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Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

• Latest Iranian Plotting Worrisome, Not Surprising, US Officials Say VOA 03 Apr 2020 -- Recent intelligence suggesting Iranian-backed forces in Iraq are actively plotting to hit U.S. troops may have stirred a new war of words between Washington and Tehran on social media, but it has done little to shock U.S. defense officials.
• Afghan President Ghani Says Peace Process Should Be Led by Rival Abdullah Sputnik 03 Apr 2020 -- Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Friday proposed that his political rival Abdullah Abdullah be given the leadership role in the nation's peace process as a means to overcome their political challenges.
• Nearly 20,000 National Guard Troops Helping US States Combat COVID-19 Pandemic - Pentagon Sputnik 03 Apr 2020 -- The US National Guard has deployed approximately 20,000 troops to help US states fight the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Defense Department said in a statement on Friday.
• Army Corps of Engineers Offers Governors, Mayors Medical Site Assessments DoD News 03 Apr 2020 -- Mayors and governors looking to get assessments of certain sites that have the potential to temporarily act as medical facilities can look to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for help.
• Navy Deploys Expeditionary Medical Facility Personnel to Support Federal COVID-19 Response NNS 03 Apr 2020 -- Navy medical personnel assigned to Expeditionary Medical Facility-M (EMF-M) have deployed as part of a U.S. Northern Command-led COVID-19 response to support civil health authorities in existing facilities in New Orleans and Dallas.
• DOD Expands Medical Support in New York City, New Orleans and Dallas DoD 03 Apr 2020 -- At the request of FEMA, the Department of Defense will expand its medical support to include COVID-19 positive patients at the Javits Federal Medical Station (FMS) in New York City, the Morial FMS in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the Kay Bailey Hutchinson FMS in Dallas, Texas.
• Federal Government of Somalia, AFRICOM target al-Shabaab AFRICOM 03 Apr 2020 -- In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab terrorists in the vicinity of Bush Madina, Somalia, April 2.

Defense Policy / Programs

• NY National Guard COVID-19 response force grows to 2,850 Army News 03 Apr 2020 -- When New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo called on the National Guard to assist in a coronavirus cluster outbreak in New Rochelle March 10, the first 35 Soldiers and Airmen sprinted into action.
• National Guard COVID-19 response grows to nearly 20,000 troops Army News 03 Apr 2020 -- Nearly 20,000 National Guardsmen are now supporting COVID-19 response efforts across the country with thousands of more opportunities for them to help expected in the coming weeks, the National Guard Bureau chief said.
• DOD Continually Examines, Modifies COVID-19 Response DoD News 03 Apr 2020 -- The Defense Department is adjusting to the COVID-19 pandemic and leaders at all levels are looking at resources, processes and personnel needed to fight the virus, Jonathan Rath Hoffman, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, said today during a Pentagon news conference.
• In South Korea, How US General Contained COVID-19 VOA 03 Apr 2020 -- "Go hard, go early." That's the advice from Gen. Robert Abrams, the top U.S. general in South Korea, on how to combat the coronavirus.
• Air Force update for COVID-19 US Air Force 03 Apr 2020 -- In an effort to minimize the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 and to prioritize the health and safety of Department of the Air Force personnel, the following modifications have been made:
• Partnering With the U.S. Defense Industrial Base to Combat COVID-19 DoD 03 Apr 2020 -- "The Department continues to aggressively partner with the defense industry to mitigate impacts from the COVID-19 national emergency."
• Air Forces to Make Ninth Flight to Deliver Testing Swabs DoD News 03 Apr 2020 -- The Air Force's Air Mobility Command is preparing for a ninth flight next week that will bring coronavirus testing swabs from Italy to Memphis, Tennessee, for distribution across the United States, said a top Air Force official.
• US, UAE Complete Multiple Live-Fire Exercises in Persian Gulf Region - CENTCOM Sputnik 03 Apr 2020 -- The US and the United Arab Emirates completed a series of bilateral live-fire exercises in the Persian Gulf region, Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement.
• 115TH Field Artillery Brigade and 4-133rd Field Artillery Regiment Participate in Bilateral Exercises with UAE CENTCOM 03 Apr 2020 -- In support of the Task Force Spartan mission, Soldiers from the 115th Field Artillery Brigade and 4-133rd Field Artillery Regiment (FAR) participated in multiple bilateral exercises with their counterparts in the United Arab Emirates Land Forces.
• Data System From USS Enterprise to Be Installed on Future USS JFK NNS 03 Apr 2020 -- Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division, Keyport Detachment San Diego's Fleet Test and Evaluation Center (FTEC) supplied the Pre-Commissioning Unit John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) with a repurposed AN/USQ-167 Common Data Link System (CDLS) that was salvaged from the decommissioned USS Enterprise (CVN-65).
• Pentagon Will Make Firms Compete for Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Contracts Sputnik 03 Apr 2020 -- Rather than just renew its contract with Boeing, the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) plans on opening up bidding among defense contractors for modernizing the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) systems that defend the homeland from ballistic missile attack.
• Coronavirus response: ventilators from Germany arrive in Spain NATO 03 Apr 2020 -- Today (03 April 2020), two Spanish military aircraft flew from Hamburg to Torrejón airport to deliver 50 ventilators sent by the German government as part of the ongoing collective effort by NATO Allies against the global pandemic of Corona virus.
• NATO Top Military Officer Works to Boost Coronavirus Response VOA 03 Apr 2020 -- NATO's top military officer said Friday that the 30-member alliance would use its unique ability to respond to crises to fight the deadly coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the globe.
• Russian Military Holding Drills to Defend Crimea From Air Attack Sputnik 03 Apr 2020 -- Naval aviation and air defence units of Russia's Black Sea Fleet are taking part in an exercise aimed at defending Crimea from an aerial attack, the press service of the Russian Southern Military District said on Friday.
• Russian Navy to Get First Borei-A Class Nuclear-Powered Submarine in April - Shipbuilder Sputnik 03 Apr 2020 -- The Russian Navy will receive the first Borei-A class strategic nuclear-powered submarine, Knyaz Vladimir, this month, United Shipbuilding Corporation President Alexey Rakhmanov said on Friday.
• India mulling purchase of 3 refurbished submarines from Russia Press TV 03 Apr 2020 -- India is considering a proposal by Russia to supply the Indian navy with three refurbished submarines, capable of launching cruise missiles.
• Iran to Start Building 6,000-Tonne Destroyer This Year - Marine Authority Sputnik 03 Apr 2020 -- Iran is planning to start the construction of a destroyer with a displacement of almost 6,000 tonnes already in 2020, the head of the Iranian Defence Ministry's Marine Industries Organisation said on Friday in an interview with the state-run Mehr news agency.

Defense Industry

• Contracts For April 3, 2020
• Production of Boeing Helicopters Halted After Factory Shuttered by COVID-19 Pandemic Sputnik 03 Apr 2020 -- Production of several Boeing helicopters and related vehicles will cease for several weeks as the company shuts down its factory amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the company announced Thursday.

Other Conflicts

• China warns Vietnamese fishing boat's illegal entry to China's territorial waters PLA Daily 03 Apr 2020 -- China Coast Guard on Friday released a statement which warned the Vietnamese fishing boat's illegal entry to the waters off the Xisha Islands on April 2 and urges the Vietnamese side to take measures to avoid similar incidents happen again.
• Saudi-led airstrike, gunfire leave nearly dozen civilians dead in Yemen Press TV 03 Apr 2020 -- Nearly a dozen people have lost their lives and several others sustained injuries when warplanes operated by the Saudi-led military coalition and militiamen loyal to Yemen's former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi launched separate attacks in the northwestern province of Sa'ada and the central province of Ma'rib over a span of 24 hours.
• Turkey sends another military convoy to de-escalation zone in Syria's Idlib Press TV 03 Apr 2020 -- Turkey has dispatched new reinforcements to Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, as Ankara beefs up its military presence in the embattled region following a ceasefire reached earlier this month with Moscow to halt an escalation of violence there, says the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).
• Africa's Conflict-Ridden Regions Face Another Existential Threat in COVID-19 VOA 03 Apr 2020 -- In the West African country of Burkina Faso, rising insecurity has shuttered dozens of health clinics and left just three capable of carrying out coronavirus testing.
• Coronavirus restrictions hamper aid access for Sudanese in need UN News 03 Apr 2020 -- The United Nations and its partners are putting in place alternative plans to ensure the continuity of humanitarian assistance in Sudan, as measures taken by the Government to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are having an impact on aid access, deliveries and services.
• Text of a Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate The White House 03 Apr 2020
• Text of a Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Somalia The White House 03 Apr 2020
• Militant Attacks in Northern Mozambique Leave Civilians Reeling VOA 03 Apr 2020 -- Residents in two districts in northern Mozambique are still reeling from violent attacks carried out by Islamist militants last week.

News Reports

• Trump Says He Brokered Saudi-Russian Oil Deal, But Details Scant RFE/RL 03 Apr 2020 -- U.S. President Donald Trump says he brokered a deal with Russia and Saudi Arabia to cut oil output and end a steep decline in oil prices amid the global coronavirus pandemic.
• Russia 'ready to cooperate, cut oil production' Press TV 03 Apr 2020 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his country's readiness to cooperate with Saudi Arabia and the United States to slash oil production.
• Russia 'ready to cooperate, cut oil production' Press TV 03 Apr 2020 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his country's readiness to cooperate with Saudi Arabia and the United States to slash oil production.
• The Week In Russia: The Anatomy Of Deceit RFE/RL 03 Apr 2020 -- In seventh-grade Latin class, the incomparable Irving Kizner taught us about one of Roman orator Cicero's rhetorical devices. As I recall, it's basically this: When you want to make sure your audience hears something, tell them that you won't mention it -- and then mention it.
• Russian Election Officials Postpone All Votes Until After June 21 RFE/RL 03 Apr 2020 -- Russia's election authorities have postponed all upcoming local and nationwide votes in the country until after June 21.
• EU Lawmakers Say Russia Using Coronavirus Crisis For Political Benefit RFE/RL 03 Apr 2020 -- A group of European Union lawmakers are accusing Moscow of exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to try to get sanctions imposed over Russia's actions in Ukraine lifted, according to a letter seen by RFE/RL.
• Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on April 3, 2020 PRC MofA 03 Apr 2020
• China Targets Thousands Who Spoke Out About The Coronavirus Epidemic Radio Free Asia 03 Apr 2020 -- The ruling Chinese Communist Party has targeted thousands of people for speaking out about the coronavirus epidemic in the country since it began in late December in the central city of Wuhan, an overseas-based rights group has said.
• China reiterates tough quality control over medical supplies exports Global Times 03 Apr 2020 -- China has reiterated strict control over the quality of medical supplies and their exports to better aid the global battle against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the commerce ministry said.
• China's Oil Giants Struggle as Prices Collapse Radio Free Asia 03 Apr 2020 -- China's state oil companies are suffering from the plunge in crude prices at a time when the world's largest importer should be celebrating lower costs.
• Hong Kong Journalists Under Pressure Over Taiwan WHO Reporting Radio Free Asia 03 Apr 2020 -- Hong Kong government broadcaster RTHK is under pressure from government officials after it aired an interview with a World Health Organization (WHO) official in which the interviewer touched on repeated calls from the democratic of island of Taiwan that it should be allowed to join as a member state.
• Hong Kong Government Reprimands Public Broadcaster for WHO Interview About Taiwan VOA 03 Apr 2020 -- The Hong Kong government has criticized a public broadcaster for "breaching the One-China principle" after a reporter asked a World Health Organization official about Taiwan's eligibility to join the international body amid the coronavirus pandemic.
• Taiwan Competes with China through World Medical Diplomacy VOA 03 Apr 2020 -- Taiwan, widely watched from abroad for controlling the spread of COVID-19, started this week spreading medical aid to much harder-hit countries in a campaign that could help it stand up politically against its powerful rival China.
• Smugglers Beaten as North Korea Applies Military Law in COVID-19 Response Radio Free Asia 03 Apr 2020 -- Two smugglers were savagely beaten by a North Korean anti-smuggling task force this month as the country's tolerance of smuggling across the border with China has given way to a crackdown due to concern over coronavirus, a source near the border told RFA's Korean Service.
• US has no moral duty to ease Iran sanctions amid coronavirus pandemic: Trump Press TV 03 Apr 2020 -- President Donald Trump has said the US no "moral responsibility" to halt Iran sanctions if Tehran does not ask for it to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Men Acquitted In Daniel Pearl Murder Case To Remain In Pakistani Custody RFE/RL 03 Apr 2020 -- A Pakistani provincial government has ordered a British-born militant whose conviction in the kidnapping and killing of a U.S. journalist was overturned to remain in custody for at least three months.
• Pakistan Re-Arrests Men Convicted in Murder of American Journalist Daniel Pearl VOA 03 Apr 2020 -- Authorities in Pakistan have re-arrested four men convicted in the 2002 murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl, a day after a provincial appeals court overturned their convictions and allowed them to walk out of prison.