All articles tagged with #military and defense
The United States said it carried out new self-defense strikes on Iran, targeting missile sites and boats in southern Iran, a move that could complicate a fragile ceasefire and ongoing negotiations to end the war.
The Washington Post reports that amid tension with Iran, the U.S. military expended far more advanced interceptors to defend Israel than Israel did with its own systems, depleting U.S. stocks (over 200 THAAD interceptors versus Israel’s fewer Arrow interceptors and about 90 David’s Sling). The data raise concerns about U.S. military readiness and global commitments, particularly in Asia, as Washington bears the brunt of Israel’s missile-defense needs.
The Senate advanced a war-powers resolution to block President Trump from ordering further strikes on Iran, with four Republicans joining Democrats and Senator John Fetterman voting no. While it marks a procedural breakthrough for Democrats, the measure still faces a veto from the White House and substantial hurdles before it could influence U.S. actions in the Iran conflict.
At a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Iran, Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, accused Rep. Seth Moulton of impropriety after Moulton claimed the U.S. is losing the war and pressed about American casualties, with Cooper defending military gains and the Trump administration’s handling of the conflict.
Since the Iran war began in late February, President Trump has issued contradictory statements about the war’s timeline and aims, creating confusion and prompting White House cleanup as experts warn the messaging risks undermining negotiations and prolonging hostilities.
Iran launched missile and drone strikes at U.S. destroyers and merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the most significant challenge yet to the recent ceasefire; no hits were reported, as the United States escalates operations to reopen the waterway amid Iran's warnings against interference.
The UK military says a bulk carrier near the Strait of Hormuz was attacked; details and any casualties are not disclosed as investigators assess what happened, underscoring ongoing security concerns for shipping in the Persian Gulf amid regional tensions.
The Pentagon will withdraw about 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany over six to twelve months after a feud between President Trump and German Chancellor Merz over U.S. Iran policy, following a review of Europe’s force posture.
President Trump says hostilities with Iran have terminated in a letter to Congress, claiming the 60-day War Powers deadline has lapsed without authorization for further force. The U.S. maintains a naval blockade and has not ruled out additional strikes, while Democrats warn troops remain at risk and push Congress to act on authorization; Republicans emphasize congressional war powers. The move highlights the ongoing debate over who controls military action against Iran.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth clashed with House Democrats at a House Armed Services Committee hearing, defending the Trump administration’s handling of the Iran conflict and the firing of senior military leaders while pushing back against kritik that he misled the public, and urging approval of a $1.5 trillion defense budget as the war’s cost nears $25 billion to date.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. military will drop the universal annual flu vaccine mandate, allowing troops to opt in if they choose. He framed the move as ending an overly broad requirement to strengthen war-fighting capabilities, while public health experts warn it could weaken readiness by increasing flu cases, missed duty days and costs.
A U.S. delegation is travelling to Islamabad for a second round of face‑to‑face talks with Iran as the two‑week ceasefire nears expiration. Iran has not confirmed attendance and warned it could unveil new battlefield cards if diplomacy fails, while Washington accuses Tehran of violating the ceasefire amid a broader flare‑up in tensions, including the seizure of an Iranian ship that raised alarms near the Strait of Hormuz.
A second round of U.S.–Iran peace talks in Pakistan remains fragile after Iranian officials threaten to skip the meeting following the U.S. seizure of an Iranian-flagged vessel near the Strait of Hormuz, as a ceasefire deadline approaches and oil prices climb on the higher tensions.
U.S. warships stationed in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea confronted six merchant vessels departing an Iranian port and forced them to turn back as part of a blockade to counter Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz; none escalated.
Roughly 100 people were killed when a Nigerian air force attack on a crowded market allegedly misfired, drawing condemnation and calls from Amnesty International for an independent investigation; the incident highlights Nigeria's ongoing security crisis amid insurgencies by groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP, with investigations and accountability still evolving.