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Chief Pentagon spokesperson Dana W. White and Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. brief Pentagon reporters on various topics, including the progress made to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

Jan. 11, 2018

Pentagon Officials Say Coalition Aims to Defeat ISIS’ Brand

WASHINGTON — Pentagon officials said the physical caliphate of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria is in pieces and operations against ISIS continue in the Euphrates River valley, but the ISIS “brand” remains to be defeated.

Jan. 11, 2018

Readout of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dunford's Call with China's Chief of the Joint Staff Department Gen. Li Zuocheng

Joint Staff Spokesperson Col. Patrick S. Ryder provided the following readout: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. spoke with Gen. Li Zuocheng, China's Chief of the Joint Staff Department, by video teleconference today.

Jan. 11, 2018

Readout Of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dunford's Phone Call with Chairman of the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff General Kyeong-doo Jeong

Joint Staff Spokesperson Col. Patrick S. Ryder provided the following readout: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., spoke with Chairman of the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff General Kyeong-doo Jeong via telephone yesterday.

Jan. 11, 2018

Readout of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dunford's Phone Call with Chief of the Russian General Staff Gen. Gerasimov

Joint Staff Spokesperson Col. Patrick S. Ryder provided the following readout: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., spoke with Chief of the Russian General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov by telephone yesterday. The conversation focused on issues of mutual interest, to include the situation in Syria.

James Kitfield, senior fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, moderates a discussion with National Geographic and Defense Department personnel after the premier of the documentary “Chain of Command” at the Newseum in Washington, Jan. 9, 2018. DoD photo by Jim Garamone

Jan. 10, 2018

‘Chain of Command’ TV Series Connects Strategy With Troops on the Ground

WASHINGTON — Strategic decisions made in the Pentagon have immediate and far-reaching effects on service members around the world. National Geographic’s documentary “Chain of Command” shows both sides of that process.

Jan. 8, 2018

Pentagon Spokesman: U.S. Wants Pakistan to Take ‘Decisive Action’ Against Terrorism

WASHINGTON — U.S. officials want to see Pakistan take “decisive action” against terrorism following the suspension of U.S. security funding to that country, the director of press operations at the Pentagon said.

An Air Force C-17 Globemaster III sits on a ramp at Al Udeid Airbase, Qatar, before conducting combat airlift operations for U.S. and coalition forces in Syria in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, Oct. 27, 2017. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Gregory Brook

Jan. 8, 2018

Pentagon Spokesman Details Progress in Defeating ISIS

WASHINGTON — Coalition and partnered forces are building on progress in Iraq and Syria to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the director of press operations at the Pentagon told reporters.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis testifies during a House budget hearing.

Dec. 29, 2017

Lines Blurring Between Special Ops, Conventional Forces, Mattis Says

WASHINGTON — The defense secretary said there is a blurring line that separates conventional operating forces from special operations forces and he expects general purpose forces will eventually shoulder missions once the province of their special forces brethren.

A U.S. soldier deployed in support of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve waits while a CH-47 Chinook is refueled at Qayyarah West Airfield, Iraq, May 29, 2017. Army photo by Cpl. Rachel Diehm

Dec. 29, 2017

Mattis Says Operations Against ISIS Will Change in 2018

WASHINGTON — The destruction of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria’s physical caliphate will change the way the coalition will go after the terror group, Defense Secretary James N. Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon.

Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford listens to music in a crowd of service members.

Dec. 26, 2017

Chairman’s USO Holiday Tour Entertains Troops in Afghanistan, Iraq

Q-WEST, Iraq — “We could not bring you home for Christmas, so we decided to bring a little bit of home to you,” Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told service members stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq.