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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
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News Reports

Current Operations

• OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 02 Mar 2018 [PDF]
• Officials Report Details of Latest Strikes Against ISIS in Syria, Iraq AFPS 02 Mar 2018 -- Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve and its partners continued to strike Islamic State of Iraq and Syria targets in designated parts of Syria and Iraq between Feb. 23-March 1, conducting 23 strikes consisting of 35 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Defense Policy / Programs

• USNS Burlington Launched NNS 02 Mar 2018 -- The U.S. Navy's 10th Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessel, Burlington (EPF 10), was launched at Austal USA's shipyard, March 1.
• USS Bremerton Visits Subic Bay During Indo-Pacific Deployment NNS 02 Mar 2018 -- The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Bremerton (SSN 698) arrived at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone March 1 for a routine port visit during its deployment to the Indo-Pacific region.
• Topeka Visits Yokosuka During Indo-Pacific Patrol NNS 02 Mar 2018 -- The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Topeka (SSN 754) arrived at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Mar. 2 for a visit as part of its Indo-Pacific region deployment.
• Pentagon to Pour Extra Money in Hypersonic Weapons as Putin Reveals New Arms Sputnik 02 Mar 2018 -- On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin presented new weapons systems
• Massachusetts Guard replaces Kansas Guard at U.S. Army Central Army News 02 Mar 2018 -- Nine months ago the Kansas National Guard's 635th Regional Support Group became the first ever National Guard unit to take on the mission of filling about half of the key staff and support positions at U.S. Army Central Forward Command Post. The positions they filled were at forward elements mainly in Kuwait, which acts as the eyes on the ground for USARCENT, and controls the U.S. Army's ground forces in the Middle East.
• Putin's New Nuclear Arsenal Spawning More Tough Talk VOA 02 Mar 2018 -- Russia is rejecting U.S. accusations it has broken any of its nuclear treaty obligations, arguing it wants only to maintain global peace and stability.
• Russia denies violating arms control pacts, says not seeking arms race Press TV 02 Mar 2018 -- The Kremlin strongly rejects the allegations that Russia has been violating any arms control agreements, stressing that Moscow does not seek to be part of an arms race.
• Russia postpones strategic talks with US in act of protest Press TV 02 Mar 2018 -- Moscow has postponed planned talks with Washington on strategic stability originally set for later this month, after a US delegation refused to attend a Geneva meeting on cybersecurity earlier in the week, Russian envoy to Washington has announced.
• NATO, Trump, Merkel Voice Concern Over Putin's New Weapons Claims RFE/RL 02 Mar 2018 -- NATO as well as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President Donald Trump have expressed concern after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his country had deployed or was developing an array of new nuclear-capable weapons.
• President Putin Reveals Two Cases When Russia Can Use Nuclear Weapons Sputnik 02 Mar 2018 -- Russia may potentially use nuclear weapons only in the event of an impending nuclear attack, or if there is a threat to the country's existence, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with the NBC broadcaster.
• 'We Don't Want New Cold War or New Arms Race': NATO Reacts to Putin's Speech Sputnik 02 Mar 2018 -- NATO said that Russian statements were "unacceptable and counterproductive" after President Vladimir Putin revealed a new arsenal of hypersonic weapons announced as "invincible".
• Here is What is Known About Russia's Sarmat ICBM, Mentioned by Putin Sputnik 02 Mar 2018 -- Russia's new Sarmat ICBM, which is capable of overcoming missile defense systems, has completed tests and is a "breakthrough" for the country's missile program, President Vladimir Putin announced on March 1. Sputnik tries to find out what this missile is all about.
• Russia Not Going to Engage In Arms Race - Kremlin Sputnik 02 Mar 2018 -- Russia's development of new weapons was nothing but a response to the US withdrawal from the ABM treaty, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday.
• Putin: New Russian Nuclear-Powered ICBMs Successfully Tested Sputnik 02 Mar 2018 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin called the rhetoric of a "new cold war" a propaganda launched to justify the arms race, which began when the United States withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABMT).
• Turkey Expects F-35 Delivery Soon, But Greeks, Armenians Seek to Block Deal Sputnik 02 Mar 2018 -- The Turkish armed forces are expecting to take delivery of their first F-35 joint strike fighters before the end of 2018, according to Turkish daily Yeni Safak.
• Nation can produce larger carriers People's Daily 02 Mar 2018 -- The builder of the Navy's aircraft carriers has become able to make new, larger carriers, according to its chairman.
• Beijing Equipped to Build Bigger, More Advanced Aircraft Carriers Sputnik 02 Mar 2018 -- After redesigning the Liaoning aircraft carrier and building the Type 001A carrier, Beijing's military has sufficient technical expertise to construct carriers even larger than the Type 001A, according to Chinese state media.
• U.S. Anti-DPRK Propaganda Slammed KCNA 02 Mar 2018 -- Director of the Press of the Institute for American Studies, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK, Thursday answered as follows to a question raised by KCNA as regards "a theory of cooperation of manufacturing chemical weapons" between DPRK and Syria, which has been afloat recently.
• DPRK refutes U.S. accusation of producing chemical weapons with Syria People's Daily 02 Mar 2018 -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Thursday slammed U.S. accusation regarding "a theory of cooperation of manufacturing chemical weapons" between the DPRK and Syria.
• North Korea rejects chemical links to Syria as 'mean US trick' Press TV 02 Mar 2018 -- North Korea has dismissed reports of its cooperation with Syria over chemical weapons, saying such claims are mere US fabrications meant to put more pressure on Pyongyang and justify the American military intervention in Syria.
• 'Dirty Trick': N Korea Slams Claims of Supplying Chemical Weapons to Syria Sputnik 02 Mar 2018 -- Pyongyang has denied reports it provided Damascus with components to produce chemical weapons, denouncing them as a fabrication by the United States to exert pressure on the country, the KCNA news agency reported.
• Indian Air Force Denies Interest in American F-35 Fighter Jets Sputnik 02 Mar 2018 -- India has been considering various options to fulfill the required strength for 42 squadrons. After an older tender was recently scrapped, an Indian publication reported that the air force had asked Lockheed Martin to give a classified presentation related to F-35 fighter jets.
• Japan - MK 15 Phalanx Close-in Weapon System (CIWS) Block IB Baseline 2 Conversion Kits DSCA 02 Mar 2018 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Japan of MK 15 Phalanx Close-in Weapon System (CIWS) Block IB Baseline 1 to MK 15 Phalanx Block IB Baseline 2 conversion kits for an estimated cost of $45 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
• Japan May Buy US F-35B Jets For Its First Aircraft Carrier - Defense Minister Sputnik 02 Mar 2018 -- Japanese media reported earlier that the Defense Ministry had been redesigning its helicopter carrier into the country's first aircraft carrier, capable of accommodating US F-35B aircraft.
• US plans sale of anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, complicating Ukrainian conflict Press TV 02 Mar 2018 -- The United States administration has formally notified Congress of its intent to sell 210 anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, in a move deemed a major escalation in the Ukrainian conflict.
• U.S. State Department Approves 'Javelin' Missile Sale To Ukraine RFE/RL 02 Mar 2018 -- The U.S. State Department has approved the proposed sale of Javelin antitank missiles and launch units to Ukraine in a deal worth about $47 million, the U.S. military says.
• US Approves Sale of 210 Javelin Anti-Tank Missiles to Ukraine Sputnik 02 Mar 2018 -- The US State Department decided to approve the sale of hundreds of Javelin anti-tank missiles and missile launch units to the Ukrainian government on Thursday, according to an announcement from the Pentagon's arms exporting agency.
• Senior State Department Officials Previewing Secretary Tillerson's Travel to the Continent of Africa US Dept. of State 02 Mar 2018 -- Special Briefing by Senior State Department Officials

Defense Industry

• India Becomes Sole Global Producer of AH-64 Apache Fuselage Sputnik 02 Mar 2018 -- A facility in the southern city of Hyderabad expects to deliver the first fuselage in 2018. It will also produce secondary structures and vertical spar boxes for the Apache multi-role combat helicopters.

Other Conflicts

• 2 March 2018 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 02 Mar 2018
• US Carrier Group Headed to S. China Sea Waters Claimed by China VOA 02 Mar 2018 -- A U.S. aircraft carrier group is preparing to sail through the contested South China Sea later this month, and observers expect an angry Beijing to register its opposition and quicken its militarization of small islands in the region.
• Chinese Firm, Manila Discuss 'Co-Ownership' Agreement Over South China Sea Oil Sputnik 02 Mar 2018 -- The Filipino government has initiated discussions with a Chinese state-owned company to reach a joint agreement to conduct oil exploration and pumping in the disputed South China Sea.
• U.S. Makes New Push To Investigate Gas Attacks In Syria RFE/RL 02 Mar 2018 -- The United States is making a push at the United Nations to set up a new inquiry into chemical weapons attacks in Syria, three months after Russia killed a previous UN inquiry.
• Iran's Khamenei Defiant After EU Call To Pressure Syria On Truce RFE/RL 02 Mar 2018 -- Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on March 1 praised Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and said Tehran will continue to support him, despite an international outcry over civilian deaths in eastern Ghouta.
• E Ghouta Terrorists Prepare Chemical Attacks to Discredit Damascus - Russian MoD Sputnik 02 Mar 2018 -- Syrian terrorists are preparing provocations involving chemical warfare agents in Eastern Ghouta, which will be used by western states as a pretext for accusing Damascus of the use of chemical weapons against Syrian civilian population, spokesman for the Russian center for Syrian reconciliation Maj. Gen. Yury Yevtushenko said Friday.
• Syrian Envoy Slams UN Report on Alleged Chemical Weapons Use Sputnik 02 Mar 2018 -- An unpublished report on chemical weapons compiled by UN experts, which emerged earlier this week in the media and alleged collusion between North Korea and Syria, is just another attempt to discredit Syria amid its army's successes against terrorists, Syria's Ambassador to China told Sputnik.
• Residents of Syria's E Ghouta Running Out of Food, Essentials – Russian Military Sputnik 02 Mar 2018 -- The fourth five-hour "humanitarian pause" began in Syria's Eastern Ghouta on Friday at 10:00 a.m. Damascus time (07:00 GMT), civilians, who are practically facing the occupation by militants, are running of food and essentials, the Russian Center for Syrian reconciliation said.
• 'Dossiers are being built up' for prosecution of crimes in Syria, says UN rights chief UN News 02 Mar 2018 -- War crimes, potentially crimes against humanity, are likely being committed in east Ghouta and elsewhere in Syria, and the perpetrators of these acts must know they are being identified and will be held accountable, the United Nations human rights chief warned on Friday.
• Russia's Humanitarian Corridor in Syria a 'Joke,' State Department Spokeswoman Says VOA 02 Mar 2018 -- Russia's idea for a humanitarian corridor to evacuate civilians from a besieged Damascus suburb is "a joke," the U.S. State Department's spokeswoman said Thursday.
• Myanmar defends military build-up at Bangladesh border Press TV 02 Mar 2018 -- Myanmar has defended its military build-up near the border with Bangladesh, where thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees have sheltered after fleeing a brutal military crackdown on their community.
• Moldova, Georgia, Ukraine Voice Concern Over Russian Presence RFE/RL 02 Mar 2018 -- Pro-EU parliamentary leaders from Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia say the continued presence of Russian troops in their countries is destabilizing.
• Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate The White House 02 Mar 2018
• 8 Extremists Among at Least 16 Killed in Attacks in Burkina Faso VOA 02 Mar 2018 -- The governments of Burkina Faso and France said an armed group coordinated attacks Friday on France's embassy and cultural center and on the West African country's military headquarters in the capital, Ouagadougou.
• Gunmen attack army headquarters, French embassy in Burkina Faso Press TV 02 Mar 2018 -- Nearly 30 people, including civilians and soldiers, have been killed when gunmen launched a coordinated attack in Burkina Faso's capital, targeting the army headquarters and the French embassy.
• Gunmen Attack on Burkina Faso Army HQ Killed 28 People - Security Forces Sputnik 02 Mar 2018 -- A "terrorist attack" has hit Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou, France's ambassador to West Africa's Sahel region said after an explosion rocked the army headquarters there and witnesses reported seeing masked gunmen attack the building.
• Fresh wave of ethnic violence kills 49 in DR Congo's Ituri Press TV 02 Mar 2018 -- A fresh flare-up of ethnic violence has claimed the lives of at least 49 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Ituri province.
• Al-Shabab Blamed in AU Ambush, Suspected in Attack on Somali Forces VOA 02 Mar 2018 -- At least five African Union troops were killed in an ambush in Somalia's Middle Shabelle region Friday by al-Shabab militants, officials and security sources told VOA Somali.
• At Least 5 Somali Soldiers Killed in Related Attacks VOA 02 Mar 2018 -- At least five soldiers and a suicide bomber were killed in two related incidents in Somalia early Friday, according to Somali government and security officials.
• AMISOM Heads of State Call on UN to Reverse Troop Drawdown in Somalia VOA 02 Mar 2018 -- The five East African nations contributing troops to the AMISOM peacekeeping mission in Somalia have called on the U.N. Security Council to keep troops slated for removal by 2020.
• IOM: Boko Haram Kills Aid Workers, Police in Nigeria VOA 02 Mar 2018 -- Aid workers and police were killed in an attack by Boko Haram insurgents on a military base in northeastern Nigeria, the U.N. migration agency says.

News Reports

• U.S. Response Not Deterring Russian, Chinese Cyberattacks, Nominee Says RFE/RL 02 Mar 2018 -- Russia, China, and other nations that have launched cyberattacks against the United States do not fear retribution and see no reason to change their behavior, the nominee to head the U.S. Cyber Command said.
• Armen Sarkisian (No Relation) Elected Next Armenian President RFE/RL 02 Mar 2018 -- Armenia's parliament on March 2 elected Armen Sarkisian as the country's next president.
• Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate The White House 02 Mar 2018 -- The situation in Venezuela, including the Government of Venezuela's erosion of human rights guarantees, persecution of political opponents, curtailment of press freedoms, use of violence and human rights violations and abuses in response to antigovernment protests, and arbitrary arrest and detention of antigovernment protestors, as well as the exacerbating presence of significant government corruption, continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.
• Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate The White House 02 Mar 2018 -- The actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Zimbabwe and other persons, however, continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the foreign policy of the United States.
• Briefing by Foreign Ministry Official Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Moscow, March 2, 2018 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 02 Mar 2018
• Xi: Reform needed for prosperity People's Daily 02 Mar 2018 -- Deepening reform of Party and State institutions has great significance for the completion of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and national rejuvenation, General Secretary Xi Jinping said.
• Reform of national supervision system a big step toward clean political environment: analysts People's Daily 02 Mar 2018 -- Analysts believe that China's national supervision system reform is an important adjustment to the country's political system, power and relations, with a fundamental aim to strengthen the unified leadership of Communist Party of China (CPC) over the country's anti-corruption campaign.
• Military Budget, Presidential Term Limits in Spotlight at China Political Meeting VOA 02 Mar 2018 -- How much of a boost China's military will get this year is just one of many issues to watch during the rising power's top-level political meetings that begin Monday in Beijing. Also in the crosshairs, a proposal to allow the president to stay in office indefinitely that is expected to win approval.
• Task force set up to deal with China's incentives for Taiwanese CNA 02 Mar 2018 -- In response to China's recent offer of 31 incentives to lure Taiwanese people, Premier Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Friday that the Executive Yuan has set up a task force to study the measures put forth by Beijing and their impact on relevant sectors in Taiwan.
• China's suppression of Taiwan bad for cross-strait relations: MOFA CNA 02 Mar 2018 -- Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said Friday that if China chooses to continue to use suppressive measures in dealing with Taiwan, it will not improve relations across the Taiwan Strait.
• U.S. policy on Taiwan remains unchanged: State Department CNA 02 Mar 2018 -- Despite the passage of the Taiwan Travel Act by the U.S. Senate, Washington's policy on Taiwan remains unchanged, the U.S. State Department said Thursday.
• China decries US measure on Taiwan People's Daily 02 Mar 2018 -- Beijing has voiced its strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the Taiwan Travel Act in the United States and has lodged solemn representations with Washington over the bill.
• China media warn of 'hell' if Trump signs Taiwan bill Press TV 02 Mar 2018 -- Chinese state media have warned that China can go to war if US President Donald Trump signs into law a bill that seeks to improve ties between the United States and Taiwan, a self-ruled island that Beijing considers subject to its sovereignty.
• Beijing Warns Taipei Against Over US' Taiwan Travel Act Adoption Sputnik 02 Mar 2018 -- A spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Chinese State Council has warned Taiwan that if Taipei continued relying on foreign support, it might face undesirable consequences after US congressmen passed a bill encouraging bilateral visits by US and Taiwan officials.
• Pentagon warns 10,000 US soldiers 'will die' in opening days of North Korea war Press TV 02 Mar 2018 -- US military chiefs have reportedly warned that a war with North Korea could result in the death or injury of around 10,000 American soldiers in just the opening days, with the number far exceeding the total 7,000 killed in fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Israeli police question Netanyahu, wife in telecommunications graft case Press TV 02 Mar 2018 -- Israeli police investigators have questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara for the first time as part of an investigation into a corruption case involving Israeli telecommunications company Bezeq.
• Police Interrogate Israeli PM Netanyahu and His Wife Over Corruption Charges Sputnik 02 Mar 2018 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's questioning is connected with two separate breaches of trust cases: one is code-named Case 3000 over allegations of bribes and the second one dubbed Case 4000 over suspicions of influencing media coverage in his favor.
• Israeli Police Question PM Netanyahu VOA 02 Mar 2018 -- Police questioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Friday for the first time as part of an investigation into a corruption case involving the country's telecom company Bezeq, Israeli media reported.
• Why Saudis should not be allowed to enrich uranium? Press TV 02 Mar 2018 -- Saudi Arabia's rulers have asked the US to help them expand the oil-rich kingdom's nuclear program to include uranium enrichment, a move that experts warn is not to be taken lightly considering the Riyadh regime's never-ending thirst for political and military dominance in the Middle East region.
• Turkey orders arrest of 154 over alleged Gulen links Press TV 02 Mar 2018 -- State prosecutors in Turkey have issued arrest warrants for 154 people, including navy officers, teachers, and union members, for alleged links to a US-based Turkish figure accused of organizing a coup against Ankara in 2016.
• Britain's May Urges Faster Brexit Talks as Fears Grow of Uncertain EU Exit VOA 02 Mar 2018 -- British Prime Minister Theresa May has said she is confident that a deal on leaving the European Union can be reached, but warned, "No one will get everything they want" out of Britain's pending departure, known as Brexit. Britain is due to leave the bloc in March of next year, but wants a two-year transition period to help businesses adapt.
• End of Ordered Departure at U.S. Embassy Havana US Dept. of State 02 Mar 2018 -- The U.S. Embassy in Havana has operated under ordered departure status since September 29, 2017, due to health attacks affecting U.S. Embassy Havana employees. It will reach the maximum allowable days in departure status on March 4.