An Iraqi-led assault to eliminate a militia force in Diwaniyah in southern Iraq entered its third day on April 8 and was achieving “great success,” according to Maj. Gen. Oothman Faroud, whose 8th Iraqi Army Division is leading Operation Black Eagle. The day before, Iraqi soldiers directed—for the first time—coalition fighter aircraft, in this case a USAF F-16, to conduct a strike against militia firing rocket-propelled grenades, reports Voice of America. The Viper destroyed the target.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
