Jan 2018
• Media Availability by Secretary Mattis at the Pentagon DoD 05 Jan 2018 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis
• Carl Vinson Strike Group Departs for Deployment to Western Pacific NNS 05 Jan 2018 -- More than 6,000 Sailors assigned to Carl Vinson Strike Group ships and units departed the U.S. West Coast Jan. 4-5, for a regularly scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific.
• NRL Improves Optical Efficiency in Nanophotonic Devices NNS 05 Jan 2018 -- Nanophotonic devices have direct applications for use in ultra-high resolution microscopes, solar energy harvesting, optical computing and targeted medical therapies.
• Chinese aircraft carrier monitored as it travels near Taiwan: MND CNA 05 Jan 2018 -- A Chinese aircraft carrier sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Friday without showing any abnormal activity, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND).
• Xi stresses building elite combat force People's Daily 05 Jan 2018 -- President Xi Jinpinghas ordered the creation of an elite combat force through real combat training and digitalization.
• China to Build Second Foreign Naval Base, This Time in Pakistan Sputnik 05 Jan 2018 -- China is planning to build its second foreign naval base in Pakistan following the ribbon cutting ceremony for its first overseas base in Djibouti last July.
• 'We Need Stronger Spirit': China's Xi Wants Superior Hi-Tech Army Sputnik 05 Jan 2018 -- The Chinese president made the statement during his recent inspection of a Ground Force division from the Central Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
• China Begins Construction of Third Domestically Made Aircraft Carrier Sputnik 05 Jan 2018 -- Less than one year after Chinese shipyard workers completed the nation's first domestically made aircraft carrier, workers were already toiling away on what will one day become China's third homemade carrier.
• 'Always be prepared for war,' China's Xi tells military Press TV 05 Jan 2018 -- China's President Xi Jinping has called on the country's military – the largest and among the most disciplined in the world – to be prepared for war at all times.
• Indian Navy to Get Boeing's P-8I Simulator for Sophisticated Mission Training Sputnik 05 Jan 2018 -- Boeing will soon be setting up a maritime reconnaissance aircraft training suite in India, with the country's defense ministry approving the purchase of the Boeing's P-8I Training Solution at the cost of $304 million. The contract would include setting up of the simulator module at the Indian Naval Station Rajali at Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu, along with a 10-year maintenance service agreement.
• Italian-French group, Turkish firms awarded missile system study Press TV 05 Jan 2018 -- Turkey has awarded a contract for a study into the development and production of a long-range air and missile system to a European manufacturer of anti-air missiles as well as two major Turkish weapons manufacturers and contractors.
• Mexico - Harpoon Block II Missiles, RAM Missiles and MK 54 Torpedoes DSCA 05 Jan 2018 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Mexico of RGM-84L Harpoon Block II surface launched missiles, Block II Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) tactical missiles and MK 54 Mod 0 lightweight torpedoes for an estimated cost of $98.4 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
• Oman – F-16 Operational Flight Profile and Identification Friend or Foe Mode 5 Upgrade DSCA 05 Jan 2018 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Oman of items and services to support an incremental Operational Flight Profile (OFP) software upgrade for F-16 subsystems, as well as Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) and secure communications equipment for Mode 5 operations for an estimated cost of $62 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
• Turkey Gives Weapons to Somali Soldiers VOA 05 Jan 2018 -- Somali State Minister for Defense Mohamed Ali Haga has confirmed to VOA Somali for the first time that the Turkish government has recently supplied weapons to the Somali army.

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 05, 2018

Other Conflicts

• 5 January 2018 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 05 Jan 2018
• Series of Satellite Launches Will Bolster Chinese Control of Disputed Sea VOA 05 Jan 2018 -- A Chinese province's plan to launch 10 satellites over a widely disputed sea starting next year will help guide China to prime natural resources and enable fast reaction to any foreign ship movement, boosting China's lead over five other Asian governments.
• UN Gives Record-setting Emergency Aid Funds to Yemen VOA 05 Jan 2018 -- The United Nations says it is giving its largest emergency relief allocation ever, $50 million, to Yemen to help the more than 22 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.
• WHO: Yemen Children Dying from Rapid Spread of Diphtheria VOA 05 Jan 2018 -- The World Health Organization warns that children in Yemen are dying as diphtheria, a preventable disease, spreads rapidly throughout the country.
• UN approves largest-ever emergency funding allocation to scale up response in war-torn Yemen UN News 05 Jan 2018 -- Despite progress over the past month in opening Yemen's Red Sea ports to commercial and aid shipments, the United Nations relief chief on Friday approved the largest-ever emergency relief allocation – $50 million – amid concerns that the humanitarian catastrophe in the war-raved country is being made worse by the recent increase in fighting and airstrikes.
• Houthis Launch Ballistic Missile at Saudi Arabian Army Target - Reports Sputnik 05 Jan 2018 -- Yemen's Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah, has announced the launch of a ballistic short-range missile at a target in Saudi Arabia, Houthi-controlled Al Masirah TV channel reported.
• Syrian army makes significant advancements in Idlib: Observatory Press TV 05 Jan 2018 -- Syrian army forces have made significant advancements against Takfiri terrorists in the northwestern province of Idlib, the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says.
• Israel approves construction of over 2,200 new settler units in occupied West Bank Press TV 05 Jan 2018 -- Israeli officials have approved plans for the construction of more than 2,200 new settler units in the occupied West Bank irrespective of the international outcry against the Tel Aviv regime's land expropriation and settlement expansion policies in Palestinian lands.
• Central African Republic: UN agency registers thousands of refugees arriving in Chad UN News 05 Jan 2018 -- In the wake of a recent flare-up of violence in the Central African Republic (CAR), the United Nations refugee agency said Friday that it is registering and assisting thousands of mostly women and children refugees arriving in Chad.

News Reports

• Senators Call For Criminal Probe Into Author Of Salacious Trump Dossier RFE/RL 05 Jan 2018 -- Two U.S. senators have called for a criminal investigation of a former British spy who authored a salacious report about Donald Trump when he was a businessman, a report known as the Steele Dossier.
• China places tougher limits on trade with North Korea Press TV 05 Jan 2018 -- China has imposed tighter trade limits on North Korea to increase pressure on its neighbor over its weapons program.
• Russia, China welcome agreement to resume Korean talks Press TV 05 Jan 2018 -- Russia and China have welcomed an agreement by North and South Koreas to resume dialog after two years.
• North Korea agrees to high-level talks: South Press TV 05 Jan 2018 -- North Korea has agreed to hold high-level talks with South Korea next week, Seoul says, increasing hopes of a peaceful end to a long-running military standoff that also involves the United States.
• China Fully Suspends Exports of Iron, Industrial Equipment to N Korea Sputnik 05 Jan 2018 -- North Korean trade volume with China, the country's biggest trade partner, slumped this year amid several rounds of sanctions imposed by the United Nations in response to Pyongyang's multiple missile and nuclear tests.
• Koreas' Talks to Cover Olympics Only VOA 05 Jan 2018 -- North Korea has accepted South Korea's offer of high-level talks on Jan. 9 at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone dividing the two Koreas, but only the Olympic Games will be discussed.
• U.S. Tells Iran At UN Security Council Emergency Session 'World Will Be Watching' RFE/RL 05 Jan 2018 -- The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations opened an emergency session of the Security Council with an impassioned plea for "brave" Iranian citizens protesting on the streets of their country, saying they are "risking their lives" to protect their human rights.
• In wake of violent protests in Iran, UN Security Council meets to take stock of situation UN News 05 Jan 2018 -- Even though days of anti-Government protests across Iran appear to have ebbed, a senior United Nations political official said Friday the UN will continue to monitor the situation and engage with Iranian authorities on addressing the legitimate concerns of the population through peaceful means.
• 'US Is Watching What You Do,' Iran Told at UN VOA 05 Jan 2018 -- The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations praised anti-government protesters in Iran at an emergency meeting Friday of the Security Council, while Russia criticized the United States for what it said was meddling in Iran's domestic affairs.
• Did Iran's Hardliners Orchestrate Start of Iranian Protests? VOA 05 Jan 2018 -- Iranian authorities have accused the West and the country's regional enemies of fomenting the street protests that have roiled Iran for a week, but reformists question whether some of their domestic conservative foes had a hand in orchestrating the demonstrations in the first place – suspecting they did so to weaken the government of President Hassan Rouhani.
• Cyberweapons Now A 'Core Tool' Of Iranian Statecraft RFE/RL 05 Jan 2018 -- A new report by the Carnegie Endowment says Iran's cyberoperations have become increasingly sophisticated and damaging to its adversaries and are now a prime policy tool for its security agencies.
• Pakistan denounces US decision to suspend security aid Press TV 05 Jan 2018 -- Pakistan has denounced as "counterproductive" Washington's decision to suspend millions of dollars in security aid to Islamabad.
• US Warns Pakistan Weakness on Terror Could Cost Country $1.9B VOA 05 Jan 2018 -- The United States said its decision to suspend military aid to Pakistan will cost Islamabad just under $2 billion, as top officials from both countries engaged in a war of words Friday over differences in how to fight terrorism.
• War of Words Rattles Pakistan's Ties With US VOA 05 Jan 2018 -- Pakistan's military said Friday the suspension of U.S. assistance will undermine bilateral security cooperation and regional peace efforts but will not deter the Pakistan's counterterrorism resolve.
• Daesh declares war on Palestine's Hamas resistance movement Press TV 05 Jan 2018 -- The Egyptian wing of Daesh Takfiri terrorists has released a new execution video, declaring war on the Palestinian Hamas resistance movement based in Gaza.
• Erdogan says Turkey 'seriously tired' of waiting to become EU member Press TV 05 Jan 2018 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he is "seriously tired" of waiting for the European Union to decide whether to accept his country as a member of the bloc.
• US hatching chain of plots against Turkey: Erdogan Press TV 05 Jan 2018 -- Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has slammed the United States for the conviction of a top Turkish banker in a US trial, saying Washington is hatching a "chain of plots" against Ankara.
• Turkey Seeks Reset With EU VOA 05 Jan 2018 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is one of two senior Turkish officials who have made or are making trips to European Union countries in what analysts say is a diplomatic offensive to reset relations with the 28-member bloc.
• Georgian Court Sentences Saakashvili In Absentia RFE/RL 05 Jan 2018 -- The Tbilisi city court has found former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili guilty of abuse of power in connection with a 2006 murder case and sentenced him in absentia to three years in prison.
• Tbilisi Court Sentences Georgian Ex-President Saakashvili to 3 Years in Absentia Sputnik 05 Jan 2018 -- A court in Tbilisi on Friday sentenced former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili in absentia to three years in prison for abusing his power, within the framework of a murder case.
• UN rights office warns DR Congo authorities against use of excessive force when policing protests UN News 05 Jan 2018 -- Amid ongoing political tension in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), violent actions by the security forces during recent protests in Kinshasa and other cities suggest "deliberate intention to suppress civil and political rights," the United Nations human rights office reported on Friday.