Latest Military and defense News

Israel widens evacuation orders as it shifts its offensive to southern Gaza amid heavy bombardments

Dec. 03, 2023 06:14 AM EST

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel's military on Sunday ordered more areas in and around Gaza's second-largest city of Khan Younis to evacuate, as it shifted its offensive to the southern half of the territory where it says many Hamas leaders are hiding. Heavy bombardments were...

British military reports an explosion off the coast of Yemen in the key Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Dec. 03, 2023 04:25 AM EST

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A “potential explosion” has struck a key shipping route off the coast of Yemen, the British military said Sunday. The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations issued a brief warning to shippers that the incident happened...

US military affirms it will end live-fire training in Hawaii's Makua Valley

Dec. 02, 2023 18:17 PM EST

HONOLULU (AP) — The U.S. military has confirmed that it will permanently end live-fire training in Makua Valley on Oahu, a major win for Native Hawaiian groups and environmentalists after decades of activism. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of the Army...

Defense head calls out those who advocate isolationism and 'an American retreat from responsibility'

Dec. 02, 2023 17:03 PM EST

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday denounced those who advocate “an American retreat from responsibility” and said sustained U.S. leadership is needed to help keep the world as safe, free and prosperous as possible. He also urged Congress to end the partisan...

France and Philippines eye a security pact to allow joint military combat exercises

Dec. 02, 2023 07:56 AM EST

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — France and the Philippines are considering a defense pact that would allow them to send military forces to each other’s territory for joint exercises, the Philippine defense chief said Saturday after holding talks with his French counterpart. Gilberto...

Philippine troops kill 11 Islamic militants in one of bloodiest anti-insurgency offensives this year

Dec. 02, 2023 01:29 AM EST

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Philippine troops, backed by airstrikes and artillery fire, killed 11 suspected Islamic militants near a hinterland village in the country’s south, authorities said Saturday, in one of the military’s bloodiest anti-insurgency offensives this year. The...

Pentagon forges new high-tech agreement with Australia, United Kingdom, aimed at countering China

Dec. 01, 2023 21:57 PM EST

MOUNTAIN VIEW, California (AP) — From underwater drones to electronic warfare, the U.S. is expanding its high-tech military cooperation with Australia and the United Kingdom as part of a broader effort to counter China’s rapidly growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. Defense...

Putin orders the Russian military to add 170,000 troops for a total of 1.32 million

Dec. 01, 2023 15:26 PM EST

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday ordered the country's military to increase the number of troops by nearly 170,000 to a total of 1.32 million, as Moscow’s military action in Ukraine continues into its 22nd month. Putin's decree was released by the Kremlin...

Japan expresses concern about Ospreys continuing to fly as some crash details emerge

Dec. 01, 2023 14:03 PM EST

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's top government spokesperson expressed concern Friday that the U.S. military is continuing to fly Osprey aircraft in the country without providing adequate information about Wednesday's fatal crash. One crew member was killed and seven others are missing...

Nearly 2 months into the war, many Israelis have no idea if their relatives are dead or alive

Dec. 01, 2023 10:46 AM EST

JERUSALEM (AP) — There was no trace of Hanan Yablonka — not on the 42-year-old Israeli's social media accounts nor on his phone, found in the bullet-riddled car he and four friends tried to flee in after Hamas militants attacked the music festival they were attending in southern Israel. ...