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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 19 Jan 2018 [PDF]
• Military Strikes Continue Against ISIS Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 19 Jan 2018 -- U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria between Jan. 12 and Jan. 18, conducting 63 strikes consisting of 102 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
• US Military Stationed 1,000 PYD Militants on Turkey-Syria Border - Reports Sputnik 19 Jan 2018 -- The US military reportedly deployed about 1,000 fighters of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in the Syrian Tel-Abyad area on the Syrian-Turkish border.
• US claims four Shabab militants killed in Somalia strike Press TV 19 Jan 2018 -- The United States Africa Command has claimed that its airstrikes have killed four members of the al-Shabab militant group in southern Somalia.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Remarks by Secretary Mattis on the National Defense Strategy DoD 19 Jan 2018-- Presenter: Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis
• Mattis: Countering China, Russia Now Top US Defense Priority VOA 19 Jan 2018 -- U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says the United States is losing its competitive military advantage over China and Russia, marking the central challenge to America's armed forces.
• New US Defense Strategy: Work With Diplomats or Deal With Military Sputnik 19 Jan 2018 -- The main focus of national security for the United States is now power competition and not terrorism, US Defense Secretary James Mattis said on Friday, announcing the new National Defense Strategy.
• DoD Official: National Defense Strategy Will Enhance Deterrence AFPS 19 Jan 2018 -- The new National Defense Strategy announced today is aimed at restoring America's competitive military advantage to deter Russia and China from challenging the United States, its allies or seeking to overturn the international order that has served so well since the end of World War II.
• National Defense Strategy a 'Good Fit for Our Times,' Mattis Says AFPS 19 Jan 2018 -- The new National Defense Strategy is a good fit for the times, emphasizing the return of great power rivalry, yet still addressing other threats that abound in the world today, Defense Secretary James N. Mattis said today.
• US military edge over Russia, China eroding: Mattis Press TV 19 Jan 2018 -- Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has warned of "growing threats" from Russia and China, saying US military's advantages over the two countries have eroded in recent years.
• Pentagon Chief Calls Russia, China 'Revisionist Powers' RFE/RL 19 Jan 2018 -- The U.S. defense secretary has called Russia and China "revisionist powers" and said the focus of U.S. military strategy was shifting away from terrorism and back toward what he called "great power competition."
• Undersecreatary of the Air Force Matthew Donovan highlights budget, readiness AFNS 19 Jan 2018 -- The ability to adapt and stay ahead of potential adversaries is one of the greatest challenges the Air Force faces, undersecretary of the Air Force Matthew Donovan said during an Air Force Association breakfast in Washington, D.C., Jan. 18, 2018.
• Budget Uncertainty Puts DoD in 'Difficult Situation,' Deputy Secretary Says AFPS 19 Jan 2018 -- The uncertainty over government funding is putting the Defense Department workforce in a "difficult situation," Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan said in a memorandum to employees.
• DoD Issues Guidance for Potential Government Shutdown AFPS 19 Jan 2018 -- The Defense Department has issued guidance to its military and civilian leadership on how to proceed if the federal government should shut down at midnight tonight, according to a memorandum from Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan.
• US Budget Delays Could Derail Secret Nuclear Bomber Production, USAF Warns Sputnik 19 Jan 2018 -- US Air Force (USAF) leaders have warned that Congress' budget woes may have an adverse effect on plans to continue development of the B-21 Raider, the stealth aircraft meant to eventually become the Air Force's nuclear bomber of choice.
• Readout of Deputy Secretary Shanahan's Meeting with Republic of Korea Vice Minister of National Defense Suh DoD 19 Jan 2018
• Mount Whitney Arrives in Valletta, Malta NNS 19 Jan 2018 -- USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) arrived in Valletta, Malta, Jan. 19, 2018, for a scheduled port visit.
• Camp Lemonnier Personnel Prepare for Real-World Crisis Scenarios Through Training NNS 19 Jan 2018 -- Camp Lemonnier security, medical, and emergency services personnel participated in an active shooter training exercise at the E-6 barracks on base, Jan. 17 to help service members practice essential techniques to ensure mission readiness for real-world scenarios.
• Carl Vinson Aviators Complete 1000th Trap NNS 19 Jan 2018 -- Two naval aviators aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) joined an elite group after achieving a major career milestone when they completed their 1,000th arrested landing on the aircraft carrier, Jan. 18.
• 7th Fleet Hosts Annual U.S.-India Executive Steering Group NNS 19 Jan 2018 -- U.S. and Indian navy leadership met in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Jan. 17-19, to discuss engagements between the two nations throughout the year.
• USS Fitzgerald Arrives in Pascagoula for Restoration NNS 19 Jan 2018 -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) arrived in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Jan. 19, aboard heavy lift vessel MV Transshelf inward bound from Yokosuka, Japan.
• Russia to Decommission Two Largest Nuclear Subs in the World - Source Sputnik 19 Jan 2018 -- The submarines have already been withdrawn from operational status in the Russian Navy as their further use is unprofitable.
• France, Britain Strike Security Pacts as Brexit Tensions Persist VOA 19 Jan 2018 -- Britain and France, Europe's two biggest military powers, have agreed to closer ties in defense and security following a summit between the two leaders.
• Pakistan: Security, Intelligence Cooperation With US Non-Existent VOA 19 Jan 2018 -- Pakistan's defense minister says his country's deteriorating relationship with the United States has led to a decline in the security and intelligence cooperation between the two allies to an almost non-existent level.
• US Pacific military chief says China a disruptive force in region Press TV 19 Jan 2018 -- Head of the US military's Pacific command Admiral Harry Harris, known for his combative views on China, has said China is a disruptive power in the Indo-Pacific region urging countries in the region to build capabilities and work together to counter the Communist country.
• Russia begins delivery of S-400 missiles to China, sources say Press TV 19 Jan 2018 -- Russia has started delivering batteries of the S-400 Triumf advanced missile defense system to China as part of a 2014 agreement, sources close to the Russian military say.
• Components for Russian S-400 Defense Systems Damaged on Way to China - Moscow Sputnik 19 Jan 2018 -- A number of auxiliary components for S-400 air defense systems that had been sent from Russia to China under the 2014 contract were damaged during the shipment by sea, the Russian defense industry cooperation service (FSMTC) said Friday.
• New Special Forces Vehicles to Enter Service in New Zealand This Year Sputnik 19 Jan 2018 -- The New Zealand Defense Ministry accepted delivery of a fleet of new special operations vehicles this week that will enter service early this year, according to a Supacat company announcement.
• India Gains Entry Into Another Global Weapons Control Regime - Australia Group Sputnik 19 Jan 2018 -- India has been formally inducted as the 43rd member of the Australia Group (AG). The AG is the cooperative and voluntary group of countries which, through export controls, seeks to counter the spread of materials, equipment, and technologies that could contribute to the development or acquisition of chemical and biological weapons (CBW) by states or terrorist groups.
• Japan to Begin Mass Production of XASM-3 Anti-Ship Missile Sputnik 19 Jan 2018 -- Japan's Ministry of Defense has officially completed development of its new supersonic anti-ship missile, dubbed the XASM-3, with mass production slated to begin in 2019, according to local media reports.
• Previewing the Secretary's Trip to Europe US Dept. of State 19 Jan 2018

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 19, 2018

Other Conflicts

• 19 January 2018 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 19 Jan 2018
• UN: Amid continued Saudi campaign, 32,000 forced to flee homes in Yemen in 2 months Press TV 19 Jan 2018 -- More than 32,000 people in Yemen have been forced to flee their homes in a time span of two months, the United Nations says, due to the continued campaign led by Saudi Arabia that has also claimed thousands of lives.
• Yemeni retaliatory attacks leave eight Saudi soldiers dead Press TV 19 Jan 2018 -- At least eight Saudi soldiers have been killed when Yemeni army soldiers and fighters from allied Popular Committees launched separate attacks in Saudi Arabia's southwestern border regions of Jizan, Najran and Asir as they continue their retaliatory raids against Riyadh regime's aerial bombardment campaign.
• Afrin operation should start with no delay: Turkish defense chief Press TV 19 Jan 2018 -- Turkish Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli says no troops have gone into Syria's Kurdish-controlled Afrin region but the operation has started "de facto" with cross-border shelling.
• Turkey Launches Operation Against U.S.-Backed Kurdish Fighters In Syria RFE/RL 19 Jan 2018 -- Turkey's Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli says Turkey has begun a military operation against U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters in Syria's Afrin region.
• Turkey's Operation in Syria's Afrin Does Not Serve Its Interests - US State Dept Sputnik 19 Jan 2018 -- The reported military operation by Turkey in Syria's northern province of Afrin does not serve the interests of Ankara or the region, a senior US Department of State official told reporters on Friday.
• Turkish Army Shells Syrian YPG Positions - Reports Sputnik 19 Jan 2018 -- The shelling was reportedly carried out from the Turkey's Hatay province.
• Turkish-Backed Forces Cross Syrian Border as Afrin Op 'De Facto' Starts - Media Sputnik 19 Jan 2018 -- US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert has previously urged Turkey not to engage in any invasion of Syria's Afrin.
• US Warns Turkey Against Actions on Syrian Kurds Amid Afrin Tensions Sputnik 19 Jan 2018 -- While Turkey has been threatening with an operation against the Syrian Kurdish fighters, which are the backbone of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces fighting Daesh, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged Turkey not to engage in any invasion of the Syrian city Afrin.
• US Criticizes Turkish Shelling of Kurdish-Held Syria Region VOA 19 Jan 2018 -- While the United States supports Turkey's concern about a safe and secure Turkish-Syrian border, military operations by Turkey into northeast Syria will not advance regional stability, the State Department said Friday.
• Why Is Turkey Threatening Incursion Into Kurdish Enclave in Northern Syria? VOA 19 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.
• Kurds in Syria's Afrin to Resist Turkey's Potential Attack - Kurdish Politician Sputnik 19 Jan 2018 -- The Kurds in Syria's northern district of Afrin would not allow the Turkish army to freely enter the city in case of a potential offensive by Ankara, Kurdish politician Reizan Hedu told Sputnik.
• Briefing on Syria US Dept. of State 19 Jan 2018 -- Special Briefing by Senior State Department Official
• Syria: UN rights officials decry 'devastating' impact of surging violence on civilians UN News 19 Jan 2018 -- Concerned over the devastating impact of escalating violence in Syria, where dozens of people in eastern Ghouta have been killed in recent airstrikes, and schools and hospitals are being deliberately destroyed, senior United Nations officials have underscored the obligation on all parties to the conflict, and the international community, to protect civilians from atrocity crimes.
• UN says half of displaced people by war in Iraq are children Press TV 19 Jan 2018 -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) says children account for nearly half the 2.6 million Iraqis who have been displaced since three years ago, when the Daesh Takfiri terrorists began a deadly campaign.
• Kyiv Rebrands Its War In The East RFE/RL 19 Jan 2018 -- Ukraine's "antiterrorist operation" is officially over. But since the fight against Russia-backed separatists that most Ukrainians know as the "ATO" grinds on, what is still up for debate is: under what name?
• EU Calls For Release Of 'Illegally Detained' Ukrainians In Crimea, Russia RFE/RL 19 Jan 2018 -- The European Union has called for the release of Ukrainian citizens being held "illegally" in Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula whose 2014 seizure by Moscow triggered international condemnation and Western sanctions targeting Russia.
• Gunmen kill 12 soldiers in eastern DR Congo Press TV 19 Jan 2018 -- At least 12 Congolese soldiers have been killed in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the army is fighting Uganda-based rebels.
• UNICEF warns South Sudan risks losing generation due to conflict Press TV 19 Jan 2018 -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has warned that South Sudan risks losing a generation with 70 percent of the country's children out of school due to the four-year civil war.
• India Summons Pakistani Deputy High Commissioner Over Truce Breaches in Kashmir Sputnik 19 Jan 2018 -- The Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned Deputy High Commissioner of Pakistan Syed Haider Shah over alleged continued ceasefire violations in the disputed Kashmir region, the ministry said in a statement on Friday.
• Cross-border clashes escalate between India, Pakistan in Kashmir Press TV 19 Jan 2018 -- Cross-border shelling has continued between Indian and Pakistani forces in Kashmir for a third day, reportedly leaving casualties on both sides of the disputed border in the Himalayan region.
• Cross Border Fire Between Indian, Pakistani Troops Claims 8 Civilian Lives Sputnik 19 Jan 2018 -- Heavy firing between Indian and Pakistani troops at the international border has caused civilian deaths on both sides – eight in total during the last 48 hours.
• Israel army considers taking over security in East Jerusalem al-Quds Press TV 19 Jan 2018 -- The Israeli military is reportedly considering a plan to take over from police the control of the situation at a Palestinian refugee camp and an Arab neighborhood in East Jerusalem al-Quds amid ongoing tensions there over a controversial US policy shift on the occupied city.
• US reneges on pledge to pay $45 million for Palestinian refugees Press TV 19 Jan 2018 -- The United States has reneged on a pledge to contribute $45 million to a United Nations agency tasked with providing services for Palestinian refugees, adding to cutbacks announced earlier this week.
• UNRWA to Appeal to Donors to Help Palestinian Refugees After US Aid Cut Sputnik 19 Jan 2018 -- The UN Relief and Welfare Agency (UNRWA) is launching an international campaign to raise funds to aid Palestinian refugees after the US cut its funding by half. Sputnik Arabic spoke with UNRWA information advisor Adnan Abu Hasnah about the impact of this cut.
• More flee Cameroon's English-speaking areas; UN concerned over safety of women and children UN News 19 Jan 2018 -- As swelling numbers of people flee English-speaking areas of Cameroon for Nigeria, the United Nations on Friday expressed concern over the precarious situation of women and children, which make now up about 80 per cent of the approximately 10,000 registered refugees in eastern Nigeria's Cross River state.

News Reports

• Supreme Court to Consider Travel Ban VOA 19 Jan 2018 -- The Supreme Court has signaled that it will consider the legality of President Donald Trump's order restricting travel.
• Moscow Slams Leak Of Embassy Bank Transfers Around U.S. Election RFE/RL 19 Jan 2018 -- The Russian Foreign Ministry is demanding that the United States stop the leak of confidential diplomatic information after a media report this week provided details of what it said were "suspicious" Russian embassy bank transfers.
• Mexican Presidential Front-Runner Dismisses Charges He's Backed By Kremlin RFE/RL 19 Jan 2018 -- The leftist front-runner in Mexico's presidential election is making light of allegations by his opponents and a top U.S. official that his campaign may have backing from the Kremlin.
• Spain rules out possibility of Puigdemont becoming Catalonia president again Press TV 19 Jan 2018 -- Spain has ruled out the possibility of Catalonia's former leader Carles Puigdemont becoming the Spanish region's president again.
• Russian FM calls for saving JCPOA IRNA 19 Jan 2018 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed the importance of preserving the nuclear deal reached between Iran and the G5+1 (US, UK, France, Russia, China plus Germany) in 2015.
• US lawmakers table bill meant to 'tighten' terms of Iran nuclear deal Press TV 19 Jan 2018 -- US lawmakers have put forward a bill at the House of Representatives, seeking to "tighten" the term of a 2015 multinational nuclear deal with Iran, despite international warnings for Washington to stop attempts to undermine the accord.
• Iran nuclear deal collapse would be alarming, Russia warns Press TV 19 Jan 2018 -- The possible collapse of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal would send an "alarming" message to the world, says Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, advising signatories of the deal against abandoning it to pursue their own interests.
• Egypt: Sisi fires spy chief in surprise decree Press TV 19 Jan 2018 -- Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has fired the country's head of the intelligence in an unexpected move as presidential elections draw nearer.
• Focus in Myanmar Turns to 2020 Election VOA 19 Jan 2018 -- As the second anniversary of the National League for Democracy's time in power approaches in late March, thoughts are starting to turn toward a general election expected to take place in 2020.
• Russia court declines to review opposition figure Navalny's complaint Press TV 19 Jan 2018 -- Russia's Constitutional Court has reportedly declined to review a complaint from opposition leader Alexei Navalny, which he had filed over a ban on his participation in the upcoming presidential election due to a criminal record.
• President calls for Beijing to resolve aviation issue: spokesman CNA 19 Jan 2018 -- Taiwan is calling for discussions with Beijing on aviation issues related to its recent unilateral decision to launch a northbound M503 route, Presidential Office spokesman Sidney Lin (林鶴明) said Friday.
• CAA rejects China's accusation in M503 dispute CNA 19 Jan 2018 -- Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) on Friday expressed "strong regret" over China's condemnation of Taiwan's move to put extra Lunar New Year cross-strait flights on hold amid a dispute over the controversial M503 route.
• UN chief spotlights potential offered by cooperation among countries of Central Asia and Afghanistan UN News 19 Jan 2018 -- The threats of violent extremism and transnational organized crime in Afghanistan reverberate across Central Asia and the world and countering them cannot be the responsibility of one country alone, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said Friday, urging regional and multilateral cooperation, based firmly on human rights.