Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 28, 2015

CNN: U.S. weighing 'direct action on the ground' in Iraq

Washington (CNN)The U.S. is considering increasing its attacks on ISIS through more ground action and airstrikes, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Tuesday.

Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the U.S. "won't hold back" from supporting partners carrying out such attacks or from "conducting such missions directly, whether by strikes from the air or direct action on the ground."

The White House, however, has yet to make a decision on the options for upping the campaign against ISIS, according to defense and administration sources. They said that further involvement on the ground was one of the possibilities being presented.

The ground option Carter mentioned to the committee was part of a three-prong effort -- which he dubbed the "three Rs" -- to adapt the U.S. policy on countering ISIS.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 28, 2015

US could put boots on the ground in fight against Isis, says Ash Carter -- The Independent

US steps up anti-ISIL action with special forces plans -- Al Jazeera

Iraq: We Didn't Ask for U.S. Ground Operations -- NBC

Centcom: 145 Syrian rebels from training program still active -- The Hill

US Strikes Drop in Syria as Russia Digs In -- Defense News

Russia and Iran helping Assad gain upper hand in Syria, head of Joint Chiefs says -- L.A. Times

Multiple wounds on body of Russian soldier who died in Syria: report -- Reuters

Russia Successfully Launches Yars ICBM From Plesetsk to Kamchatka -- Sputnik

Russia tests new intercontinental ballistic missile — Defense Ministry -- TASS

Iran’s Syria Aid Deepens as It Jockeys for Role in Talks -- Bloomberg

Iran's New Missiles Can Destroy Enemy Targets up to 2,000 km Away -- Sputnik

US Sec. of Defense Carter Pledges to Boost Israel’s Military Edge -- Defense News

U.S. not provoking Beijing in South China Sea -- CNN

More Details Emerge on China’s First Indigenous Aircraft Carrier -- Sputnik

Is this the new Chinese fighter that flew on Oct. 27? -- Alert 5

China Accused of Trying To Acquire Fighter Engines, UAV -- Defense News

Japan Decides to Restart Relocation of US Base in Okinawa Despite Protests -- Sputnik

Pentagon watchdog to research Afghan sexual abuse claims -- The Hill

Danish F-16 crashes into North Sea -- The Local

New Polish Government Wants NATO to Send More US Troops to Poland -- Sputnik

Scrapping F-35 fighter jets may not lead to big savings, Canadian experts say -- Globe and Mail

Northrop Grumman to Build Air Force Bomber — But Don’t Expect to See It Soon -- Defense One

Boeing to decide within two weeks whether to protest contract award -- Reuters

Northrop Launches LRS-B Website Hours After Bomber Contract Award -- Defense News

US Army upgrades precision fires capabilities -- IHS Jane's 360

Budget deal gives DOD stability, almost all its money -- Military Times

Air Force Award Of The LRS Bomber To Northrop Grumman Commits Taxpayers To A Trillion-Dollar Burden -- Charles Tiefer, Forbes