Air Forces Central reported Dec. 4 that an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle had crashed on the runway at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, about 7:30 a.m., Baghdad time. The release said the extent of the damage was unknown and made no mention of collateral damage or injury. The Air Force will conduct an accident investigation.
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.