A US Air Force C-130 deployed to the US Central Command area of responsibility safely airdropped more than 7,000 halal meals near Al Asad AB, Iraq, on Monday. The meals—a response to a request from the Iraqi government—were delivered to members of the Iraqi Albu Nimr tribe by members of the Iraqi security forces, states an Oct. 28 release. Many of the tribe members recently fled their homes near Hit in an effort to escape ISIS extremists, which the tribe battled since early October until the village of Zauiyat albu Nimr in western Anbar province finally fell late last week, reported Reuters.
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.