A coalition close air support strike in Sadr City in Iraq killed three terrorists, suspected of being members of a secret cell known for “facilitating the transport of weapons and explosively formed penetrators,” according to a Multi-National Force-Iraq release. Ground forces called in the CAS strike when their efforts to return fire failed to stop the attack by a band of terrorists.
Secretary of Defense Austin Lloyd III met with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines to discuss bolstering defense ties on May 2. The discussion included plans for joint F-35 exercises with Japan and Australia in the coming years.