Latest Lloyd Austin News

Middle East latest: Israel ends agreement with UN agency providing aid in Gaza

Nov. 04, 2024 20:18 PM EST

Israel said Monday that it has terminated the agreement facilitating the work of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, the main aid provider in Gaza, in what appeared to be a step to implement legislation passed last month that would sever ties with the agency and prevent it from operating in...

US gives Israel a 'fail' grade on improving aid to Gaza so far

Nov. 04, 2024 19:27 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is stepping up criticism of Israel for not doing enough to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza as a 30-day deadline looms for Israeli officials to meet certain requirements or risk potential restrictions on military assistance. State...

Pentagon bolsters the US presence in the Middle East with bombers, fighter aircraft and warships

Nov. 01, 2024 18:31 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is sending bomber aircraft, fighter jets and more Navy warships to the Middle East to bolster the U.S. presence in the region, the Pentagon announced Friday, as an aircraft carrier and its ships are preparing to leave. Austin ordered...

Israel is falling far short of a US ultimatum to surge aid to Gaza

Nov. 01, 2024 17:38 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Halfway through the Biden administration's 30-day ultimatum for Israel to surge the level of humanitarian assistance allowed into Gaza or risk possible restrictions on U.S. military funding, Israel is falling far short, an Associated Press review of U.N. and Israeli data shows. ...

US is sending $425 million in military assistance to Ukraine

Nov. 01, 2024 14:12 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon announced Friday it was sending an additional $425 million in military assistance to Ukraine as Kyiv prepares to face Russian forces augmented by more than 10,000 North Korean troops. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had said more aid was coming, and...

US calls on a silent China to use its sway over Russia and North Korea

Oct. 31, 2024 21:04 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and South Korea have called on China to use its influence over Russia and North Korea to prevent escalation after Pyongyang sent thousands of troops to Russia to aid Moscow's war against Ukraine. Beijing has so far stayed quiet. In a rare meeting earlier...

Thousands of North Korean troops in Russia. What does that mean for the war with Ukraine?

Oct. 31, 2024 16:37 PM EDT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The Biden administration said Thursday some 8,000 North Korean troops are now in Russia near Ukraine’s border and are preparing to join the fight against Ukrainian troops in coming days – a potentially serious escalation of the nearly 3-year-old war. If...

About 8,000 North Korean troops at Ukraine's border are expected in combat in days, US says

Oct. 31, 2024 16:07 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some 8,000 North Korean soldiers are now in Russia near Ukraine’s border and are preparing to help the Kremlin fight against Ukrainian troops in the coming days, the Biden administration said Thursday. The new figure is a dramatic increase from a day earlier,...

North Korean troops in Russian uniforms are heading toward Ukraine, US says

Oct. 30, 2024 19:36 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday that North Korean troops wearing Russian uniforms and carrying Russian equipment are moving toward Ukraine, in what he called a dangerous and destabilizing development. Austin was speaking at a press conference in...

North Korea sends foreign minister to Russia as its troops train to fight against Ukraine

Oct. 29, 2024 15:19 PM EDT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Tuesday its top diplomat is visiting Russia, in another sign of their deepening relations as rival South Korea and Western nations say the North has sent thousands of troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine. North Korea’s official...