Latest Military and defense News

Facing a Republican revolt, House Speaker Johnson pushes ahead on US aid for Ukraine, allies

Apr. 16, 2024 16:53 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...

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...

Israel’s military chief says that Israel will respond to Iran’s weekend missile attack

Apr. 15, 2024 19:08 PM EDT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s military chief said Monday that his country will respond to Iran’s weekend attack, but he did not elaborate on when and how as world leaders urged against retaliation, trying to avoid a spiral of violence in the Middle East. The Iranian attack on...

Israel is quiet on next steps against Iran — and on which partners helped shoot down missiles

Apr. 14, 2024 20:20 PM EDT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli leaders on Sunday credited an international military coalition with helping thwart a direct Iranian attack involving hundreds of drones and missiles, calling the coordinated response a starting point for a “strategic alliance” of regional opposition to Tehran....

Israel's multilayered air-defense system protected it from Iran's drone and missile strike

Apr. 14, 2024 00:43 AM EDT

JERUSALEM (AP) — An incoming attack by more than 300 Iranian drones and ballistic missiles was the latest challenge to Israel’s air defense system, which already has been working overtime to cope with incoming rocket, drone and missile attacks throughout the six-month war against Hamas. ...

West Bank sees biggest settler rampage since war in Gaza began as Israeli teen's body is found

Apr. 13, 2024 13:40 PM EDT

Al-MUGHAYYIR, West Bank (AP) — Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank went on the largest rampage against Palestinians there since the war in Gaza began, as Israel's army said Saturday the body of a missing Israeli teen was found after he was killed in a “terrorist attack.” Witnesses said...

Ukraine's military chief warns of 'significantly' worsening battlefield situation in the east

Apr. 13, 2024 13:06 PM EDT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military chief on Saturday warned that the battlefield situation in the industrial east has “significantly worsened in recent days,” as warming weather allowed Russian forces to launch a fresh push along several stretches of the more 1,000 km-long (620-mile)...