Latest Military and defense News

Ex-US Army soldier asks for maximum 40 years in prison but gets a 14-year term for IS plot

Oct. 11, 2024 18:13 PM EDT

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge rejected a former U.S. Army soldier's surprise sentencing-day request for a maximum 40-year prison term for trying to help the Islamic State group kill American troops, giving him 14 years behind bars instead. Cole Bridges, 24, of Stow, Ohio, was sentenced...

Leaders of Jordan and southern Europe want Lebanon's army to reassert itself in the country's south

Oct. 11, 2024 15:24 PM EDT

PAPHOS, Cyprus (AP) — The leaders of nine southern European Union countries on Friday pledged support for Lebanon’s armed forces to reassert control over the country’s southern territory in hopes of bringing peace to an area plagued by fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. In...

New arrests revive concern that nonviolent political protesters in Myanmar may be tortured

Oct. 11, 2024 11:57 AM EDT

BANGKOK (AP) — Concern was rising on Friday that two nonviolent activists opposed to military rule in Myanmar are at high risk of torture after being arrested in raids this week in Yangon, the country’s biggest city. Paing Phyo Min, 27, a leading member of AJAY — the Anti-Junta...

Zelenskyy appeals to allies to keep up aid as Germany pledges new weapons package

Oct. 11, 2024 11:43 AM EDT

BERLIN (AP) — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday it's important that allies' aid to Ukraine doesn't decrease next year as he received a pledge of a new weapons package from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on a European tour meant to win backing for his “victory plan” aimed at ending the...

North Korea accuses South Korea of flying drones to its capital and threatens to attack next time

Oct. 11, 2024 11:41 AM EDT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has accused rival South Korea of flying drones to its capital to drop anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets and threatened to respond with force if such flights occur again. South Korea issued a vague denial of the allegation. North Korea’s...

New Zealand ship didn’t sink because its captain was a woman, the ‘appalled’ defense minister says

Oct. 11, 2024 03:52 AM EDT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand's defense minister issued stinging rebukes of what she said were “vile” and “misogynistic” online remarks by “armchair admirals” about the woman captain of a navy ship that ran aground, caught fire and sank off the coast of Samoa. ...

The drownings of 2 Navy SEALs were preventable, military investigation finds

Oct. 11, 2024 00:05 AM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two U.S. Navy SEALs drowned as they tried to climb aboard a ship carrying illicit Iranian-made weapons to Yemen because of glaring training failures and a lack of understanding about what to do after falling into deep, turbulent waters, according to a military investigation into...

Mexico sends 660 soldiers, National Guard to protect lime growers suffering extortion by cartels

Oct. 10, 2024 20:26 PM EDT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico has sent 660 soldiers and militarized National Guard officers this month to the western state of Michoacan to protect lime growers who complained they were suffering extortion demands by cartels. The Defense Department said Thursday that since the start of...

FACT FOCUS: Online posts make unfounded claims about a helicopter delivering aid in North Carolina

Oct. 10, 2024 13:59 PM EDT

A video of a helicopter attempting to land in a Burnsville, North Carolina, parking lot used to store supplies for victims of Hurricane Helene has been viewed millions of times online, with many claiming that it shows an unidentified government aircraft sent to destroy the aid. The...

NATO will start an annual nuclear exercise as Russia threatens Ukraine's Western backers

Oct. 10, 2024 07:52 AM EDT

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO will hold a long-planned major nuclear exercise next week, the alliance’s chief said Thursday, a few weeks after President Vladimir Putin announced changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine to discourage Ukraine’s Western allies from supporting attacks on his country. ...