Latest news with #UnifiedCommand
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
J&K lt governor chairs Unified Command meet, reviews Amarnath Yatra security
Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha chaired the Unified Command meeting in Srinagar on Tuesday and reviewed the security situation in the Union Territory and arrangements for the annual Amarnath Yatra that begins on July 3. The meeting, which was the first since the launch of Operation Sindoor to destroy terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7, was attended by top officers of the army, police, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and other security agencies and the Jammu and Kashmir administration. During the meeting at Raj Bhawan, the lieutenant governor was briefed by the officers about the current security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly on the Line of Control and international border. Sinha asked the officers to enhance security for the Amarnath Yatra on both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes, especially in the backdrop of the April 22 terror attack at Baisaran meadow that left 25 tourists and a local guide dead. Sources said that Sinha was given a presentation about the security arrangements being made for the pilgrims right from Lakhanpur up to the cave shrine on both the routes. It is learnt that additional companies of security personnel are being deployed for this year's yatra that concludes on August 9. Citing the recent operations at Keller, Shopian, and Tral, Awantipora, in which six terrorists were eliminated, the lieutenant governor directed the officers to keep up the pressure to dismantle the terror ecosystem completely. Chief minister Omar Abdullah has also said that the safety of Amarnath Yatra is priority for his government. 'Our first concern is the safety and security of the Amarnath Yatra,' Abdullah told reporters in Srinagar last week.
American Military News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- American Military News
Video: Pentagon cutting 20% of senior generals
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum on Monday directing the Pentagon to reduce the number of four-star generals and admirals in the U.S. military by 20% in an effort to 'shift resources' to America's 'warfighters.' Announcing the memorandum, titled 'Less Generals, More GIs,' in a video on X, formerly Twitter, Hegseth said, 'We're going to shift resources from bloated headquarters elements to our warfighters.' Hegseth explained that the U.S. military currently has 44 four-star and flag officers for a force of 2.1 million service members, compared to only 17 four and five-star generals during World War II for a force of 12 million service members. The secretary of defense warned that having a higher number of top generals and admirals 'does not equal more success.' Addressing the upcoming reduction of four-star generals and flag officers, Hegseth said, 'Now, this is not a slash-and-burn exercise meant to punish high-ranking officers. Nothing could be further from the truth. This has been a deliberative process, working with the Joint Chiefs of Staff with one goal: maximizing strategic readiness and operational effectiveness by making prudent reductions in the general and flag officer ranks.' READ MORE: Video: SECDEF Hegseth orders 'same standard' for men, women in combat roles In Monday's video, Hegseth explained that there will be 'two phases' in the 'Less Generals More GIs Policy.' For the first phase, Hegseth has ordered the Pentagon to implement a 20% reduction of four-star and flag officers and a 20% reduction of general and flag officers in the National Guard. Hegseth also announced that the second phase of the Pentagon's new policy will include an additional 10% reduction in general and flag officers and will be conducted 'in conjunction with a realignment of the Unified Command plan.' 'It's going to be done carefully, but it's going to be done expeditiously,' Hegseth said. 'We confront a complex and evolving threat environment. We cannot afford to wait. We got to be lean and mean. And in this case, it means general officer reductions.' Introducing the 'Less Generals More GIs Policy.' — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) May 5, 2025
USA Today
06-05-2025
- General
- USA Today
Oil well spews thousands of gallons into Louisiana marsh, clean up underway: See aftermath
After a week of uncontrolled spillage, a leak pouring more than 70,000 gallons of oil into a Louisiana marsh has been contained, according to the Coast Guard. However, cleanup of the area surrounding the 83-year-old oil well at the heart of the spill is still ongoing. The well, operated by Spectrum Opco, was first noted as spilling an oil and gas mixture into the environment in Plaquemines Parish, southeast of New Orleans, on April 26. The World War II-era well was capped over a decade ago, according to local outlets WWNO and While the Coast Guard announced on May 4 that the leak had been contained, its cause has yet to be determined. The Coast Guard and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office (LOSCO), known together in this case as the Unified Command, took over the situation on May 1 and said as of May 4 that it had "successfully secured the discharge of oil and natural gas." The agency also said it was partnering with a litany of organizations on cleanup efforts, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 'Gaining control of the discharge is a vital milestone' As of the May 4 announcement, responders have deployed 15,000 feet of containment boom and 740 bales of absorbent boom (devices used in spills to block and absorb substances) to recover approximately 70,812 gallons of oily water mixture. The total amount of oil discharged is still unknown at this time. 'Gaining control of the discharge is a vital milestone, but it marks only the beginning of our work," said Capt. Greg Callaghan, U.S. Coast Guard, Federal on Scene Coordinator, in a statement. "The Unified Command is fully committed to an exhaustive cleanup effort and will remain on site for as long as necessary to ensure the removal of oil and the safety of both the community and the ecosystem." Nearby areas are protected marshlands that house wildlife like turtles, waterfowl, fish and shrimp. The impact on the ecosystem is not yet known, but the Coast Guard said at least one "oiled bird" had been seen but not captured.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Crews race to cleanup oil spill along Louisiana coastline
NEW ORLEANS – Nearly 200 personnel are working to contain an oil spill along the coast of Louisiana that threatens to pollute marshes around Plaquemines Parish. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the agency was alerted to a leaking well about 20 miles southeast of Venice over the weekend. A unified command was established and deployed thousands of feet of boom in an attempt to contain the oily residue. The agency reports that more than 23,000 gallons of oily water have been collected so far, and drone video shows streaks of a brownish-black substance along the shoreline. "Our top priority remains the safety of the public and our responders," Gregory Callaghan, a captain with the U.S. Coast Guard, said in a statement. "The Unified Command is working around the clock to secure the source of the discharge as safely and quickly as possible. We are committed to minimizing further impacts to the environment." New Satellite Imagery Reveals Expanse Of Oil Spill In Caribbean The exact amount of discharged oil remains unknown as crews continue efforts to plug the once-active well. Aerial surveillance by drones and helicopters has not detected any immediate health concerns for humans, as the impacted area is located some distance from communities. Officials remain concerned about the potential impact on wildlife, including birds, fish and other species that inhabit the marshlands. Authorities have not reported any significant harm to animal populations at this time, though the situation is still developing. Several hotlines have been established for boaters and the public to report sightings of oil or injured wildlife. The National Response Center can be reached at 800-424-8802, and the Wildlife Hotline can be contacted at 832-514-9663. Officials have not disclosed what may have triggered the well to start leaking, nor whether elevated water levels from the Mississippi River are complicating containment and cleanup efforts. 'It Unravels From The Bottom': Scientists Work To Save Louisiana's Shrinking Wetlands The current leak is significantly smaller than the Deepwater Horizon spill that devastated the Gulf Coast in 2010. During that incident, an estimated 134 million gallons of oil were released over 87 days, impacting coastal communities from Texas to Florida. Investigators determined that the historic spill was caused by an explosion triggered by the ignition of methane gas. NOAA reports that several environmental restoration projects remain ongoing and are expected to continue beyond article source: Crews race to cleanup oil spill along Louisiana coastline
USA Today
07-02-2025
- General
- USA Today
DC plane crash updates: Probe makes progress as crews still search for helicopter parts
DC plane crash updates: Probe makes progress as crews still search for helicopter parts Show Caption Hide Caption DC plane crash debris recovered from Potomac River Authorities have begun to pull the aircrafts out of the Potomac River from the plane crash that killed 67 in D.C. WASHINGTON – Salvage crews on Friday are expected to search only for a few more pieces of wreckage in the Potomac River after recovering most of the debris from the horrific collision of a passenger jet and a Black Hawk helicopter that left 67 dead last week. Since recovery operations on the river began Monday, authorities have retrieved most of the crashed jet and U.S. Army helicopter, both of which will be analyzed as part of federal authorities' probe into the cause of the deadliest aviation disaster in over two decades. The National Transportation Safety Board said in an update Thursday evening that it is still searching for some parts of the helicopter, including the right engine and tail rotor. Officials said the wreckage is expected to be offloaded from a barge on Friday and transferred to a secure location. To assist with the operation, Unified Command said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will fly over the Potomac at a low altitude and project a green laser onto the water's surface to scan for debris. The flight was scheduled to take place around 2 a.m. Friday. In recent days, more information has been released about the circumstances of the collision. On Thursday, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said the helicopter, which was on a routine training mission, had turned off an advanced surveillance system that is said to heighten safety and visibility by automatically sending aircraft location data to air traffic controllers, including altitude and speed. The NTSB has said that data indicated the Black Hawk may have been flying above its 200-foot flight ceiling, though the agency said investigators need to access the crashed aircraft to verify the data. Contributing: Minnah Arshad
