Netanyahu suggests Israel might not complete its withdrawal from Lebanon by a ceasefire deadline

JERUSALEM (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested Friday that Israel might not withdraw all of its forces from Lebanon by a deadline set in its ceasefire with Hezbollah. Under the deal reached in November, Israel is supposed to complete its withdrawal from the country by...

Middle East latest: UK warns of Iranian attempts to force ships into its waters

A warning has gone out to seafarers in the Persian Gulf over what appear to be attempts by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to compel ships to enter Iranian waters. While Iran has a history of harassing and impounding vessels, it hasn’t directly launched many such attacks recently....

North Korea prepares to send more troops to Russia after suffering casualties, South Korea says

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s military said Friday it suspects North Korea is preparing to send additional troops to Russia after its soldiers fighting in the Russian-Ukraine war suffered heavy casualties. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff also assessed in a report...

Ukraine is reforming its recruitment efforts to attract younger soldiers and boost forces

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine is in the final stages of drafting recruitment reforms to attract 18- to 25-year-olds who are currently exempt from mobilization as it looks for ways to bolster its fighting force, the battlefield commander recently appointed to the President’s Office said. ...

Hegseth told senator he paid $50,000 to woman who accused him of 2017 sex assault

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, paid $50,000 to the woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017, according to answers he provided to a senator during his confirmation process that The Associated Press has obtained. The...

Senate advances Pete Hegseth as Trump's defense secretary, despite allegations

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate advanced the nomination of Pete Hegseth as President Donald Trump's defense secretary Thursday on a largely party-line vote, despite grave objections from Democrats and stirring unease among Republicans over his behavior and qualifications to lead the U.S. military. ...

US active duty troops beginning to arrive in Texas and San Diego to support border security

WASHINGTON (AP) — Active duty military troops will begin arriving in El Paso, Texas, and San Diego on Thursday evening, in what defense officials said is the first batch of the new forces being deployed to secure the southern border. The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that about...

Pete Hegseth, Trump's Pentagon nominee, tells senator he paid $50,000 to woman who accused him of 2017 sex assault

Why meeting Trump's military spending target could be tough for NATO's lowest spender

MADRID (AP) — While Europe’s military heavyweights have already said that meeting President Donald Trump’s potential challenge to spend up to 5% of their economic output on security won't be easy, it would be an especially tall order for Spain. The eurozone’s fourth-largest...

Senate advances Hegseth's nomination for defense secretary as Republicans push ahead despite allegations of misconduct