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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Number of Civilians Killed in US-Led Operations in Syria, Iraq Rises to 892 Sputnik 31 May 2018 -- At least 892 civilians have been confirmed dead in Syria and Iraq as a result of US-led coalition's campaign to defeat the Daesh* terrorist group, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve said in a casualty report on Thursday.
• Afghan Forces Release Over 100 Civilians From Taliban Jail - Reports Sputnik 31 May 2018 -- Afghan special forces have released at least 105 civilians, including five women, from a Taliban-controlled prison located in the country's southern Helmand province as a result of a special operation, TOLOnews reported on Thursday, citing a statement issued by the country's corps for special operations.
• Afghan Special Forces Free Scores From Taliban Prisons VOA 31 May 2018 -- Afghan Special Forces broke into a pair of Taliban prisons Thursday in southern Afghanistan and freed more than 100 prisoners, including women held by the Taliban, an Afghan official told VOA.
• VOA Exclusive: Pakistan Mulls Blocking US Supply Lines Into Afghanistan VOA 31 May 2018 -- Pakistan says it is reassessing strained ties with the United States, a move that could lead to halting supply lines into Afghanistan where American troops are fighting insurgents to stabilize the war-ravaged country with the help of NATO allies.

Defense Policy / Programs

• US Sees No Problem in 'Taking Down' China's Islets VOA 31 May 2018 -- China's militarization of man-made islands in the South China Sea will not scare off the United States, which is promising to continue carrying out so-called freedom-of-navigation exercises despite the rising threat.
• ‘Taking Down’ Islands in Western Pacific is a ‘Core Competency’ - US General Sputnik 31 May 2018 -- It’s no secret that Beijing has developed artificial islands and militarized maritime features in the disputed South China Sea. If there were ever a war between China and the US, a senior US general is confident about the military’s ability “in the West Pacific taking down small islands.”
• 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 31 May 2018 -- Presenter: Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White; Joint Staff Director Lieutenant General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr.
• Fighters, Aircraft Carrier Sent to Korean Shores for Trump-Kim Talks - Reports Sputnik 31 May 2018 -- The US strike group, including the Ronald Reagan atomic aircraft carrier and 14 fifth-generation fighters, are to patrol the area of the Korean Peninsula for a month. According to government sources, cited by the Japanese media, this should put additional military pressure on North Korea during the historic US-DPRK summit in Singapore on June 12.
• Davidson Pledges to Continue Mission at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command NNS 31 May 2018 -- The name of U.S. Pacific Command has changed, but the mission of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command will remain the same, command officials said at the change of command here May 30.
• China, not North Korea, biggest threat to US in Asia: US admiral Press TV 31 May 2018 -- US President Donald Trump's pick for the next American ambassador to South Korea, Admiral Harry Harris, says while North Korea continues the pose the most imminent threat, China's still remains the biggest long-term challenge that Washington is faced with.
• Indian, Japanese and US Maritime Forces to Participate in Exercise Malabar 2018 NNS 31 May 2018 -- Naval ships, aircraft and personnel from India, Japan and the United States will participate in exercise Malabar 2018, in mid-summer 2018 off the coast of Guam.
• ESSEX ARG, 13th MEU Commence COMPTUEX NNS 31 May 2018 -- Sailors from Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and Marines assigned to 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) commenced the composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) off the coast of California, May 30.
• Eucom Enhances Force Readiness Through Summer Exercises AFPS 31 May 2018 -- U.S. European Command is kicking off its summer exercise season by conducting three long-planned, key events: Baltic Operations, Saber Strike and Swift Response.
• 3-61 CAV conducts conducts Raven Initial Qualification Training in Kosovo Army News 31 May 2018 -- Sgt. Jason R. Hewitt conducted Raven Initial Qualification Training May 24 with Soldiers in Alpha Troop to increase the squadron's ability to conduct aerial reconnaissance.
• NATO-Russia Council meets in Brussels NATO 31 May 2018 -- The NATO-Russia Council met at Ambassadorial level in Brussels on Thursday (31 May 2018).
• NATO Warns Russia On 'Malign Activities,' Briefs On War Games RFE/RL 31 May 2018 -- NATO ambassadors told Russia to put a halt to its "malign activities" in Europe and elsewhere as the sides met at a time of high geopolitical tensions between East and West.
• Secretary General welcomes President of Colombia to NATO NATO 31 May 2018 -- Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia to NATO for talks on Thursday (31 May 2018), marking the first-ever visit by a Colombian head of state to the Alliance. Colombia is NATO's newest partner, and its first in Latin America.
• Cracking Open the Tomahawk: Secrets Learned From US Weapons in Russia's Arsenal Sputnik 31 May 2018 -- Russia's Radio-Electronic Technologies Concern (KRET) has confirmed that its engineers are using unexploded Tomahawk cruise missiles from April's failed US airstrikes on Syria to help develop new electronic warfare systems. Sputnik looks back at some of the other weapons Russia captured and reverse engineered from US overseas wars over the years.s
• Chinese Drone-Killing Laser Takes Out Targets 300 Meters Away in Demo Sputnik 31 May 2018 -- Chinese firm Poly Technologies recently redisplayed a counter-drone laser weapon system at a military equipment exhibition in Kazakhstan in a bid to capture a share of the growing market for anti-drone defense systems.
• Military expert rebukes HK media over untrue nuclear test remarks People's Daily 31 May 2018 -- On May 29, a Chinese military expert rebuked Hong Kong media over their untrue remarks regarding China's frequent simulated nuclear tests, Chinese newspaper Global Times reported Wednesday.
• India Tests Guided Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Meant to Replace Russian Smerch Sputnik 31 May 2018 -- The upgraded Pinaka rocket is equipped with a navigation, guidance and control kit, which have considerably enhanced its range and accuracy. The Indian Army intends to have 22 Pinaka regiments by 2026.
• Maiden Test of India's Next Gen SFDR Air to Air Missile Successful Sputnik 31 May 2018 -- India has developed Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology in collaboration with Russia. Its successful use in missiles will mark India's entry into a select club of nations that use next-generation missile technology against maneuvering targets, compromising the effectiveness of conventional missiles.
• Press Gaggle by Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley The White House 31 May 2018

Defense Industry

• DoD News: Contracts for May 31, 2018

Other Conflicts

• 31 May 2018 - Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General United Nations 31 May 2018
• Yemen shoots down Saudi-led military coalition spy drone IRNA 31 May 2018 -- Yemeni forces shot down a spy drone belonging to Saudi-led military coalition near its border with Saudi Arabia, Almasirah news network reported.
• Houthi Rebels Down Military Helicopter in South-West of Saudi Arabia - Source Sputnik 31 May 2018 -- Yemen's Houthi rebels have downed Saudi Arabia's military helicopter in Jizan province in the south-west of the kingdom, a military source in the Yemeni Defense Ministry told Sputnik on Thursday, adding that all crew members have been killed in the crash.
• Yemeni Rebels Claim Downing of Saudi Coalition Drone Sputnik 31 May 2018 -- Yemen's Houthi rebels told Sputnik they had struck down an Arab coalition drone on Wednesday night over the southwestern Saudi region of Asir.
• Assad: No Iranian military force in Syria IRNA 31 May 2018 -- 'We do not have Iranian troops,' said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in reaction to the Israeli claim about attacking Iranian bases in Syria.
• Car bomb explosion kills seven in northern Syria. IRNA 31 May 2018 -- A car bomb explosion in central Ariha, northern Syria, on Thursday destroyed a building in which seven civilians were killed.
• Beirut, Damascus working together for return of Syrian refugees Press TV 31 May 2018 -- Lebanese and Syrian officials are working together to facilitate the return of thousands of refugees who want to return to Syria, a Lebanese official says.
• Syrian Army Reinforcements Arrive in Southern Syria as Major Offensive Looms Sputnik 31 May 2018 -- Government forces, particularly elite units of the Syrian Army, have been redeploying from Damascus and other parts of Syria to the southern front, where a major anti-terrorist offensive is expected to get underway in the coming days or weeks.
• Palestine UN envoy calls on global community to 'right a historic wrong' Press TV 31 May 2018 -- Palestine's permanent envoy to the United Nations Security Council has called on the global community to "right a historic wrong."
• Rohingya victims seek ICC probe into Myanmar atrocities Press TV 31 May 2018 -- Hundreds of Rohingya victims have appealed to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to grant prosecutors jurisdiction to probe deportation of Muslims from Myanmar's Rakhine state to neighboring Bangladesh.
• UN Threatens South Sudan With Sanctions VOA 31 May 2018 -- The U.N. Security Council is giving South Sudan one month to stop fighting and sign a peace deal or face an arms embargo and sanctions.

News Reports

• U.S. Imposes Metal Import Tariffs On EU, Canada, Mexico RFE/RL 31 May 2018 -- Washington says that it is moving ahead with tariffs on aluminum and steel imports from Canada, Mexico, and the European Union -- ending a two-month exemption and potentially setting the stage for a trade war between the United States and some of its top allies.
• Telegram CEO Durov: 'Apple Didn't Side With Us' RFE/RL 31 May 2018 -- Telegram CEO and founder Pavel Durov says Apple has prevented the popular messaging service from updating globally since Russian authorities "ordered" the U.S. mobile-phone giant to remove Telegram from its app store.
• Talks Held between FMs of DPRK and Russia KCNA 31 May 2018 -- Talks were held between the foreign ministers of the DPRK and Russia at the Mansudae Assembly Hall on Thursday.
• S.Korea confirms ongoing preparatory talks for DPRK-U.S. summit People's Daily 31 May 2018 -- South Korea's foreign ministry on Thursday confirmed the ongoing preparatory talks for a summit between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States, raising a possibility for the first-ever DPRK-U.S. summit to be held as scheduled.
• Kim: North Korea's will to denuclearize 'unchanged' Press TV 31 May 2018 -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un says his country's will to rid the Korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons remains "unchanged," confirming that he is committed to a much-anticipated summit with US President Donald Trump..
• Lavrov meets North Korea's leader Kim, invites him to visit Russia Press TV 31 May 2018 -- Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who is on an official trip to Pyongyang, has invited North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to visit Moscow, as Russia becomes more involved in international efforts to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
• Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, On Rare Visit To North Korea, Invites Kim To Russia RFE/RL 31 May 2018 -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the country's foreign minister ahead of a planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim next month.
• Trump Considers North Korea Talks Positive, Expects Letter From Kim Sputnik 31 May 2018 -- US President Donald Trump has made it clear that despite the cancellation of his high-level talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Washington wants to continue "very productive" negotiations with Pyongyang.
• Major Russian, Indian Energy Firms Reportedly Moving To Pull Out Of Iran RFE/RL 31 May 2018 -- The threat of U.S. sanctions has prompted Russian oil giant Lukoil to put its plans to develop projects in Iran on hold while the Indian company that owns the world's largest oil refining complex plans to stop buying oil from Iran, Reuters reported on May 30.
• Iran Gives French Energy Giant 60 Days To Win U.S. Sanctions Waiver RFE/RL 31 May 2018 -- Iran's oil minister has given French energy giant Total sixty days to get a sanctions waiver from Washington or its major stake in a multi-billion-dollar gas project will be given to a Chinese oil firm.
• China to Host Rouhani After US Withdrawal From Iranian Nuclear Deal VOA 30 May 2018 -- Amid current tensions between Washington and Tehran, Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of the forthcoming Eurasian Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting June 9-10 in Qingdao, China.
• China warns US of retaliation over trade restrictions Press TV 31 May 2018 -- China has warned that it reserves the right to take retaliatory measures against the United States, which has moved ahead with a threat of trade restrictions against Chinese goods even as the two countries had earlier agreed to end a trade war with one another.
• Kazakh Leader To Become Life-Long Security Council Chairman RFE/RL 31 May 2018 -- The upper house of the Kazakh parliament has approved a bill allowing President Nursultan Nazarbaev to lead the Central Asian country's Security Council for life.
• Pakistani President Signs Law Merging Tribal Areas With Khyber Pakhtunkhwa RFE/RL 31 May 2018 -- Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain has signed legislation that merges the country's tribal regions with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province and therefore grants some 5 million people in the regions the same rights as other Pakistanis.
• Nusra Front Terrorists Try to Rebrand, US Updates Sanctions Against It Sputnik 31 May 2018 -- The United States has updated the designation of the Nusra Front despite the its decision to split from the al-Qaeda and rebrand (both terror groups are outlawed in Russia), the US Department of State said in a press release on Thursday.
• Amendments to the Terrorist Designations of al-Nusrah Front US Dept. of State 31 May 2018 -- The Department of State has amended the designation of al-Nusrah Front – an al-Qa'ida affiliate in Syria – to include Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other aliases. These aliases have been added to al-Nusrah Front's designations as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Executive Order 13224.
• Judge Dismisses Kaspersky Bid To Overturn U.S. Ban On Its Software RFE/RL 31 May 2018 -- A U.S. judge has dismissed lawsuits by Russia's Kaspersky Lab that sought to overturn bans on the use of its software in U.S. government computers.
• Nothing New Under The Gun: Ukraine Deploys Old Ruse In Babchenko's Staged Slaying RFE/RL 31 May 2018 -- While the staged assassination of journalist Arkady Babchenko in Kyiv this week sent shock waves through Ukraine and Russia, the stunt deployed by the Ukrainian Security Service in the operation is nothing new in either country.
• Back From The Dead, Russian Journalist Vows To Live To 'Dance On Putin's Grave' RFE/RL 31 May 2018 -- A dissident Russian journalist has blasted "the keepers of morality" who criticized his faked assassination by Ukrainian authorities, and vowed to live long enough to dance on President Vladimir Putin's grave.
• Lawyer, Ukrainian Authorities Name Alleged Organizer Of Plot To Kill Babchenko RFE/RL 31 May 2018 -- Ukrainian authorities have identified the Ukrainian citizen accused of being recruited by Russia's secret services to organize a murder plot against self-exiled Russian reporter and Kremlin critic Arkady Babchenko.