27 April 2018 Military News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

OIF / OND / OEF / OIR / OFS Casualty Update 27 Apr 2018 [PDF]

Military Strikes Hit ISIS Terrorists in Syria, Iraq AFPS 27 Apr 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 April 20-26, conducting 26 strikes consisting of 34 engagements, officials reported today.
US, allies to re-energize military campaign in Syria: Mattis Press TV 27 Apr 2018 -- The United States is going to "re-energize" a multi-lateral military campaign that it has been leading in Syria, says US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, contrasting his boss President Donald Trump's pledge to pull out troops from Syria.

NATO Foreign Ministers Discuss Afghanistan, Open Door AFPS 27 Apr 2018 -- Military operations in Afghanistan are crucial to convince the Taliban that there is no victory on the battlefield and the best option is to negotiate with the government, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said today at the end of the alliance's foreign minister meeting in Brussels.
Statement by Foreign Ministers on Afghanistan NATO 27 Apr 2018
NATO Foreign Ministers Urge Russia, Iran to Support Peace Process in Afghanistan Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- Earlier in the day, foreign ministers of NATO states on Friday held a meeting in Brussels to discuss the situation in the Middle East, cooperation with the EU and relations with Russia. They also urged Iran and Russia to contribute to the peace process in Afghanistan.

Defense Policy / Programs

Secretary Mattis Hosts an Honor Cordon Welcoming Poland Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak to the Pentagon DoD 27 Apr 2018 -- Presenter: Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis; Poland Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak
Truman Transits Strait of Gibraltar, Enters Mediterranean Sea NNS 27 Apr 2018 -- USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75), the Carrier Strike Group EIGHT (CSG-8) flag ship, passed through the Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean Sea, April 27.
Colombian President Visits, Thanks Southcom for its Support AFPS 27 Apr 2018 -- Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos visited U.S. Southern Command here April 25 to thank the command's personnel for their steadfast support to his country's security efforts.
Kearsarge Departs from Navy Week New Orleans NNS 27 Apr 2018 -- More than 1,500 Sailors and Marines departed New Orleans aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), signaling the conclusion of Navy Week New Orleans 2018, April 25.
Commander, Task Force 70 Executes FST-J 18-72 NNS 27 Apr 2018 -- Commander, Task Force (CTF) 70 participated in Fleet Synthetic Training-Joint (FST-J) 18-72 in-port Yokosuka, Japan, from April 20-27.
USS Wasp Completes Historic Patrol in Indo-Pacific NNS 27 Apr 2018 -- The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) returned to Sasebo, April 26, after nearly two months of operations in the Indo-Pacific with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).
USS Ralph Johnson Set to Arrive at Everett Homeport NNS 27 Apr 2018 -- The newly commissioned Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) is scheduled to arrive at its homeport of Naval Station Everett, April 27.
US sends B-52 bombers for 'training' after China drills near Taiwan Press TV 27 Apr 2018 -- The US says its strategic B-52 bombers have carried out training in the vicinity of the South China Sea and the southern Japanese island of Okinawa, in what a Chinese newspaper linked to China's drills near Taiwan.
US Pilots Warned of Powerful Lasers Coming From Near China's Djibouti Base Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- The US military warned Friday that pilots near Djibouti airspace should exercise "extreme caution," as high-powered lasers are reportedly emanating from near China's naval base there.
RIP: Pentagon Kills $89.4 Million X-Plane Drone Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- The Pentagon's secret weapons maker has dustbinned its LightningStrike experimental drone project with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities.

Future of US troops in South Korea part of talks with North Korea: Mattis Press TV 27 Apr 2018 -- US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says the future of American troops deployed to South Korea will be determined during negotiations with North Korea, as the leaders of the South and North made history after they attended a highly anticipated summit in a bid to put aside decades of enmity between the two peninsular countries.

Secretary General chairs last-ever North Atlantic Council meeting in NATO's original Brussels Headquarters building NATO 27 Apr 2018 -- The Secretary General today (Friday 27 April) concluded a meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers by noting that it was the final meeting of the North Atlantic Council to take place in the Headquarters building the Alliance has occupied since 1967.
Press Conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg following the morning meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) in Foreign Ministers' session NATO 27 Apr 2018
Remarks With NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Before Their Meeting US Dept. of State 27 Apr 2018 -- Remarks by Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State

Bahrain - AH-l Z Attack Helicopters DSCA 27 Apr 2018 -- The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Bahrain of AH-1Z attack helicopters for an estimated cost of $911.4 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

Chinese PLA air force conducts island patrol training People's Daily 27 Apr 2018 -- A Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA)air force formation conducted island patrols during training on Thursday morning.
China vows further action against attempts for 'Taiwan independence' People's Daily 27 Apr 2018 -- China said on Thursday that the Chinese army will take further actions if secessionist "Taiwan independence" forces persist.

Indian Air Force Chief Lauds China's Air Defenses in World's Toughest Terrain Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- The Indian Air Force (IAF) has acknowledged that its war exercise "Gangashakti" was monitored by China but none of the sides violated each other's airspace. The IAF has however pitched for acquiring more modern fighters according to its adversaries' capabilities, as "intentions may change overnight."
We Are 'Not Interested' in US F-35 Fighters - Indian Air Force Chief Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- The Indian Air Force chief's statement came in response to queries regarding reports in some local newspapers that the Indian Air Force had asked for a classified briefing on the F-35 after the defense ministry scrapped the proposal for local production of foreign-origin fighter jets in India.

Bundeswehr 'Confidence' in Government 'Dangerously Undermined' – Sen. Officer Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- The German army needs increased funding, otherwise the modernization program started by Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen could fail, Die Welt newspaper wrote, citing head of the German Bundeswehr Association Lieutenant Colonel André Wüstner.

President reiterates need for local defense, aviation industries CNA 27 Apr 2018 -- President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) reiterated Friday the need to promote the development of Taiwan's indigenous defense systems and help the domestic aviation industry expand into the global market.

Pompeo Warns Turkey About Purchasing Russian S-400 Missile System RFE/RL 27 Apr 2018 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned his Turkish counterpart against purchasing a Russian surface-to-air missile system.
Turkey Not to Accept Language of Sanctions on Russian S-400 Supplies Deal - FM Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Friday that if Turkey gets a fair proposal from NATO allies on US-made Patriot or other air defense systems, Ankara will consider it.
US Senators Want to Block Sale of F-35 Fighters to Turkey - Reports Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- Turkey's cooperation with Russia, as well as its decision buy advanced Russian S-400 air defense missiles, has complicated Ankara's relations with Washington.

Defense Industry

DoD News: Contracts for April 27, 2018

Other Conflicts

27 April 2018 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 27 Apr 2018

Map Discovery Gives China New Tool to Control a Disputed Sea VOA 27 Apr 2018 -- Discovery of a nearly 70-year-old map of the South China Sea could help Beijing support its claim in Asia's biggest maritime sovereignty dispute, but it would face criticism abroad and fall outside the scope of international law, experts say.

Saudi Arabia targets Yemen in 32 raids IRNA 27 Apr 2018 -- Saudi Arabia's war planes in 32 raids targeted various parts of Yemen on Thursday, Yemeni media reported.
Saudi Air Defenses Down Yemeni Rebel Missile - Reports Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- Saudi Arabia, along with several other countries, launched a campaign against Yemen's Houthis back in 2015 in order to support President Hadi. Houthi rebels have already launched several ballistic missiles against Saudi Arabia, but so far only one person has died as a result, being killed by debris from an intercepted missile.

Syria reasserts sovereignty over occupied land Press TV 27 Apr 2018 -- Syria has reaffirmed its sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which Israel occupied in 1967, saying the territory must be completely restored.
France Sends Special Forces to US Base in Syria - Reports Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- French authorities have relocated special forces to the US base in the Kurdish-controlled northeastern Syrian town of Rmelan, the Anadolu news agency reported Friday.

Israel must address excessive use of force and deaths in Gaza protests – UN rights chief UN News 27 Apr 2018 -- With over 40 Palestinians killed and more than 5,500 injured during protests in Gaza over the past month – many by live ammunition – the top United Nations human rights official on Friday called on Israel to ensure that its security forces do not resort to use of excessive force amid the ongoing demonstrations.
Palestinians Say Israeli Live Fire Killed 3 at Gaza Border VOA 27 Apr 2018 -- Palestinian officials said Israeli soldiers on Friday fatally shot three Palestinian protesters in Gaza as thousands of Palestinians demonstrated along the border for a fifth consecutive week.
Three Palestinians killed, 100s injured amid clashes with Israeli soldiers in eastern Gaza Press TV 27 Apr 2018 -- At least three Palestinians have been killed and hundreds more injured during clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli military forces near the border between the besieged Gaza Strip and occupied territories.

Boko Haram bomb attacks kill four civilians in Nigeria Press TV 27 Apr 2018 -- Boko Haram bombers have killed at least four civilians after fighting broke out on the outskirts of northeast Nigeria's biggest city, Maiduguri.

Boko Haram bomb attacks kill four civilians in Nigeria Press TV 27 Apr 2018 -- Boko Haram bombers have killed at least four civilians after fighting broke out on the outskirts of northeast Nigeria's biggest city, Maiduguri.

Ecuador's Interior, Defense Ministers Quit After Rebels Kill 2 Journalists Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- President of Ecuador Lenin Moreno accepted Friday the resignation of the interior and defense ministers, the Ecuadorian National Secretariat of Communication said in a statement.

South Sudan: Peace process under threat as violence surges across country, warns UN Mission UN News 27 Apr 2018 -- Surging violence in parts of South Sudan is putting thousands of war-weary civilians at risk and endangering the fragile peace process in the world's youngest nation, the United Nations peacekeeping mission there has warned.

At NATO Ministerial, US Officials Call for Crimea's Return to Ukraine VOA 27 Apr 2018 -- A top U.S. official said Friday that NATO foreign ministers would refuse to "return to business as usual with Russia" until Moscow "withdraws forces and support for proxies in the Donbas, and returns control of Crimea to Ukraine."

News Reports

US House panel finds no collusion between Trump campaign, Kremlin Press TV 27 Apr 2018 -- The House Intelligence Committee has officially announced the end of its Russia investigation, revealing in a final report that there was "no evidence" regarding alleged collusion between Russia and US President Donald Trump's campaign in the 2016 presidential election.
E-Mails Show Lawyer Veselnitskaya In Close Communication With Top Russian Officials RFE/RL 27 Apr 2018 -- Newly released e-mails from a Russian lawyer involved in a U.S. money-laundering case showed the lawyer had close contact with officials from the Russian Prosecutor-General's Office, even as she portrayed herself as a private citizen.
Trump Did Not Collude With Russia, U.S. House Report Concludes, While Democrats Dissent RFE/RL 27 Apr 2018 -- The lead Intelligence Committee for the U.S. House of Representatives released its final report into Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 election, concluding that President Donald Trump's campaign did not collude with Russia.
U.S. Senators Move Bill To Protect Special Counsel In Russia Probe From Firing RFE/RL 27 Apr 2018 -- A U.S. Senate committee approved legislation to protect U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller from firing even as President Donald Trump again hinted that he might intervene in the counsel's investigation of ties between his campaign and Russia.
Trump: House Report Proves 'No Collusion' VOA 27 Apr 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has commended the release of a report by the Republican-led House Intelligence Committee, saying it proves there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government.
Intel Committee Publishes Russia Report US House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence 27 Apr 2018 -- House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes issued the following statement today:
Ex-CIA Director Calls House Committee Report 'Incomplete, Deeply Flawed' Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- The House Intelligence Committee report on Russian activities during the 2016 election is partisan, incomplete and deeply flawed, and the work by Special Counsel Robert Mueller is not, Former CIA Director John Brennan said in a statement on Friday.
'Total Witch Hunt!' Trump Reacts to Declassified House Intel Report Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- Earlier, the US House Intelligence Committee revealed its final findings on alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US election campaign and accusations of collusion between Donald Trump's campaign and the Kremlin.
House Intel Panel Finds No Collusion Between Trump Campaign and Kremlin Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- Democrats in the US House of Representatives will continue to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election despite the House Intelligence Committee report released on Friday, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.

Armenian PM rejects opposition leader's demand after Putin's warning Press TV 27 Apr 2018 -- Armenia's acting prime minister has rejected talks with opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan after the latter warned that the parliament should either elect him as premier or no other candidate would be elected at all.
Former Armenian Coalition Partner Urges Unity Around Single PM Candidate RFE/RL 27 Apr 2018 -- The former junior partner in the Armenian ruling party's coalition has urged all parliamentary factions to unite around a "single candidate" for prime minister ahead of a scheduled May 1 vote to decide on a new leader.

Tusk Urges Kosovo, Serbia To Work Harder At Normalizing Ties To Join EU RFE/RL 27 Apr 2018 -- European Council President Donald Tusk has urged Kosovo to work harder on normalizing ties with Serbia, as part of its European Union integration efforts.

Newly-Declassified Records Confirm CIA Director Haspel Supervised Torture Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- Newly declassified records confirm allegations that newly appointed CIA Director Gina Haspel supervised the torture of a detainee and ordered the destruction of video evidence, the US National Security Archive at George Washington University said in a press release.

Trump on Kim Jong Un: 'I Don't Think He's Playing' VOA 27 Apr 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism Friday about the commitments North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made during an historic summit with his South Korean counterpart.
Korean Leaders Agree on Denuclearization Goal at Summit VOA 27 Apr 2018 -- The Inter-Korean summit began Friday morning with a historic step as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un crossed the military demarcation line that has divided Korea for over 60 years. At the end, the leaders of the communist North and Democratic South embraced prior to announcing a joint declaration committing to denuclearization and peace.
Korean Leaders: 'No More War' on Peninsula VOA 27 Apr 2018 -- In an unprecedented and historic move, the leaders of the two Koreas have signed a joint statement saying they are committed to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and bringing an official end to the Korean War.
If Kim Jong Un Wants to Test Nukes Again, He Has Options VOA 27 Apr 2018 -- North Korea's main underground nuclear test site may be damaged and portions of it unusable, but analysts say that does not mean Pyongyang can no longer carry out nuclear tests at the facility or elsewhere.
Statement from Vice President Mike Pence on the Inter-Korean Summit The White House 27 Apr 2018
DPRK leader Kim cross inter-Korean line, holds talks with Moon in historic summit People's Daily 27 Apr 2018 -- Top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un crossed the inter-Korean border Friday and met with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in in the heavily armed demilitarized zone of Panmunjom, setting a starting point of peace for the decades-long conflicts on the Peninsula.
S.Korean President Moon greets DPRK leader Kim by border line People's Daily 27 Apr 2018 -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in greeted Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), on Friday morning after Kim walked across the military demarcation line (MDL) dividing the Korean Peninsula.
South Korean, DPRK leaders promise to meet more often after ongoing summit People's Daily 27 Apr 2018 -- Leaders of South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) promised to meet more often after Friday's summit, a senior official with South Korea's Blue House told reporters at noon.
Korean leaders sign joint declaration pledging denuclearization Press TV 27 Apr 2018 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the South's President Moon Jae-in have signed a joint declaration agreeing to work for the "complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula" following their historic summit.
North, South Korean Leaders Talked Tete-a-Tete During Walk in Panmunjom Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in were able to talk tete-a-tete during a stroll in Panmunjom, a Sputnik correspondent reported from the inter-Korean summit press center.
UN chief encourages Korean leaders to act swiftly on agreements at 'historic' summit UN News 27 Apr 2018 -- Following Friday's summit between the leaders of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his hope that the two countries swiftly implement all agreed actions, including ridding the Peninsula of nuclear arms.

Trump: No Iran Nukes Even if Agreement Folds VOA 27 Apr 2018 -- Standing alongside Germany's chancellor, U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized on Friday that Iran would not be permitted to build a nuclear arsenal, even if a deal intended to prevent that scenario collapsed.
Pompeo: Trump Likely to Leave Iran Deal 'Absent a Fix' VOA 27 Apr 2018 -- New U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says no decision has been made on whether President Donald Trump will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, adding that negotiations are ongoing.
Trump 'unlikely to stay' in Iran deal: Pompeo Press TV 27 Apr 2018 -- The newly-appointed US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, says President Donald Trump is "unlikely to stay" in the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world countries as a deadline looms for the US to announce its stance.
China vows to step up effort to safeguard, implement Iran nuclear deal Press TV 27 Apr 2018 -- China says it will continue to uphold and implement a multilateral nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries as a May 12 deadline is looming for US President Donald Trump to decide on staying in the deal.
Trump Insists Iran Will 'Not Be Doing Nuclear Weapons' RFE/RL 27 Apr 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump insists that Iran will not acquire nuclear weapons, although he declined to speak about what measures he would use to deter Tehran should the landmark 2015 nuclear deal collapse.
Pompeo Says No Decision Yet On Iran Deal, Assails Russian 'Aggression' RFE/RL 27 Apr 2018 -- New U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said "no decision" has been made on whether the United States will pull out of the landmark 2015 Iran nuclear deal, but he said it is "unlikely" to remain unless major changes are made.
Trump Says Will Not Comment on Using Military Force in Iran Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- US President Donald Trump said in a joint press briefing with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday that he would not comment on using military force in Iran.

Taiwan calls for cross-strait negotiations without prerequisites CNA 27 Apr 2018 -- Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) called for cross-Taiwan Strait talks without prerequisites in a statement issued Friday to mark the 25th anniversary of the 1993 Koo-Wang Talks.
How Taiwan Benefits if it Fails to Join the WHO Assembly VOA 27 Apr 2018 -- Taiwan can turn a failed bid to join the World Health Organization's annual assembly in its favor this year by generating moral support in its struggle against political rival China, experts say.

Russia's security service foils Daesh acts of terror in Moscow Press TV 27 Apr 2018 -- Russian security forces have thwarted acts of terror planned by the Daesh Takfiri terrorists in Moscow.

Chinese American scientist clears her name after false charges of espionage People's Daily 27 Apr 2018 -- Three and a half years after her wrongful arrest, Sherry Chen, a Chinese-American scientist who is the"victim of gross injustice," has finally restored her name and received compensation.
Nuclear Revolution: World's first AP1000 power plant in China starts fueling People's Daily 27 Apr 2018 -- The world's first AP1000 third-generation nuclear unit started fueling on April 25 in east China's Zhejiang Province, a much-awaited landmark in China's actualization of the advanced technology, bringing the country a step closer to the mass-production and export of the third-generation nuclear facilities.

Chinese Projects, Reforms Boost Pakistan's Growth To Fastest In 13 Years RFE/RL 27 Apr 2018 -- Pakistan's economy is growing by 5.8 percent this fiscal year, the fastest pace since 2005, aided by structural reforms and China's new Silk Road project, the government estimates.

Speculation Swirls Turkey Might Seek Nonalignment VOA 27 Apr 2018 -- The Syrian civil war has been a catalyst for Russian-Turkish rapprochement, much to the concern of Turkey's NATO partners. This, coupled with Ankara's current strained relations with its traditional Western allies, is raising the prospect of a nonaligned Turkey.
Erdogan Accuses Turkish Opposition of Receiving Money From Abroad Sputnik 27 Apr 2018 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) of receiving funding from abroad, including from famous investors like US-Hungarian billionaire George Soros.

Why Didn't Turkmen, Uzbek Leaders Mention 'Line D' To China? RFE/RL 27 Apr 2018 -- Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov just concluded a highly touted state visit to Uzbekistan, and energy was - as always - one of the main topics of discussion.

Colombia: UN food relief agency seeks urgent funds to help 350,000 Venezuelan migrants UN News 27 Apr 2018 -- The United Nations emergency food relief agency has issued an urgent appeal for nearly $46 million to feed some 350,000 impoverished migrants who crossed the border from Venezuela into Colombia, as well as host communities with pre-existing vulnerabilities.

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