Latest Military and defense News

Air National Guard changes in Alaska could affect national security, civilian rescues, staffers say

Apr. 17, 2024 17:19 PM EDT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Kristin Paniptchuk’s water broke on Christmas Eve at her home in the western Alaska Inupiat village of Shaktoolik, and then she began to bleed profusely. The local clinic in the tiny village of 200 people on the Bering Sea couldn’t stop the bleeding or...

Pentagon leaders press Congress for Ukraine funding, saying battlefield situation is dire

Apr. 17, 2024 15:04 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukraine and Israel both desperately need the military weapons that are being held up by Congress' failure to pass a funding package for the two countries at war, Pentagon leaders told House appropriators Wednesday, calling the situation in Ukraine dire. “Whether...

Belarus' parliament votes to leave Europe's conventional forces treaty already abandoned by Russia

Apr. 17, 2024 14:24 PM EDT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — The Belarusian parliament on Wednesday voted to suspend the country's participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty that once was a key security doctrine for the continent, a 1990 agreement that was abandoned last year by Russia. The bill,...

Pakistani security forces kill 7 militants trying to sneak into the country from Afghanistan

Apr. 17, 2024 13:07 PM EDT

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani security forces killed seven militants in a remote northwestern border area on Wednesday when they tried to sneak into the country from Afghanistan, the military said. The military's statement said the insurgents had been detected near Ghulam...

Facing a Republican revolt, House Speaker Johnson's plan for US aid to Ukraine, allies uncertain

Apr. 16, 2024 23:56 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defiant and determined, House Speaker Mike Johnson pushed back Tuesday against mounting Republican anger over his proposed U.S. aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other allies, and rejected a call to step aside or risk a vote to oust him from office. “I am not...

Yellen says Iran's actions could cause global 'economic spillovers' and warns of more sanctions

Apr. 16, 2024 11:21 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned Tuesday of potential global economic damage from rising tensions in the Middle East and pledged that the U.S. and its allies won't hesitate to use their sanctions powers to address Iran's "malign and destabilizing activity” in the region....

The US ambassador to Japan says boosting arms industry ties is key to a stronger security alliance

Apr. 16, 2024 10:53 AM EDT

TOKYO (AP) — The U.S. ambassador to Japan urged Tokyo on Tuesday to take a greater role in developing, producing and supplying weapons “to enhance our collective security" amid conflict in Ukraine, Gaza and elsewhere. The United States alone can no longer supply all democracies,...

US Pentagon chief speaks with Chinese counterpart for first time since November 2022

Apr. 16, 2024 09:58 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with China's national defense minister Tuesday morning, in the latest in a series of U.S. steps to improve communications with the Chinese military and reduce unsafe and aggressive incidents in the Indo-Pacific. It was the...

New recruiting programs put Army, Air Force on track to meet enlistment goals. Navy will fall short

Apr. 16, 2024 00:26 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — After several difficult years, the Army and Air Force say they are on track to meet their recruiting goals this year, reversing previous shortfalls using a swath of new programs and policy changes. But the Navy, while improving, expects once again to fall short. ...

Israeli military tells Palestinians not to return to north Gaza after witnesses say troops killed 5

Apr. 15, 2024 23:48 PM EDT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Israeli military renewed warnings on Monday for Palestinians not to return to northern Gaza, a day after witnesses and medical officials said Israeli troops opened fire and killed five people among throngs of displaced residents trying to walk back to their...