Latest U.S. Department of Defense News
US launches airstrikes in Syria after drone kills US worker
BEIRUT (AP) — A strike Thursday by a suspected Iranian-made drone killed a U.S. contractor and wounded five American troops and another contractor in northeast Syria, the Pentagon said. American forces said they retaliated soon after with “precision airstrikes” in Syria targeting facilities...
A look at the uranium-based ammo the UK will send to Ukraine
WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia threatened to escalate attacks in Ukraine after the British government announced it would provide to Ukraine a type of munition that Moscow falsely claims has nuclear components. The British defense ministry on Monday confirmed it would provide Ukraine...
Pentagon: Budget readies US for possible China confrontation
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military must be ready for possible confrontation with China, the Pentagon's leaders said Thursday, pushing Congress to approve the Defense Department's proposed $842 billion budget, which would modernize the force in Asia and around the world. "This is a...
Ukrainian soldiers near finish of Patriot missile training
FORT SILL, Okla. (AP) — Several large, 12-wheeled military vehicles carrying mobile missile launchers rumbled across the southwest Oklahoma prairie on Tuesday as part of a training exercise at the Fort Sill Army Post. Spilling out of the sand-colored vehicles and quickly setting up...
US speeds up Abrams tank delivery to Ukraine war zone
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is speeding up its delivery of Abrams tanks to Ukraine, opting to send a refurbished older model that can be ready faster, with the aim of getting the 70-ton battle powerhouses to the war zone by the fall, the Pentagon said Tuesday. The original plan...
Fireworks explosion leaves 7 dead, 15 injured in Mexico
MEXICO CITY (AP) — A powerful blast at an illegal fireworks workshop near Mexico City left seven people dead and 15 injured. The explosion occurred late Monday at a house used to make fireworks in the state of Morelos, just south of the capital. Photos distributed...
Higher cancer rates found in military pilots, ground crews
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Pentagon study has found high rates of cancer among military pilots and for the first time has shown that ground crews who fuel, maintain and launch those aircraft are also getting sick. The data had long been sought by retired military aviators who have raised...
Military moves to cut suicides, but defers action on guns
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a number of improvements in access to mental health care on Thursday to reduce suicides in the military, but held off on endorsing more controversial recommendations to restrict gun and ammunition purchases by young troops, sending them to...
What's known and not about US drone-Russian jet encounter
WASHINGTON (AP) — When a Russian fighter jet collided with a large U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea, it was a rare but serious incident that triggered a U.S. diplomatic protest and raised concerns about the possibility Russia could recover sensitive technology. U.S. and...
Defense budget speeds toward $1 trillion, with China in mind
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon intends to load up on advanced missiles, space defense and modern jets in its largest defense request in decades in order to meet the threat it perceives from China. The spending path would put the military's annual budget over the $1 trillion threshold in just a...
