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Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 25 Jan 2018 [PDF]
• US airstrikes kill 15 civilians in Syria's Dayr al-Zawr Press TV 25 Jan 2018 -- Fresh air raids conducted by the US have claimed the lives of 15 civilians, including seven women, in Syria's eastern Dayr al-Zawr Province.
• US military admits death of Somali schoolchildren in recent raid Press TV 25 Jan 2018 -- The US military's Africa Command (AFRICOM) has admitted to killing a number of civilians, including schoolchildren, during a recent raid in Somalia.
• 'Four U.S. Citizens Killed,' Two Hurt In Kabul Hotel Attack RFE/RL 25 Jan 2018 -- The State Department has confirmed that four U.S. citizens were killed and two others wounded in the recent attack on Kabul's Intercontinental Hotel by Taliban militants that left an estimated 30 people dead.
• Treasury Sanctions Taliban and Haqqani Network Financiers and Facilitators US Treasury 25 Jan 2018 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took action today to expose and disrupt the financing of the Taliban and Haqqani Network by designating six individuals as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Trump administration warned against developing new nukes Press TV 25 Jan 2018 -- As the administration of US President Donald Trump prepares to unveil its review of the US nuclear posture, more experts are warning that developing a new type of nuclear weapons to meet President Donald Trump's demands would trigger an arms race.
• Air Force, Army Developing Multidomain Doctrine AFPS 25 Jan 2018 -- The Army and the Air Force are working together to flesh out how to fight a multidomain battle, a senior Air Force commander said today during a presentation at the Brookings Institution here.
• U.S., Russia Propose Voluntary Bering Strait Shipping Routes AFPS 25 Jan 2018 -- In response to increased Arctic shipping traffic, the United States and Russian Federation have proposed a system of two-way routes for vessels to follow in the Bering Strait and Bering Sea.
• Services Detail Efforts to Modernize Personnel System AFPS 25 Jan 2018 -- The Defense Officer Personnel Management Act of 1980 has served the military well, but it needs to change to meet the changing environment, service personnel chiefs told a Senate Armed Services Subcommittee yesterday.
• Readout of Secretary Mattis' Meeting With Vietnam Minister of National Defense DoD 25 Jan 2018
• Despite Differences, Mattis Looks to Expand Ties With Vietnam VOA 25 Jan 2018 -- Defense Secretary Jim Mattis praised the expected visit of a U.S. aircraft carrier to Vietnam, as he wrapped up a visit to Hanoi Thursday.
• Department of Defense Press Briefing by Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White and Joint Staff Director Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. in the Pentagon Briefing Room DoD 25 Jan 2018 -- Presenter: Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White; Joint Staff Director Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr.
• Media Availability with Secretary Mattis en route to Hawaii DoD 25 Jan 2018 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis
• Cobra Gold 18: Thailand, US kickoff Cobra Gold construction projects with pillar raising ceremonies USMC News 25 Jan 2018 -- The Royal Thai Armed Forces, United States Armed Forces, and other regional partner nations held a pillar raising ceremony in two separate locations in the Kingdom of Thailand to signal the beginning of engineering civic assistance projects for Cobra Gold 2018, Jan. 24.
• Navy and NASA Complete Underway Recovery Test NNS 25 Jan 2018 -- San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD 23) successfully completed test recovery operations of NASA's Orion test article, Jan. 23.
• Exercise Azraq Serpent 18 NNS 25 Jan 2018 -- United States and British Royal Naval forces partnered for exercise Azraq Serpent 18 (AS18) Jan. 14-19 on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ship Cardigan Bay.
• USNS William McLean Deploys from Naval Station Norfolk NNS 25 Jan 2018 -- Military Sealift Command's dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS William McLean (T-AKE 13) departed Naval Station Norfolk to begin its overseas deployment in support of U.S. Naval and allied forces operating in the U.S. Sixth Fleet's area of responsibility, Jan. 23.
• NATO Secretary General: Spain is an important Ally NATO 25 Jan 2018 -- Visiting Spain on Thursday (25 January 2018), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Defence Minister Maria Dolores de Cospedal and praised the country's important contributions to the Alliance.
• Qatar holding talks with Russia to buy S-400 air defense systems: Diplomat Press TV 25 Jan 2018 -- Qatar has been holding negotiations with Russia to purchase S-400 missile air defense systems and other weaponry, Doha's ambassador to Moscow says.
• Doha seeks no escalation with Abu Dhabi over military overflights: Qatar's FM Press TV 25 Jan 2018 -- Qatar's foreign minister says Doha seeks no military escalation with the United Arab Emirates amid a growing row between the Persian Gulf neighbors over airspace violations.
• New navy warship accepted by Defence Minister UK MOD 25 Jan 2018 -- Defence Minister Guto Bebb today formally announced the acceptance of HMS Forth, the Royal Navy's new Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), from manufacturer BAE Systems at the company's Scotstoun shipyard.
• NATO Deputy Stresses Alliance's Dedication to Turkey AFPS 25 Jan 2018 -- During the Cold War, Turkey was on NATO's front line facing the Soviet Union.
• Germany postpones response to Turkey's call for tanks upgrade Press TV 25 Jan 2018 -- Berlin has put on hold any decision on Turkey's request for upgrading German-made tanks amid Ankara's operation against US-backed Kurdish militants in Syria.
• China to fly new member of Wing Loong UAS family in 2018 People's Daily 25 Jan 2018 -- China will launch the Wing Loong ID in 2018, the latest model of the domestically-developed Wing Loong UAS family, with a series for a new model also underway, its developer AVIC has announced.
• China denies plan to build military base in Afghanistan Press TV 25 Jan 2018 -- China's Defense Ministry has rejected as "groundless" reports circulating in the media that it is planning to build a military base in Afghanistan.
• Beijing Rejects Claims of New People's Liberation Army Base in Afghanistan Sputnik 25 Jan 2018 -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry dismissed the notion that the People's Liberation Army is establishing a new base near the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border on Thursday.
• Billions From Iran Rainy-Day Fund Tapped For Military RFE/RL 25 Jan 2018 -- With some Iranians still hopping mad about state spending on religious institutions and foreign military ventures, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has green-lighted the siphoning of $2.5 billion from a currency-reserve fund to boost military spending.
• Analysts Fear Bigger Iran Military Budget Could Mean More Proxy Wars VOA 25 Jan 2018 -- An Iranian official has announced the allocation of $2.5 billion more for the country's military to increase what the regime terms the country's "military capabilities."
• Norway Perplexed What to Do With 'Nightmare Helicopters' After Decade's Delay Sputnik 25 Jan 2018 -- It took the first NH90 helicopter ordered by the Norwegian Navy over a decade to land in the Nordic country. The question is whether this reinforcement is still desired by the Norwegian Armed Forces, which have been considering declaring a breach of contract by the provider.
• Press Gaggle - January 25, 2018 US Dept. of State 25 Jan 2018

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for January 25, 2018

Other Conflicts

• 25 January 2018 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 25 Jan 2018
• US Navy Vessels Challenge China's 'Excessive Maritime Claims' Sputnik 25 Jan 2018 -- The US Navy's just-released annual report on freedom-of-navigation (FON) operations indicates that US vessels challenged what Washington calls excessive maritime claims by China more than they did similar claims by any other country.
• Yemen: UN chief welcomes measures by Saudi-led coalition to ease access for humanitarian aid UN News 25 Jan 2018 -- United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed news that five tankers carrying 180,000 litres of fuel reached Yemen's northern province of Marib on Wednesday as part of the Saudi-led coalition's wider plan to facilitate humanitarian action in the war-ravaged country.
• Yemeni forces block Saudi mercenaries' advance on Alib Mountains in Najran Press TV 25 Jan 2018 -- Yemeni army forces, supported by allied fighters from Popular Committees, have managed to block a large march of Saudi mercenaries in the eastern parts of Alib Mountains in the Saudi border region of Najran.
• Yemeni forces shoot down Saudi spy drone over Ma'arib Press TV 25 Jan 2018 -- Yemeni air defenses have shot down a Saudi reconnaissance drone over the war-torn country's central Ma'rib province.
• Turkey's Assault on Kurdish Fighters Concerns United States, Officials Say AFPS 25 Jan 2018 -- As Turkey continues its attack on Kurdish forces along the Syrian border town of Afrin, the Defense Department says the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria is the common threat in the region, chief Pentagon spokesperson Dana W. White told reporters today.
• Pentagon calls Turkey's military action in Syria a 'distraction' Press TV 25 Jan 2018 -- The US military has called on Turkey to halt its military action in Syria's northwestern region of Afrin against Kurdish fighters and focus on combating Daesh terrorists.
• Erdogan Vows To Continue Syria Operation Despite Trump Warning RFE/RL 25 Jan 2018 -- The Turkish president has vowed to push forward with the cross-border operation against the Kurdish-run Afrin enclave in northern Syria that has raised concerns among many of Ankara's allies.
• Turkish Forces Have No Intention of Attacking Syrian Gov't Troops - Minister Sputnik 25 Jan 2018 -- As the sixth day of Ankara's Operation Olive Branch in Syria is drawing to a close, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu answered some journalists' questions, revealing the country's stance on official Damascus as well as the current state of the US-Turkey row over Washington's support for the Syrian Kurds.
• Ankara Believes Too Early to Discuss US Proposal on Security Zone in Syria Sputnik 25 Jan 2018 -- US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has proposed to Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu the creation of a 30-km security zone in the north of Syria to avoid clashes between US and Turkish forces amid Olive Branch operation.
• Turkey Says Its Forces Neutralized Over 300 Terrorists in Syria's Afrin Sputnik 25 Jan 2018 -- Ankara's operation Olive Branch against Kurdish groups considered as terrorists by Turkey has entered its sixth day, with the Turkish prime minister stating that the offensive is aimed at protecting not only the country's borders, but also providing security for the whole Europe.
• US to Turkey: De-escalate Tensions in Northern Syria, Focus on Fighting Islamic State VOA 25 Jan 2018 -- The United States is urging Turkey to de-escalate tensions over its military operations in Syria and focus on the fight to defeat the Islamic State militants, amid a growing distrust between two NATO allies.
• Trump Urges Turkey to Limit Offensive in Northern Syria VOA 25 Jan 2018 -- President Donald Trump has urged Turkey to deescalate its military action in northern Syria to avoid a possible conflict between U.S. and Turkish forces.
• Ninth Syria Peace Talks start in Vienna IRNA 25 Jan 2018 -- The ninth round of Syria Peace Talks, hosted by the United nations and attended by the sides involved in the country's conflict, started in Vienna on Thursday.
• Russia: US seeks Syria breakup, not political resolution of crisis Press TV 25 Jan 2018 -- Russia has accused the US of not contributing to a political settlement of the Syria crisis but rather seeking to divide the war-torn Arab country.
• 'Last Hope' Syria Peace Talks End First Day In Vienna RFE/RL 25 Jan 2018 -- Negotiators met in Vienna on January 25 for the first of two days of UN-sponsored talks aimed at finding a political solution to Syria's nearly seven-year war.
• US Does Not Provide Weapons, Training to Kurds in Afrin Pocket - Pentagon Sputnik 25 Jan 2018 -- The United States does not provide any training or arms to the Kurds located in the Afrin area, Pentagon's Joint Staff Director Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. told reporters on Thursday.
• Kurdish-Run Afrin Urges Damascus to Deploy Troops Along Turkish Border - Reports Sputnik 25 Jan 2018 -- Earlier on Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Ankara doesn't plan to attack Syrian government forces during its military operation in the Afrin region, which is entering its sixth day.
• Trump says US to withhold aid to Palestinians Press TV 25 Jan 2018 -- US President Donald Trump has threatened to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars of aid to Palestinians if they refuse to participate in US-brokered "peace talks" with Israel.
• Time to stop 'managing' Israeli-Palestinian conflict, show leadership to resolve it - Security Council told UN News 25 Jan 2018 -- The United Nations, the Security Council and the wider international community all have fallen into a pattern of "managing, rather than resolving" the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the UN envoy on the Middle East peace process warned Thursday, saying it was time to end this paralysis, show political leadership and push for policies on the ground that rebuild trust.
• US Envoy to UN: Abbas Lacks Courage to Seek Peace With Israel VOA 25 Jan 2018 -- U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley took aim at Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas Thursday, saying he lacks the courage to seek peace with Israel. Her comments come after President Donald Trump threatened to cut aid to the Palestinians if they do not pursue peace with Israel.
• At Davos Forum, Trump Threatens to Cut Aid to Palestinians VOA 25 Jan 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has questioned whether peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians will ever resume.
• UN says not safe yet for Rohingya refugees to return to Myanmar Press TV 25 Jan 2018 -- A senior United Nations official says it is not yet safe for thousands of Rohingya Muslims living in refugee camps in Bangladesh to begin returning to Myanmar's Rakhine state.
• Libya: UN relief wing and partners seek $313 million to assist hundreds of thousands of people UN News 25 Jan 2018 -- With people across Libya suffering amid the fallout from a protracted political crisis, outbreaks of violence and displacement, the United Nations humanitarian wing and its partners launched on Thursday a $313 million appeal to cover the basic needs of 940,000 who need assistance and protection.
• Restive eastern DR Congo home to one of world's worst displacement crises for children - UNICEF UN News 25 Jan 2018 -- More than 800,000 children have been forced from their homes by violence and armed clashes in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in what the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) calls "one of the world's worst displacement crises for children."
• Record Surge in Displacement as Violence in CAR Escalates VOA 25 Jan 2018 -- The U.N. refugee agency reports escalating violence in the Central African Republic has pushed forcible displacement - mostly of women and children - inside and outside the country to record high levels.

News Reports

• Newspapers: Trump Tried to Fire Mueller in June VOA 25 Jan 2018 -- The New York Times and Washington Post report that President Donald Trump ordered special counsel Robert Mueller fired in June, but backed off when the White House counsel threatened to quit.
• White House Framework on Immigration Reform & Border Security The White House 25 Jan 2018
• White House Proposes High Price Tag on Border Wall, Long Road to Dreamers' Citizenship VOA 25 Jan 2018 -- The White House released details Thursday of what it characterized as a compromise framework on immigration for lawmakers to accept or reject.
• Remarks delivered at the World Economic Forum George Soros 25 Jan 2018
• US Strongly Rejects Calls for 'Illegitimate' Elections in Venezuela VOA 25 Jan 2018 -- The United States strongly rejects the call by Venezuela's Constituent Assembly for snap presidential elections before April 30.
• Trump not Venezuela's boss: Maduro Press TV 25 Jan 2018 -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has started his campaign for another term in office with fierce rhetoric against the United States' meddlesome behavior toward his country, saying US President Donald Trump is "not the boss of Venezuela."
• Background Briefing with Senior State Department Officials on the Situation in Venezuela US Dept. of State 25 Jan 2018
• Seoul says military solution to N Korea crisis 'unacceptable' Press TV 25 Jan 2018 -- South Korea has hinted for the first time since the start of a standoff with the North over Pyongyang's nuclear program last year that a military solution would be no answer to the crisis and that differences should be settled diplomatically.
• Briefing by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Moscow, January 25, 2018 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 25 Jan 2018
• Russian Website Under Fire After Investigation Of FSB Chief RFE/RL 25 Jan 2018 -- A Russian news site has come under fire from authorities - and, according to the editor-in-chief, its own investors - after it published an investigation into possible undeclared real estate secretly held by the head of the Federal Security Service (FSB).
• Russian Police Vow Clampdown On Election Protesters Who Break The Law RFE/RL 25 Jan 2018 -- Russian police will act "toughly" to prevent any violations of the law at protests ahead of the March 18 presidential election, a senior Interior Ministry official says.
• Moldova Says It Would Leave CIS Only After Becoming EU Candidate RFE/RL 25 Jan 2018 -- Moldova should leave the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) only after it has formally become a candidate for European Union membership, Deputy Prime Minister Iurie Leanca has said.