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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 18 Jan 2018 [PDF]
• US Rejects Accusations It Gave Rise to IS in Afghanistan VOA 18 Jan 2018 -- The United States reiterated its resolve Thursday to help local forces eliminate Islamic State from Afghanistan and strongly refuted accusations Washington was behind the emergence of the terrorist group in the war-shattered country.
• U.S. Says Kabul Closer To Holding Peace Talks With Taliban RFE/RL 18 Jan 2018 -- The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations says that Afghanistan is getting closer to holding peace talks with the Taliban as a result of a new Afghan strategy put in place by the United States last year.
• US Warns Afghans against Violence to End Rift over Ousted Governor VOA 18 Jan 2018 -- The United States again has called on leaders in Afghanistan to resolve peacefully and expeditiously an ongoing dispute over the leadership transition in a northern province, where the powerful governor is refusing to relinquish control despite being ousted by the country's president.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Trump Visits Pentagon to Show Support for Military VOA 18 Jan 2018 -- On a visit to the Pentagon, President Donald Trump has criticized Congress' handling of the budget and cautioned that a potential government shutdown would be the "worst thing" for military development.
• New battery technology saves Soldiers time, money on the battlefield Army News 18 Jan 2018 -- Twenty years ago, one phone call between two Army engineers led to a cost-effective lithium-ion battery solution for what was then an up-and-coming guided missile system.
• Marine Corps searches for new satellite communications system USMC News 18 Jan 2018 -- Giving Marine Commanders the means to communicate beyond line of sight while forward deployed is a critical and necessary capability. A Marine Corps Systems Command-led working group is actively pursuing updates to the Very Small Aperture Terminal Family of Systems, which has been deployed for nearly a decade. The mission: to develop and deliver an updated, cost-effective, reliable solution.
• USNS Brunswick Departs Kuching, Malaysia NNS 18 Jan 2018 -- The expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Brunswick (T-EPF-6) concluded a port visit to Kuching, Malaysia, Jan. 17.
• Navy Installations and Commands Exercise Force Protection NNS 18 Jan 2018 -- Navy installations within the continental United States (CONUS) will conduct Exercise Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain 2018 Jan. 29 - Feb. 9.
• TR, French Ship Chevalier Paul Cross Deck Sailors in Arabian Gulf NNS 18 Jan 2018 -- Twenty four Sailors assigned to the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) participated in a "cross deck" event with personnel assigned to the French Horizon-Class destroyer FS Chevalier Paul (D621), while deployed in the Arabian Gulf, Jan. 13-17.
• Always Ready - South Carolina National Guard recovery teams Army News 18 Jan 2018 -- When South Carolina is impacted by weather events such as ice, rain or snow, one of the most deployed assets for the South Carolina National Guard are vehicle recovery teams (VRT). During the recent ice storm that impacted the state Jan. 17, 2018, one VRT, with a seasoned group of Soldiers was called to support once again.
• Commander of Bahrain Navy Visits TR NNS 18 Jan 2018 -- The Commander of the Royal Bahrain Naval Force visited the deployed aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in the Arabian Gulf Jan. 16.
• US Icebreakers Apparently Need Cruise Missiles Now Sputnik 18 Jan 2018 -- The US Coast Guard is seeking to equip icebreaker vessels operating near the Arctic Ocean with cruise missiles for the first time as Washington hopes to gain a leg up in the "Cold War" brewing in the world's coldest waters.
• Joint press point with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Zoran Zaev, Prime Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia¹ NATO 18 Jan 2018
• NATO Secretary General in Skopje: "We want you to succeed" NATO 18 Jan 2018 -- Visiting Skopje on Thursday (18. January 2018) the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and praised his country's efforts and progress towards long-term political stability.
• Speech by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to the Parliament of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia¹ NATO 18 Jan 2018
• Qatar inks security agreement with NATO Press TV 18 Jan 2018 -- Qatar has signed a security agreement with the NATO military alliance amid severe diplomatic tensions in the Persian Gulf region which pit a Saudi-led quartet of states against Doha.
• Draft U.S. Document Confirms Russian Plans For 'Doomsday' Weapon RFE/RL 18 Jan 2018 -- Some two years ago, Western intelligence and military experts scrambled to make sense of a strange new Russian weapon whose designs were glimpsed briefly in a mysterious report on Russian state TV.
• UK and France commit to new defence cooperation UK MOD 18 Jan 2018 -- The Prime Minister and French President have agreed a range of measures to strengthen defence cooperation between the UK and France at a summit at Sandhurst
• China should enhance presence in Indian Ocean to counter India’s missile tests: experts Global Times 18 Jan 2018 -- India's latest test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), allegedly nuclear capable, poses a direct threat to China's security as well as a big challenge to the global efforts of nuclear-nonproliferation, a Chinese missile expert warned Thursday.
• Satellite Photos Confirm Chinese Military Buildup Just Outside Doklam Sputnik 18 Jan 2018 -- New satellite imagery has revealed that China is building an enormous military complex just miles from the site of their 10-week standoff with the Indian military along the Doklam Plateau over the summer of 2017.
• Defense Cuts Leave UK Reliant on French, German Militaries - MP Sputnik 18 Jan 2018 -- A member of the British Parliament berated the nation's military for relying on France, Germany, Norway, Canada and the United States to monitor Russian submarines that crept into Scottish waters between November and January.
• India successfully test-fires nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile: New Delhi Press TV 18 Jan 2018 -- India says it has successfully test-fired its longest-range nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), a move that could be perceived as provocative by nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and China.
• India's Most Lethal Nuke Capable Missile Hits Bull's Eye in Pre-Induction Test Sputnik 18 Jan 2018 -- Indian defense scientists have successfully conducted a pre-induction test of the country's longest-range nuke-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile, Agni-V, from the Abdul Kalam defense base on the eastern coast of Odisha. The test was conducted at 9.53 am (Indian Standard Time) on Thursday.
• India Conducts Fifth Test of Nuclear-Capable ICBM VOA 18 Jan 2018 -- India conducted the fifth test of its nuclear capable intercontinental ballistic missile on Thursday from the Abdul Kalam Island off Odhisa's coast in the east.
• JAXA launches Epsilon-3 rocket NHK 18 Jan 2018 -- Japan's space agency has successfully launched its Epsilon-3 small rocket, carrying an Earth observation satellite developed by Japanese electronics firm NEC.
• Belgium - F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft DSCA 18 Jan 2018 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Belgium of thirty-four (34) F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Conventional Take Off and Landing aircraft for an estimated cost of $6.53 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
• US administration approves $500mn missile system deal with Saudi Arabia Press TV 18 Jan 2018 -- The US State Department has approved a possible $500-million sale of missile system support services to Saudi Arabia in defiance of global calls for Washington to stop providing Riyadh with military support due to the regime's war crimes in Yemen.
• Department Press Briefing - January 18, 2018 US Dept. of State 18 Jan 2018
• Press Gaggle by Principal Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah en route Pittsburgh, PA The White House 18 Jan 2018

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 18, 2018

Other Conflicts

• 18 January 2018 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 18 Jan 2018
• Dialogue and confidence vital to prevent, resolve conflicts, says UN chief UN News 18 Jan 2018 -- Worldwide concerns over nuclear weapons are the highest they have been since the Cold War, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said Thursday, calling for comprehensive political solutions that include dialogue and negotiation to prevent, mitigate and resolve conflicts.
• In Doha, General Assembly President spotlights UN 'sustaining peace' agenda UN News 18 Jan 2018 -- Conflict is not always linear, with a clear beginning, middle and end, the President of the United Nations General Assembly said Thursday, urging a new approach to peace that requires action at all stages of the conflict cycle.
• Yemeni snipers kill four Saudi troopers in retaliatory attacks Press TV 18 Jan 2018 -- Yemeni army soldiers, backed by fighters from allied Popular Committees, have shot dead four Saudi soldiers in the kingdom's southwestern border region of Jizan, in retaliation for the Riyadh regime's military campaign against the crisis-hit country.
• Turkey Says It's Planning To Confront U.S.-Backed Kurds In Syria RFE/RL 18 Jan 2018 -- Turkey says it is planning for military intervention in Syria's Kurdish-controlled Afrin and Manbij regions in response to a "threat" posed by U.S.-backed Kurdish militia fighters.
• Turkish Prime Minister Urges US to End Confusion Around Border Security in Syria Sputnik 18 Jan 2018 -- The United States should clarify its inconsistent statements regarding the establishment of "border security forces" in northern Syria, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Thursday.
• Terrorist Army on Syrian Border to Cause Damage to Ties With US - Ankara Sputnik 18 Jan 2018 -- Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has commented on Ankara-Washington ties amid the scandal around US support for Kurdish militants.
• Why Is Turkey Threatening Incursion Into Kurdish Enclave in Northern Syria? VOA 18 Jan 2018 -- The border between Turkey and Syria recently has been the scene of major Turkish military buildup in preparation for what Turkish officials call an "imminent" assault on the northern Syria's Afrin region.
• Turkey Ratchets Up Pressure on Syrian Kurds VOA 18 Jan 2018 -- Turkey is stepping up its military and diplomatic preparations for a threatened offensive into Syria against a Syrian Kurdish militia. The escalation comes as Turkish ministers dismissed efforts by U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to calm tensions.
• Syria air defense to destroy Turkish jets if they attack: Deputy FM Press TV 18 Jan 2018 -- Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Meqdad has warned Turkey against launching a military operation in the country's northwestern region of Afrin, stressing that Syrian air defense systems are prepared to repel such an attack.
• Syria slams US military presence as 'act of aggression' Press TV 18 Jan 2018 -- Syria has strongly condemned a US plan to maintain its military presence in the Arab country as interference in its internal affairs and a blatant violation of international law.
• Tillerson: U.S. Troops Staying In Syria To Counter Assad, Iran RFE/RL 18 Jan 2018 -- U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said that U.S. troops will remain in Syria indefinitely not just to fight militants but also to counter the power of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his ally Iran.
• Syrian Air Defense Ready to Destroy Turkish Aviation if They Attack - Deputy FM Sputnik 18 Jan 2018 -- Turkey threatens to launch a military operation in Syria's Afrin amid reports that the country has been shelling the area.
• Food Shortages, Hunger Growing in War-Torn Syria, Says WFP VOA 18 Jan 2018 -- The World Food Program warns a growing number of civilians in war-torn Syria face food shortages at a time when many people are suffering from acute hunger.
• Ukraine seeks 'new war' by calling Russia aggressor: Kremlin Press TV 18 Jan 2018 -- Russia has accused Ukraine of preparing for a new war after Ukrainian legislators described the conflict with pro-Moscow forces in the east of the country as a "temporary Russian occupation."
• Ukraine passes bill to retake control of eastern regions from Russia-backed forces Press TV 18 Jan 2018 -- Ukrainian lawmakers have passed a bill to take back control of the country's eastern territories from Russia-backed forces.
• Five Issues With Ukraine's 'Occupied Territories' Bill RFE/RL 18 Jan 2018 -- Passing legislation that sets a course to bring areas of eastern Ukraine controlled by Russia-backed separatists back into the fold was no formality for Kyiv.
• Ukraine Passes Bill To Restore Control Over Separatist-Held Areas RFE/RL 18 Jan 2018 -- Ukraine's parliament has passed a bill that backers, including President Poroshenko, say will help Kyiv restore control over areas in the east that are held by Russia-backed separatists.
• More Rohingya Muslims flee Myanmar as Bangladesh prepares to start repatriation Press TV 18 Jan 2018 -- More than 100 persecuted Rohingya Muslims have crossed into Bangladesh from Myanmar over the past 24 hours, raising doubts about plans to send back thousands of refugees who have already fled a brutal crackdown.
• Boko Haram terrorists kill five people in southeastern Niger Press TV 18 Jan 2018 -- Suspected militants from the Boko Haram Takfiri terrorist group have killed at least four troops and a civilian in an attack on a military post in southeast Niger.
• Somali Army Reports Killing 7 al-Shabab Militants VOA 18 Jan 2018 -- The Somalia national army killed at least seven al-Shabab militants Thursday and destroyed their base during an operation in southern Somalia, officials and residents said.
• Defense Withdraws From Treason Case Against Machar Aide VOA 18 Jan 2018 -- Attorneys representing a former spokesman for South Sudanese rebel leader Riek Machar on treason charges have withdrawn from the case, saying James Gatdet should have been freed under the cease-fire agreement signed last month.
• Amid 'dramatic deterioration' in DR Congo, UN and partners launch $1.68 billion aid appeal UN News 18 Jan 2018 -- Warning of a "dramatic deterioration" in the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) over the last 12 months, United Nations agencies and relief partners on Thursday launched the largest-ever funding appeal for the vast central African country.

News Reports

• Trump Insists Plan for Border Wall Has 'Never Changed' VOA 18 Jan 2018 -- The U.S. president is denying any rift with his chief of staff after John Kelly said Donald Trump's views had "evolved" since taking office a year ago.
• Former US Envoys Ask Trump to 'Reassess' His Views on Africans and African Americans VOA 18 Jan 2018 -- Seventy-eight former U.S. ambassadors to African countries have sent a letter to the White House, expressing "deep concern" over President Donald Trump's reported comments referring to African nations as "s---hole" countries.
• HRW Sees 'Enormous Threat' In Era Of Authoritarian Populists RFE/RL 18 Jan 2018 -- Human Rights Watch (HRW) says rising intolerance inspired by populist agendas in influential democracies, including the United States, is encouraging rights abuses by authoritarian leaders around the world.
• US House Intelligence Committee Plans Release of Testimony on Trump Dossier Sputnik 18 Jan 2018 -- The US House of Representatives Intelligence Committee plans to release a transcript of Glenn Simpson's testimony regarding a salacious but unverified dossier on President Donald Trump, tied to an ongoing probe of Trump campaign alleged collusion with Russia, US Congressman Mike Conaway told reporters Thursday.
• US Senate Reauthorizes FISA Surveillance Program Sputnik 18 Jan 2018 -- The bill will extend the existing surveillance programs for foreigners for six years with minimal changes.
• US Officials Praise Renewal of Foreign Surveillance Program VOA 18 Jan 2018 -- U.S. intelligence officials are praising lawmakers for finally reauthorizing a surveillance program that privacy advocates have criticized heavily, saying it fails to protect the rights of ordinary citizens.
• Uzbek Man Offers Guilty Plea In Truck Attack If Spared Death Penalty RFE/RL 18 Jan 2018 -- An Uzbek man charged with killing eight people by ramming a truck down a New York City bike path is willing to plead guilty and accept a life sentence in prison if prosecutors do not seek the death penalty, his lawyers said.
• Lavrov Tells Security Council Iran Nuclear Failure Would Be 'Alarming' RFE/RL 18 Jan 2018 -- At the UN Security Council, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned that if the Iran nuclear agreement with world powers fails, it would send an "alarming" message to the international community.
• UN Chief Warns Against Endangering Iran Nuclear Deal RFE/RL 18 Jan 2018 -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is urging nations not to damage Iran's 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers because of concerns they may have with Iran's nonnuclear military activities in the Middle East.
• Iran's Protests Suppressed, But Not Forgotten RFE/RL 18 Jan 2018 -- The biggest challenge to Iran's establishment in years fizzled out after a couple of weeks of violent demonstrations, but while widespread discontent has been quieted for now, the calm won't last forever.
• S Korea Restores Military Hotline With N Korea - Reports Sputnik 18 Jan 2018 -- South Korea has completely restored the military communication hotline with North Korea to prevent armed incidents in the Yellow Sea, the Yonhap news agency reported Thursday from Seoul citing a source in the South Korean Armed Forces.
• DPRK says U.S. training tunnel combat troops in invasion preparations People's Daily 18 Jan 2018 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) warned Thursday that the United States is training tunnel combat troops in preparation for an invasion of the DPRK.
• Russia dismisses 'detrimental' Vancouver summit on North Korea Press TV 18 Jan 2018 -- Russia has criticized a recent conference that had been organized by Canada and the United States to discuss North Korea as harmful to peace on the Korean Peninsula.
• Trump doubts North Korea nuclear crisis could be resolved 'in a peaceful way' Press TV 18 Jan 2018 -- US President Donald Trump has said he is willing to negotiate directly with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un over his country's nuclear weapons program but expressed doubts the crisis could be resolved "in a peaceful way."
• 176 Lunar New Year flights put on hold due to M503 dispute CNA 18 Jan 2018 -- Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) confirmed a news report Thursday that it has provisionally delayed approval of applications by two China-based airlines to operate additional cross-strait flights during the Lunar New Year holiday in protest at China's unilateral decision to launch a northbound M503 route.
• China to Discuss Constitutional Amendments, But How Far Will Xi Jinping Go? VOA 18 Jan 2018 -- A group of top Chinese Communist Party leaders is meeting in Beijing to discuss amendments to the country's constitution, but so far few details have been made public. Analysts said the two-day meeting, which ends Friday, is likely to further cement Chinese leader Xi Jinping's grip on power in the party state.
• More Rohingya Muslims flee Myanmar as Bangladesh prepares to start repatriation Press TV 18 Jan 2018 -- More than 100 persecuted Rohingya Muslims have crossed into Bangladesh from Myanmar over the past 24 hours, raising doubts about plans to send back thousands of refugees who have already fled a brutal crackdown.
• Turkey Extends Country's State of Emergency by Three Months - Reports Sputnik 18 Jan 2018 -- The state of emergency was introduced in Turkey after the failed 2016 coup attempt.
• EU agrees to impose sanctions on seven Venezuelan officials: Sources Press TV 18 Jan 2018 -- The European Union has decided to include some senior Venezuelan officials in its sanctions blacklist over an ongoing political conflict in the country, sources within the bloc have indicated.
• Slain Kosovar Serb Leader Buried In Belgrade RFE/RL 18 Jan 2018 -- Hundreds of mourners including Serbia's prime minister crowded a cemetery for the funeral of Kosovar Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic, who was buried in Belgrade two days after he was gunned down in northern Kosovo.
• Burundi's Human Rights Record Comes Under Critical Review by UN VOA 18 Jan 2018 -- Member states participating in a U.N. review of Burundi's human rights record have accused the central African government of wide-scale abuse, including extrajudicial killings, torture, sexual violence and repression of the freedom of expression.