All articles tagged with #us military
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to allow the military to discharge about two dozen transgender service members in a case testing the constitutionality of Trump’s transgender troop ban. The suit centers on 28 service members and follows a DC Circuit panel’s signal that the ban is likely unconstitutional; the Supreme Court could hear the case in the October term.
France 24 reports a 'beyond critical' shortage of Patriot interceptors in Europe due to high demand from the Iran conflict, raising concerns about NATO defenses against potential Russian ballistic missiles. US and NATO officials dispute the severity, saying inventories are sufficient for current needs and that production and deliveries are being ramped up, with Ukraine continuing to request more Patriots.
NBC News reports that Iran’s drone and missile strikes have crippled U.S. intelligence outposts across the Middle East, with insiders saying repair costs run into billions; the campaign has hit sites in Riyadh and eastern Iraq, involved more than 2,000 missiles/drones across eight countries, and has lawmakers scrambling for funding while officials question readiness across Defense, the intel community, and the State Department.
For the past two months, the US has secretly guided 15–20 tankers per night through a southern channel of the Strait of Hormuz, moving about 10 million barrels of oil daily and sustaining global supply despite Iran’s closure and ongoing conflict. The operation, run from Fort Bragg with Gulf partners, involves inbound/outbound convoys, empty-tanker movements loading oil in Gulf ports, and air protection against drones and missiles. Iran’s surveillance is degraded, limiting traffic monitoring, though attacks continue; volumes remain below pre-war levels but still help ease global energy pressures.
The Defense Department says more than 750 U.S. service members have been wounded since the Iran conflict began on Feb. 28, with the latest totals showing 18 killed and 757 wounded when combining the DCAS Overseas Operations and Operation Epic Fury data. The Pentagon created the Overseas Operations category on July 7 to capture such casualties, and past reporting disruptions had briefly altered tallies. The update comes as talks with Tehran stall and President Trump pauses negotiations while tensions remain high.
US Air Force Major Jason Watson, who spoke at the Capitol last month urging President Trump’s impeachment, has been detained again and ordered into pretrial confinement at a Maryland facility amid unclear misconduct allegations. The Air Force says there is probable cause to support continued misconduct, while Watson’s lawyer suspects his CNN interview may have influenced the decision. Watson was previously arrested on July 1 for protesting in uniform on the Capitol steps, a rare form of dissent within the military which prohibits political activities in uniform.
The United States has quietly established a southern-channel corridor through the Strait of Hormuz to move about 10 million barrels of oil per day into global markets, with 15–20 tankers transiting nightly and occasional spikes higher. The operation coordinates outbound shipments, empty tankers from the Arabian Sea, and oil pickups at Gulf ports, led by a Fort Bragg–based task force and protected by air power, as Iran’s surveillance is degraded by recent CENTCOM actions. Iran’s ability to monitor traffic is limited, increasing the risk to ships, while the effort aims to ease oil disruption amid the wartime situation; U.S. officials say the move is separate from negotiations with Tehran.
The Independent reports that Donald Trump posted a fake image on Truth Social depicting himself as a four-star general alongside Patton and MacArthur, a fantasy that overlooks his five draft deferments for college and bone spurs and his lack of military service. The piece notes Trump once toyed with awarding himself the Medal of Honor and recalls past criticisms over his treatment of veterans, including remarks about fallen soldiers. An image gallery accompanies the report with context about his draft history and related commentary.
The US Central Command circulated an email to military analysts soliciting “creative and unconventional” ways to pressure Iran, signaling a crowdsourced rethink of options as the Trump administration weighs tougher action. Officials say CENTCOM is reevaluating strategy amid ongoing strikes and acknowledge that bombing alone is unlikely to force Tehran to concessions; discussed options reportedly include intensified bombardment or even ground action, though civilian risk and transparency concerns complicate any escalation and a negotiated deal remains uncertain.
U.S. and European officials say Russia is providing electronic intelligence to Iran, including satellite surveillance and signals intelligence, likely helping Tehran pinpoint American forces for aerial attacks and jam U.S.-made weapons.
Democratic lawmakers dispatched a 23-question letter to Defense Secretary Hegseth demanding answers about delayed medical care for wounded US troops after a March Kuwait drone strike that killed six reservists, and scrutinizing changes to the war casualty count and the integrity of the internal review amid ongoing hostilities with Iran.
According to a U.S. official cited by Axios, the U.S. military is conducting air strikes in Iran, signaling a notable escalation in Middle East operations.
Jordanian air defenses intercepted five missiles launched from Iran, while the U.S. said it and Saudi forces struck Iran-backed militias’ sites in eastern Iraq after a barrage against American forces. Iran’s IRGC claimed strikes on a Jordan-based base and CENTCOM headquarters, and the Iraqi PMF said overnight strikes killed about 20 fighters and wounded 32. The flare-up comes as Washington warns of further action and Saudi officials emphasize they do not seek escalation but will respond to aggression.
U.S. forces say they intercepted all Iranian missiles fired at them, ending a brief pause in fighting and signaling renewed tensions in the Middle East, while other headlines cover Netanyahu’s Washington talks, a deadly Japan earthquake, vaccine politics, and tech-security moves.
US Central Command says Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles at US forces in the Middle East in an attempted surprise attack, but all were intercepted and forces remain on high alert. Iran claimed strikes on a US base in Jordan, while Trump was meeting Israeli PM Netanyahu. The incident pushed oil prices higher and kept Hormuz tensions in focus, with Tehran rejecting a joint Oman-Iran plan to manage strait traffic.