Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 1, 2018

Defense Secretary James N. Mattis meets with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the Pentagon in Washington D.C., Apr. 9, 2018. (DoD/Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)

Military.com: Mattis Says US Troops Will Remain in Syria, Afghanistan for Long Haul

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Monday that U.S. troops are in Syria and Afghanistan for the long haul to leverage a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflicts in both countries.

At an off-camera session with Pentagon reporters, Mattis strongly suggested that President Donald Trump had put aside his initial impulse for quick withdrawals and would maintain an indefinite presence of U.S. ground troops in Syria and Afghanistan.

In Syria, "We do not want to simply pull out before the diplomats have won the peace," Mattis said. "You win the fight, and then you win the peace.”

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 1, 2018

Mattis plays down odds of Syria pullout before peace agreement -- Reuters

US Military Reportedly Sends More Troops to Syria’s Manbij -- Sputnik

US 'stands by' Afghans after deadly day for journalists: Mattis -- AFP

Jim Mattis lowers expectations in Afghanistan as indicators trend down -- Washington Examiner

Mattis: No Indication Trump Wants To Withdraw From Afghanistan -- Task & Purpose

1 US troop killed in combat operation in eastern Afghanistan -- The Hill

Afghan security force shrinks sharply: US watchdog -- AFP

Casualties, desertions shrinking Afghan security force: watchdog -- UPI

'High Degree of Accuracy': Afghan Army Using Laser Bombs on Taliban – General -- Sputnik

How many bombs have been dropped in Afghanistan? -- Defense News

US shuts down ground operations command in Iraq -- The Hill

Report: John Kelly talked Trump out of withdrawing US troops from South Korea -- Military Times

South Korea changes spy satellite developer for $930M project -- Defense News

Russia’s influence campaign in the Balkans has US military leaders on edge -- Stars and Stripes

Russian fighter jet buzzes US military spy plane over Baltic Sea, officials say -- FOX News

What Beijing is Building in the South China Sea -- Stratfor

Questions About China's First Domestically Built Carrier -- Bonnie Glaser, et al., CSIS

China launches second Type 055 destroyer -- Jane's 360

‘Hottest Flashpoint in the Region’: Taiwan Wants US Tanks to Counter China -- Sputnik

US Javelin Systems Won't Boost Ukraine Army Capabilities – Ex-Pentagon Official -- Sputnik

Lockheed to supply multiple-launch rocket systems to three countries -- UPI

F-35 Brains in an F-22 Body -- Robert Farley, The Diplomat

Lockheed gets $1.4B contract for F-35 sustainment -- Defense News

New US Aircraft Carrier With ‘No Good’ ‘Digital’ Catapult 75 Percent Done -- Sputnik

Navy contracts with HII for material, labor for work on Ford -- UPI

Army extending range of airborne munitions -- Defense News

Trump again teases ‘space force’ as the sixth military branch -- Military Times

Trump: Administration 'seriously thinking' about adding 'Space Force' to military -- The Hill

Space Corps still an open question. A more likely prospect: U.S. Space Command -- Space News

US military sees spike in sexual assault reports -- CNN