News and reports from the Department of Defense, DOD.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, Laura Updegrove, has completed her visit to Singapore and the Philippines. The trip aimed to strengthen defense ties and advance mutual priorities in the Indo-Pacific region. This visit followed her engagements in Cambodia for the U.S.-Cambodia Defense Policy Dialogue.

The recent killing of Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas, by Israeli forces marks a significant event in counterterrorism efforts. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III commented on this development, noting that while Sinwar's death does not heal the wounds from the October 7th attacks or the numerous deaths he is responsible for, it may provide some justice and solace to the victims' families.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III had a conversation with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant to address reports concerning the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder released a statement detailing the discussion.

U.S. military forces conducted precision airstrikes in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, targeting underground weapons storage facilities. The operation involved U.S. Air Force B-2 bombers and aimed to disrupt the Houthis' capacity to threaten civilian and military vessels in the region.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met with Danish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen at the Pentagon, as confirmed by Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.

From October 13 to 16, 2024, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro led the United States delegation at the XVI Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas (CDMA) in Mendoza, Argentina. The delegation included senior officials from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, as well as representatives from U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Northern Command.

The Department of Defense has announced a new package of security assistance for Ukraine, marking the sixty-seventh tranche of equipment provided by the Biden Administration since August 2021. This latest Presidential Drawdown Authority package is valued at approximately $425 million and aims to address Ukraine's critical security and defense needs.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III held a discussion with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant on October 16, focusing on Israel's operations in Lebanon and regional security issues. Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the details of the conversation.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is set to embark on a trip to Brussels, Belgium, from October 16-18, 2024. The visit will include participation in several multilateral meetings such as the NATO Defense Ministerial and the Ministerial of the force contributing members of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS (D-ISIS). These meetings aim to strengthen NATO's collective defense posture, adapt the D-ISIS Coalition to evolving threats from ISIS globally, and enhance military support for Ukraine.

The Department of Defense has announced significant progress in reviewing the military records of service members affected by the now-repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III highlighted that the department has taken proactive measures to address past injustices experienced by LGBTQ+ troops.

Yesterday, October 14, the United States began deploying an advance team of military personnel and initial components necessary to operate the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in Israel. This information was shared by Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.

The Department of Defense's Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation has released its Fiscal Year 2023 report on defense spending by state. The document aims to assist states and communities in understanding the economic impact of defense procurement, personnel, and grant expenditures.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for South and Southeast Asia, Laura Updegrove, has concluded her visit to Cambodia. The trip marked the first U.S.-Cambodia Defense Policy Dialogue since 2019. This dialogue was part of a series of meetings with Cambodian defense and foreign policy officials.

The United States and Qatar conducted the 16th U.S.-Qatar Military Consultative Commission (MCC) at the Pentagon on October 15, 2024. The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East, Daniel B. Shapiro, and Qatar Defense Attaché to the United States, Major General Ali Al-Kuwari.

On October 11, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III held two separate calls with Mexican defense officials. He spoke with General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, the Secretary of National Defense, and Admiral Raymundo Morales Ángeles, the Secretary of the Navy.