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As US eyes smaller military footprint in Europe, new unit trains for drone warfare
The U.S. Army is standing up a new unit in Germany to train personnel on drone warfare, even as the Pentagon looks to scale down troop numbers there.
US Army fires Tomahawk missile from new Typhon launcher during Philippines drill
“The missile was very precise. Let’s say if you want to hit a window from a far distance, it lands directly into that window,” a military official said.
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Pentagon & Congress
Danger pay for US troops could double, expand to more regions
The U.S. defense budget request for Fiscal Year 2027 has raised the prospect of an increase in the monthly stipend paid out to troops in dangerous regions.
Refusing evacuation, this Marine packed dirt into his wound and continued to fight
The patch of contested real estate known as the Battle of Getlin’s Corner is also remembered for an officer who stood out in a field full of valor.
Defense Department proposes splitting military health system budget
The Defense Department wants to split its funding for the military health system to protect military facilities and care.
Pentagon says Iran ceasefire holds despite exchanges in Strait of Hormuz
Gen. Dan Caine characterized the hostile actions as “all below the threshold of restarting major combat operations at this point.”
In other news
US, Iran launch new attacks as they wrestle for control of Gulf waters
It was the first apparent attempt to use military force since last month’s ceasefire announcement.
Sailor reportedly finds dead rat in finished energy drink
The sailor said medical personnel informed him, “with the chemicals that are in Monster, that it should be OK.”
That time the Air Force proposed making a ‘gay bomb’
The Air Force once explored the idea of a chemical weapon that would make enemy soldiers sexually irresistible to one another — striking a blow to morale.
Master Chief actor condemns use of character in White House’s Iran war hype video
“I demand that the producers of this disgusting and juvenile war porn remove my voice immediately,” Steve Downes wrote in a post on X.
‘War Machine’ review: Finally, a training scenario with aliens
The sci-fi flick raises the premise: What if the final phase of U.S. Army Ranger selection suddenly involved fighting a giant alien robot?
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US destroys six Iranian small boats, shoots down missiles, drones, admiral says
Adm. Brad Cooper said Iran was trying to interfere with a U.S. military operation to open the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic.
By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali, Reuters
Impacts of Strait of Hormuz tensions stifle searches for US missing in Laos
The ripple effects of the Iran war have spread to Laos, where fuel shortages have forced the cancellation or curtailment of searches by U.S recovery teams.
By Richard Sisk
Interview: Gen. Ronald Clark, US Army Pacific commander
For Clark, who has headed USARPAC since Nov. 8, 2024, this 41st iteration of Balikatan represents a “full-circle event.”
Trump says US operation will aid ships stranded in Strait of Hormuz
It was not immediately clear which countries the U.S. operation would aid or how the operation would work.
By Reuters
2 US troops reported missing amid African Lion exercise
The Moroccan army said the service members went missing near a cliff. The incident remains under investigation and the search is ongoing.
By Reuters
US withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany, US officials say
The move comes as a rift over the Iran war widens between President Donald Trump and Europe.
By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali, Reuters
US to close its flagship Gaza mission as Trump plan stalls
The U.S. military-run body tasked with monitoring the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and boosting aid to Gaza is set to be shut down, seven diplomats told Reuters.
By Alexander Cornwell, Reuters
Pentagon freezes out Anthropic as it signs deals with AI rivals
The Department of Defense announced on Friday that it had struck deals with seven leading artificial intelligence companies.
By Tanya Noury
‘A beans and rice diet’: Government watchdog finds issues with military cost of living pay
The Government Accountability Office found the DoD used a mix of unsound sampling practices and inconsistent processes to set cost of living payments.
By Eve Sampson
A history of the War Powers Resolution and what it means for the Iran war
This case of executive overreach by Nixon in Cambodia during the Vietnam War led to the passage of the War Powers Act on Nov. 7, 1973.
New Arctic combat course teaches troops to fight and win in extreme conditions
The five-day course covers arctic medicine, combat patrolling, cold weather weapons and using snow for cover.
US Army tests fresh drones, 3D printers at ‘Balikatan’ drill in the Philippines
In addition, the lab was testing a containerized solar-panel micro grid to generate electricity, a quieter alternative to diesel generators.
Some US troops cite benefits of Germany presence as Trump threatens pullback
Germany is the U.S. military’s largest footprint in Europe, with some 35,000 active-duty military personnel, and serves as a key training hub.
By Cassell Bryan-Low, Louisa Off and Anja Guder, Reuters
US combatant chiefs want more amphibious ready groups, Marine commandant says
The four-star officers who lead U.S. military commands have all requested the support of amphibious ready groups and Marine Expeditionary Units.
By Riley Ceder
Ceasefire ‘stops’ War Powers clock on Iran, Hegseth claims
The 60-day threshold is delineated in the War Powers Resolution of 1973. The most relevant part of that law makes no mention of a ceasefire.
By Tanya Noury
Trump says ‘probably’ when asked if he might pull US troops out of Italy, Spain
The comment came one day after Trump announced that Washington was looking at reducing the number of U.S. military personnel in Germany.
By Humeyra Pamuk, Reuters