Stars and Stripes Daily Headlines

June 9, 2017     Pentagon: US operations in Qatar not affected by blockade The blockade imposed on Qatar by several of its neighboring Arab nations has had no impact on war efforts against the Islamic State from the United States’ largest base in the Middle East, but it is affecting the Pentagon’s long-term planning, a U.S. defense official said Friday.   Fort Carson battalion wraps up month in Europe with live-fire exercise A Fort Carson, Colo., infantry battalion is in Grafenwoehr, Germany, wrapping up an intense Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise that thrust the 600 soldiers into a hectic six-week training schedule in Europe.   Pentagon credits Russia with easing tensions between US, Iran-backed forces in Syria The Pentagon said Friday that tensions have dropped near a U.S. training base in southern Syria just one day after U.S.-led coalition troops attacked Iran-backed militiamen supporting the Syrian government for the third time in a month. U.S. defense officials credited an unlikely source – Russia.   Bitburg High School closes doors after 60 years The Bitburg Barons will soon take their place in DODEA Europe lore as Bitburg High School in Germany closes next week after 60 years.   South Korea says it will abide by US missile defense agreement Saying North Korea poses a “very serious and urgent threat,” South Korea’s national security adviser said the new government will abide by the agreement with the United States on deploying a controversial missile-defense system.   Submarine officer found guilty of sex charges involving teen he met on Italian base Capt. Alan Dorrbecker was found guilty of multiple counts of sexual abuse and assault of a child, one count of violating orders, and of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman during a court-martial this week at Naval Station Norfolk.   F-35 flights halted at 1 base after hypoxia-like incidents The Air Force on Friday temporarily stopped flying F-35 fighter jets at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona in response to a series of incidents in which pilots reported symptoms of hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation.   USS Bush returns to Mediterranean to fight Islamic State The USS George H.W. Bush has moved to the eastern Mediterranean and is launching air attacks against the Islamic State, the Navy said.   Large-scale exercise brings allied nations together in Baltic Sea Fourteen countries have converged on the Baltic Sea for BALTOPS, a two-week maritime exercise designed to strengthen nations’ military teamwork and combined defense capability.   ISIS rarely carries out terrorist attacks in Iran. How does Iran prevent them? Terrorist attacks in major Iranian cities are rare, which is one reason the near-simultaneous assaults Wednesday in Tehran were so remarkable.   Grad overcame eyesight issues to fly for Air Force Thunderbirds As a high school student, Maj. Nate Hofmann was focused on moving onward and upward, riding his passion for flying to a career with the U.S. Air Force.