Early Bird Brief: April 23, 2024

Welcome to the Early Bird Brief's LinkedIn Edition, a tightly edited round-up of today's most important military and defense stories. To get the full EBB, with dozens of stories, subscribe here.

Today's Top 5:

Failed rocket strike launched on US-led coalition forces base in Syria

(The Associated Press) Iraqi authorities said early Monday that they were searching for “outlaw elements” who launched an estimated five missiles across the border from Iraq into Syria late Sunday night targeting the base. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Also on Monday, a U.S. official said American forces had shot down two drones near al-Asad Air Base in Iraq. The circumstances are under investigation. Read More

As the US Air Force fleet keeps shrinking, can it still win wars?

(Defense News) In February 2017, then-Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein issued a warning. Read More

Vets advocates push Supreme Court to dump laws punishing homelessness

(Military Times) Veterans advocates are warning that arguments presented to the Supreme Court on Monday regarding laws criminalizing homelessness could have a troubling impact on efforts to help former troops struggling to find stable housing. Read More

Navy looks to apply jet readiness gains to surface ship fleet

(Defense News) The U.S. Navy’s supply corps will spend the next two years applying lessons from the service’s aircraft fleet to surface ship readiness. Read More

Former USS Howard CO was fired after ‘racially harassing comments’

(Navy Times) An investigation into the former commanding officer of the Japan-based destroyer Howard who was relieved from command in February substantiated allegations that the skipper made several “racially harassing comments” portraying “derogatory stereotypes of African Americans,” according to records obtained by Navy Times. Read More

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